Designed for a wide range of general aviation aircraft, from piston-powered to mid-size business jets, the SmartGPU will make its public debut on the new Piper M700 Fury at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024.
VFR into IMC fatal for two
The non-instrument rated pilot’s decision to commence the flight in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a subsequent loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s self-induced pressure to initiate the flight.
Picture of the Day: Over the fog
Andreas Kleeb submitted this photo and note: “After takeoff from the foggy Buochs Airport (LSZC) in a right turn to the famous St. Moritz mountain airfield Samedan Airport (LSZS) in the Swiss Alps.”
Eberhart: Somebody else’s airplanes
Formed in 1918 to make airplane parts, Eberhart gained a U.S. Army Air Service contract to rebuild British S.E. 5A biplane fighters and French SPAD S.XIII biplanes.
Largest solar array at a Washington GA airport in the works
The project, priced at $668,000, will feature a solar array totaling 87.5kW of DC power, which will be installed through a combination of solar-covered car canopies and rooftop solar arrays on the airport’s terminal building. It will be the state’s largest general aviation solar array, according to airport officials.
Another $10 million in improvements planned at KPVG
More than $10 million in infrastructure improvements are planned at Hampton Roads Executive Airport (KPVG) in Virginia, including a 36,000-square-foot hangar complex.
EAA events, activities added to ForeFlight
“Adding EAA’s more than 14,000 annual aviation events makes the ForeFlight database even more comprehensive for the thousands of pilots who rely on it for flight information,” said Ren Scott, EAA’s director of business development. “ForeFlight has always been an excellent source of flight planning and safety, but with EAA’s information it will add more reasons to fly and destinations to discover.”
Maintenance error proves fatal for two
Maintenance personnel’s failure to follow the avionics installation guidance for the oil pressure sensor, which resulted in the high-cycle fatigue failure of a line, oil starvation, and the subsequent loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to perform an adequate preflight inspection of the airplane.
Picture of the Day: Cessna sun rays
Matthew Baker submitted this photo and note: “A Cessna making a turn to final in a cloudy sunset.”