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May 07, 2013

Airborne 05.07.13: Solar Impulse, Terrafugia's Next Step, FAA Questions ICON

Also: 777X Looking Good, Jetman At OSH2013!, Hexcopter Engagement, C-206 SAIB, Historic X-51A Flight

The Solar Impulse solar-powered airplane began its trek across the United States on Friday by completing the first leg of its planned transcontinental flight. With Bertrand Piccard at the controls, Solar Impulse launched Friday morning at 06:12 Pacific Daylight Time from Moffett Field in San Francisco, California and landed successfully after a 18 hour flight at 12:30 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time Saturday in Phoenix, Arizona. Terrafugia, currently in development of the Transition street-legal airplane, has begun feasibility studies of a four-seat,

“Our acquisition approach includes a full and open competition to select a prime contractor that can best integrate mature subsystems into an air vehicle currently in production for an affordable solution that meets mission requirements. We’re seeking a technically viable, cost-effective vertical lift aircraft to replace the current fleet.” Source: Captain Dean Peters, the program manager charged with development of the replacement aircraft. The Navy has issued an RFP for a replacement Presidential transport helicopter.

Emergency Locator Transmitter A radio transmitter attached to the aircraft structure which operates from its own power source on 121.5 MHz and 243.0 MHz. It aids in locating downed aircraft.

NOAA's Aviation Weather Center -- METARS

NOAA's METAR Page -- To check the latest METAR texts: Enter 4-letter ICAO station identifier. If more than one, be sure to insert one or more spaces between stations. (Example: KDEN KCOS @WY).