DAHER-SOCATA reports that 38 TBM 850s were delivered in 2012 – representing the fourth best year for the company’s TBM aircraft family since 1990. The 2012 deliveries bring to 622 the total number of aircraft received by customers, of which 298 are TBM 850 – the latest version of DAHER-SOCATA’s turboprop aircraft family. According to […]
Aircraft
Deliveries up slightly, billings down in 2012
WASHINGTON, DC — Last year, airplane shipments increased just .6%, while billings were down .9%, according to figures released by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). While mixed, the 2012 year-end numbers don’t reflect “the amount of development work in progress in general aviation,” said Brad Mottier, GAMA chairman. “The general aviation segment is poised […]
Wagstaff joins Excalibur 421 team
PASO ROBLES, Calif. — Aerobatic champion Patty Wagstaff has joined the Excalibur 421 team. She will be the demonstration pilot and also will be responsible for overseeing the transition training program. The Excalibur 421 features a remanufactured Cessna 421 airframe upgraded with Pratt & Whitney PT6A-135A turboprop engines. It also includes a custom Garmin avionics […]
Accurate fuel gauges for aftermarket Cirrus
REDMOND, Ore. – Pilots are taught from an early age to not trust their fuel gauges. Cies Inc. wants to change that with its TSO’d fuel senders. The Digital Fuel Level System is now available as a retrofit on the Cirrus-line of aircraft (SR20, SR22, SR22TN and SR22T). The system will measure fuel volume within 3% […]
Revenues, deliveries up at Piper
VERO BEACH, Florida — Piper Aircraft ended 2012 with a 13% jump in revenue, fueled by a 16% rise in deliveries of new aircraft. According to Piper officials, revenue from new aircraft sales in 2012 reached $148,968,967, up from $131,263,539 in 2011. The company delivered 158 aircraft in 2012, up from 136 the previous year. […]
Renegade expands to Florida
Fort Pierce, Fla. – Renegade Light Sport has purchased a 70,000-square-foot hangar at Saint Lucie County Airport (FPR). “The building is the former Micco Aircraft hangar,” said Renegade President Christopher “Doc” Bailey. “It has also been completely redone since being hammered by a hurricane a few years back.” Renegade plans to bring under one roof everything from design to […]
Taylorcraft Wing Fuel Tanks redesigned
Aero Fabricators, a division of Wag-Aero, has redesigned the Taylorcraft Wing Fuel Tank for ease of fuel line installation. The redesign includes a relocated fuel outlet to bring the outlet more in line with the original fuel tanks. The tank is for models B, B12, BC, BC12D, BCS, BCS12D, 19, F19 and F21 and has an […]
Twin Commander University slated
This year’s Twin Commander University is slated for April 25-27 in Scottsdale, Ariz. In 1996 Twin Commander Aircraft expanded its annual Service Center Symposium to include a two-day owner/operator conference dubbed the University Program. The program included “advanced seminars on pilot proficiency, powerplant maintenance, old and new systems in the airframe, safety concerns, and new […]
8,000th Van’s takes flight
On Feb. 4, Stephen Watson of Santa Clarita, Calif., took the first flight in his RV-7A, becoming the 8,000th completed RV reported to Van’s Aircraft. Watson works for the Jet Propulsion Labs in California, and chose the RV-7A despite the fact that the airplane is powered by a piston engine, with no rocket or jet […]