Here’s another reason to avoid the TFRs over forest fires: Some of the aircraft up there may be unmanned. The United States Forest Service, taking a cue from other federal agencies, is exploring the idea of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to fight forest fires. The Forest Service is testing UAVs at a NASA facility […]
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Build your own airplane — from a Coke can
One of the classic crafts you will see at an air show or fly-in is a model airplane built from a beverage can. You may think to yourself, “I wonder if I could do that?” Those of you who would like to try it can get plans and even a detailed instructional video, for a […]
Back to the days of heroes
How did you spend the first summer after you graduated from college? Jared Aicher from Boise, Idaho, spent the first part of his summer flying around the lower 48 states giving rides to Young Eagles. Ideally, he wants to do a world tour giving flights to some 400 kids between the ages of 8-17. The […]
ADIZ incursion and joy rides lead to tough regs
The fallout from several recent incursions into the Washington, D.C., ADIZ, as well as the thefts of airplanes by unlicensed young people — one of whom was drunk — has begun. Knee-jerk reactions have resulted in two amendments to the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill in the U.S. Senate. The most severe, sponsored by […]
Commander Aircraft back in business after owners group buys assets
Commander Aircraft is back in business, but with a new name and a new location. A group of Commander owners acquired the assets of the bankrupt company June 29. The new company, dubbed Commander Premier Aircraft Corp. (CPAC), paid $1.7 million for the FAA type certificates for the line of four-place, high performance, single engine […]
Diamond chooses G1000 for D-Jet
Diamond Aircraft has chosen the Garmin G1000 for its new D-JET. The D-JET’s flight deck will be a three-panel system with two 10-inch primary flight displays (PFDs), a centrally located 15-inch multifunction display (MFD), FMS controller, glareshield mounted Autopilot Controller, and dual AHRS/GPS/Magnetometer sensor system. Diamond already offers the G1000 on its DA40-180 Diamond Star […]
FAA’s certification office faces cutbacks
It may take a little – or a lot – longer to get new aviation products certified if a 3% budget cut is sustained at the FAA Aviation Safety Office – formerly known as Regulation and Certification. The office is expected to lose 302 jobs through attrition in the current fiscal year, due to a […]
Seawind passes 2,000 hours
The proof of concept Seawind has logged 2,000 hours, most of them between the company’s Pennsylvania headquarters and manufacturing facility in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. Dick Silva, Seawind’s president, has flown all but 60 of the 2,000 hours. Those 60 hours were flown by a test pilot during early test flights. The company is now preparing flight […]
James Stockdale, Vietnam War hero, dies at 81
James Stockdale was a Naval aviator, a prisoner of war who earned the Medal of Honor for his heroism, a teacher, and a reluctant vice presidential candidate. He died July 5 at the age of 81, after an unsuccessful battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Vice Admiral Stockdale was a captain, commanding Carrier Air Group 16 aboard […]