Denali Tests New GE Catalyst Powerplant, The First Clean-Sheet Turboprop in 50 Years

The Beechcraft Denali took flight today, marking its first test with the new GE Catalyst turbine engine. The milestone is a major step for the all new, all original design. With a single turboprop, spacious pressurized cabin, economic fuel burn, and advanced avionics, Textron hopes to dominate the market when released. If development proceeds without issue, Beechcraft hopes to see certification sometime in 2023. The Denali was flown by senior test pilot Peter Gracey and chief test pilot Dustin Smisor on a mid morning jaunt from the company's west campus at Eisenhower International Airport in Wichita, Kansas.

Laura Shepard, Micheal Strahan, and More To Launch

On the heels of its voyage including legendary screen actor William Shatner, Blue Origin has announced the passengers aboard the upcoming NS-19 flight. The voyage will mark the 6th flight, the 3rd human flight for the outfit this year, and its 19th overall. With all 6 of its seats filled, the occasion will also mark the first time the New Shepard, Blue Origin’s launch system, has completed a flight with a full complement of personnel aboard. Blue Origin has released the crew for the flight, including Laura Shepard Churchley, daughter of the New Shepard’s namesake, astronaut Alan Shepard. Currently serving as the Chairwoman of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees, an o

The Spirit Is Modular, Compact, Rugged, And All-Weather Capable

Peter Fuchs, CEO of Ascent Aerosystems, speaks with Aero News Editor-in-Chief Jim Campbell about his company’s unorthodox co-axial drone, the Spirit. The cylindrical drone differs from a field of quad-rotor competitors, being modular, compact, rugged, and all-weather. Fuchs says their UAS is perfect for vital operations in all conditions for public safety, defense, and any other critical mission.

Hi Fly Lands On Runway Hewn From Ice In Aeronautical First

Hi Fly, a widebody aircraft wet lease specialist, made their mark on Airbus history on November 2, 2021 when they landed their A340-313HGW on an Antarctic blue glacial ice runway. Flying from Cape Town, South Africa, to the Wolf’s Fang Runway, Antarctica, the aircraft began its seasonal service flying tourists, scientists, and essential cargo to the desolate, isolated region. With a few preparations, the 4 engine, high gross weight aircraft can ferry all the necessities for the region with its maximum gross takeoff weight of 275 tons. For those effectively stranded at the ends of the earth, that cargo capacity is gratefully accepted, bringing with it mail, fresh faces, and sometimes

Air Ambulance Service Disagrees With Inaccurate, Misleading Advertising

The National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) recommended that Air Methods Corporation modify or discontinue certain advertising claims used for its Air Ambulance Transport services. Air Methods aims to appeal the decision, with the claims challenged by industry cohorts Global Medical Response, and Air Evac EMS. The prime challenges pertain to advertising claims around membership programs and fees associated with aerial medical transport. The NAD determined that three express claims of Air Methods were designed to give prospective patients the impression that their competing operators would make patient care decisions based on whether the con

Reactivated Wide Field Camera 3 Once Again On The Job

After a period of downtime for repairs and recovery of the Wide Field Camera 3 instrumentation, the Hubble Space Telescope is on its way to full operation once again. The telescope's systems were suspended following an anomaly on October 25, with select capabilities returning in a phased process. In early November, the agency began an investigation into the cause of Hubble's instruments going into an uncommanded safe mode configuration, suspending operations without notice. While healthy by all indications, the team decided further diagnostics were warranted, and left the systems safe until the issue to be assessed further.

Drones to Record for Catalog of Shore-Based Waste Plastic

DJI will lend its expertise to AnimaMundi Ocean Data Solutions and catamaran manufacturer Lagoon to use drones as the organizations build the first comprehensive database of plastic waste on coastlines as part of the fight to catalog, assess, and hopefully reign in the immense quantity of waste flotsam around the world. DJI is providing drones to Lagoon to measure beach waste around the Carribean. Beginning with flights operated by sailors at the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers in Las Palmas, Canary Islands, the drones will gather images for AnimaMundi's automated processing to measure the scope of plastic waste pollution faster, better, and more safely than before.

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Otto Aviation has completed testing of its Celera 500L Aircraft, marking 51hours of flight time across 55 successful flights. The aircraft's final phase 1 test flight was flown entirely on sustainable aviation fuel. The Celera is expected to demonstrate fuel economy of 18-25 miles per gallon against a private jet's equivalent 3 mpg, and hourly operating cost under $330 an hour. With a 4,500 nm range, seating for 6, and a  max cruise over 460 mph at 50,000 feet, the Celera could shape up to be a powerful contender IF it can meet its targets. A

A Momentary Right Turn, Followed By A Left Turn And Increased Descent Rate Was Observed

On October 5, 2021, at 0544 eastern daylight time, a Dassault Fanjet Falcon airplane, N283SA, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near the Thomson-McDuffie County Airport (HQU), Thomson, Georgia. The captain and first officer were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as Pak West Airlines Flight 887 dba Sierra West Airlines, as an on-demand cargo flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. According to operator records, the flight crew initiated the first flight of the night at 2132 mountain daylight time from their home base of El Paso International Airport (ELP), El Paso, Texas to Lubbock Preston Smith Inte

AD 2021-24-10 Requires Replacing A Certain Oil Pump As Well As The Oil Filter And Engine Oil

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-09-04 for all Austro Engine GmbH E4 and E4P model diesel piston engines. AD 2021-09-04 required replacing a certain oil pump as well as the oil filter and engine oil. This AD was prompted by reports of an oil pump blockage on E4 model diesel piston engines. This AD requires replacing a certain oil pump as well as the oil filter and engine oil. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective December 27, 2021.

Aero Linx: Vertical Flight Foundation Scholarships Each year, Vertical Flight Foundation (VFF) scholarships are awarded to college students demonstrating an interest in pursuing engineering related careers in vertical flight technology. The Foundation scholarship awards are made possible solely by tax deductible donations that have been established and contribute to an endowment. The VFF scholarships are solely merit-based and the value of the scholarships range from $1,000 up to $6,000 (USD). The program is open to full-time students attending a university or college located anywhere in the world and regardless of a student's nationality.

Land And Hold Short Operations Operations which include simultaneous takeoffs and landings and/or simultaneous landings when a landing aircraft is able and is instructed by the controller to hold-short of the intersecting runway/taxiway or designated hold-short point. Pilots are expected to promptly inform the controller if the hold short clearance cannot be accepted.

“Today’s landmark flight is not only a significant occasion for the Denali, it’s a truly great moment for our employees, our suppliers and the customers who will be flying this aircraft. With its more environmentally friendly engine and largest cabin in its class, this is an aircraft that will change the landscape for high-performance single-engine turboprop aircraft. Today’s flight is just the beginning for what we anticipate will be a long list of important accomplishments as we prepare the aircraft for certification and customer deliveries.” Source: Ron Draper, Textron Aviation CEO, commenting after the first flight of the Beechcraft Denali.