During a flight test on June 17, the innovative CarterCopter unofficially broke the Mu-1 barrier — a goal that eluded rotary wing builders until that day. Mu is the ratio of the aircraft’s forward speed to its rotor tip speed. As forward speed increases, the effective airspeed over the retreating blade decreases. At Mu-1, the […]
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Aviation stamps to take flight
Ten classic American aircraft from the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s will be doing their flying in the form of postage after the Postal Service dedicates its American Advances in Aviation commemorative stamp sheets at EAA’s AirVenture in July. The first-day-of-issue ceremony will take place in AeroShell Square July 29, beside at least six of the […]
CAF PT-26 in Georgia crash
A Commemorative Air Force World War II trainer, a Fairchild PT-26 Cornell, struck a tree and crashed at Peach State Airport near Williamson, Ga., June 16. The crash killed the pilot, James Ford of Marietta, Ga., and passenger Robert Lang, also of Marietta. Ford and Lang both were CAF members. Ford was a retired Delta […]
Curtis Pitts dies
If the Pitts Special was the standard by which aerobatic biplanes were judged for more than half a century, Curtis Pitts was the inspiration behind much of today’s sport aviation. Tom Poberezny, president of the Experimental Aircraft Association, has given Pitts a lot of the credit for inspiring him, his father, Paul, and the very […]
Russians enter LSA market with Sigma
Designers at the VVV-Avia factory in Samara, Russia, are completing the necessary paperwork to introduce the Sigma Aircraft as the newest entry in the Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) market. The airplane will be introduced to the U.S. during EAA AirVenture in July. According to its designers, the Sigma represents a conscious move to break with […]
Forecast calls for $106.7 billion in bizjets in next eight years
FAIRFAX, Va. — A total of 7,417 business aircraft valued at $106.7 billion will be produced between 2005-2014. That’s the prediction from the Teal Group in its 15th annual world business aircraft production forecast. This compares to the 14th annual forecast, which called for 6,413 business jets worth $91.7 billion to be produced in 2004-2013. […]
Total healthcare program created for bizjet engines
CEDAR KNOLLS, N.J. — The Total Healthcare Program for Honeywell TFE731 powerplants, recently launched by Jet-Care and its sister company Spectro, is being extended to cover the most popular engines from Pratt & Whitney Canada and Williams International. “Business jet operators have been asking for a comprehensive engine condition monitoring service for a long time […]
Executive Jet Management offers charter guarantee
CINCINNATI — Executive Jet Management (EJM) now offers a charter guarantee to qualified aircraft owners. “For the right aircraft, particularly Citation Xs and Excels, we can guarantee a defined number of charter hours per year, 100, 200, 300 or more, resulting in substantial revenue for the owner,” explained Albert C. Pod, president and CEO. In […]
“The Aviator” director tackles Airbus
Martin Scorsese appears to have been bitten by the aviation bug. Following “The Aviator,” last year’s biopic on Howard Hughes which garnered 11 Academy Awards, Scorsese is planning to make a documentary about Airbus. The filmmaker will co-direct a feature documentary about the European company, which recently unveiled the huge A380 aircraft. His directing partner […]