Scaled Composites‘ most recent project, an experimental jet known as Model 401, made its first flight Oct. 11, 2017. Officials with Scaled report they worked with a customer to build two vehicles to demonstrate advanced, low-cost manufacturing techniques and to provide aircraft for research flight services to the aviation industry and the United States government. […]
Aviation News
Video: Ride along with the drones
Red Bull DR.ONE saw 18 international drone racing teams from 14 countries put their skills and technology to the test on Sept. 30, 2017. Taking place at the Red Bull Ring, in Spielberg, Austria, the event featured custom-built drones flying at speeds of up to 90 mph through the Trap Gates, which were inspired by […]
RAF kicks off photo contest
The Recreational Aviation Foundation’s photo contest returns this year “since the previous contest was so much fun,” officials note. This time there will be more winners, officials said. “We’ve split the nation into regions to encourage submissions from all over the country,” they add. Winning photographs will appear on the RAF greeting cards, which are […]
FlightSafety expands online classes
FlightSafety International has expanded its eLearning program with three new online courses: Performance Based Navigation, Human Factors-Crew Resource Management, and Single Pilot Resource Management. According to company officials, FlightSafety’s online ICAO En-route and Terminal Performance Based Navigation courses will enable operators to meet FAA and EASA training requirements. The training includes RNAV, RNP, RNP-APCH, B-RNAV and […]
Companies team on affordable ADS-B annuciator
FreeFlight Systems has integrated its model 1203C SBAS/GNSS sensor and Applied Avionics‘ VIVISUN fault annunciator. The pairing delivers aircraft owners increased flexibility in achieving ADS-B compliance before the FAA’s Jan. 1, 2020, deadline. The VIVISUN fault annunciator meets the requirements for pilot notification of an ADS-B Out failure, in an easy to install, sunlight readable, […]
Chain of bad decisions leads to forced landing
The private pilot was conducting a cross-country flight in a Diamond DA20-C1 without the owner’s permission. While en route, he reported to air traffic controllers that the engine had lost power and that he did not think he would be able to glide to the destination airport. He also said that it was dark and […]
Flying in Alaska
In reply to our call for photos for The Year in Pictures, David Baldwin sent us this photo, taken by his wife, Belinda, of him taking off in his Kitfox, “with the first signs of winter showing up on the mountains at Chugiak, Alaska.”
Air Racing from the Cockpit: Engine epilogue
Dispatch from KSAF, Santa Fe, N.M.: My chief mechanic and I are standing in his hangar, glumly staring at Race 53. Her engine is missing. Forward of the firewall, black fuel lines, orange air hoses, and white sensor wires dangle in mid air. Her new exhaust stack angles downward at a crazy angle. Her tails […]
Video: My favorite checkride question
Jason Schappert, the force behind MZeroA.com, just posted a video, “My Favorite Checkride Question.” He notes: “I get the benefit of sitting in on a lot of checkrides. When you sit in as many as I do you start to see common themes despite the tests being administered by different DPEs (Designated Pilot Examiners). The […]