Archive for May, 2008

L-3 and Cirrus, Yet Another Option

Saturday, May 31st, 2008

The system is currently the only one available in the light aircraft market, according to the L-3, that includes a standard dedicated 4 x 5.25-inch display for flight plan management and communication ... Link to the original post

Eclipse Goes Ahead With Single, Hikes Price Of Twin

Friday, May 30th, 2008

Eclipse Aviation formally announced its intention to begin production of a $1.35 million single-engine jet called the Eclipse 400. The announcement was made earlier today at the company's annual "E-rrival" event in Albuquerque. At the same time, Eclipse announced it was boosting the price of its twin-engine 500 model ...

Space Shuttle Atlantis Photos.

Friday, May 30th, 2008

Great photos of the space shuttle Atlantis... Link to the original post

Over Two-Year Delays on Boeing-787 Deliveries for Aeroflot.

Friday, May 30th, 2008

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti): Boeing 787 Dreamliner deliveries for Aeroflot will be delayed by at least two years, the Russian flagship carrier’s general director said on Friday. "Boeing has officially notified us that deliveries are being put back by 28 months," Valery Okulov said. First deliveries were due to start in ...

Russia’s Aeroflot Unlikely to Buy Alitalia.

Friday, May 30th, 2008

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti): Russia’s leading air carrier Aeroflot is unlikely to buy the Italian government’s 49.9% stake in cash-strapped Alitalia, Aeroflot’s director said on Friday... Link to the original post

Russia Launches Production of New MiG-29M/M2 Fighter.

Friday, May 30th, 2008

NIZHNY NOVGOROD (RIA Novosti): The Sokol aircraft plant, based in Nizhny Novgorod, central Russia, is to launch production of the MiG-29M/M2 Fulcrum fighter plane, the company’s general director said on Friday. Mikhail Shibayev said the first aircraft to be produced is planned to be completed in the second quarter of ...

Space Shuttle Discovery ‘Go’ for Saturday Launch.

Friday, May 30th, 2008

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.: NASA’s shuttle Discovery is "go" for its planned Saturday launch to deliver a massive Japanese lab and a new toilet pump to the International Space Station, mission managers said Thursday... Link to the original post

India to launch Light Combat Aircraft by 2010.

Friday, May 30th, 2008

NEW DELHI, May 30 APP: India is expected to launch its Light Combat Aircraft by 2010. Chief Controller of Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) W Selvaraj said on Friday, after launching the light aircraft "Tejas" the MiG-21 fighters would be gradually phased out... Link to the original post

The World’s Largest Aircraft Show.

Friday, May 30th, 2008

It’s one of aviation industry’s biggest showcases of aircraft and aviation equipment. From the biggest aircraft on earth to the most sophisticated fighter planes to hi-tech, fuel-efficient business jets to the smallest trainer aircraft, the air show means big business. With more than 1,000 exhibitors from over 40 countries, more ...

Chilean Official Among 11 Killed in Helicopter Crash.

Friday, May 30th, 2008

PANAMA CITY, Panama (CNN): A helicopter crashed into a building in Panama City on Thursday, killing 11 of the 12 people aboard, including Chile’s federal police chief, a Panamanian government official said... Link to the original post

In-Flight Surveillance Could Foil Terrorists in The Sky.

Friday, May 30th, 2008

CCTV cameras are bringing more and more public places under surveillance, and passenger aircraft could be next. A prototype European system uses multiple cameras and "Big Brother" software to try and automatically detect terrorists or other dangers caused by passengers... Link to the original post

United Airlines Says No Merger ‘at This Time’.

Friday, May 30th, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP): United Airlines dashed speculation Friday of a tie-up with US Airways, saying it would not pursue a merger "at this time" despite a host of industry woes including skyrocketing oil prices... Link to the original post

Austro Engine: Will It Save Diamond?

Friday, May 30th, 2008

Located in the same industrial complex south of Vienna alongside Diamond Aircraft, Austro Engine is furiously gearing up to build new aerodiesel engines that will eventually replace Thielert's troubled Centurion line. At the Berlin Air Show this week, Austro displayed the AE 300, a 2-litre powerplant that's an evolutionary improvement ...

Thielert Engine Owner Group Forms

Friday, May 30th, 2008

The German law firm overseeing the bankruptcy of Thielert Aircraft Engines says it can't consider the interests of owners, but is instead focused on paying off creditors and getting the company to break-even status. But a Diamond aircraft owner's group would like to change that by banding together and becoming ...

Diamond: Thielert Was "Grossly Misleading"

Friday, May 30th, 2008

In a letter to hundreds of owners stranded by Thielert Aircraft Engines' bankruptcy, Diamond Aircraft accused the firm overseeing the insolvency of intentionally misleading the public and misstating Diamond's policies. Further, said Diamond, because of Thielert's new pricing, the hourly cost of operating its diesel engines has risen from under ...

Question of the Week: Summer Flying Plans

Friday, May 30th, 2008

This week, we want to know how you're spending your summer vacation (flying-wise). Plus: What did AVweb readers say about economic uncertainty and their personal flying habits in response to last week's Question? Link to the original post

Picture of the Week: AVweb’s Flying Photography Showcase

Friday, May 30th, 2008

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder" — there seems to be some truth in that adage, at least where "Picture of the Week" is concerned. Submissions swelled while we were away in Geneva covering EBACE, leaving with two mighty large stacks of photos to get through. No worries, ...

Close Encounter With A Model Rocket?

Friday, May 30th, 2008

Investigations are currently underway concerning a report of a possible model rocket flying notably close to a Continental Airlines 737 mid-morning on Memorial Day. Shortly after departure from George Bush Intercontinental Airport, the pilot of Continental flight 1544 reported to controllers what appeared to be a model rocket with a ...

On the Fly …

Friday, May 30th, 2008

A documentary is in the works about a 1978 midair crash in Calif....Moffett Field dirigible hangar is named an endangered historic site...Operational deviations at Indianapolis Center are up...Director and pilot Sidney Pollack has died at 73. Link to the original post

EAA AirVenture, Coming Up Soon

Friday, May 30th, 2008

With the Memorial Day weekend now past, the summer season is launched, and before we know it, EAA AirVenture will be under way in Oshkosh, Wisc. Already our AVweb inbox is filling up with advance notices about new aircraft that we'll be seeing there. Doug Rodante, founder of Green Flight ...

Flight Options Cuts Staff

Friday, May 30th, 2008

Flight Options, a fractional operator based in Cleveland, Ohio, has laid off about 200 workers across the country, including about 75 pilots, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported on Wednesday. The company blamed high fuel prices and overall economic conditions for a reduction in demand over the last few months, and ...

It’s Official: Piper Will Stay In Florida

Friday, May 30th, 2008

After more than a year of exploring various sites for its next stage of growth, Piper Aircraft announced on Wednesday that it has officially reached an agreement with the State of Florida and Indian River County to stay put. "We are pleased and honored to announce our decision to remain ...

Weekend Courses Help Keep Cirrus Pilots Current

Friday, May 30th, 2008

It's one of those moments that just about every pilot has experienced -- the instant when you go from feeling confident and in control, to realizing that your skills are not as sharp as you'd like them to be. The cure for that sinking feeling is recurrent training, and for ...

An LSA For Less

Friday, May 30th, 2008

Plenty of recreational pilots who thought light sport aircraft might be the right thing for them have been dismayed by the price tags for most models, which start around $100,000 and quickly go up from there. But occasionally a new LSA surfaces that offers reasonable capabilities at a lower price ...

The Next Stealth Bomber — From Mojave?

Friday, May 30th, 2008

Aerospace giant Northrop Grumman is secretly at work on a next-generation stealth bomber, with the prototype likely to be built by Scaled Composites, Defense Technology International reported this week. A recent financial report from Northrop Grumman shows $2 billion of new funding for "restricted programs," which DTI reports is ...

Avidyne Reacts To Cirrus Garmin Avionics Launch

Friday, May 30th, 2008

Cirrus got a lot of attention last week when it unveiled its new Garmin "Perspective" panel at the EBACE show in Geneva, and now Avidyne wants to remind future Cirrus buyers that its Entegra panel, long the standard, is still an option. "Among other benefits," the company said in a ...

GA Makes Strong Showing At Berlin Air Show

Friday, May 30th, 2008

The Berlin Air Show, officially known as Internationale Luftfahrt-Ausstellung (ILA), opened on Tuesday with its biggest show ever, which should provide some reassurance to those who tend to worry about the future of aviation in an uncertain economy. More than 300 aircraft are on display, and over 1,100 exhibitors from ...

Balloon Leaves Skydiver Behind

Friday, May 30th, 2008

French adventurer Michel Fournier watched his dreams of a record-setting skydive drift away on Tuesday as the helium balloon that was to carry him to the edge of space slipped its moorings and disappeared into the Canadian prairie sky. At a news conference Tuesday, Fournier speculated that static electricity caused ...

Short Final

Friday, May 30th, 2008

Overheard in IFR Magazine's "On the Air"While on a trip in a Grumman Cheetah from Marathon, Florida Keys to Exuma in the Bahamas, I ran into a large area of clouds hanging over Andros Island. They'd been classified as benign when I'd received my weather briefing about an hour ...

AVweb Insider Blog: Thielert Shows Us How to Kill a Company (or Two)

Friday, May 30th, 2008

"If Thielert thinks it will dig itself out from bankruptcy with its stratospheric new parts prices and no warranties, it's likely in for a rude shock" — so says Paul Bertorelli in the latest installment of our aviation blog, the AVweb Insider. Think we're crazy? Click on over ...