“Who wouldn’t want a personal fighter?” asked Rj Siegel, vice president for operations at LoPresti Aviation. Everyone wants one, it would seem. The day the company started taking orders for the Roy LoPresti-designed Fury, with absolutely no fanfare and little publicity, it took 16 firm orders for the long-awaited plane. “We’ve been selling one aircraft […]
News
Lighting the way?
Lighting the way? Many years ago an aviation savvy dad with a sense of humor informed his child that the Christmas lights he put on the house every year were there because each roof was, in essence, a landing pad. This explanation satisfied the child until she learned the significance of colors in aviation. Once […]
Eclipse resolves pre-production snags
As the first Eclipse 500 customer delivery drew near, the company issued three Customer Technical Communications revealing several problems and their solutions. Typically of Eclipse, the issues were presented in a straightforward manner. They are not expected to hamper initial deliveries by much, if at all, said Eclipse CEO Vern Raburn. Eclipse still expected to […]
The Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
“They’ve taken everything out of me that can go wrong. I ought to live forever.” — Legendary pilot Johnny Miller, who is still flying at 101. “We have to rethink the culture of training. Instead of how quickly can a person solo, it should be how safe are they when they solo.” — Cirrus Design […]
“Preemptive Strike”: What if America had bombed Japan before Pearl Harbor?
If you think the United States of America never considered a preemptive strike until the current fights in Afghanistan and Iraq, “Preemptive Strike” is for you. Author Alan Armstrong practices aviation law in Atlanta. If he researches his cases as deeply as he researched this book, you want him on your side. Five appendices, extensive […]
Van’s LSA makes first flight
Van’s Aircraft has officially entered the Light Sport market with the flight of its RV-12. During AirVenture 2006, the staff of Van’s informed the crowd that the LSA, to be known as the RV-12, was in the works. They predicted first flight in the fall of 2006. On Nov. 9 Van’s CEO Richard “Van” VanGrunsven […]
NTSB investigates first crash for AiShare Elite
NTSB continues its investigation of a Cirrus SR22 that crashed Nov. 30 while on approach to Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina. Killed in the crash was George Vrana of Atlanta. This was the first crash for AirShares Elite, a GA fractional company that has a fleet of 50 Cirrus planes and 240 owners, […]
Cirrus sells record 529 planes in 3rd quqrter
Cirrus Design Corp. continues to report good news. The company sold a record 529 planes in its third quarter. The company credits the creation of a worldwide sales network for the jump in sales. International orders accounted for 24% of all business through October, up from 5% in 2002.
New interpretation of “known icing conditions” by FAA could ground GA aircraft during the winter
A new interpretation by the FAA of “known icing conditions” could ground GA aircraft during the winter, alphabet groups warn. The new interpretation says that “high relative humidity” constitutes known icing conditions, so pilots in high relative humidity conditions when the temperature is near or below freezing must fly an aircraft with deicing equipment. The […]