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 […]
News
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 […]
Cirrus unveils its jet
Cirrus Design Corp. unveiled a mock-up of its much anticipated jet during a June 28 ceremony for customers at the company headquarters in Duluth, Minn. So far approximately 150 people have put down $100,000 deposits for the new aircraft. “We’re calling it a ‘personal jet,’ not because of its size, but because it’s a natural […]
FAA R&D bills moves through Congress
While other major FAA programs are bogged down in Congressional controversy, reauthorization of the agency’s research and development projects appears to be sailing through the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics. Subcommittee Chairman Mark Udall (D-Colo.) introduced the Federal Aviation Research and Development Reauthorization Act of 2007 late in June. It reauthorizes some existing projects, […]
Do-it-yourself publishing: Have a burning pasion to tell a story of flight?
Publication of aviation books has been something of a “cottage industry” almost from the beginning of manned flight. No less a figure than Benjamin Franklin self-published one of the first accounts of manned balloon flights, which he witnessed from the streets of Philadelphia. While not exactly a book – pamphlet might come closer – it […]
Beechcraft celebrates Bonanza’s 60th year: Company to commemorate75th anniversary at Oshkosh
Hawker Beechcraft Corp. will celebrate two milestones at this year’s AirVenture in Oshkosh: The 60th anniversary of the Beechcraft Bonanza and the 75th anniversary of Beechcraft. The celebrations begin with the Bonanzas to Oshkosh arrival on Saturday, July 21. More than 100 Bonanzas and Barons of all models will make the annual trek from Rockford, […]