Aircraft Reportedly Flipped Over While Attempting An Emergency Landing

A 1944 Supermarine Spitfire LF.IXe, MK356, participating in a Saturday afternoon airshow demonstration reportedly went down just after takeoff from RAF Coningsby, after experiencing an engine failure. The famous WWII-era plane belonged to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight program based at RAF Coningsby, according to the RAF. The aircraft reportedly flipped over while attempting an emergency landing, killing the RAF pilot, who volunteered for this duty.

Three SF50 Runway Issues Within Barely A Week

There's been a swath of accidents featuring Cirrus's much-maligned single-engine jet aircraft... and again, it seems that the bird is having problems on the ground... a lot of problems. On Thursday, May 23rd, Cirrus SF50, N83MR, experienced a brake failure while taxiing to the ramp, veering off the runway and striking a runway light. Two days earlier, another SF50 demonstrated why it is not a good seaplane when N18YF, Vision Jet G2+ Xi, experienced an apparent taxiway excursion and came to rest in the water of the sea lane at David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport (DWH/KDWH), Houston, Texas. The pilot and two passengers with their two dogs were not injured and the pilot reported a loss of braking.

Program Will Operate At The Eastern Iowa Airport

In partnership with Revv Aviation and the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID), Coe College is opening a new flight school and aviation management program. Those interested in becoming a professional pilot can complete their certification while enrolled as students within Coe's new aviation management concentration. This new concentration and program will be offered pending approval by the Higher Learning Commission. Coe reports that the need for pilots and support personnel across the aviation industry has reached a 'critical level.' There is estimated to be a 17,000 pilot gap as many are leaving the position due to age-mandated retirement, and the increase in demand is driving starting salaries near $90,000 or more.

NASA, European Space Agency Unite to Land Europe’s Rover on Mars

NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) have signed an agreement to expand NASA’s work on the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover, an ESA-led mission launching in 2028 that will search for signs of ancient life on the Red Planet. With this memorandum of understanding, the NASA Launch Services Program will procure a U.S. commercial launch provider for the Rosalind Franklin rover. The agency will also provide heater units and elements of the propulsion system needed to land on Mars. A new instrument on the rover will be the first drill to a depth of up to 6.5 feet (2 meters) deep below the surface to collect ice samples that have been protected from surface radiation and extreme temperatures.

Also: Samson Sky, CAF Great Plains Wing, New Cert Standards, Flying Start Day

There are, occasionally, blisteringly dunderheaded bits of governmental incompetence to be found with increasing regularity... but the most recent move by the Nat'l Parks Service leaves us shaking our heads and a bit ashamed of Uncle Sam. The leaders of the Arsenal of Democracy consortium had planned to execute a World War II aircraft flyover at Mount Rushmore on Memorial Day to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. It would have been grand... and NOT a sight to miss. Vertical Aviation International is worried that an NYC helicopter port is in danger of permanent closure courtesy of a recently introduced piece of legislation. The legislation, A.10224/S.9408 by Simone & Hoylman, would permanently close the West 30th Street Heliport (KJRA) within New York City's Hudson River Park. The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) has selected Roswell, NM as the new home of th

Also: ALPA Warns, Aviation Meteorology Reference, Jennifer Homendy Re-Ups, CAF Tampa Bay

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

Unveils The Responder Drone And Responder Station

BRINC has unveiled what they call the 'first ever purpose-built hardware designed for Drone as First Responder (DFR) operations,' the Responder drone and Responder Station charging nest. BRINC’s integrated DFR solution is designed to arrive at 911 calls in less than 70 seconds, give first responders situational awareness before they arrive at emergencies, deliver life-saving medical payloads, lower response times, and clear low-priority calls without ever sending an officer. BRINC claims their DFR solution can resolve approximately 25% of calls for service without dispatching personnel.

Delivers Enhanced Situational Awareness And Combat ID Capabilities For Tactical Warfighters

uAvionix and their partner R Cubed Engineering, have confirmed AIMS Mk XIIB certification of the RT-2087/ZPX-1 (ZPX-1), reportedly the World’s first AIMS-certified Mode 5 Micro-IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) Combined Transponder Receiver (CTR) and the first ever Mode 5 CTR to be AIMS-certified when paired to the newly certified KIV-79. The achievement delivers enhanced situational awareness and Combat ID capabilities for tactical warfighters in the modern battlespace with crewed and uncrewed aircraft.

Also: ALPA Warns, ASA Updates Training Logs, Florida Teen Scholarship, Aviation Meteorology

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 EAA. That allows it to source candidates through its network of EAA chapters. Women in Corporate Aviation has announced the recipients of its Spring Scholarship Program, noting that they've had a record amount of applications in the last year. All in all, WCA saw more than 300 applicants for the scholarship, meaning the group also needed a record number of graders to assess just who was most deserving of the honors. The Air Charter Association is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a new sponsored internship program. It has been termed the ACA 75 Internship Program, and will offer a 3.5-month stint where

Also: VAI v Anti-Heli Actions, Electric Aircraft Symposium, 2024 FAA Drone/AAM Symposium, Gravitymaster

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 footing