Despite the Scaremongering Media Headlines, Things End Well for Polaris
Two aircraft performing at the Fort Lauderdale Air Show clipped wings during a routine last Sunday, spooking onlookers with the hint of a tragedy. The aircraft were performing as a part of the Polaris Ghost Squadron, a team of urban-camo milsurp 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 L-39s. In their recent incident, the team pulled just a little too close during their Fort Lauderdale routine, touching tips but preventing any worse damage from occurring.
European Certification Paves the Way for Increased Deliveries
Gulfstream has confirmed that the Gulfstream G700 has received European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) type certification, following the aircraft’s FAA type certification on March 29. “The Gulfstream team is proud to add EASA to our growing G700 certification accomplishments,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “During the flight test program, we took the G700 across the globe, and the response to the aircraft’s cabin size, flexibility and performance has been outstanding. This EASA certification unlocks G700 deliveries for many more of our international customers, and we are excited to see our next-generation fleet grow around the world
NASA, Boeing, and ULA (United Launch Alliance) teams continue working remaining open tasks in preparation for the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test to the International Space Station. The teams now are targeting a launch date of no earlier than 4:43 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 21, to complete additional testing. On May 11, the ULA team successfully replaced a pressure regulation valve on the liquid oxygen tank on the Atlas V rocket’s Centaur upper stage. The team also performed re-pressurization and system purges, and tested the new valve, which performed normally.
Citation Ascend Business Jet Was Unveiled During EBACE 2023
Textron is promoting the continued advancement of the Cessna Citation Ascend program following the successful completion of numerous certification tests and more than 350 flight test hours. The Citation Ascend business jet was unveiled during 2023 EBACE and the aircraft is expected to enter into service in 2025. “The success of the program to date highlights the skill and commitment of our teams in designing and delivering the best aviation experience for customers.”
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 ha
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 cr
Waterbury-Oxford Airport Open for Business This Summer
Clay Lacy Aviation is hard at work prepping their newest FBO and hangar at New York's Waterbury-Oxford Airport (KOXC), with plans to open it this upcoming summer. The facility will offer visitors more than 120,000 square feet of new hangars, giving big corporate jet operators enough space to operate while they pass through the populous northeastern region. "The facility still has room to accommodate more super-mid, large-cabin, and ultra-long range jets," said David "Buddy" Blackburn, Chief Business Officer for Clay Lacy FBOs.
Denton Program Continues to Make Best of Extra Space
The US Air Force unloaded 12 pallets of humanitarian cargo at a Honduran air base this month, under the long-running Denton Program, a DoD transportation effort. The program serves a number of functions, often fulfilling humanitarian goals for hot spots around the world, using space available on already scheduled flights. It's a pretty efficient system, overall, with little cost added to trips that are already going to be taken - delivering donated goods, no less.
Also: 'Space Weather', USAF Rescue, Atlanta Warbirds, WestJet Encore Pilots Vote NO
The Perris SkyDive DC-9 is ALIVE! Following initial test flights and practice landings that were flown by a flight crew that had to be brought in all the way from Florida, the California DZ put the DC9 back in service and made at least three jump runs on Saturday, taking about 60 jumpers each to about 15K'. 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 afte
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
Also: SkyReach Parts Support, Piper Service Ctr, Airliner Near-Miss, Airshow London
The Judge overseeing Icon's convoluted Chapter 11 process has approved $9 million in Chapter 11 financing and set a June asset auction for the Icon A5 Program -- and said that objections had apparently been resolved (for the moment) by shareholders who claimed (not surprisingly) that Icon was being sold to an 'insider.' Judge Craig T. Goldblatt gave final approval to Icon's (DIP) debtor-in-possession financing and approved the sales schedule... but has yet to approve that previously disclosed stalking horse bidder. On April 12, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern Dis
Site to Sport Blended Sustainable Fuels Across the Board from Here on Out
Signature Aviation has announced that its Los Angeles International Airport location will now offer nothing but blended Sustainable Aviation Fuel, doing away with traditional Jet-A from pure, fresh petroleum stock entirely. While the overall news sounds quite progressive, some non-industry headlines applauding the change to "100% SAF", it should be noted that there's an asterisk there: it's 100% blended SAF, not quite the purely sustainable, freshly synthesized, eco-friendly stuff one imagines.
Also: NBAA on FAA Reauth, DJI AG Drones, HI Insurance Bill Defeated, SPSA Airtankers
The Beechcraft Denali continues moving forward towards certification, having received its FAA Type Inspection Authorization early this year. Textron advertised that their single-engine turboprop competitor has logged more than 2,000 flight test hours across 830+ flights, on track for completion in 2025. Aerodyne, a new gyroplane manufacturer, will be commemorating its entry into the market with an attempt at setting some records as it runs a lap around the United Kingdom. Founder, executive chairman, and pilot Rangaraja Iyengar will make a full lap around the whole
Also: NBAA on FAA Reauth, DJI AG Drones, HI Insurance Bill Defeated, SPSA Airtankers
The Beechcraft Denali continues moving forward towards certification, having received its FAA Type Inspection Authorization early this year. Textron advertised that their single-engine turboprop competitor has logged more than 2,000 flight test hours across 830+ flights, on track for completion in 2025. Aerodyne, a new gyroplane manufacturer, will be commemorating its entry into the market with an attempt at setting some records as it runs a lap around the United Kingdom. Founder, executive chairman, and pilot Rangaraja Iyengar will make a full lap around th
Also: Vertical Flight Society, NBAA Maintenance Conference, GA Honored, AMT Scholarship
For the first time, students from Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach, Florida, campus took top honors at the AIAA Design/Build/Fly (DBF) Competition, held in Wichita, Kansas. A second Embry-Riddle squad, this one from the Prescott, Arizona, campus, also placed among the top teams, earning eighth overall. The Leadership in Flight Training, or LIFT Academy, has expanded its training fleet with a recent order with Diamond Aircraft, bringing on 56 new planes. The deal sees LIFT gain 50 new single-engine DA40s, and 6 twin-engine DA42s. The training facility has continued to exp
Also: Skydio Chief, Uncle Sam Sues, Dash 7 magniX, OR UAS Accelerator
US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall was given a turn around the patch in the 'X-62A Variable In-flight Simulation Test Aircraft, or VISTA, to illustrate just how far autonomous aircraft have come. The aircraft sounds much snazzier than it is in reality, being a 30-year old, 2-seat F-16D with a nifty paint job and an R2-D2 in one of the seats. The aircraft has long been in the US Air Force Test Pilot School, where it received modifications for multi-axis thrust vectoring and aerodynamics. AgEagle Aerial Systems will ship 40 of its eBee VISION systems, along with 9 more eB
Wing Leading Edges Exhibited Minor Impact Marks From Exiting Engine Debris
On July 20, 2023, at about 1:42pm local time, a Lancair Legacy airplane, registration number, N707NM, powered by a single Pratt & Whiteny Canada PT6A-42 turbopropeller engine experienced an uncontained engine failure while enroute from the Rapid City Regional Airport (KRAP), South Dakota to the Rochester International Airport (KRST), Minnesota. The pilot declared an emergency, started a gliding descent into KRST, and made a successful landing without power.
From 2022 (YouTube Version): Engine Company Challenges Convention—and Wins
Viking Aircraft Engines, the Edgewater, Florida-based manufacturer of piston aircraft engines, has fashioned a seemingly humble business-model into a genuine, and genuinely American success story. Viking’s praxis is simple. The company buys new and gently-used, late-model Honda automotive engines, and converts them to aircraft powerplants. Conversion, however, is no simple feat. In point of fact, it’s a downright complex process comprising extensive modification of the engine’s cylinder heads, valve-train, cam chain, pistons, oil-syste
Aero Linx: Alaska Airmen's Association
The Alaska Airmen's Association includes over 2,000 members—we are one of the largest General Aviation communities in the country. We strive to promote aviation, enhance safety and support initiatives that benefit pilots and grow the aviation community. Whether you're a veteran pilot or you've discovered a passion for aviation, the Alaska Airmen's Association is proud to welcome new members who share the wonders of flight in the Last Frontier!
As the preeminent online aviation news resource out there, the editorial staff at Aero-News sees a large number of news releases. We look at all of them, and can usually tell whether something merits publishing consideration within reading the first couple of paragraphs. Often, however, a new and innovative product can be overlooked because of the very words written to promote it, by the very people who created it.
Instrument Runway
A runway equipped with electronic and visual navigation aids for which a precision or nonprecision approach procedure having straight-in landing minimums has been approved.
"Knowing that we play an active part in bettering people's lives is extremely rewarding. My team and I are very thankful for the opportunity to be here and to help in any way we can."
Source: Captain Triston Dillard, the 612th Air Base Squadron's logistics flight commander, touting the role their troops played as the US Air Force unloaded 12 pallets of humanitarian cargo at a Honduran air base this month, under the long-running Denton Program, a DoD transportation effort.
Kit Helicopter's A-Game Gains Recognition at Spring's Biggest Fly-In
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, straddling the best of homebuilt experimental and certificated aircraft.
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. It validated the Cavorite's yaw control system, as well as demonstrated to a small degree how stable and effective the aircraft is while taking off in VTOL mode.
Blue Origin has announced its anticipated launch date for the NS-25 mission, taking off from Launch Site One in West Texas on Sunday, May 19th. The New Shepard mission will see 6 passengers through Blue Origin's seventh human spaceflight. The group will include Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Kenneth L. Hess, Carol Schaller, Gopi Thotakura, and former Air Force Captain Ed Dwight.
35 Percent Sustainable Blend Shows Just How Quickly the Industry Embraces Tech
Sustainable aviation fuel has been procured for the upcoming European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE2024) in Geneva, Switzerland. The Sustainable Aviation Fuel sourced for EBACE comes from Jet Aviation, offering a 35% SAF blend for the third year running. It's not the highest titration they have around, but that's 35% less virgin petroleum per gallon, and it can add up quickly.
Drone App Offers Easy Integration for Enterprise Add-Ons
FlytBase, a platform designed to support and coordinate enterprise drone operations, has announced the addition of 'Flinks', or FlytBase Links, an API allowing third party applications and devices to work with the app and expand their scope of business capabilities. Flink acts as a unifying layer, where organizations can "create end-to-end automated workflows and conduct fully autonomous, safe, and efficient drone operations. FlytBase knows that its biggest and most active commercial users have to herd a lot of cats when flying for pay, planning out their operations, checking legality, ensuring traffic awareness, maintaining their aircraft, and fulfilling the mission.
The Air Charter Association is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a new sponsored internship program, supporting its UK compatriots with enhanced career opportunities as they forge their path into the industry. It has been termed the ACA 75 Internship Program, and will offer a 3.5-month stint where youths 18 to 25 get "expert training, hands-on work experience, a competition project, and a networking and awards presentation event." The Association is accepting applications through June 10th, 2024. Details can be found on their website.
Robert (Bob) Anderson Hoover was a fighter pilot, test pilot, flight instructor, and air show superstar. More so, Bob Hoover was an icon of American military and civil aviation, and a man whose achievements in and out of the cockpit stand with those of Wiley Post, Richard Byrd, Chuck Yeager, Albert Scott Crossfield, and John Boyd. Hoover flew Spitfires in the United States Army Air Force during the Second World War. In 1944, he was shot down off the coast of France and held for over a year in a German POW camp. Ill-suited to captivity, Hoover escaped his Nazi captors, eventually
Airplane Flew Over The Top Of (Witness) From The East To The West, Then Entered A Nosedive
On April 30, 2024, at 1418 eastern daylight time, a Zodiac CH-601 HDS airplane, N6271F, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Bristol, Indiana. The private pilot and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot’s wife reported that he and the passenger intended to fly to Branch County Memorial Airport (OEB), Coldwater, Michigan, for lunch and then return to Elkhart Municipal Airport (EKM) Elkhart, Indiana, where the airplane was hangared. She stated that this was a very popular flight for the pilot, and he usually returned within
Aero Linx: B-52H Stratofortress
The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet. It can carry nuclear or precision guided conventional ordnance with worldwide precision navigation capability.
Are you on Instagram yet? It's been around for a few years, quietly picking up traction mostly thanks to everybody's new obsession with mobile photography. Instagram is a social networking app made for sharing photos and videos from a smartphone - which has lent itself well to the news industry. Did you know that approx. 62% of adults in the United States get their news from social media? That’s more than you thought right! Aero-News Net
Altimeter Setting
The barometric pressure reading used to adjust a pressure altimeter for variations in existing atmospheric pressure or to the standard altimeter setting (29.92).
"Over the past several months, Horizon has made incredible progress. I am continually amazed with the technical aptitude of our team as it clears one engineering hurdle after another. The transition flight testing program has taken significant strides forward, with the aircraft demonstrating impressive stability and control all the way from hover to approaching transition speeds."
Source: A company statement made as the Hybrid eVTOL manufacturer, or better said, developer, showed off its latest flight test using a smaller scaled version of its high-wing Cavorite X5.
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 l
Someone Must Have Screwed Up Somewhere, Because These Talkin'-To's are Rare!
The Young Eagles Program has been one of the Experimental Aviation Association's best tools in their repertoire when it comes to fostering a continued culture of aviation, but it doesn't come for cheap. The EAA has only been able to keep it running with the blessing of its insurers, which brings about all the usual restrictions underwriters require. While flying Young Eagles, pilots must complete their flights in daytime VFR conditions, retain full control over the aircraft throughout the flight, and refrain from any aerobatics, a rule that extends to even unusual attitudes and formation flights.
Endurance Format Highlights Airmanship, Skill, Planning, and Navigation
The FAI has announced the first event in a brand-new series of championship races geared towards paramotor pilots who want to stay aloft and take the long way home, with the first big event coming next August. The FAI World Endurance Paramotor Championships have their roots in Estonian pilot Papa Kolar's concept in 2010, where he envisioned a competition focused on extended airtime and strategic power management over strict speed.
With Testing Soon Complete, Launch Preparations Begin in Earnest
Sierra Space's Dream Chaser has been put through the wringer at NASA's Glenn Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio, but with testing passed, it will soon head down to its launch site in Florida. The Dream Chaser has been put through just about everything NASA can test it on, checking out its survivability and robustness to ensure it's ready for duty in the harsh environs of space. A 5-week campaign of shock testing helped to ensure the Dream Chaser and its connected cargo module, the Shooting Star, could remain connected even in the worst conditions.
Unusual Offering Comes Across the Public Auction Block
The University of Wisconsin-Madison listed a surprising bit of public surplus in the form of an Aeromarine Electrolyte, a converted Zigolo ultralight that runs on pure battery power. The aircraft has evidently never been flown while in the University's care, despite some indication that the Zigolo type had been pressed into service with their Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. Back in 2018, the school had issued a short press release about a similar ultralight Zigolo MG12, expecting to press it into use with low-level atmospheric data gathering.
There Are Approximately 4,600 PW500 Series Engines In Service
Pratt & Whitney Canada's PW545D engine is one step closer to entry into service with type certification granted May 9 by Transport Canada Civil Aviation. In May 2023, Textron Aviation announced its new Cessna Citation Ascend business jet would be powered by twin PW545D engines. "As the latest derivative in the PW500 engine family, we look forward to the Ascend's entry into service," said Cedric Gauthier, vice president, Sales and Marketing, General Aviation, Pratt & Whitney Canada.
Can Fly 6,600 Nautical Miles At Mach 0.85 Or 5,600 NM At Mach 0.90
Gulfstream has announced that the G600 has been certified for steep approach to landing by the FAA, opening access to more airports around the world. The G600 has successfully demonstrated its steep-approach capabilities with low-speed handling and short-field landings at London City Airport in England and Lugano Airport in Switzerland. These challenging airports require steep-approach operations, as London City has a short runway and Lugano is located in the mouth of a valley.
Pipeline Patrols Easier Than Ever Thanks to Newfangled Tech
A power company in Ohio advertised its new fleet addition, a suite of infrared imaging equipment recently installed on its helicopters flying the lines. FirstEnergy has been forced to undertake patrols for years using nothing more than the standard-issue mark I eyeball, ensuring that vegetation had not grown to encumber their transmission lines. Pipeline patrol has traditionally worked that way - low-level overflight all along thousands of miles of wiring, close enough to distinguish overgrowth from canopy.
The NTSB's recent preliminary report on a Purdue Aviation PA-28 now hints that the 20-year-old student committed suicide. Last month, a Purdue Aviation Piper PA-28 took off from the school's home airport in Lafayette, Indiana for a local night flight. The student first finished some pattern work, completing 4 laps of practice landings before heading northwest to a less populated area. Once in that area, track data shows the student made numerous turns before the system stopped reporting. The crash site was found the next day, and isolated to begin the investigation. After recovering the wreckage and the pilot's remains, the study began.
Continued In The Left Turn, At About 200–300 Ft Above The Ground, For About 30 Seconds And Crashed Into The Top Of Mature Oak Trees
On May 2, 2024, about 0713 eastern daylight time, a Raytheon Aircraft Company A36 airplane, N629BE, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Augusta, Georgia. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Initial Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) track data revealed that the flight departed runway 5 at Daniel Field Airport (DNL), Augusta, Georgia, at 0712, destined for Tweed/New Haven Airport (HVN), New Haven, Connecticut. The airplane proceeded on runway heading for about ½ nautical m
From 2016 (YouTube Version): The Super Petrel LSA Is Here To Stay...
At the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo 2016, we learn that a biplane is not necessarily a piece of history from the golden age of aviation. ANN News Editor, Tom Patton, paid a visit to find out more about the Super Petrel, a modern amphibious biplane. In this video, Tom talks with David Kyrk, the Director of Sales and Marketing for Super Petrel USA. Kyrk tells us that the airplane has actually been around for about 20 years, and they have just opened a new production facility
Aero Linx: South Carolina Aviation Association (SCAA)
SCAA actively promotes aviation growth through airport development and safety to meet the air transportation and economic development needs of South Carolina. The South Carolina Aviation association is South Carolina’s only state-affiliated group for aviation professionals and enthusiasts.
Aero-News relocated its Global Headquarters from one aviation centric location some time ago... near Northeast Florida Regional Airport in St. Augustine... to a spot near both Cecil Field and Herlong Airport.
Aero-News Network
1335 Kingsley Ave., #831,
Orange Park, FL, 32067.
863-299-8680
"The great thing about the new Endurance format is that it gives more airtime. Pilots who are travelling a long way to compete want to spend less time at the airfield and longer in the air. With the longer flight window, wider competition area and less pressure at take-off, it is attractive to a broader audience. Those who have flown it, have loved it."
Source: FAI Event Director Barney Townsend, a 3-time veteran of the World Paramotor Championships, discussing the first event in a brand-new series of championship races geared towards paramotor pilots who want to stay aloft and take the long way home, with the first big event coming next August.
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 reconnaiss
Hi Folks...
This is a special issue of the Propwash newsletter, dedicated only to its being a personal message from the ANN gang to you. I promise not to do this too often, but hope that I can impose on you for a few minutes in order to seek your continued support. We'd like to make one last pitch for book orders while they might affect the total print order. We have sent this book to the printer and are in pre-press prep right now (proofs expected today)... and the more we can add to the print tally, the more cost-effective our printing prices (per book) become.
As you
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