SAN FRANCISCO — Cobalt reports it received more than $50 million in pre-orders for the company’s first two models — the Co50 Valkyrie and the Valkyrie-X — within the first 90 days. The fully certified version, Co50 Valkyrie, and the experimental version, Valkyrie-X, were publicly introduced Nov. 12, 2015. Upon opening the order book, Cobalt officials said they received hundreds […]
Aircraft
Switchblade flying car development advances
Sam Bousfield, CEO of Samson Motors and designer of the Switchblade flying sports car, recently unveiled the latest advances in the company’s multi-year program to establish a viable flying car. “The idea of landing at an airport, pushing a button to stow wings and tail, and drive to your destination not only brings us new-found […]
Cirrus unveils enhanced 2016 SR series
Cirrus Aircraft has introduced announced enhanced connectivity, design and luxury in the new 2016 SR series aircraft, delivering an experience officials say is “on par with luxury automobiles to both pilot and passengers.” Every 2016 Cirrus is delivered with a new Bluetooth audio panel that allows for phone calls and music to be wirelessly connected and […]
ADS-B now standard on new Diamonds
Diamond Aircraft Industries reports it will be equipping all newly ordered US registered DA20, DA40, DA42 and DA62 aircraft with standard ADS-B In/Out Garmin 345 series transponders. “We are very pleased to offer Garmin’s new GTX-345 series NextGen Transponders with ADS-B In/Out as standard equipment on all our new aircraft for sale in the U.S.”, said Peter Maurer, president […]
New features for TBM 900 unveiled
The 2016 version of Daher’s TBM 900, unveiled at this week’s Singapore Airshow, incorporates improvements to enhance flight envelope protection, improve warning identification and facilitate flight planning. These enhancements were introduced with Garmin’s new software release for the G1000 V15 avionics suite — which is the TBM 900’s all-glass cockpit configuration, company officials noted. Enhancements include: […]
Mooney rolls out redesigned Acclaim
KERRVILLE, Texas — Mooney International Corp. recently unveiled the latest generation of its M20, which has been designated the M20V Acclaim Ultra. The Acclaim Ultra features detail improvements to the overall fuselage, including a first-ever pilot door and composite-wrapped cabin, a clean-sheet interior design, and instrument panel enhancements. “Our customers love the performance and handling characteristics […]
GA shipments drop 4.6% in 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. — General aviation airplane shipments fell 4.6% last year, from 2,376 aircraft in 2014 to 2,267 in 2015. Billings also dropped, down 4% from $21.8 billion in 2014 to $20.9 billion last year, according to recently released figures from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Shipments of piston-engine airplanes fell for the first […]
Windecker Aircraft embarks on new aircraft design
MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Windecker Aircraft’s American R&D facility will follow up the successful restoration of a 1969 Windecker Eagle with a clean sheet design for a new composite, high performance, single engine, low wing, four-seat aircraft. The design will utilize technologies and materials that have evolved or been developed since the Windecker Eagle was certified […]
Titan-powered Kitfox makes first flight
HOMEDALE, Idaho – Kitfox Aircraft hung a 180-horsepower Titan X340 engine on an airframe and took it flying the first week of January. “Flight testing is partially complete, but so far we are seeing massive climb performance,” reported Kitfox on its Facebook page. “We are seeing numbers at 2500 fpm cruise climb and are hoping for […]