IndUS Aviation offered a sneak peek of some of the components that will make up the all-new Thorpedo LP at this month’s U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, Fla. (Look for a full report on the Expo in the next issue). Dallas-based IndUS plans to debut the new Light Sport Aircraft at this year’s Sun […]
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FAA has granted APIS approval to Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corp
The FAA has granted APIS approval to Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corp. for its SJ30 production line. APIS, which stands for Approved Production Inspection System, allows Sino Swearingen to inspect its own products under a system approved by the FAA. “We have been working towards APIS approval since receiving our type certificate with both of our […]
The Evektor SportStar now boasts a 55 lbs. weight increase
The Evektor SportStar now boasts a 55 lbs. weight increase. The increased gross weight SportStar is called the “SportStar Plus.” The weight increase will give the SportStar Plus a maximum takeoff weight of 1,268 lbs., up from the original 1,213 lbs. “The increase in gross weight is a great improvement to the SportStar,” said Jeff […]
First customer Eclipse 500 delivered
On Dec. 31, Eclipse Aviation received the FAA certificate of airworthiness for its first customer aircraft, enabling its delivery for customer use, just hours ahead of CEO Vern Raburn’s long-expressed deadline. A few days later, on Jan. 4, Eclipse passed one of its most important milestones when it delivered its first customer aircraft to co-owners […]
Mayor Daley can’t touch this one: New Texas airark sports familiar name
When Doug and Vergie Meigs decided to pursue the idea of building an airpark, they knew they’d run into some confusion. That’s because most pilots automatically associate that name with the now-defunct airport in Chicago. “We typed ‘Meigs Field’ into an Internet search engine and up came the other one,” said Doug Meigs, a pilot […]
Glasair Aviation discontinues Glastar kits
You know you’ve designed a good airplane when your customers flock to that particular model. The downside is that other models may not get many orders. Such is the case at Glasair Aviation. “Since we introduced the Sportsman some four years ago, the orders for the Glastar have fallen off dramatically,” explained company spokesman Alan […]
Margery Taylor Ware, former WASP, dies
Margery Taylor Ware, who flew as a WASP during World War II, died Nov. 22 of renal failure at the age of 91. Ever a fighter, she stood up against sex discrimination, bigotry, poverty and violence all of her long life. Her father, an Episcopal minister, told her that to whom much is given, much […]
The FAA and LASIK surgery: Approval comes with many warnings
About 55% of the civilian pilots in the United States require some sort of vision correction to meet the FAA’s requirements for medical certification, according to the FAA. While glasses are the most common choice, a growing number of pilots are choosing laser refractive, or LASIK, surgery. The procedure alters the curvature of the cornea […]
Go online to speed up the process
The FAA is expected to launch MedXPress, an online system that will allow pilots to electronically complete their applicant information on FAA Form 8500-8 before going to their AME’s office, sometime soon. Yet another effort to speed up the medical process, the system is designed to be as user friendly as possible. While initially slated […]