Also: VMS Eve Arrives 'Home', Bell 407GXi IFR Cert, Advanced G550 Course, Fake Mechanic
Somewhere, there are two US Navy Blue Angel pilots who possess some very LUCKY rabbit's feet. The US Navy has confirmed that a Wednesday practice flight went awry when two Blue Angel F/A-18s came into contact with each other... thankfully, without any serious damage or injury. Blue Angel Spokesperson, Lt. Michelle Tucker, described the incident on behalf of Rear Admiral Daniel Dwyer, chief of naval air training... "The No. 3 canopy made momentary contact with the underside of No. 1's outer wing during the Diamond 360 maneuver," she noted. Tecnam has announced that the FAA has awarded a full Type Certificate to the P2012 Traveller with the number A00076CE under Part 23 of the Federal
Sidestepping the Hype and Baloney Inherent In SO Much Aviation Communication, TAF Is Going To Let Us REALLY Evaluate the Sling TSi
It’s not lost on many that it has become more and more difficult to evaluate the true capabilities and attributes of today’s aircraft. In an industry that is accompanied by more hyperbole than can be carried by a C-5A, it is incredibly difficult to separate reality from pipedream. But then again… REAL numbers don’t lie. REAL measurements don’t lie. REAL video is compelling when accompanied by hard, CRITICAL analysis of real data… and may allow today’s potential aircraft buyer to determine what an aircraft can really do… and what it might really do for them. W
One Of The Ultimate Events For Unrepentant Space Buffs ...
By Wes Oleszewski, ANN Spaceflight Analyst
From August 8 through August 11, 2019 space buffs from all over the planet converged on Tucson, Arizona for the tenth volume of the gathering know as "Spacefest." Presented by the folks at Novaspace, Spacefest draws crowds of spaceflight fans as well as astronauts, mission controllers, authors, speakers, artists and space stuff vendors to the beautiful Marriot Starr Pass Resort in the desert hills five miles west of Tucson. For anyone who has an interest in space, attending Spacefest is the experience of a lifetime. I first attended Spacefest in 2016 intending to sell some of my spaceflight books and to make some handy cas
The FAA has issued a Request for Information (RFI) this week seeking to work with stakeholders on the administration of a new aeronautical knowledge test for recreational drone operators. Section 349 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (PDF) requires new conditions to operate recreational small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Many drones can be flown today with minimal training or knowledge of aviation rules or safety practices. The new statute is an opportunity to educate recreational flyers on UAS safety and to bring new flyers into the existing aviation safety culture. The law requires that flyers of recreational drones pass an aeronautical knowledge and safety test. The test will demonstrate a recreational
Groundbreaking Report Sets 20-year Market Value of $318 Billion
NEXA Advisors and the Vertical Flight Society (VFS) have completed a comprehensive year-long study, Urban Air Mobility—Economics and Global Markets. The groundbreaking NEXA report, undertaken in a partnership with VFS, contains forecasts for 74 metropolitan areas over the period of 2020 – 2040. The online databases include thousands of geocoded data features and characteristics of each city, as well as the study’s findings on their potential market for urban air mobility (UAM). Included on these web pages are custom ArcGIS maps of each city. The public can explore the deep city-level analysis available, using New York City as an example, at
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WACO Aircraft brought its latest airplane, the YMF-5F Floatplane, to AirVenture this summer. When the aircraft was introduced last year, the company said that the combination of a new 300 HP engine, the new MT constant speed propeller and Aerocet 3400 Amphibious floats helped make this ambitious project a reality. This blending of equipment has allowed WACO to build a great performing, exceptionally fun, and beautiful WACO Amphibious float plane, the YMF-5F (The "F" is for Float, and Fun). In preliminary flight testing, performance both in the air an
Witnesses Suggest The Aircraft Was Having Engine Trouble
In the days following a highly visible and tragic aircraft accident that took the lives of a well-known aerobatic pilot and a highly respected local reporter, a few reported details indicate that former airshow Pilot Franklin Augustus knew that his Pitts S-2B was in trouble. An NTSB senior air safety investigator from Denver arrived at the accident site Saturday to begin the on-scene phase of the investigation. At about 3:06 p.m. CDT, Aug. 16, an Aerotek Pitts S-2B (registration N600DF) crashed shortly after taking off from New Orleans’ Lakefront Airport. Both occupants, the commercial-rated pilot and the passenger, were fatally injured. Shortly after take-off, the pilot radi
How Do You Rent Out One Of The World's Largest Buildings?
After spending more than 50 years supporting NASA’s human spaceflight programs, the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), a landmark at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, is getting its first commercial tenant. Northrop Grumman will assemble and test its new OmegA rocket inside the massive facility’s High Bay 2, one of four high bays in the building. Officials with NASA, Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force gathered in High Bay 2 on Aug. 16 to celebrate the partnership with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by legislative representatives and spaceport employees. The company also is modifying mobile launcher platform-3 (MLP-3) to serve as the launch vehicle’
Virgin Australia Becomes the First Aussie Operator
Virgin Australia Airlines is reportedly the first airline in Australia to install Split Scimitar Winglets on its Boeing Next Generation 737-800 aircraft. The Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) product, a retrofit of the existing Blended Winglets, is the most advanced technology winglet ever produced, offering unprecedented fuel savings and carbon emissions reductions for the world's most popular commercial aircraft. "Virgin Australia is always looking for innovative ways to create a better environment, having launched the world's first government certified airline carbon offset scheme, and now starting Australia's first Split Scimitar Winglet operations," said Craig McCallum, Aviation Partners Boeing'
4500 Foot Runway Shouldn't Have Been A Challenge For Citation Latitude N8JR
The first 24 hours post-accident in the Dale Earnhardt Jr accident is revealing a lot of initial info that is pointing to a number of possibilities early in the investigation. An early look at the FAA Accident summary simply describes the accident as "AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED HARD LANDING, BOUNCED, DEPARTED RUNWAY AND CAUGHT FIRE." The Cessna Citation Latitude 680A went off runway 24 after landing at Elizabethton, TN, Municipal Airport, an uncontrolled field, last Thursday.
The Preeminent Regional Sport Aviation Event Gears Up For 2019
No one has to tell you that the aviation business is a fascinating road to follow… especially if you're one of the visionaries that is attempting to bring aviators together to showcase the best the industry has to offer at one of the few venues that focuses on the most affordable, if not the most rewarding, aspects of civil aviation.
The Preeminent Regional Sport Aviation Event Gears Up For 2019
No one has to tell you that the aviation business is a fascinating road to follow… especially if you're one of the visionaries that is attempting to bring aviators together to showcase the best the industry has to offer at one of the few venues that focuses on the most affordable, if not the most rewarding, aspects of civil aviation. All about 'experiencing the fun side of flying', the 2019 DeLand Sport Aviation Showcase (DSAS) is poised for great things this fall, November 14-16, 2019. DSAS is THE annual, three-day event that has put
Stephen K. Brown, an FAASTeam Program (or Flight Proficiency) Manager, sent us a note over the weekend that we thought worth sharing...
"August 19th is National Aviation Day, which is (today). This year will be the 80th year of the national day in recognition of Orville Wright's birthday and a day to celebrate all things aviation. It is in Part 36 of the United States Code and is a day to encourage activates by citizens to promote interest in aviation...
Final Four Site Candidates Selected For Asteroid Sample Return
Outside of the upcoming return to the moon, this may be one of the most interesting missions on NASA's plate... After months grappling with the rugged reality of asteroid Bennu’s surface, the team leading NASA’s first asteroid sample return mission has selected four potential sites for the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft to “tag” its cosmic dance partner. Since its arrival in December 2018, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has mapped the entire asteroid in order to identify the safest and most accessible spots for the spacecraft to collect a sample. These four sites now will be studied in fur
On August 3, 2019, about 1143 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180 airplane, N5167L, collided with trees and terrain near Ontonagon, Michigan. The private pilot was fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was owned by private individual and operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. Day instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site. The cross-country flight to Ontonagon County Airport (OGM) departed Gogebic-Iron County Airport (IWD), near Ironwood, Michigan, about 1115. According to the pilot's brother, the pilot intended to fly to OGM to meet some friends and go fishing on Lake Superior. The pilot's brothe
Another Icon A5 accident has been reviewed by the NTSB.... Leading to questions about the airplane and the way this aircraft is being operated by the folks who supposedly know it. According to the Prelim, “The pilot rated passenger, who was seated in the left seat at the time of the accident, stated that 'the weather was not the best' and that the wind was shifting 180°. He said he told the pilot-in-command (PIC) this sentiment, and that it took four takeoff attempts to get airborne. After the second attem
AeroVonics displayed its AV-20 & AV-20-S Multi-Function Displays at AirVenture 2018. The instrument provides a wide array of supplemental flight information. The AV-20 provides 9 functions, while the AV-20-S model provides 12 functions. The unit incorporates a full color sunlight readable display, bezel-mounted light sensor for automatic display brightness, and an internal battery for operation in the event of power loss. The AV-20-S connects to the pitot and static systems of the aircraft, while the AV-20 model does not. Certification for both instruments is "
Aero-Linx: Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA)
Our mission is to “Support the United States Army Aviation Soldier and Family.” AAAA was formed in early 1957 by a small group of senior Aviation Officers in the active Army, the Reserve Forces of the U.S. Army and industry. The Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) is the only not-for-profit organization dedicated to representing the broad interests of Army Aviation. With 79 Chapters worldwide, its membership of over 18,000 is comprised of Active Duty, Reserve Components (Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve), government civilian, retired, industry, affiliated organizations, and friends of Army Aviation.
Charted Visual Flight Procedure Approach
An approach conducted while operating on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan which authorizes the pilot of an aircraft to proceed visually and clear of clouds to the airport via visual landmarks and other information depicted on a charted visual flight procedure. This approach must be authorized and under the control of the appropriate air traffic control facility. Weather minimums required are depicted on the chart.
Less Than 250 Grams Appears To (Potentially) Be The Magic Number...
The rumor mill is ripe with the possibility that DJI may soon be unveiling a ‘Mini-Me’ version of the popular Mavic. While many hoped to hear the announcement in the same session that revealed the latest variation of the DJI Osmo 3 (which we want... bad), DJI remains mum for the moment. But, hopefully, not too long... Video has surfaced though, as well as a spec sheet, and the details that seem consistent as having this foldable offering coming in at under 250 grams with all the right goodies (4k cams and the like). This makes the bird even smaller than the Spark and may signal a whole new product generation.
“We have a great partnership with Northrop Grumman; we have a great partnership with all our partners. It’s a great pleasure to be able to be here today and cut the ribbon after signing this historic agreement to utilize this awesome facility to support our nation’s space program.”
Source: Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, discussing the recent agreement that will allow Northrop Grumman to assemble and test its new OmegA rocket inside the massive facility’s High Bay 2, one of four high bays in the building. Officials with NASA, Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force gathered in High Bay 2 on Aug. 16 to celebrate the partnership with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by legislative representatives and
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