A Matter of Ball’s

Friday, 07 April 2023 found Ball Aerospace—the improbable but highly-successful division of the famed home-canning powerhouse—celebrating the successful launch of its Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) instrument aboard a commercial satellite blasted spaceward from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. TEMPO is NASA's first Earth Venture instrument mission and will provide critical data pertaining to the Earth’s atmosphere—particularly types, concentrations, and movement of air pollution over the North American continent.

Everyone’s Everything

Skyryse has announced plans to certify a variation of Robinson’s R66 single-turbine-engine light-helicopter for IFR flight. The aircraft is supplemented with a suite of technologies that Skyryse asserts will make general aviation “safer and more affordable, with the costs of purchasing and operating this system only a fraction of pre-existing programs with the same purpose.”  

Airport Design Challenge-Minecraft with Purpose

In an unconventional bid to promote awareness of aviation careers among America’s youth, the Federal Aviation Administration is turning to a video game the agency has dubbed the Airport Design Challenge (ADC).

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Just prior to the festivities at SnF23 got a start, we had the chance to do a quick test jaunt in Diamond’s long-awaited DA50RG. The conditions were not great... a direct crosswind, lots of nearby scud hiding arriving SnF traffic, and limited time in which to enjoy the flight... but, the DA50 delivers an exceptional stable platform with solid handling qualities that befits a serious traveling machine. One of the Innovation Preview presentations that seemed to get a lot of attention was the expanded look at Aerox’s Boomula... In keeping with its 'It&rsq

Dr. Makenzie Lystrup to Head Maryland Facility

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has named Dr. Makenzie Lystrup director of the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. Lystrup succeeds acting center director Dave Mitchell, who resumes his former duties as the agency’s chief program management officer at NASA’s Washington D.C. headquarters.

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CubCrafters announced the latest addition to the Carbon Cub UL lineup with a lightweight, turbocharged Rotax-powered Cub geared for sales outside its home American market. The new Carbon Cub UL replaces the model's usual engine, the Titan CC340, with a Rotax 916 iS. The smaller, lighter engine provides a few benefits: The 160-hp Rotax enables the Cub to 2 adults with a full fuel load and a 'reasonable' amount of baggage at a 1,320 lb max takeoff weight. There is a new Rotax in town and a number of sport aircraft manufacturers are salivating at the pros

Eastern Promises

In a move certain to make waves as far as Toulouse, China has made public its intention to assume a more temperate posture regarding Beijing’s acquisition of large Airbus jets. The move belies the Middle Kingdom’s ravenous demand for A320neo medium-haul aircraft—the accommodation of which has forced Airbus to double production at the consortium’s Tianjin, China final assembly facility.  

Aero Linx: School of Missionary Aviation Technology [SMAT] At the School of Missionary Aviation Technology [SMAT] we provide mission-driven students with FAA-certified training in aircraft maintenance and flight. SMAT offers a professional, certified curriculum in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Students benefit from small class sizes in which strong, lasting relationships are built with instructors and fellow students.

Radio Magnetic Indicator An aircraft navigational instrument coupled with a gyro compass or similar compass that indicates the direction of a selected NAVAID and indicates bearing with respect to the heading of the aircraft.

“Goddard is an incredible center and true national asset with the best and brightest minds in science and engineering; I’m humbled and honored to lead such an amazing … world-renowned team. To build upon our legacy, I’m keenly focused on growing the next generation of innovators along with ensuring our team has the resources and tools to advance technologies and make new discoveries that boost the space economy and benefit us all.” Source: Dr. Makenzie Lystrup, the new director of the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. Lystrup succeeds acting center director Dave Mitchell, who resumes his former duties as the agency’s chief program management officer at NASA’s Washin