Stephen Pope

Epic Aircraft completed the successful maiden flight of its first conforming prototype E1000 single-engine turboprop, code-named FT1, putting the manufacturer on track to achieve certification later this year. FT1 made its successful first flight on December 19 from the Bend Municipal Airport. After the 20-minute test hop, Epic chief pilot David Robinson reported, “The aircraft […]

The holidays came early for Mooney International after the company successfully completed the first flight of the new M10T proof of concept in California on December 23. The first flight was performed by test pilot Len Fox from Chino Airport near Los Angeles. It lasted approximately 15 minutes, with Fox conducting basic flight maneuvers and […]

If you visit the AOPA website you’ll notice a brand new logo that looks pretty sweet, but which actually tells a much bigger story for the 75-year-old pilot organization. AOPA says it is reinventing itself as it seeks to make aviation more approachable for a broader number of pilots and nonpilots alike through new outreach […]

In a closely watched case that should put to an end the discussion about the formation of “Uber services for the skies,” a Washington, D.C. appeals court ruled against flight-sharing website Flytenow.com on December 18, finding that the site does indeed violate FAA regulations that prohibit private pilots from advertising for shared flights in exchange […]

Elon Musk’s SpaceX made history Monday night by being the first to launch a rocket into space and bring it back down for a perfect landing, a feat that allows the rocket to be used again and again. The Falcon 9 rocket blasted off at 8:35 p.m., deploying 11 OrbComm satellites into low-Earth orbit before […]

The Airbus Perlan Mission 2, a project that aims to take a glider to the very edge of space next year to gain scientific insight into the Earth’s upper atmosphere and perhaps lay the groundwork for eventual flights on Mars, celebrated the opening of the new Dennis Tito Perlan 2 Hangar at Minden/Tahoe Municipal Airport […]

The Tecnam P2010, a new high-wing four-seat single produced in Italy, is coming to U.S. shores at last after the FAA awarded the airplane’s Part 23 type certificate. Carrying a base price of $345,000, the P2010 is priced slightly below competitors’ airplanes, namely the Cessna Skyhawk, Piper Archer and Diamond DA40. Performance is similar to […]

I’m contemplating taking a hammer to my toy quadcopter and smashing it to pieces after the FAA on Monday announced new rules requiring most drone owners to register their UAVs in a national database and pay a $5 fee every three years. It’s not that I disagree with the registration requirement. I’m fine with the […]

Whether your airplane is approved for flight in known icing conditions or not, there are a number of common-sense strategies you can put into practice to minimize your risks of ice-related hazards. First, never take off with any amount of ice, snow or frost on your airplane. If you do, you’re a test pilot flying […]

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has passed the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2, legislation that would make it possible for most private pilots to continue flying without ever again having to obtain a medical certificate. The legislation, which appears to have strong support in the Senate but has a less certain fate […]