News

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University celebrated Charles Taylor’s 137th birthday on May 24 by naming one of its oldest units the Charles Taylor Department of Aviation Maintenance Science. Taylor, the Wright brothers’ mechanic and engine builder, is the man who put the “power in powered flight,” according to the department’s chairman, Fred Mirgle. Taylor’s great-grandson, Charles Taylor […]

Washington National Airport (DCA) will reopen to GA, but only for “certain precleared” operations, according to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials. The Washington, D.C. airport was closed to GA after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Congress mandated that DHS develop a security plan to permit GA operations at DCA as part of the […]

Membership for the proposed Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) museum now exceeds 1,000, but organizers want more charter members. The National WASP World War II Museum is slated to be built at Avenger Field (SWW) at Sweetwater, Texas, where the bulk of WASP training took place, according to Nancy Parrish, executive director. At first the […]

The FAA has awarded Symphony Aircraft Industries (SAI) a Type Certificate for the Symphony 160. The two-place, high-wing aircraft is produced in Canada and sold in the United States through dealerships. “The U.S. market is one of great importance for Symphony Aircraft Industries,” said Paul Costanzo, SAI president and CEO. “With the FAA Type Certificate […]

As the Eclipse 500 Very Light Jet nears certification, the price has gone up. The jet, expected to be certified in less than a year, now costs $1.295 million, up from the initial price of $837,000, which was raised in January 2003 to $975,000. According to Eclipse officials, the price increases are tied to increases […]

Starting June 1, groups of 10 or more airplanes will be granted pre-approved permission to fly in for the day to Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Fla. Individual planes will not be able to fly in, but prearranged and preapproved groups of 10 planes or more will be able to make reservations to fly […]

General aviation shipments were up 15.7% in the first quarter of 2005, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Industry billings for new airplanes rose to $2.7 billion. First quarter shipments of piston-powered airplanes manufactured worldwide increased to 432 units in the first quarter 2005, up from last year’s 394. Turboprop shipments increased from […]

During World War II, many Disney designs were used for squadron and unit patches, as well as nose art for aircraft. It began in the pre-war days — 1939 to be exact — when the United States Navy asked Walt Disney to design a badge. Disney came up with a cartoon showing a wasp with […]

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure has approved legislation that continues to apply pressure on the federal government to reopen Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to general aviation operations. H.R. 1496 would direct the Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, to allow the resumption of […]