WICHITA FALLS, Texas — Over the course of four days in January, Carter Aviation Technologies‘ Personal Air Vehicle prototype broke five of its own records. “We set an altitude record just shy of 18,000 feet, a Mu (advance ratio) record of Mu 1.13, slowed the rotor to a new minimum of 105 rpm, achieved a level 202 mph […]
FAA proposes fine for Sierra Academy of Aeronautics
LOS ANGELES – The FAA is proposing a $204,050 civil penalty against Sierra Academy of Aeronautics of Atwater, Calif., for allegedly operating nine Cessna 152 airplanes when they were not in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations. The FAA alleges Sierra mechanics failed to inspect the planes’ seat locking pins according to the requirements of an […]
Entries now open for Cross Country Air Races
Entries are now open for the First Annual International Air Meet- Championship Cross Country Air Races to be held May 23-26, at Durant, Oklahoma. The first entry has been submitted by Jeff Barnes of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Race #411 Vans RV-6 (pictured above). Jeff is the 2013 Sport Air Racing League Gold Points Champion. His RV6, […]
Higher horsepower upgrade for Caravan floatplanes approved
Blackhawk Modifications of Waco, Texas, and Wipaire, Inc. of South St. Paul, Minn., have received FAA approval of the Blackhawk XP42A engine upgrade for Cessna Model 208 and 208A Caravans on Wipline floats. This approval enables owners of these aircraft to install a new 850 horsepower Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42A turboprop engine in place of […]
VFR into IMC kills two
Aircraft: Cessna 210. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Morgan, Utah. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: There was no record of the non-instrument pilot obtaining a weather briefing prior to departure into mountainous terrain. Weather information at the time of the flight reported mountain obscuration and precipitation. The pilot took off to pick up a passenger. After picking up […]
Pilot Report: SAM LS
SAM LS Designer Thierry Zibi and I met at Sandpiper Aviation at Meacham Airport in Fort Worth during October’s AOPA Summit. We chatted for about an hour prior to climbing aboard the tandem two-seater — named for Zibi’s son — for a flight around the area. Thierry told me SAM LS prototype we were going […]
FAA reports on drones and NextGen
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FAA has made some strides in moving towards modernization, but is behind schedule and not fully geared for some other important issues, a Congressional committee discovered Wednesday, Feb. 5, in a hearing designed to check on the FAA’s progress in the two years since reauthorization. Rep. Frank LeBiondo, chairman of the […]
Collier Trophy competitors revealed
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) has unveiled the names of the nine aviation and aerospace projects that will compete for the 2013 Robert J. Collier Trophy. For 102 years the Collier Trophy has been the benchmark of aviation and aerospace achievement, NAA officials say. Awarded annually “…for the greatest achievement in aeronautics or […]
SUN ’n FUN Radio celebrates milestone
The annual SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-in & Expo is hitting a benchmark April 1-6. Also hitting a milestone this year is SUN ’n FUN Radio. Twenty years ago, as the SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-in & Expo feted its 20th year, a media volunteer launched a new communications service for guests at the fly-in. […]