Aero-News Network: The aviation and aerospace world's daily/real-time news and information service

Shocker! American Sport Aviation Icon, Glasair, Sold To Chinese Buyer

Glasair Aviation Acquired by Mr. Fang Tieji, Chairman of Jilin Hanxing Group

We've heard this story before.... but yet again, another (once) uniquely-American aviation success story is about to be a foreign-owned company. Glasair Aviation LLC (Glasair), and Mr. Fang Tieji, Chairman of Jilin Hanxing Group co., Ltd., have announced that Mr. Fang has acquired Glasair's kit-aircraft manufacturing assets. Glasair Aviation manufactures the very popular Glasair, Glastar and Sportsman lines of personal aircraft, having delivered approximately 3,000 planes which are being built and/or flown all over the world.

A New Version Of ForeFlight Mobile Has Landed In The App Store

Latest Iteration Includes New 'Advisor' Features

ForeFlight has released the latest version of its flight planning app which the company says greatly improves route selection and editing. This release introduces three of what the company calls “Advisors” ... helpful features that make flight planning and decision making simpler. Route Advisor, Procedure Advisor, Altitude Advisor, and an all new route editor – work in concert to save time in the flight planning process.

Coast Guard Helicopter Hit With Laser During SAR Operation

Crew Had To Be Grounded Pending An Eye Examination

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Facility Charleston, S.C., was forced to land abruptly while searching for a possible boater in distress Monday night due to laser lights being shined into the cockpit of the helicopter from shore.

FAA Still Up In The Air Over Consolidated NJ ATC Facility

No Determination Has Been Made As To Where To Locate The Center

A report from the DOT Inspector General (IG) released Tuesday indicates that the FAA has not yet determined where it plans to locate a consolidated air traffic facility for the New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia corridor.

Sebring Expo Introduces New Event Layout For 2013

Changes Based On Suggestions From Visitors, Exhibitors

You're probably thinking about Wisconsin rather than Florida right about now, but the organizers of the 2013 U.S. Sport Aviation Expo say they plan to introduce a new event layout when the Expo opens January 17-20, 2013, thanks to input from exhibitors and visitors.

Unmanned Aircraft Industry Backs Privacy Legislation

DoD Bill Reaffirming Individuals’ Fourth Amendment Rights Falls In Line With Industry’s Emphasis On Professionalism

Tthe Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) on Thursday announced support for legislation to reaffirm individuals’ Constitutional protections against unreasonable searches. An amendment included in the Department of Defense Appropriations bill, introduced by Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) only allows funding for the operation of UAS “in accordance” with the Fourth Amendment.

United Kingdom Accepts First International Lockheed Martin F-35

Aircraft Is A 'B' STOVL Variant Of The JSF

The United Kingdom accepted the first international F-35 Lightning II aircraft in a ceremony Thursday with senior representatives of the U.K. Ministry of Defence and the U.S. Department of Defense. The Right Honourable Philip Hammond, U.K. Secretary of State for Defence, and Mr. Frank Kendall, U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, represented their governments.

NASA Hypersonic Inflatable Tech Test Set

Window Of Four Consecutive Launch Days Opens July 22

NASA Space Technology Program researchers plans to launch and deploy a large inflatable heat shield aboard a rocket traveling at hypersonic speeds this weekend during a technology demonstration test from the agency's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, VA. NASA has four consecutive days of launch opportunities for the agency's Inflatable Re-entry Vehicle Experiment (IRVE-3), starting July 22, with the liftoff window from 0600-0800 EDT each day.

Russian Flight School Opts For Alpha Trainers

Pipistrel's Newest Aircraft Selected As The School's Primary Training Aircraft

St. Petersburg Aviation Training Center in Russia has ordered four Alpha trainers from Pipistrel. The Pipistrel Alpha Trainer is fitted with the Rotax 912 - 80 horsepower engine, the airframe is a composite, two-seat, side by side, high wing.