“To Mama Bird, With Love” was the title of a tribute to Evelyn Bryan Johnson when more than 400 people got together on May 26 to honor the 95-year-old aviatrix. Johnson became “Mama Bird” early in her long career as a flight instructor. Her students – now more than 9,000 and counting – called her […]
News
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 […]
Interest grows in B-29 at bottom of Lake Mead
A B-29 that crashed into Lake Mead in July 1948 was not found until 2002. Now, not a week goes by that officials at the National Resource Area of Lake Mead in Boulder City, Nev., do not get an inquiry from someone who wants to dive on the bomber. “I get at least two or […]
To infinity and beyond!
AERA Corp., which is developing the Altairis Rocket for civilian space travel, has started selling tickets for its maiden flight, expected to lift off from Cape Canaveral in December 2006. Altairis is designed to launch six passenger astronauts and one mission commander into space and bring them safely back to Earth. But there aren’t any […]
Coming to America: More S-LSAs are certified by the FAA
The Light Sport Aircraft field is growing. In mid-May the Hansen AirGroup received FAA certification for two Special Light Sport Aircraft (S-LSA), a Tecnam Sierra and a Tecnam Echo Super Echo. The company expects to have a third aircraft certified by mid-June. The aircraft are manufactured by S.R.L. Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam of Italy and are […]