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For those of you looking to experience, or even relive, a little history, EAA has some bad news... 'Aluminum Overcast' is down for maintenance. EAA says... "As part of a routine preflight inspection of the B-17 Aluminum Overcast in Florida last week, our tour teams discovered a fitting inside the wing that showed signs of fatigue. Following safety protocols, the airplane was grounded for a full inspection that determined that replacing the part was necessary. The on-site tour teams did an outstanding job of finding and corr

Also: Rhode Island--DroneUp, Vertical Flight Society, Rocket Lab, Sun ‘n Fun Digital Daily

On Tuesday, March 30, SpaceX launched its fourth high-altitude flight test of Starship from Starbase in Texas. Similar to previous high-altitude flight tests, Starship Serial Number 11 (SN11) was powered through ascent by three Raptor engines, each shutting down in sequence prior to the vehicle reaching apogee – approximately 10 km in altitude. SN11 performed a propellant transition to the internal header tanks, which hold landing propellant, before reorienting itself for reentry and a controlled aerod

"...It Was Nothing Short Of Amazing”

NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter continues to set records, flying faster and farther on Sunday, April 25, 2021 than in any tests it went through on Earth. The helicopter took off at 0431 EDT, rising 16 feet – the same altitude as its second flight. Then it zipped downrange 164 feet, just over half the length of a football field, reaching a top speed of 6.6 feet per second. After data came back from Mars starting at 1016 EDT, Ingenuity’s team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California was ecstatic to see the helicopter soaring out of view. They’re already digging through a trove of information gathered during this third flight that will inform not just addition

Canada Continues Strong Stance In COVID Containment

With a mandatory 14-day quarantine period for travellers, Canada has some of the strictest travel and border measures in the world. The Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, the Minister of Health, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the Honourable Bill Blair, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, the Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, and the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, announced new rules for some international travel.

World Class Collection Relocating To Idaho

After a two year search for a location for a new Museum building, the Spirit of Flight Foundation has announced that a site to build the new facility has been chosen. "We are happy to announce that the Nampa Municipal Airport will be the new home for the Spirit of Flight Foundation and Museum. Nampa Municipal Airport is recognized as one of the best, if not the best, municipal airports in the United States, and is home to some incredible aviation organizations," said Gordon Page, President of the Spirit of Flight Foundation.

Guardian UAS Predator B Maritime Variant Heavily Utilized

Between March 16 and March 18, Air and Marine Operations (AMO) Guardian Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) aircrews from the National Air Security Operations Centers (NASOC) partnered with federal and international authorities to disrupt four smuggling attempts in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and Western Caribbean Sea. They seized more than three tons of cocaine and nearly two tons of marijuana. Over a three-day period, these operations denied transnational narcotics traffickers approximately $127 million in illicit proceeds.

From 2016 (YouTube Version): At EAA AirVenture 2016 We Found Flying Ultralights Is Fun, and Cute Is a Bonus…

While at EAA AirVenture 2016, ANN’s, Earl Downs, headed to the south end of the Wittman Regional Airport where the ultralights hang out. This part of AirVenture, also referred to as the ‘fun zone,’ displays some great aircraft that represent the epitome of recreational aviation. Earl stopped to talk with Brian Carpenter, who is the owner of Rainbow Aviation Services and its subdivision, Adventure Aircraft. One of the aircraft they had on display was being referred to as a Motor Glider, and it w

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AERO Friedrichshafen officially cancels their 2021 show. The postulated replacement date in 2021 would have put it in direct competition with Oshkosh, and only days apart. Numerous vendors told ANN, "that won't fly" -- so Wednesday's announcement comes as no surprise. Friedrichshafen has stated that they have, "...now taken a decision in view of the travel restrictions in Europe due to the COVID 19 pandemic. The organizers are now turning their focus to the upcoming trade shows." Next year, 2022, could be bad news for gen

The Engine “Locked And The Propeller Stopped Turning.”

On April 6, 2021, about 1110 eastern daylight time, a Beech A36, N18394, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Arcadia, Florida. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, after takeoff about 800 ft mean sea level (msl), he reduced engine rpm to 2300. Several minutes later he noticed that the engine rpm had risen to 2500 and the oil pressure was zero. The pilot attempted to return to the airport; however, the engine “locked and the propeller stopped turning.”

AD 2021-09-07 Continues To Require Inspecting Certain Part-Numbered Actuators

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-17-02, which applied to certain Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus Helicopters) Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, and EC135T3 helicopters. AD 2019-17-02 required inspecting certain part-numbered actuators for corrosion, removing them as necessary, and reporting certain information. This new AD continues to require inspecting certain part-numbered actuators, removing them as necessary, and reporting; and extends the compliance time for the initial inspection, expands the applicability, and includes new requirements for repetitive replacement of affected actuators; as spe

AD 2021-08-12 Prompted By Crack Indications Found In The Lower Aft Wing Skin Bolt Holes

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by crack indications found in the lower aft wing skin bolt holes where the flap tracks attach to the track support fitting. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the left and right wing, lower aft wing skin aft edge, at certain flap track locations, and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective May 28, 2021.

Aero Linx: International Aviation Fire Protection Association

IAFPA was first formed in 2000 by a group of airport fire officers in the UK.  From the initial UK site, the work of IAFPA spread throughout the Asia Pacific and the Middle East.  In March 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world and affected almost all economies on the world stage especially aviation and the hospitality industry. With this major impact, the Council decided that to be relevant in the fast changing times and to be mission ready in the post-Covid era, IAFPA needed to restructure itself going forward. On 28 Sep 2020, the IAFPA Executive Council took a major

Land And Hold Short Operations Operations which include simultaneous takeoffs and landings and/or simultaneous landings when a landing aircraft is able and is instructed by the controller to hold-short of the intersecting runway/taxiway or designated hold-short point. Pilots are expected to promptly inform the controller if the hold short clearance cannot be accepted.

“Today’s flight was what we planned for, and yet it was nothing short of amazing. With this flight, we are demonstrating critical capabilities that will enable the addition of an aerial dimension to future Mars missions.” Source: Dave Lavery, the project’s program executive for Ingenuity Mars Helicopter at NASA Headquarters in Washington, discussing the vehicle's third flight.