The Perlan 2 glider, an engineless aircraft designed to reach the edge of space, will – weather permitting – attempt its first flight Wednesday, Sept. 23, at Robert’s Field at Redmond Municipal Airport in Oregon. This is the first test flight for the Perlan 2 glider, which will attempt to set a new world altitude record for any […]
Aircraft
Flying Just Aircraft’s SuperSTOL Stretch XL
How do you improve on a popular backcountry aircraft design? If you are the folks at Just Aircraft, you make it larger and with the ability to support a more powerful engine. That best describes Just Aircraft’s SuperSTOL Stretch XL. The red high-wing, tailwheel-equipped airplane mounted on tundra tires stole the show when it debuted […]
TriFan 600 takes off as crowdfunding soars to $4 million
DENVER, Colo. — In just two weeks, equity crowdfunders have reserved shares for more than $4 million via StartEngine.com/Startup/XTI to support development of an airplane with the speed, range, and comfort of a business jet and the ability to take off and land like a helicopter. XTI Aircraft Company (XTI) is pioneering the use of […]
Van’s ships 1,000th RV-12 kit
On Aug. 27, the shipping department at Van’s Aircraft had several orders to fill. By the end of the day, it had rolled out the 937th RV-12 kit empennage package onto the shipping dock, where it was picked up by a customer from Washington state, Richard Bangsund. What’s the significance of 937? Combined with the S-LSA […]
Cirrus Jet enters final stages towards certification
The FAA has issued Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) for Cirrus Aircraft‘s Vision SF50, marking another milestone in the aircraft certification program. TIA initiates formal FAA flight evaluation of the Vision SF50 type design, airworthiness, performance and handling properties, Cirrus officials explain. This TIA allows Cirrus to move forward with FAA Conformity Inspections and Certification Flight Tests […]
Development continues on Burt Rutan’s SkiGull
Burt Rutan always draws a crowd at his AirVenture forums, especially when introducing a new aircraft design. And since his current project, the SkiGull amphibian, may be the “retired” 72-year-old designer’s last homebuilt, the standing-room-only crowd at this year’s Oshkosh was all ears as he broke his long-standing rule of keeping a new design under […]
Crowdfunding campaign launches to fund vertical takeoff biz jet
A crowd funding campaign has launched to develop the TriFan 600, a six-seat fixed-wing airplane designed to fly as fast, as high, and as far as other business jets, but with the ability to takeoff and land vertically. XTI Aircraft Company is launching the equity crowdfunding campaign under new rules approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange […]
Garmin G500 certified for Tecnam P Twenty Ten
EASA has certified an alternative avionics system for the Tecnam P Twenty Ten based on Garmin’s G500 glass cockpit suite. The Tecnam P Twenty Ten is a single engine, high wing, four-seat, Part 23 certified aircraft that is now flying in the Czech Republic, France Poland, the UK and Spain. The new avionics configuration includes the […]
H-D Manufacturing acquires Twin Commander parent company
CREEDMOOR, N.C. — H-D Advanced Manufacturing Company (H-D), which specializes in high-precision severe-duty components, has acquired Twin Commander Aircraft‘s parent company Firstmark Corporation. Operations and staffing at Twin Commander will not change as a result of the change in ownership, according to Twin Commander President Matt Isley. The acquisition brings “significant resources benefitting Twin Commander […]