SEATTLE — The FAA STC for Raisbeck Engineering’s Swept Blade Turbofan Propellers for the King Air 350 has been officially accepted by Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). “The Civilian Aviation Safety Authority’s acceptance of the FAA STC enables Australian 350 operators to upgrade their aircraft with the powerful yet quiet Raisbeck Swept Blade Propellers,” said […]
New owner crashes Pitts
The private pilot had recently purchased the Pitts Model 12, and the flight was the second leg of his cross-country trip to fly the plane home. After the first leg, he topped off the main and auxiliary (wing) fuel tanks, which, according to the pilot’s operating handbook (POH), provided a total usable fuel quantity of […]
Picture of the day: The embodiment of grassroots aviation
Frequent contributor Albert Dyer sent in this photo, with this explanation: “Brodhead Wisconsin has an airport (C37) that is perhaps the embodiment of what grassroots aviation is all about. There is a very active EAA chapter (EAA Chapter 431). It also has a small museum housing some very, very rare aircraft and cars. It’s also known within […]
Air Racing From the Cockpit: An ethical dilemma
Dispatch from KIYA, Abbeville, Louisiana: As I turn off the taxiway for the hold-short line, I glance back over my left shoulder to watch the parade of Aeronca 7 Champions move forward. Each a different shade of yellow and red, with their stubby noses high in the air, their tails low, they look like a pack […]
Going fast on less gas
Would anyone be interested in a 250-horsepower aircraft capable of crossing the continent in just over eight hours at an average speed of 252 miles per hour while using only 61 gallons of aviation fuel, about 40 miles per gallon in cruise? That’s what California aviator Klaus Savier did the day before SUN ‘n FUN […]
The world’s smallest air show
SocialFlight.com’s Event of the Week is the 22nd Annual World’s Smallest Air Show, which will be held May 28-29 at Brian Ranch (CL13) in Llano, California. The event, which runs from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., will feature ultralight, light sport, and general aviation flying and static displays, RC airplanes, a rocket demonstration, sky divers, and other events. Food […]
Air Tractor enters RPA market
OLNEY, Texas — Air Tractor has expanded into the field of unmanned aerial systems, also known as drones or remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), with the recent acquisition of Hangar 78 UAV, and its flagship aircraft, the Yield Defender unmanned aerial system (UAS). “We have done our research, and it’s clear that aggressively investing and further developing unmanned […]
Fly Me to the Moon Contest takes off
Headset manufacturer Lightspeed Aviation has launched the Fly Me to the Moon contest, which runs through June 26, 2016. The pilot who flies the most miles during private flights — as tracked through CloudAhoy tracking and debriefing service — will win their choice of any of the four models of Lightspeed ANR headsets including Sierra, Zulu.2, Zulu […]
Air Force museum to open fourth building June 8
DAYTON, Ohio — National Museum of the U.S. Air Force visitors are invited to be a part of history during a ceremonial ribbon cutting event that will officially open the museum’s fourth building to the public on June 8 at 9:15 a.m. The new $40.8 million, 224,000-square-foot building, which was privately financed by the Air […]