USAF Releases Inflight Photos

The Air Force is releasing dramatic inflight pix of the new B-21 Raider, now undergoing flight test. Following its formal unveiling, Dec. 2, 2022, the B-21 Raider began flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base where it continues to make progress toward becoming the backbone of the U.S. Air Force bomber fleet. The B-21 Raider was designed as a dual-capable penetrating strike stealth bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions (when you care enough to send the very best...).

Florida Airport Now Eyes Quartet of Moving Options

Naples Airport has been handed four prospective sites to move into throughout its local county, but uprooting the entire operations won't come cheap or quick. Overall, Naples Airport management is evidently planning for the move to cost something around $800 million to $1.2 billion and not be complete until 2040 - and that's just the plan, imagine how bad reality will be! The airport doesn't seem to have a whole lot of choice, however. Naples Airport, in the grand tradition of small airfields across America, was originally founded as a military facility during the war, allowing it to spring up with a good foundation, generous runways, and a well-planned layout.

The Great Plains Wing Started In The Omaha/Council Bluffs Area In 1984

Like their associates in Tampa Bay, the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Great Plains Wing has recently acquired a 1946 Fairchild PT-19. Purchased in 2023, the aircraft was officially assigned to the Wing, which is based in Council Bluffs, IA. The Unit, known for being the former home of the iconic P-51 Gunfighter, has been actively seeking ways to keep its members engaged and involved in aviation projects. The Great Plains Wing has been busy with the restoration of an Ercoupe, a project that has garnered much interest and effort from its members. However, the desire for an operational aircraft to complement the restoration efforts led the Wing to request an assignment for a flying machine in February 2023.

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Blue Origin's seventh passenger flight ended with a smidgeon of drama when one of its 3 parachutes failed to fully deploy, forcing it to rely on its remaining 2 units. That's not the worst system failure in the world, since the triple-chute system sports redundancy as a baseline, but it's always a little discomfiting to rely on a backup whenever parachutes are involved. Women in Aviation International (WAI) members and friends will honor the valiant service of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) by visiting their graves and leaving an appropriate decoration in the form of flowers or other remembrances. Textron has been granted certification of a new interior conversion for SkyCouriers, allowing operators to carry 9 pax and a load of cargo at the same time. Cessna is hoping that their new high-wing twin turboprop will find some stable

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The court has approved Van's Aircraft's bankruptcy reorganization plans, settling a stressful period for the company with some pretty optimistic news. Van's Aircraft filed its Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization back in March, setting up their ideal path to recovery amidst some very expensive challenges. One of the remaining icons of the World War II fighter pilot community has gone west... Bud Anderson, at the age of 102. Brig. Gen. Bud Anderson shot down 16 German planes over Europe in World War II and became America's last living triple ace, passing away Friday at home in Auburn, Calif. Women pilots from across the United States and around the world will take off Tuesday, June 18, from Southern Illinois Airport in Carbondale, Illinois, for a 2,610-statute mile competition across 11 states that ends Friday, June 21, at N

Legislation Establishes Bessie Coleman Women in Aviation Advisory Committee

The recent passage of the multi-year reauthorization of the FAA now sees its effects spring up around the industry, to the applause of those who got a fresh infusion of support. One group has celebrated their own return, with the members of the defunct 2022 Women in Aviation Advisory Board thanking the apparatus for bringing their own group back to life. Additionally, the WAAB won't be the only group resuscitated, since the reauthorization bill also mandates the establishment of the Bessie Coleman Women in Aviation Advisory Committee. 

Revisions to IFR, PPL, CPLL, CFI Finally Here After Years of Work

The FAA will soon put the new Airman Certification Standards into effect for a handful of outstanding certificates, capping off years of work in moving away from the serviceable but imperfect Practical Test Standards of yore. The changed ACS will include some of the bigger names in any young pilot's lineup of boss battles, with particular attention given to the helicopter folks this time around...

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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

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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

Massive Aviation News Event Started 2024 Off With a Plethora of Exciting Info

Last year, we introduced the SnF Innovation Preview in which 25 companies introduced over 30 new planes, products, engines, accessories, and more… in other words… a LOT of news. Rotax previewed the powerful 916iS, CubCrafters showcased the Carbon Cub UL, Bose introduced the A30, Aerox revealed the Boomula… and so much more. This year, we went beyond that... way beyond all that, with a larger selection of news announcements that covered ALL aspects of sport, general and commercial aviation... all at the start of the 50th Annual SUN n FUN Aerospace Expo... the undisputed start to the aviation year. This year was also a major news-breaker... especially with the announcement that the DeltaHawk Diesel engine folks were working with Piper Aircraft on an STC for the PA44 Seminole. It also hosted the first forma