The first flight of the Belite Chipper with the Rotax 912UL engine was held June 19. Belite’s James Wiebe posted this video of the flight: Wiebe also released these performance observations: Initial established climb about 600 fpm; Highest climb rate seen about 830 fpm; Flaps 15°; Ailerons in droop mode; Went around the pattern several […]
Aircraft
First flight: Sonaca 200
GOSSELIES, Belgium — Sonaca Aircraft has completed the first flight of the Sonaca 200 at Brussels South Charleroi Airport. The Sonaca 200 is a single-engine two-seater designed for training and leisure flights, according to company officials. To achieve the flight tests, Sonaca Aircraft is using the second aircraft (FTA2 – Flight Test Aircraft 2) assembled in Sonaca’s factories […]
A pair of Patrols
For 23 years now, Donna Svoboda and Dennis Reynolds have traveled the country together, in different airplanes. She in her Citabria, him in his Pacer. No longer. Sort of. After nearly four years of building, Donna and Dennis now fly the skies in their matching — but different — Bearhawk Patrols. Delivery of their kits was in February 2013 […]
Lufthansa selects Cirrus for Airline Pilot Training Program
Lufthansa Aviation Training, the flight training program operated by Lufthansa Airlines, has selected Cirrus Aircraft‘s SR20 for its primary training fleet. Lufthansa Aviation Training has ordered 25 aircraft to lead its ab-initio and other flight training programs in Goodyear, Arizona. The SR20 aircraft will be used to train pilots from many of the world’s airlines, including […]
Merlin quick-build kit earns 51% approval
The FAA’s FAA’s National Kit Evaluation Team (NKET) recently evaluated the Merlin’s Quick Build Kit, and it passed by .01%, according to company officials. “You can’t get more builder-friendly than that,” says Aeromarine President Chip Erwin, from his build center in Florida, where two customers are completing their Merlin PSA kits right now. Two more […]
Turbo Skyhawk JT-A certified
WICHITA, Kansas — The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the FAA have certified the Cessna Turbo Skyhawk JT-A with Garmin G1000 NXi avionics, paving way for deliveries to customers in Europe and the U.S. Officials with Textron Aviation reported that the aircraft, equipped with the Continental CD-155 engine that runs on Jet-A fuel, has exceeded […]
Companies collaborate to develop electric bush plane
Solar Ship and Zenair have reached an agreement to convert the existing Zenair STOL (Short Take0ff and Landing) CH750 into an electric bush plane. The aircraft is recharged by either a battery swap or electric vehicle rechargers. It will not use any fossil fuel and will be available as a bush plane, float or amphibious. The electric […]
Williams to power Project Canada
ONE Aviation revealed at the Eclipse Jet Owners and Pilots Association annual convention that it had selected the Williams International FJ33-5A-12 turbofan as the engine to power the EA700 Project Canada. The Canada project was unveiled last year as an upgrade to the Eclipse 500/550. The Canada holds more fuel in a longer wing, with 2-foot extensions on each […]
Thrush Aircraft hits milestone
ALBANY, Ga. — Thrush Aircraft recently delivered the 100th 510G since the aircraft received FAA certification in 2012. The Thrush 510G is powered by the GE H80 turboprop engine, a first for both general aviation, as well as the agricultural aviation industry, according to company officials. The H80 is lighter, more powerful, and more fuel efficient than […]