Piper Aircraft reports that all PA-46 based, single-engine turbine-powered aircraft, including the M600/SLS, M500, and Meridian, can now use Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Using SAF in a Piper turboprop will not require a change in aircraft placarding or Pilot’s Operating Handbooks.
Aircraft Spruce appointed distributor for Comant Antennas
Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. has been appointed an authorized distributor by Cobham Aerospace Communications, the manufacturer of Comant antennas, which are in use on general aviation aircraft worldwide.
Flight into IMC proves fatal for non-instrument-rated pilot
The noninstrument-rated pilot’s intentional flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and loss of airplane control.
Picture of the Day: Airport sunset
Lindsay Petre submitted this photo and note: “My helicopter CFI, Mike deMarchi, sent me this glorious sunset photo taken from the helipad at Danbury Municipal Airport (KDXR) in Connecticut.”
Questions from the Cockpit: What’s so mean about mean sea level?
Cassandra, working on her Sport Pilot ticket on the Florida coast, writes: I’ve just started my flight training, and have learned about the two different ways that altitude is expressed: AGL and MSL. Above Ground Level is self-explanatory, but I’m having a harder time wrapping my head around Mean Sea Level. I mean, I get that it’s the altitude above sea level, but what’s the “mean” all about?
NASA’s Mars helicopter completes 50th flight
“When we first flew, we thought we would be incredibly lucky to eke out five flights,” said Teddy Tzanetos, Ingenuity team lead at JPL. “We have exceeded our expected cumulative flight time since our technology demonstration wrapped by 1,250% and expected distance flown by 2,214%.”
Vietnam Memorial Week slated at Fargo Air Museum
The Fargo Air Museum has partnered with Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 941 to host Vietnam Memorial Week April 29 through May 5, 2023.
New Flight Gear iPad Kneeboard features rotating surface
“A rotating kneeboard is ideal for chart apps,” says Sporty’s President John Zimmerman. “You use landscape to view large sectionals or en route charts, then switch to portrait when you load an approach or airport diagram.”
Student pilot raises landing gear instead of flaps
The student pilot’s unintentional selection of raising the landing gear instead of the flaps during a touch-and-go landing, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in the landing gear retracting during the landing roll.