New Shepherd Safely Launches Four Commercial Astronauts To Space And Back

Blue Origin successfully completed New Shepard’s first human flight Tuesday, the 52nd anniversary of the first moon landing, with four private citizens onboard. The crew included Jeff Bezos, Mark Bezos, Wally Funk and Oliver Daemen, who all officially became astronauts when they passed the 62+ mile high Kármán Line, the internationally recognized boundary of space (and significantly higher than the Virgin Galactic flight). Upon landing, the astronauts were greeted by their families and Blue Origin’s ground operations team for a celebration in the West Texas desert. 

CA GOP Congress Members Request Immediate Contingency Plans To Equip First Responders

Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) and the California GOP Congressional Delegation have called on the Biden Administration to immediately act to prevent expected disastrous aviation fuel shortages that could leave California and the Western United States without the critical use of full aerial capabilities to mitigate and overcome regional wildfires. In a letter, the unified delegation called for Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to address an alarming new report from the Associated Press entitled 'Scary:' Fuel Shortage Could Ground Firefighting Aircraft, and to provide detailed responses regarding preparations, logistic

Also: MCAS Cherry Point Air Show, Dauntless Air, Astro Doug Hurley Retires, Epic E1000 GX

ANN had received an invite from Waco Aircraft to visit their new HQ in Battle Creek, MI, where they have made serious upgrades and improvements to what had always been a cool little airplane company. New facilities, upgraded capabilities and a very slick new FBO (with enough ramp space for a few Boeings) are but the tip of the iceberg as we toured the production facilities for the Waco YMF-5 classic radial engined biplane and the more conventionally powered Great Lakes 2T-1A-2  -- a favorite  for aerobatic trainers. One major addition to the mix is an in

Major Keller Describes Her Experiences As An Army Reserve Aviator

A Blackhawk medevac pilot for the Army Reserve, Major Keller explained her decision to start with ROTC and then join the military with ANN’s Maria Morrison. Based out of Fort Knox, KY, Mjr. Keller explained the role of the reserves and her experiences as the pilot of one of the military’s iconic rotorcraft, the Sikorsky Blackhawk. Keller described some of the other aircraft that she works with, the duty cycle she deals with (under normal circumstances) and the Reserve's need for a number of personnel for a wide variety of support tasks.

WACO Aircraft, New FBO, Extreme Fuel Discounts, WACO Kitchen... Experience It All!

WACO Aircraft is the home of the international manufacturing operations for the YMF-5 Super, a three-place radial engine powered classic biplane... now available as either a tailwheel land plane or amphibious seaplane. WACO also crafts the highly regarded Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 -- the Lycoming powered two place taildragger that has started many a new aerobatic pilot on their way to learning the rudiments of REAL flying. Both aircraft are in serial production and will be seen in just a few days on the grounds of EAA AirVenture in display area #253 right along Celebration Way. In eager anticipation of EAA Airventure 2021, WACO Aircraft Corporation is inviting all av

Will Fly The Elite S To The Show Using Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Honda will showcase the upgraded HondaJet Elite S with a special paint scheme at the 2021 Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI from July 26th – August 1st, 2021. The HondaJet Elite S, the latest edition of the HondaJet, was unveiled at the company’s virtual event “Innovation Continues: Elite S” several months ago. The HondaJet Elite S features several upgrades that expand operational capability and improve flight operation. Its increased maximum takeoff weight of 200 lbs. allows customers to fly up to 120 nm further at a higher payload, or take an additional passenger during their typical mission.

Surf Air Mobility and Textron Aere Planning to Electrify the Cessna Grand Caravan

Surf Air Mobility has embarked upon an exclusive relationship with Textron Aviation to support their development of electrified Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft, beginning with a hybrid electric Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft, targeted to be available in 2024. Surf Air Mobility has agreed to purchase up to 150 Cessna Grand Caravan EX single-engine turboprops, with an initial fleet order of 100 aircraft and an option for 50 more. The aircraft will be upgraded to Surf Air Mobility’s proprietary hybrid electric powertrain technology as a 9-seat variant of the iconic single-engine turboprop.

The Inside Skinny On What Being An ANN Oshkosh Stringer Is All About

By ANN Senior Stringer Extraordinare, Gene Yarbrough The annual gathering at Oshkosh is a right of passage or a pilgrimage to Mecca for many. However the rank and file public rarely have the opportunity to experience the FULL Oshkosh experience. Oshkosh, like onions and ogres, is a multi-layered microcosm within the enigma of the greater Wisconsin county in which it transpires. The Aero-News Network stringer has opportunity, and if so inclined, the access to every aspect of general aviation including the "behind the scenes" view few even know exist.

"Details Provided Today Are The Most Comprehensive Announced To Date"

Capt. Tim Perry, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) Canada, issued the following statement after the Canadian government announced a variety of new measures to ease travel restrictions for fully vaccinated foreign travelers. “Today’s announcement to open Canada’s borders over the coming weeks represents a significant and positive step forward for Canadians and our country’s aviation sector. Details provided today are the most comprehensive announced to date..."

Weather Conditions Were “...Very Foggy And Misty, With Low Visibility”

On July 2, 2021, about 0225 central daylight time, a Beech 35-33 airplane, N302Z, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Roff, Oklahoma. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Radar data indicated that the airplane conducted three flights the evening of the accident. The first flight departed the Ada Regional Airport (ADH), Ada, Oklahoma, at 2015; the airplane climbed to 3,000 ft and slowly descended until it arrived at the Ardmore Municipal Airport (ADM), Ardmore, Oklahoma, about 2035. The second flight departed ADM at about 2200 and flew toward ADH,

AD 2021-14-18 Prompted By The Manufacturer Developing Improved T/R Blades Using Different Materials...

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2011-18-52 for certain Agusta S.p.A. (now Leonardo S.p.a.) Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. AD 2011-18-52 required revising the life limit for certain part-numbered tail rotor (T/R) blades, updating the helicopter's historical records, repetitively inspecting each T/R blade for a crack or damage, and depending on the results, replacing the T/R blade. This AD was prompted by the manufacturer developing improved T/R blades using different materials and establishing life limits for each improved blade. This AD retains certain requirements from AD 2011-18-52, revises certain requirements from AD 2

Aero Linx: International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO is funded and directed by 193 national governments to support their diplomacy and cooperation in air transport as signatory states to the Chicago Convention (1944). Its core function is to maintain an administrative and expert bureaucracy (the ICAO Secretariat) supporting these diplomatic interactions, and to research new air transport policy and standardization innovations as directed and endorsed by governments through the ICAO Assembly, or by the ICAO Council which the assembly elects.

On-Course Indication An indication on an instrument, which provides the pilot a visual means of determining that the aircraft is located on the centerline of a given navigational track, or an indication on a radar scope that an aircraft is on a given track.

“Hybrid electric propulsion technology, deployed at scale for environmental and commercial benefits, is an important part of the future of travel. This relationship with Surf Air Mobility leverages the unique performance capabilities of the Cessna Grand Caravan in both passenger and cargo operations, and continues to demonstrate the aircraft’s adaptability for innovative missions and configurations.” Source: Ron Draper, President & CEO, Textron Aviation, in comments made as Surf Air Mobility agreed to purchase up to 150 Cessna Grand Caravan EX single-engine turboprops, with an initial fleet order of 100 aircraft and an option for 50 more. The aircraft will be upgraded to Surf Air Mobility’s proprietary hybrid el