Matters of Ability, Questions of Trust

Skydio has debuted its latest Enterprise drone, the Skydio X10—a model embodying an eminently useful synthesis of cutting-edge data-capture cameras, autonomy, and versatile hardware conducive to applications within the defense, energy, public-safety, transportation, construction, and communication sectors. The X10’s arrival at market coincides with the Western word’s fundamental shift away from Chinese manufactured Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS, colloquially, drone) platforms. 

Seven Shells for Seven Test Aircraft

Lilium GmbH, the German aerospace concern, has commenced assembling fuselages for its Lilium Jet—an eVTOL personal air vehicle the company asserts remains on track for a late-2024 maiden flight. Fuselage assembly instantiates a tangible manifestation of Lilium’s ability to see its planned eVTOL proceed from conceptualization to actualization. The fuselage currently under construction is the first of seven such structures salient to the near-term assemblies of seven flight-test and certification iterations of the Lilium Jet.

Flight Instructor Stated That The Pilot Receiving Instruction Had Been “Making Really Steep Turns” 

Analysis: The pilot receiving instruction had not flown a float-equipped airplane in 3 years, so the flight instructor considered the training flights as review. The flight instructor stated that, during their 2-hour morning flight, the pilot receiving instruction sat in the front seat and that he tended to “fly too slow” and “turn sharply.” The instructor had to “push the nose down on several occasions.” After eating lunch and refueling the airplane, the afternoon flight began, with the pilot receiving instruction sitting in the rear seat. The flight instructor estimated that they had been flying for about 1 hour when the accident occurred. 

Company Actively Supporting Replacement of Defective Parts

Oregon-based Van’s Aircraft is reviewing, testing, and finalizing a web portal by which customers in receipt of cracked aircraft parts may report such and arrange to take delivery of replacement components. In the interest of ensuring proper function, a number of Van’s customers have been invited to preliminarily assess the portal. Information pertaining to the portal and instructions for accessing such will be sent to Van’s customers upon the testing-regimen’s conclusion.

New Trainers Greener and Safer than Legacy Models

Citing parent entity Air France-KLM Group’s commitment to greener flight training, KLM Flight Academy—the Dutch flying school and wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM)—is replacing its extant training fleet with no fewer than one-dozen single-engine Diamond DA40 NG and two additional twin-engine Diamond DA42-VI aircraft. The firm order calls for the first deliveries of the antecedent aircraft to be made in 2024’s first quarter. Moreover, the acquisition will increase KLM’s fleet of Diamond training aircraft to a total 18 airplanes comprising six DA42-VI and 12 DA40 NG models.

The Makings of a Memorable 50th Anniversary Event 

Tickets are currently on sale for 2024’s SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida. Moreover, buyers availing themselves of advanced online ticket sales will enjoy fifty-percent off event parking. 2024 will mark the 50th anniversary of the SUN ‘n FUN fly in. The 09 through 14 April event will strive to honor the pioneers and volunteers by whose industry and expertise the organization has grown from a small local gathering of pilots and aircraft owners to one of the world’s preeminent celebrations of all things aeronautical.

Award Recognizes Dedication and Contribution to U.S. Aviation

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA)—the Washington D.C.-based U.S. non-profit organization—will award 2023’s Bruce Whitman Memorial Trophy to Mr. Ross Perot, Jr. The trophy recognizes Mr. Perot’s commitment to recognizing the achievements of America’s military heroes and sharing such for purpose of inspiring future generations of aviators. A native of Dallas, Texas, a graduate of Vanderbilt University, and a retired United States Air Force fighter pilot, Perot, in 1982, was the first person to successfully circumnavigate the Earth in a helicopter.

Sins of the Holly Hill Town Council

The town council of Holly Hill, a 1,277-resident hamlet in south-central South Carolina’s Orangeburg County, has promulgated an ordinance prohibiting operations of 'ultralight' aircraft massing less-than six-hundred-pounds at Holly Hill Airport (5J5). Handed down on Monday, 18 September 2023, the council’s rash, conceivably legally-indefensible fiat was predicated largely upon two aircraft accidents, both of which involved aircraft that did not meet the legal definition of an ultralight, transpired at the Holly Hill airport during the preceding 24-months.

Autumnal Applicators Making Seed Drops in Turn from Usual Sprays

The National Agricultural Aviation Association shined a light on the increasing use of airborne seeding services among the usual crop dusting community, as airdropping cover crops gains popularity. The crops - generally grasses, grains, and particularly suited strains of legumes - allow farmers to help enhance the soil quality of certain fields while enjoying a low-maintenance, simple planting process. Hardy top cover breeds can help to rejuvenate tired soils by rotation, rehydrate the ground, recycle nutrients, and add fresh organic matter to the ground below them. Aerial seeding has made an impressive dent in the amount of work needed to plant them. The NAAA says that the method is gaining in popularity, which makes sense given the seemingly warm fall this year.

Pilot Radioed The LUK Tower About 10 Miles Away From The Airport And Informed Them Of The Engine Trouble

On September 1, 2023, about 2038 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32-300, N6868D, was substantially damaged when it was involved in accident near Cincinnati, Ohio. The pilot incurred minor injuries and the three passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, she departed the Cincinnati Municipal Airport/Lunken Field (LUK), Cincinnati, OH, about 2010 for a local flight. During cruise flight, at an altitude of 4,500 ft mean sea level, the engine started to sputter and smell like burning oil.