Mark Phelps

German aircraft manufacturer Extra Aircraft has chosen Montrose, Colorado, as the site of its U.S. headquarters and “aircraft production center.” Construction of a new 40,000-square-foot facility is expected to start soon with completion scheduled for late fall this year. The company plans to assemble the all-carbon-fiber Extra 500 ‘Spirit’ in Montrose. Fuselages and wings will […]

Electric power for aircraft has captured the imaginations of several designers. China’s Yuneec International is expanding its series of electric aircraft. Its e430 first appeared at AirVenture 2009, and since then the company has completed an entire factory in Shanghai. Managing director Clive Coote said Yuneec would begin accepting deposits for the e430 following the […]

At 10,000 feet, the weather opened up and we could see how Anchorage is surrounded by awesome and treacherous terrain. My first look at Alaska was from the window seat of a Boeing, but as a pilot, I could immediately appreciate how this could be a very dangerous place to fly. Later, as I drove […]

The economic strain overriding the entire GA industry continues to dog the Diamond D-Jet program. A max effort to re-engine their DA42 twin-engine piston in 2008 sapped Diamond financial strategists, resulting in adjustments to the certification schedule for the single-engine D-Jet. There has been no official update for more than a year, since the company […]

At about 8 p.m. Alaska Daylight Time Monday, a single-engine, turboprop-converted De Havilland Otter crashed near Dillingham, Alaska. Five of nine onboard died, including former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, 86. Among the survivors was ex-NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, 54, and his teenage son Kevin. Both spent the night at the crash site aided by Good […]

Last week, the world’s only flyable B-29 Superfortress, operated by the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) lifted off the runway at Midland, Texas. It was the first flight for FIFI since 2004, and followed not only a lengthy restoration, but also a prolonged wrangle over official permission from the FAA. The 9 a.m. flight lasted just […]

The Flying AV8OR Online Giveaway has a lucky winner. Douglas Hoff, 57, of Vacaville, California, is the proud owner of a new Bendix/King by Honeywell AV8OR portable GPS. Hoff is not yet a pilot, but has plans to begin flying lessons and earn his certificate. The AV8OR is described as much more than a GPS, […]

Long-term funding for the FAA remains in limbo, but a short-term funding extension passed by both houses of Congress includes provisions for expanding the training requirements for airline pilots. Under the new legislation, introduced on July 28, require even first officers to have an airline transport pilot (ATP) rating. The short-term funding agreement lasts through […]

A group called the Clean 100-Octane Coalition met with FAA last week and made it clear that any 100 Low Lead (100LL) replacement fuel must be able to accommodate high-power piston engines. There has been controversy surrounding proposals to develop fuels that would operate well with most piston aircraft engines, but not the higher-powered models, […]

Evolved from the Czech-designed Walter turboprop engine, GE’s new H80 has improvements in some key areas. But the biggest plus for the Western market has to be the GE pedigree — not only in technical matters, but also marketing and product support. GE acquired the Walter company a few years ago and immediately set to […]