Stephen Pope

Significant advances in aviation technology usually arrive not with a brilliant flash of light and poof of smoke but over many years, in a slow, inexorable evolution of products that we sometimes don’t even recognize as signifying a momentous change until, suddenly, the next incredible new capability is in our midst. When we stop to […]

When taxiing or idling on the ground for long periods of time, it’s possible to experience spark plug fouling, even with modern, fuel-injected aircraft engines running low lead fuel. The way to prevent fouling during taxi is to aggressively lean your engine while on the ground by following the specific procedure in your POH or, […]

The future of battery-powered flight got a major boost after Siemens researchers in Germany announced they have achieved a technological breakthrough with a new type of electric engine for aircraft that is five times more powerful than previous generation motors. Weighing in at a little over 100 pounds, the new motor delivers a continuous output […]

The first Piaggio Avanti Evo is flying with its new owner four months after the twin pusher turboprop received its type certification. Piaggio Aerospace delivered the airplane to an unnamed Greek customer that plans to use it for charter. Five more Avanti Evos are due for deliveries before then end of the year to customers […]

The National Transportation Safety Board has closed the case on the crash of a Piper Turbo Arrow in Colorado in January, saying the pilot committed suicide. Investigators said the 41-year-old pilot who was killed in the crash on January 11 in Brighton, Colorado, intentionally flew his airplane into the ground after his wife told him […]

Jeppesen is rolling out Version 2.1 of Mobile FlightDeck VFR, the chart maker’s data-driven iPad app designed specifically for fair weather fliers. The latest iteration of the software offers a number of minor enhancements, but pilots will love two changes in particular. Mobile FlightDeck VFR 2.1 now includes the ability to automatically log flight time […]

There’s a good chance you’ve never heard of TKM Avionics. Or, if you have, you probably thought the company went out of business long ago. TKM is actually alive and well, under new ownership and with a new vision. And the revitalized company’s first order of business is to “reintroduce” a line of budget-priced IFR […]

I still haven’t completely wrapped my mind around how Aspen Avionics’ recently introduced angle-of-attack system for light airplanes works. And because Aspen is seeking a patent for the unique, software-only approach to AOA indication, the company isn’t ready to reveal all the details. But I had the chance to fly with the system in the […]

Diamond Aircraft has earned the type certificate for its DA62 piston twin from the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA), allowing the model to go on sale in Europe immediately. FAA certification is expected in six to eight months. EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky presented the certification to Diamond CEO Christian Dries at the AERO 2015 […]

FreeFlight Systems and ForeFlight are collaborating on a project to add ADS-B traffic and weather information from FreeFlight’s certified RNGR line of ADS-B receivers to the ForeFlight Mobile iPad app. The companies say they are in the midst of extensive ground and flight testing to ensure the integration of FreeFlight’s rule-compliant ADS-B systems gives users […]