Reorgonaization Plan Will Be Sent To Customers and Creditors

Van's Aircraft filed its Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization with the Federal Bankruptcy Court on a Friday, March 29, 2024. This step is essential for the company's financial recovery. The process will be complete after the court sets hearing dates and the judge signs a certificate approving the plan. Then, the plan will be mailed to the same approximately 40,000 people notified when Van's filed for bankruptcy. These individuals, who have claims against the company, will receive ballots to vote on the plan. Votes will be collected by Van's attorneys, tallied, and the results reported to the bankruptcy court. Customers who made deposits on orders before the bankruptcy and chose not to

USMC Buys Ragged Old Birds From Swiss Air Force

The US is bringing some of its old F-5 Tiger aircraft back home under a $32.4 million contract to buy 32 decommissioned fighters from the Swiss Federal Office for Armaments. The first of the planes was taken apart and put into the a C-130J to be flown home, bringing it back for use as any number of odd jobs suited to the small, lightweight fighter. The last batch of decommissioned F-5s was similarly sold to the US Navy in 2008, and went on to be used in adversarial training as a nimble, somewhat cost-effective fighter - at least as cost-effective as jet fighters with hard points go.

Hebei Jianxin Flying Car Tech Company Snags License to Corner the CDM for AirCar and AirCar Derived Aircraft

The BMW-powered AirCar by Klein Vision has been licensed to a chinese manufacturer, the Hebei Jianxin Flying Car Technology Company, for sale in their home market. The deal has been met with some misunderstandings and raised eyebrows, as is often the case when a fledgling aircraft design is so quickly scooped up into the maw of Chinese industry on the cusp of release. The AirCar is far enough along in the development process to get plenty of flying footage, to the point of getting a certificate of airworthiness by the Slovak Transport Authority.

Positions Open for Software Engineers, Solderers with Electronics Manufacturer

Dynon Avionics announced an expansion in Fargo, North Dakota, adding a new engineering site to chart the way forward as they aim to provide cost effective, high-performance panel equipment. The news comes as a shot in the arm for the growing company, building up a name for itself that eclipses its popularity from years past. Before, Dynon Avionics was seen as a kind of affordable, sport-focused option for cash-strapped owners and operators, a lesser alternative to the big names and big price tags seen on larger, type certificated aircraft.

Students, Educators, & Enthusiasts Help Out With Data Gathering

The upcoming total solar eclipse is once again proving to be a useful little STEM activity for kids & students, and NASA has dusted off their GLOBE app to crowdsource some more info from onlookers across the country. Participants are asked to measure their local air temperatures and snap pictures of clouds, says NASA. In years past, similar activities were sort of a fun, STEM-centered way to involve kids in the global scientific community. But for the 2024 go-around, NASA needs the data more than ever, since there's less weather station coverage throughout the path of the eclipse.

Pilots Union Co-chaired Critically Important Committee

The Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA) has commended the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Mental Health and Aviation Medical Clearances Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) for including several of the union's long-standing recommendations in its final report. ALPA, co-chair of the committee, and other industry stakeholders called for changes in the way the federal government approaches mental health in the aviation sector and vowed to work collaboratively to change the outdated system.

Mechanics Being Drawn Away to Greener Pastures According to 1/3 of BizAv Operators

A survey by the National Business Aviation Association polled more than 270 operators and mechanic facilities, finding that many of their mechanic personnel are being lured to other industries by better pay, quality of life, and benefits. In the survey, more than a third reported losing people to the phenomenon, with most seeing their people go on to larger aviation concerns like airlines or charter operators. More interestingly, the survey found, was that people were taking their hard-won AMT skills and certifications to other industries altogether.

Also: Altitude Angel, AeroMech Starlink STC, True Blue Power TB50, Remote ID Authorizations

Joby Aviation committed to delivering an additional 2 eVTOL aircraft to MacDill Air Force Base under the branch's continued testing of novel tech. The delivery is set to take place next year under the AFWERX Agility Prime contract. Joby originally delivered the first of its eVTOLs to Edwards AFB in 2023. Netherlands ANSP LVNL and Altitude Angel broke news of a revamped iteration of GoDrone's flight planning app. GoDrone has managed to secure a strong foothold in the domestic Dutch market since its launch in the Spring of 2020. The company's UTM software has contin

Also: Moron With A Laser, EAA Aviation Museum, FAA v Santa Monica Propeller Service, Frontier MEC Lauds FO

Boom Supersonic has confirmed details surrounding the successful first test flight of XB-1, reportedly the world’s first independently developed supersonic jet, at the Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, California. XB-1 was flown by Boom Chief Test Pilot Bill “Doc” Shoemaker, and Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg flew the T-38 chase aircraft which monitored the flight. XB-1 took off from the Mojave Air & Space Port. XB-1 met all of its test objectives, including safely and succ

Also: Altitude Angel, AeroMech Starlink STC, True Blue Power TB50, Remote ID Authorizations

Joby Aviation committed to delivering an additional 2 eVTOL aircraft to MacDill Air Force Base under the branch's continued testing of novel tech. The delivery is set to take place next year under the AFWERX Agility Prime contract. Joby originally delivered the first of its eVTOLs to Edwards AFB in 2023. Netherlands ANSP LVNL and Altitude Angel broke news of a revamped iteration of GoDrone's flight planning app. GoDrone has managed to secure a strong foothold in the domestic Dutch market since its launch in the Spring of 2020. The company's UTM software has

Tacky or Trendy? Prospective Uniforms Not so Popular Off the Bat

Delta Air Lines has shown off a new collection of employee uniforms, and the results have been met with mixed approval. Overall, the new collection does away with the 'Passport Plum' gear instituted in 2018, replacing it with a darker red and blue scheme that seems more "Delta" in comparison. That change was made to move away from the common airline colors of blue and red, a decision which Delta is now turning around on. Back then, they put a price tag on the change of about 20 million dollars overall, so getting the better part of a decade out of their new toy isn't too great.

Witness Stated That They Saw The Airplane Descend About 100 Ft In A Slightly Nose Down Attitude Before It Entered A 90° Nose Down Attitude

On March 7, 2024, about 1124 Pacific standard time, a Kolb Firestar KXP, N4443G, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Cave Junction, Oregon. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Witnesses reported that the airplane departed runway 36, for a local flight following the installation of an overhauled engine. The witnesses observed the airplane turn left to the northwest, about 500 ft above ground level.

From 2018 (YouTube Version): Magnus Aircraft Fusion 212 Lands at AirVenture

A new LSA make its U.S. debut at AirVenture in Oshkosh this summer. The Magnus Aircraft Fusion 212 is ideally powered and configured to fly comfortably on cross-county trips at speeds up to 120 knots. The Fusion 212 has a low maintenance composite airframe, a powerful Rotax 912 (ULS or iS Sport) engine, rated at 100 horsepower, and there is a special option to request the aircraft with a Rotax UL Power 260iSA engine. The Fusion 212 is available with DUC or MT 3-b

Aero Linx: The Mooney Mite Site Dedicated to the Mooney M-18 Mite, "The Most Personal Airplane," and to supporting Mite owners everywhere. The Mooney M-18 Mite is a single-place, low-wing monoplane with retractable, tricycle landing gear. It is mainly of fabric-covered wood construction designed for the general aviation market and offering extremely low operating costs. It has a wingspan of 26.8 feet, a length of 17.7 feet, an empty weight of 520 pounds, a maximum weight of 850 pounds, and a range of 350 miles or more.

Decision Altitude (DA) A specified altitude (mean sea level (MSL)) on an instrument approach procedure (ILS, GLS, vertically guided RNAV) at which the pilot must decide whether to continue the approach or initiate an immediate missed approach if the pilot does not see the required visual references. 

“Dynon is experiencing tremendous growth, and this new facility allows us to expand our talented engineering team. Fargo and the State of North Dakota boasts a thriving aviation industry and a highly skilled workforce. We are excited for the pivotal role this new center will have in shaping the future of Dynon.” Source: Brad Thurow, Vice President of Engineering for Dynon, the company announced the addition of a new facility.