On Dec. 31, Eclipse Aviation received the FAA certificate of airworthiness for its first customer aircraft, enabling its delivery for customer use, just hours ahead of CEO Vern Raburn’s long-expressed deadline. A few days later, on Jan. 4, Eclipse passed one of its most important milestones when it delivered its first customer aircraft to co-owners […]
The Evektor SportStar now boasts a 55 lbs. weight increase
The Evektor SportStar now boasts a 55 lbs. weight increase. The increased gross weight SportStar is called the “SportStar Plus.” The weight increase will give the SportStar Plus a maximum takeoff weight of 1,268 lbs., up from the original 1,213 lbs. “The increase in gross weight is a great improvement to the SportStar,” said Jeff […]
FAA has granted APIS approval to Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corp
The FAA has granted APIS approval to Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corp. for its SJ30 production line. APIS, which stands for Approved Production Inspection System, allows Sino Swearingen to inspect its own products under a system approved by the FAA. “We have been working towards APIS approval since receiving our type certificate with both of our […]
From LSA’s to VLJ’s: What’s new with Second Century Aircraft?
IndUS Aviation offered a sneak peek of some of the components that will make up the all-new Thorpedo LP at this month’s U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, Fla. (Look for a full report on the Expo in the next issue). Dallas-based IndUS plans to debut the new Light Sport Aircraft at this year’s Sun […]
PBS film honors Tuskegee Airmen
“Red Tail Reborn” is the story of the Tuskegee Airmen and of the Red Tail Project, which is restoring a rare P-51C flown by the Airmen. A documentary film by Emmy-winner Adam White, it will have its PBS television premier on Feb. 11. It is narrated by television actor Michael Dorn. The Tuskegee Airmen were […]
Groen Brothers team with Spanish city on Hawk 5
Gyroplane builders Groen Brothers Aviation, based in Salt Lake City, have agreed to form a joint venture with the government of Aragon, Spain. GBA signed a memorandum of understanding with Aragon on Dec. 14. Aragon will acquire Groen Brothers’ Hawk 5 program under the agreement, and will fund GBA’s FAA certification of the aircraft, establish […]
Former astronaut “Hoot” Gibson joins space tourism company
Former astronaut and “Rare Bear” race pilot Robert “Hoot” Gibson has signed on as chief operating officer and chief test pilot for a fledgling California space tourism company. Gibson, the first Space Shuttle commander to dock with the Russian “Mir” space station, joined Benson Space Co. of Poway, Calif., in mid-December. The start-up firm plans […]
Build A Plane teams with Wathen Foundation: Group’s mission is to promote education
Build A Plane, a non-profit organization that donates airplanes to schools, has teamed with the Thomas W. Wathen Foundation at Flabob Airport in Riverside, Calif. The new partnership is committed to developing world-class aviation education curricula to motivate students to learn science, technology, engineering and math, say officials with both organizations. “It’s really a dream […]
Pearson Air Museum’s John Nold dies
John Nold, retired operations manager at Pearson Air Museum at Pearson Field in Vancouver, Wash., died Dec. 31 from complications after heart surgery. He was 64. Nold became the museum’s operations manager after a 30-year career as a school administrator. He held the position at the museum for eight years, retiring in June 2006. “He […]