The FAA published two airworthiness directives this week that affect the Piper general aviation fleet. According to a report at AVweb.com, a final rule published on Monday affects 3,100 Piper Comanches, requiring inspections of the stabilator horn assembly, at a cost of about $1,000 per airplane. If the assembly needs to be replaced, it would […]
Aircraft
HondaJet wins aircraft design award
HondaJet designer Michimasa Fujino was recently presented the 2012 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Aircraft Design Award. Fujino is president and CEO of Honda Aircraft Co., Greensboro, N.C. The AIAA Aircraft Design Award is considered the most prestigious recognition for aircraft designers in the world, according to HondaJet officials. The AIAA Aircraft Design […]
Flight Design launches European Adventure delivery program
Have you dreamed of flying your own aircraft to far-away destinations with views along your flight of world famous landmarks only possible from the cockpit? Under Flight Design’s new “European Adventure” delivery program, Flight Design CTLSi buyers can elect to take delivery at Flight Design’s European Delivery Center in Germany. Once on location, plan your […]
Citation app available for iPad
Cessna’s Citation Performance Calculator (CPCalc) is now available from the Apple App Store. The app is available for all current production Citation business jets, as well as many out-of-production Citations and some Cessna 208 Caravans. “The new Cessna CPCalc app unquestionably gives us, as pilots, the ability to maximize the performance of our aircraft in […]
Greg Marlow’s dream machine: A go-places plane
There are many reasons people chose to build an airplane. Sometimes, it’s the challenge of the project, or an attempt to reduce the cost of flying. Other times it’s to build a dream machine to handle what would otherwise be a less-than-enjoyable commute. Greg Marlow from Kingsport, Tenn., falls into the last category. He is […]
LSA news wrap — Rotax-Icon-Tecnam-More
Another busy week in the Light-Sport Aircraft world. Here are just a few brief news stories from the LSA space: ROTAX “EMERGENCY AD?” — Aviation media was all over the Rotax “Emergency AD” story, but is that entirely accurate? Aren’t LSA subject to manufacturer-issued SBs or Service Bulletins rather than Airworthiness Directives, which are normally […]
Cirrus returning to LSA? Well, yes…for Icon
Icon Aircraft and Cirrus Aircraft recently announced a deal for the general aviation composite aircraft producer to build parts of the Icon A5 and the news introduced dates for the A5 to come to market. Several years ago I traveled to Cirrus’ Duluth, Minnesota, plant in the company of the Icon top leaders, including CEO […]
NASA-UND partnership plans unmanned flight test
Researchers at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton Roads, Va., have a new twist on an old saying, “Look Ma, no hands,” when it comes to piloting a small plane. The new twist is a result of a NASA partnership with The MITRE Corporation and the University of North Dakota (UND). “This a vital step […]
Embry-Riddle reduces airplane noise with new mufflers
After an investment of $250,000 and five years of research, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has found a way to address local residents’ concerns about noise from its training aircraft. The university has installed new noise reduction exhaust systems and is continuing to conduct research on new quieter propellers in its Daytona Beach campus fleet of Cessna […]