“This innovative design maximizes the power of the Rotax 916 iS engine, delivering improved responsiveness and fuel efficiency for both backcountry and cross-country flying,” company officials added.
General Aviation
VFR into IMC fatal for Virginia pilot
Probable Cause: The pilot’s continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, resulting in controlled flight into terrain.
Picture of the Day: Final flight
Hayman Tam submitted this photo with a note: “I was so pleased to be able to capture the visit of the Philippine Mars to San Francisco in January 2025. I was too far away to get good shots of the landing, I chose a different locale — Treasure Island — for departure day. I had a 50/50 chance that the takeoff would be towards me and I scored big time. This leg of the flight was supposed to go to San Diego but they made a real-time decision to head straight to Arizona, making this the final flight of this historic seaplane, which found a new home at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson.”
Picture of the Day: The Flying Catfish
Matthew Baker submitted this photo and note: “A Piaggio P.180 Avanti on the ramp at Bartow Executive Airport (KBOW) n Florida. Always reminds me how unique this aircraft is in every way from its looks to its sound.”
It’s a numbers game
The general public sees driving as relatively safe and flying as generally risky. But the numbers tell the real story.
10 best-selling piston airplanes in 2024
For the 23rd year in a row, Cirrus Aircraft takes the top spot as the best-selling piston airplane.
New grant to fund improvements at WA45
The grant will fund a kiosk at Olympic Airfield where pilots can charge their cell phones and get information on the Recreational Aviation Foundation.
Aerox acquires Omnigas Systems
Aerox Aerospace Group, the parent company of aviation oxygen companies Aerox Aviation Oxygen Systems and Aerox Fluid Power, has acquired Omnigas Systems, a provider of aftermarket services for aerospace oxygen and fire suppression systems that caters to commercial aviation, business aviation, and military customers.
Bonanza pilot encounters extreme turbulence
Shortly after going IMC, I encountered localized extreme turbulence, hitting my head on the ceiling, and the autopilot disconnected. I was stunned momentarily, but then realized the plane was in an unusual attitude (i.e. dive) and with very strong downdrafts and heavy controls.