Flight Training Milestone Achieved for Association’s Most Flexible Assistance

The EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship program has seen its 500th student pilot graduate helped along the way, marking off a significant milestone for the group's most widely useful scholarship. The Ray Scholarship is funded by the Ray Foundation, but managed by the EAA. That allows it to source candidates through its network of EAA chapters, each with their own culture and community. That's a fine way to find those who have a passion for flight, but may not be able to swing the expensive costs of training on their own. Through their chapter, suitable youths can see up to $11,000 in assistance to cover their flight training expenses. This year the Ray Foundation has disbursed $1.8 million just for scholarships alone.

And Then There Was One: Aurora Flight Sciences Continues on Ground-Effect Aircraft Development

General Atomics' run at developing the Liberty Lifter ground effect aircraft has been put to rest, with their competitor, Aurora Flight Sciences, retaining theirs for the time being. The Liberty Lifter is one funky duck, as far as prospective military projects go. Looking forward to a contentious Pacific theater, DoD planners see a dire need for seaborne transport, beyond the old school's island-hopping and airstrip-chopping. The Liberty Lifter will be, if it all goes well, a gargantuan seaplane designed to fly within the cozy cushion of ground effect and debark its cargo without needing specialized dock facilities.

NS-25 Punches Through The Karman Line With Six Crew Onboard

Blue Origin has successfully completed its seventh human spaceflight and the 25th flight for the New Shepard program. The crew included: Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Kenneth L. Hess, Carol Schaller, Gopi Thotakura, and former Air Force Captain Ed Dwight, who was selected by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 as the nation’s first Black astronaut candidate but never had the opportunity to fly. New Shepard has now flown 37 people into space, including the most recent crew. 

Also: Flt School Security, G600 Steep-Approach, Honduran Aid, PW545D Cert

Two aircraft performing at the Fort Lauderdale Air Show clipped wings during a routine last Sunday, spooking onlookers. The aircraft were performing as a part of the Polaris Ghost Squadron, a team of urban-camo milsurplus jets hailing from across Eastern Europe. The Polaris Ghost Squadron features an eye-catching MiG-29, a trio of Alpha Jets, and a quartet of Albatros L39s. The US Air Force won't be bringing back a damaged B-2A Spirit bomber, further whittling away at the irreplaceable fleet of strategic aircraft. The plane in question was contrasted against one that had a minor crash in 2010. That aircraft was shipped back to Northrop Grumman for repair. The latest incident won't see the same amount of TLC, however, as a recent Force Structure Report showed that the B-2 fleet would head into 2025 one plane short. Sierra Space's Dream Chaser has been put through the wr

Event To Take Place At the U of Wisconsin Oshkosh Culver Family Welcome Center

It's ON... again! Building on last year's highly successful symposium, the Vertical Flight Society will present this year's 18th Annual Electric Aircraft Symposium (EAS), in person (and also online), in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on July 20-21, 2024 — the weekend prior to Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture 2024. Last year's rendition was a huge success with nearly 200 in-person attendees plus 38 virtual, and learning from some 50 experts. Video recordings and presentation slides are still available.

Also: Paramotor Champ's, Electric Ultralight, ICON BK Update, Burt Rutan at Oshkosh!

The Popular Rotorcraft Association is reaching out for help in rebuilding their private runway in Mentone, IN -- the home of the PRA, itself. "We are reaching out to you today on behalf of the Popular Rotorcraft Association because we need your help. We are dangerously close to losing a critical resource that if lost, will have a negative and lasting effect on the gyro community..." An interesting surprise occurred this week as Wag-Aero customers logged on to their site in order to order a few things...no Wag-Aero. Instead, the site was redirected to Aircraft Spruce, which has apparently bought out the once popular Wag-Aero operations shortly after the same operation divested itself of its interest in Leading Edge Air Foils. The Young Eagles Program has been one of the Experimental Aviation Association's best tools in their repertoire when it comes to fostering a contin

Also: New Shepard Targets May 19th, Gulfstream G700, Citation Ascend, FAA Reauth

Hummingbird's 300L helicopter was awarded "Best Helicopter" at the recent Sun 'n Fun fly-in, garnering some serious bragging rights for the design. Vertical Aviation took a brief moment to make a little victory lap for their Hummingbird 300L, noting its popularity around the show. Their display aircraft was completed by Frank McMullan and Vic Syracuse, who did a great job with a multi-layer black, red, and gold striped livery. It's a nice showing for a fresh addition to the world of kit helicopters. Hybrid eVTOL manufacturer, or better said, developer, showed off its latest flight test using a smaller-scaled version of its high-wing Cavorite X5. The short tethered test flight shows the Cavorite take off from a standstill, lifting off and testing its behavior as it gently moves through a handful of power settings and control checks. NASA, Boeing, and ULA (United

Klyde Is Reluctant To Discuss The Dirty Little Secret...

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

2024 Ray Aviation $11,000 Scholarship Awarded By EAA Chapter 534

By Ted Luebbers Isaiah Kadletz of Mount Dora, FL has received the 2024 Ray Aviation $11,000 scholarship awarded by the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 534. A formal award presentation was held on May 11, 2024 at the Leesburg International Airport prior to the chapter’s monthly Young Eagle rally to honor this conscientious young man. Isaiah has been active in Chapter 534’s aviation youth program, Squadron 534 for several years. He attends regular Saturday work sessions in the chapter’s hangar and works closely with several of his adult mentors.

Also: Axon Acquires Dedrone, 'Space Weather', SOCOM Goodies, Pivotal Awards

UVify is claiming a new Guinness World Record for the most unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) airborne simultaneously. This event took place in Songdo, Korea, where UVify orchestrated a display of 5,293 IFO drones that lit up the night sky. The fleet of IFO drones created intricate patterns and visuals above the crowd, showcasing UVify's programming and drone control technology. The record-breaking feat exceeded the previous record. Airbus has completed the acquisition of US-based Aerovel and its unmanned aerial system (UAS), Flexrotor. Flexrotor is a small tactical unmanned aerial system designed for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions at sea and over land. The AAIB has disclosed its findings after an accident befell an unmanned, remotely pilots test vehicle which suffered a forced landing following power unit failure, at