BLR Aerospace has received FAA approval of its LED Lighting System for installation on King Air 90s equipped with BLR Winglet Systems. The FAA-certified advanced light-emitting diode (LED) system is now available for Beechcraft King Air 90s, King Air 200s, King Air 200GTs, King Air 250s, and King Air 300s equipped with BLR Winglet Systems. […]
Steep turn leads to stall
Aircraft: Beech Bonanza. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Lake in the Hills, Ill. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: A commercial pilot accompanied by a CFI was practicing touch-and-goes. The commercial pilot, 82, did not hold a medical certificate at the time of the accident. On his most recent application for a medical, he reported 18,077 hours, of which […]
Parks Service to operate Pearson Air Museum
Despite attempts at mediation, the Pearson Air Museum near Portland, Ore., will remain under the control of the National Park Service. In February 2013 the NPS, citing concerns about operations at the museum, which is on NPS property, ordered the Fort Vancouver National Trust, which operated the museum, to turn over the keys to the […]
Using thoughts to control airplanes
Pilots of the future could be able to control their aircraft by merely thinking commands. Scientists of the Technische Universität München and the TU Berlin have now demonstrated the feasibility of flying via brain control — with astonishing accuracy. Imagine this: A pilot is wearing a white cap with myriad attached cables. His gaze is concentrated on […]
US House Committee fuels future of unleaded avgas
The U.S. House Appropriations Committee last week approved funding to support continued research into the transition to unleaded avgas for piston-engine aircraft. According to a report on the National Business Aviation Association website, the appropriation was part of the larger fiscal year 2015 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development funding bill, which was approved on a […]
Characters from Disney’s ‘Planes’ team with Smokey Bear
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In an effort to educate Americans about how to prevent accidental wildfires, Disney is joining the Ad Council, the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) to launch a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs) featuring characters from upcoming animated film “Planes: Fire & Rescue.” The PSAs […]
Engines find a home of their own
As a part of its new 175,000-square-foot hangar construction project in Lincoln, Nebraska, Duncan Aviation is dedicating 4,050 square feet just to engines. And according to James Prater, manager of turbine engine services, when you double shop space, good things happen. “We’ve only been in the new shop for a few months, but have already […]
Quicksilver confirms large Chinese order
TEMECULA, Calif. — Quicksilver Aeronautics reports it signed a distribution agreement resulting in an order for 77 aircraft in May. The first two aircraft are in the manufacturing process in Quicksilver’s Temecula factory and will be shipped to China for final assembly, testing, and training of Chinese technicians. “We have been pursuing quality contacts in China and […]
iPad apps released for TBM
DAHER-SOCATA has released a new app for customization of the TBM 900’s cabin interior, as well as the updated versions of its three primary apps — all available at no cost for the Apple iPad. The new app, called the “TBM 900 Interior,” is a virtual configurator that allows the user to visualize various configurations for a TBM […]