SEATTLE — The National Naval Aviation Museum has granted The Museum of Flight the permanent loan of a McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C retired this year from the Blue Angels flight demonstration team. Distinguished as “Number 2” in the famous group of flyers, the big blue jet was trucked from Pensacola, Florida, to the museum. The aircraft will be partially disassembled […]
Principato tapped to head NAA
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Board of Directors of the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) has approved the nomination of Greg Principato to become the association’s president and CEO. Principato has served in numerous executive positions within the aviation and aerospace industry including president and CEO of the National Association of State Aviation Officials, president and CEO […]
Lancair crashes on dark, moonless night
The instrument-rated pilot and two passengers departed from the remote airport in Ranger, Texas, on a dark, moonless night. Two witnesses reported observing the Lancair LC40 500FG take off from the lighted runway and then turn right. The airplane’s bank angle then slowly increased to about 90°, and it subsequently descended. The airplane hit terrain 0.4 mile from […]
Picture of the day: Patriotic plane
Frequent contributor Bill Walker caught this photo of an experimental SP150 as it literally drops onto the runway at the STOL competition and demonstration at AirVenture 2016.
It’s beyond understanding, I tell ya
Imagine the plight of the first ancient mariner to point toward the horizon and say, “No more hugging the coastline for me, I’m going direct.” I think his name was Harpolos. For the purposes of this column, let’s say it was. The townsfolk must have thought Harpolos was mad. Crazy as a loon. The rational […]
New president and CEO for Mooney
KERRVILLE, Texas — Dr. Vivek Saxena has been named the new president and chief executive officer of Mooney International. Saxena, a 25-year veteran of the aerospace industry, joins Mooney from the global aviation consultancy ICF International where, as vice president, he led its aerospace operations practice. Prior to ICF, Saxena served in senior roles with Pratt & […]
Plymouth Airshow this weekend
The SocialFlight event of the week is the Plymouth Airshow and Open House Saturday, Aug. 20, at Plymouth Municipal Airport (KPYM) in Massachusetts. The airshow, which starts at 10 a.m. and goes until 2 p.m., features one of Plymouth’s own hometown heroes, Michael Goulian. Goulian will be performing in his Extra 330SC. Other activities will include helicopter […]
FAA launches NextGen benefits at KSLC
The FAA reports that NextGen is bringing new benefits to Salt Lake City International Airport (KSLC) through a technology called Data Comm. Data Comm revolutionizes communications between air traffic controllers and pilots by replacing some traditional voice communications with digital information exchanges, FAA officials explain. Voice communication is labor intensive, time consuming and can lead […]
New hangar opens at KSAF
SANTA FE, N.M. — Jet Center at Santa Fe recently opened its new 23,000-square-foot hangar. The hangar opening marks the completion of the operation’s second stage of construction after the renovation of its terminal building. Jet Center at Santa Fe now turns its attention to building a new terminal to be completed in early 2017 to accommodate the FBO’s […]