The largest gathering of P-51 Mustangs in over a decade is expected at this year’s SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In & Expo. The gathering is just part of the 30th anniversary celebrations for Stallion 51, which provides training in the World War II fighter at its base at Kissimmee Gateway Airport just outside Orlando. Every […]
Certification tests begin for Sonaca 200
Sonaca Aircraft has started assembly of the first two Sonaca 200s, a single-engine two seat general aviation aircraft, which will be used for ground and flight tests to obtain EASA certification. The first aircraft, which was assembled at Sonaca’s site in Belgium, has been entirely dedicated to ground tests. “We tested the strength of the seats, seat […]
Technicians gear up for maintenance competition
Aviation’s top technicians from around the world are gearing up to compete in the Aerospace Maintenance Competition, presented by Snap-on at the MRO Americas 2017 Convention, April 25-27, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. The competition provides certified AMTs from major airlines, MROs and OEMs, as well as military personnel and students in […]
Sales launch for flying cars
RAAMSDONKSVEER, The Netherlands — PAL-V has officially started the sales of its flying cars, the Liberty Pioneer and Liberty Sport. “After years of hard work, beating the technical and qualification challenges, our team succeeded in creating an innovative flying car that complies with existing safety standards determined by regulatory bodies around the world,” says Robert Dingemanse, CEO […]
Napa Jet Center expands maintenance services
NAPA, California — Napa Jet Center at Napa County Airport (KAPC) has been selected by Textron Aviation to add the Beechcraft Authorized Service Center authorization for the Bonanza/Baron series of aircraft to its list of FAA Part 145 authorized maintenance capabilities. Napa Jet Center’s association with Cessna goes back to the company’s founding as Bridgeford Flying Services in 1946, […]
Landing gear collapses
The pilot reported that he executed a normal approach for landing at the airport in Chicago. During the approach, he lowered the Piper PA-31’s landing gear and verified the extended position by checking the landing gear position indicators in the cockpit. Upon touchdown on the runway, the nose landing gear collapsed, and then the right […]
A plane with stories to tell
Frequent contributor Star Novak sent us this photo of Vintage Aircraft Association Chapter 16 President Ron Sipple flying his newly acquired Swift out of Gardner Municipal Airport (K34) in Kansas, on a recent warm winter Saturday. Sipple has quite a story to tell about his new plane: “The previous caretaker had this plane for about 40 […]
What mods can help boost power?
Q: Are there any practical, appropriate and compliant modifications that can be made to a 150-hp, narrow-deck O-320? For example, can the compression ratio be tweaked a bit, or are there aftermarket exhaust systems with less back pressure, or is there any porting/polishing possible to effect a tad more power to the propeller? Gordie A: […]
Court review of SMO settlement agreement requested
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has joined with five other groups and aviation businesses to petition the U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, asking the court to review the recent agreement between the FAA and the city of Santa Monica, California, over the future of Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO). […]