When aviation was developing, one of the greatest challenges was finding a way to make it appealing to the masses as a means of travel. Airlines and aircraft manufacturers spent a good deal of time and money creating advertising campaigns to woo customers. “Fly Now!” is a peek at the National Air and Space Museum’s […]
News
A faster Hummingbird helo
Maximum speed for the Hummingbird helicopter has been raised to 115 knots, or 132 mph, indicated airspeed, according to an early July announcement from Vertical Aviation Technologies. For those with “the need for speed,” this modification also reduces fuel consumption, engine oil temperature and vibration at the tail rotor, said Brad Clark, president of the […]
Super-fast builder assistance for RV owners: John Nys averages less than three months each
Nys Aircraft works strictly to the FAA’s 51% rule, under which a kit airplane builder must do 51% of the work as defined by the FAA.
Build A Plane project begins in remote Alaskan village
The first five boxes containing components of a Thorp T-211 that will be built and flown by high school students has reached Hooper Bay, Alaska. Sponsored by Build a Plane, the Thomas W. Wathen Foundation, IndUS Aviation and the FAA, the Build A Plane project at Hooper Bay High School is the first in a […]
How time – and memories – fly
It got very little mention, either in the general or aviation news media, but May 20-21 was the 80th anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s historic flight from New York to Paris. In May of 1927, and for decades afterward, Lindbergh was mobbed wherever he went and anniversaries of his flight were celebrated, quite literally, in song […]
Tim Archer named head of start-up engine manufacturer in England: Industry veteran to guide development of Gemini engine
Powerplant Developments Limited of West Sussex, England, has named aviation industry veteran Timothy T. Archer president and CEO of the new company. “Having someone with Tim’s reputation, integrity and experience leading our team certainly puts us way ahead in many of our certification and marketing efforts,” said Derek Graham, chairman and co-founder of PPD. “Tim […]
Four named to Arizona Hall of Fame
Four aviation pioneers have been named to the Arizona Aerospace Foundation’s Hall of Fame: Cheryl A. Stearns, Fred J. Cone, Roger K. Parrish and Elgin Roy Newell. Stearns, a pilot for US Airways, was the first woman member of the Army’s “Golden Knights” parachute team. Cone, a Marine pilot since 1958, flew 21 different types […]
Ed Marquart, Flabab Airport pioneer dies
Edwin E. “Ed” Marquart died peacefully of natural causes early in the morning of July 4. He worked at historic Flabob Airport from 1955 until two weeks before his death, where he was among the most famous designers and builders of homebuilt aircraft. He was 85. During World War II, Marquart joined the Navy, where […]
Glass cockpits: The benefits and challenges .New report says pilot training needs to evolve
“Glass cockpits” deliver many safety benefits to GA pilots and have fueled industry growth, but pilot training must still evolve to address the safety challenges posed by Technologically Advanced Aircraft (TAA), according to a soon-to-be-released study by the AOPA Air Safety Foundation. “TAA are neither as good as proponents say nor as bad as detractors […]