Pipistrel, the Slovenia company that has won the NASA CAFE Efficiency Challenge three years in a row, is now developing the Alpha Trainer, aimed squarely at flight schools. The Alpha, based on the company’s Virus SW (pictured), will sport a price tag of about $83,000 (US), fully equipped. “The name ‘Pipistrel Alpha Trainer’ describes the […]
Archives for 2011
Remembrance: M. Gene Dow
By NORVAL G. KENNEDY M. Gene Dow, former editor and publisher of General Aviation News, “The Green Sheet,” died Nov. 27, at age 82. He was editor of GAN in Snyder, Texas, from 1972 through 1977, then GAN publisher from 1977 through 1983. As GAN editor, Dow wrote his GUMP (Gas Undercarriage Mixture Prop) column […]
Fascinated by helicopters?
Sporty’s has released a new app, “So You Want to Fly Helicopters” for iPad and iPhone. The app contains over 90 minutes of 3D animations and in-flight video from the team at Sporty’s Academy. It also includes the complete FAA Rotorcraft Flying Handbook, the Helicopter Practical Test Standards, two advisory circulars and a 30-question review […]
Sonex workshops hits milestone
Sonex Aircraft will achieve a milestone in 2012, holding its 50th Sonex Builder Workshop on the weekend of Jan. 28-29. This milestone comes in the kit aircraft and engine company’s 14th year of business, which has held three to four workshops a year since 1998. The Sonex Workshop, held at the Sonex factory in Oshkosh, […]
Construction on new hangar project at SUS begins
Aviation Development Group of Denver has begun construction of the first building in a multi-phase hangar complex at Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS) in Chesterfield, Missouri. The project will supply a mix of corporate and executive box hangars designed to accommodate everything from single-engine piston aircraft to mid-size corporate jets. Each hangar will include […]
CAP partners with FAA for safety training
The Civil Air Patrol has established a safety education partnership with the FAA that will provide CAP members with automatic education credits for completing safety education within the FAA’s WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program. The WINGS program is designed to address accident-causing issues that plague the general aviation community. The FAA hopes the program will help […]
Santa to help celebrate first flight
On Dec. 17, the 108th anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ famous first flight, Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive in an airplane to kick-off the Museum of Flight’s annual Wright Spirit Holiday event in Seattle. The pair will fly-in via a classic de Havilland Beaver floatplane at 10 a.m.After greeting well-wishers outside, the couple will […]
Deterioriating weather contributes to fatal accident
This December 2009 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others. Aircraft: Piper Twin Comanche. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Port Mansfield, Texas. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The commercial pilot and his passenger departed on […]
Meigs Field: Still a pyrrhic sacrifice to ‘good intentions’
With last month’s passing of Maggie Daley, Chicago’s former first lady, from power, political blogger Greg Hinz reflected on stillborn plans to turn Meigs Field, the city’s former lakefront GA airport, into a major city park. Years later: Nothing – a typical fate for big government plans and ever more so now under today’s tight […]