Wings of Mercy Founder Peter VandenBosch died Oct. 15 at the age of 91. He had recently experienced a significant decline after enjoying many years of good health, according to Wings of Mercy officials. “I am extremely saddened by the loss of my friend,” said Board President Terry Boer. “Peter devoted the last 23 years of his life to […]
General Aviation
Spartan tapped to develop training system for Sun Flyer
DENVER – Aero Electric Aircraft Corp. (AEAC) is collaborating with Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology to help develop a complete training system for the solar-electric training aircraft called “Sun Flyer.” Peter Harris, CEO of Spartan College, said, “Partnering with AEAC is a natural step forward in our quest for innovative approaches to deliver value […]
MyGoFlight to showcase HUD prototype at NBAA
MYGOFLIGHT, maker of iPad and tablet gear for pilots, will showcase a working prototype of a Heads Up Display (HUD) for aviation at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Convention Oct. 21-23 in Orlando. Efforts are underway to have the first production article in early 2015, according to company officials. “The MYGOFLIGHT HUD has been […]
Poor go-around for Piper pilot
Aircraft: Piper Comanche. Injuries: None. Location: Lake Tahoe, Calif. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot aborted a landing due to traffic on the active runway. As part of the go-around he retracted the landing gear. On the second approach he opted to carry extra power because of gusty wind conditions, and during the landing flare, he […]
Drugs and the GA pilot
FAR 91.17 prohibits flying after the use of “any drug that affects the person’s faculties in any way contrary to safety.” Yet every year pilots crash, killing themselves and their passengers, often because the pilot is chemically compromised by over the counter medications. That’s the big message from a recent study by the National Transportation […]
Bearhawk receives FAA approval for transition training
Flying an airplane you’ve never flown before is a lot like cooking in someone else’s kitchen. Although you know how to work a stove, the microwave can present a challenge and finding the most basic of implements can be time consuming and frustrating. Now add the dimension of being at 3,000 feet above the earth […]
Two airplanes (almost) anyone can afford
“Everything you need and not much else,” is the catchy tagline from aviation entrepreneur Chip Erwin. With those words, he described the Italian Zigolo, which is based on a design by American Mike Sandlin. (In a sign of our global times, Erwin imports it to both USA and China.) One look at the aircraft and […]
Development underway on new Hartzell 5-blade props
Hartzell Propeller developmental activities for the company’s five-blade, swept-tip carbon fiber propellers will be featured at the 2014 National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Convention in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 21-23, booth 1817. Hartzell is working on several other yet-to-be-announced composite five-blade programs for turboprop business aircraft. DAHER-SOCATA’s new TBM 900 features the same Hartzell composite, five-blade, […]
Automated RNP AR NavData Validation Service introduced
Garmin and Jeppesen have introduced the RNP AR NavData Service, a new tool for pilots utilizing Required Navigation Performance – Authorization Required (RNP AR) procedures. The new service automates time-consuming data validation processes that are required for RNP AR flights, according to company officials. An industry first, the RNP AR NavData Service automates the data accuracy checks […]