The first kit-built, turbine-powered, two-place helicopter prototype received its Experimental Airworthiness Certificate from the FAA earlier this month. The HeloWerks WASP was first flown at Sun ‘n Fun last year.
Columbia announces IPO
First time buyer? Columbia Aircraft has a new program for you: Columbia IPO, which stands for Initial Purchase Option. The play on words is deliberate, as Columbia officials say buying a new airplane is an investment. “All too often, first-time buyers purchase an aircraft similar to their trainer so they feel comfortable – six months […]
FAA announces GA Awards
Winners of this year’s General Aviation Awards, which recognize professionals for their contributions to safety and education, are Rich Stowell of Ventura, Calif., Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) of the Year; Gene Hudson of Mission Hills, Calif., Aviation Safety Counselor (ASC) of the Year; Joe Hawkins of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) of the Year; […]
Eclipse begins first customer jet
Eclipse Aviation has begun production on the first Eclipse 500 jet to be delivered to a customer. That customer, David Crowe, was there at the beginning, engaging the friction stir welding of one of the jet’s cockpit side panels and drilling window attachment holes in the cockpit frame. The jet will be delivered this summer. […]
Thielery buys Superior
Thielert AG just bought Superior Air Parts, a PMA manufacturer that recently launched its own piston engine, the Vantage Engine, the first to be certified in the U.S. in 50 years. “With its outstanding products and established brand name, Superior Air Parts is the ideal acquisition to help us enhance our market position,” said Frank […]
Cub convoy to Sun ‘n Fun
A 70th anniversary Cub convoy is planned to this year’s Sun ‘n Fun. The first convoy, sponsored by William T. Piper, Sr., to the Miami Air Maneuvers in 1936, included 82 Cubs. This year’s convoy will convene at Plant City Municipal Airport (PCM), where it will take off for a mass flight to the fly-in […]
GA accident statistics improve
Is general aviation getting safer? What is the biggest killer of pilots? These questions and more are answered in the AOPA Safety Foundation’s 2005 Nall Report. According to the latest report, which compiles accident trends in 2004, GA safety continued to improve that year. The number of total fixed wing accidents was 1,413, down from […]
A different kind of space travel
Can you imagine riding a ribbon into space like it is an elevator? “It’s possible if the ribbon is made from carbon nano tubing,” says Michael Laine, president of the LiftPort Group, which is developing a Space Elevator using the technology. “Carbon nano tubing is an ultra-strong, lightweight material. It is at least 20 times […]
On ‘Chemtrail’ and other irrationalities, including NORAD’s
If you’ve never heard of chemtrails, don’t feel badly. I thought I’d heard most of the nutty notions affecting aviation, until a friend suggested running a Google search on chemtrails. Try it. You’ll be astonished by the concept, to begin with, and the enormous number of pages devoted to it. In sum, chemtrails enthusiasts say […]