Since the HAI Heli-Expo is ongoing at this time, we expected quite a bit of helicopter news... but the announcement that Leonardo has acquired the Kopter program is a bit of a surprise... and probably a welcome one to the folks who have been developing the SH09 Kopter program over the last decade.
Leonardo has signed a contract with Lynwood (Schweiz) AG to acquire 100% of Kopter Group AG. This move allows Leonardo to further strengthen its position in the rotorcraft sector. Kopter’s SH09, a new single engine helicopter, is lauded as a perfect fit for Leonardo’s product range. Bearhawk Aircraft’s first two Bearhawk Companion kits have arrived at their respective customer’s hangars. It is a side-by-side two-place aircraft that is STOL capable, cruises at 130–150 MPH, and carries from 950 to 1,150 lb. of payload. The Companion joins the Bearhawk aircraft lineup -- which ranges from 1,320 lb. (LSA) to 2,500 lb. gross weights with two or four seats. Bearhawk aircraft feature aluminum wings completely flush riveted, a super strong steel tube fuselage, and fast cruise speeds with excellent slow speed manners. The Collings Foundation will proceed with its 2020 "Wings of Freedom" tour, but it will do so without offering the opportunity to fly aboard its historic warbirds.
The voluntary "Stand-Down" has been put in place as part of an agreement with the FAA following an accident last year that fatally injured seven people and destroyed the Foundation's B-17. Collings Foundation Hunter Chaney said that for now, only ground tours of the organization's B-24 Liberator bomber and P-51 Mustang fighter will be available to the public. However, he explained that the revenue from the flight experiences is vital to the maintenance of the aircraft, and he hopes that the "living history" flights will resume "in the near future." All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne!!!
Airborne 01.29.20 is chock full of info in this Daily News Episode, Wednesday, January 29th, 2020... Presented by Aero-TV veteran videographer and Airborne Host Sophie Hurlock. Sophie is supported by ANN Chief Videographer Nathan Cremisino, as well as ANN CEO/Editor-In-Chief Jim Campbell. This episode covers:
- Leonardo Acquires Kopter
- Bearhawk Aircraft Announces First Deliveries Of New Bearhawk Companion Kits
- Collings Foundation Undertakes Voluntary Standdown
- JJ Frigge Promoted To President Of Hartzell Propeller
- Houston, We Have Cookies
- Valiant Air Command Museum Postpones Airshow
- AEM Caution Warning Panel Selected for Enstrom 480B
Get Comprehensive, Real-Time, 24/7 coverage of the latest aviation and aerospace stories anytime, at aero-news.net. And be sure to join us again tomorrow, for the next edition of "Airborne Unlimited" here on Aero-TV. Thanks for watching. See you, again, tomorrow!
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