Sam Bousfield, CEO of Samson Motors and designer of the Switchblade flying sports car, recently unveiled the latest advances in the company’s multi-year program to establish a viable flying car. “The idea of landing at an airport, pushing a button to stow wings and tail, and drive to your destination not only brings us new-found […]
Experimental Aircraft
Titan-powered Kitfox makes first flight
HOMEDALE, Idaho – Kitfox Aircraft hung a 180-horsepower Titan X340 engine on an airframe and took it flying the first week of January. “Flight testing is partially complete, but so far we are seeing massive climb performance,” reported Kitfox on its Facebook page. “We are seeing numbers at 2500 fpm cruise climb and are hoping for […]
Murphy Aircraft begins S-LSA certification for Rebel
Murphy Aircraft has begun the process to take the Murphy Rebel through the Special-Light-Sport Aircraft certification process. “We have received numerous inquires for an S-LSA certified Rebel, as well as E-LSA Rebel kits,” said Darryl Murphy, owner and founder of Murphy Aircraft Mfg., based in Chilliwack, BC, Canada. “The number of inquiries are too large to […]
360° video Zenith flight, factory tour
“While I don’t think VR [virtual reality] will ever replace the real thing, it’s a way to attract new people to sport aviation, and allows existing pilots to share the great experience of flying in a light airplane,” said Sebastien Heintz, president of Zenith Aircraft Company, about the release of a new 360° virtual reality video […]
CubCrafters adds emergency aircraft parachutes
YAKIMA, Wash. — CubCrafters has introduced new emergency parachute systems for the company’s line of backcountry tailwheel airplanes. The systems were developed in conjunction with BRS Aerospace. The BRS parachute systems are offered on CubCrafters’ production Carbon Cub SS aircraft, as well as the company’s Carbon Cub FX Builder Assist model and its EX-2 kit. Systems are also available […]
Merlin PSA makes U.S debut
Just introduced to the U.S. is the Merlin PSA, a single-seat Personal Sport Aircraft. The all-aluminum aircraft features a cantilevered wing and a 120 mph cruise speed. Price is under $35,000, which includes the builders’ assistance program in Florida, according to company officials. The Merlin PSA is available now as a quick-build Experimental Amateur-Built aircraft. The design was created on 3D CAD/CAM […]
First flight: Aerolab from a kit
LONE ROCK, Wis. and MILAN, Italy — Francesco Rizzi, founder of Aerolab Manufacturing, and designer of the Sport Camp series of Experimental/Amateur-built kit aircraft, and Ed Leineweber, managing member of Golden Age Aeroworks, distributor of Aerolab products in the United States, recently conducted the first flights of the first Aerolab aircraft built from a production kit. LoCamp […]
Electric Sun Flyer participates in National Park Service noise tests
DENVER — Aero Electric Aircraft Corp. (AEAC), developer of the Sun Flyer solar electric flight trainer, participated in noise tests for the National Park Service at Centennial Airport Dec. 2 to determine the amount of noise generated by electric-powered aircraft. AEAC flew its single-seat electric technology demonstrator aircraft while representatives from the National Park Service gathered […]
Just Aircraft approved in England
WALHALLA, S.C. — Having received authorization from England’s Civil Aviation Authority to market SuperSTOL kits in the UK, Just Aircraft has taken the first step in establishing a global dealer network. It is seeking additional dealers in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. Most countries will require local approval by aviation authorities, but having been through […]