Airplane shipments through the first quarter of 2025, when compared to the same period in 2024, saw piston airplanes increase 19.3% with 353 deliveries, turboprops increase 23.1% with 133, and business jets increase 11% with 141.
LightHawk’s 50 in 50 Challenge returns
Every mission is made possible by LightHawk’s experienced volunteer pilots, each with over 1,000 hours of pilot in command time. These pilots donate their time, skills, and aircraft to fly missions that accelerate environmental progress.
Sporty’s introduces new CFI Test Prep Course
The all-digital course features scenario-based questions, oral exam prep, and test-specific study guides, designed to help applicants teach themselves the material, not just learn it, according to Sporty’s officials.
First cross-country after maintenance ends in crash
Probable Cause: The partial loss of engine power due to maintenance personnel’s failure to ensure that the ignition harnesses were properly secured and the pilot’s inappropriate pitch control inputs, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and subsequently entering an aerodynamic stall.
Picture of the Day: Sunset strip
Karyn King submitted this photo and note: “Traveling from Chandler, Arizona, to Washington state, I snapped this photo of a black and white Pilatus with an orange sunset reflection just before the rain. Taken at Eastern Oregon Regional Airport (KPDT) in Pendleton.”
EAA’s One Week Wonder added to collection at National Air and Space Museum
“This airplane will impress visitors with the innovation and technology that is everywhere in the homebuilding movement and recreational aviation,” said Russell Lee, curator of homebuilt aircraft at the National Air and Space Museum. “Although one of the smallest airplanes displayed at the Udvar-Hazy Center, its power to excite visitors about the freedom of flight equals the largest aircraft displayed here.”
Volunteers help clean up storm-ravaged North Fox Island
Volunteers from the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) have met several times at North Fox Island Airfield (6Y3) in Michigan to help clean up the airfield after an early spring ice storm downed several hundred trees, many along the turf runway.
Piper Pilot 100i flight sim debuts
ALSIM has introduced its new Piper Series with the AL100i, designed to replicate the Piper Pilot 100i training aircraft.
Truck vs. Cessna 172
The truck continued to hold short all the way until our landing. After my student touched down and was taking out flaps and applying full power (we had rolled about halfway down the runway at this point), the black pickup truck drove across the runway right in front of us.