Search Results for: Pipistrel

It was a year filled with big news stories that not only helped to reshape the general aviation landscape but will almost certainly continue to do so for many years to come. The past 12 months have seen aircraft milestones, major changes to FAA regulations and a presidential election unlike any we have witnessed in […]

After completing its investigation of two fatal midair crashes last year in which seven people died, the NTSB in November issued a Safety Alert urging general-aviation pilots to make use of cockpit technologies that can help them see and avoid other aircraft. The inaugural Sport Aviation Showcase kicked off in Deland, Florida, in November, providing a new venue for fans of light sport aircraft. Boom Technology of Denver, Colorado, unveiled its XB-1 one-third-scale supersonic demonstrator in November. NBAAs annual Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition was held in Orlando, Florida in October, and led with big news from Cirrus that they have achieved FAA certification for their single-engine jet.

The first DeLand Sport Aviation Showcase drew a steady stream of LSA pilots and enthusiasts happy to get a look at some of the light sport and experimental aircraft on display and even take some demo flights from the runway at DeLand Municipal Airport in central Florida. In addition to forums and workshops addressing topics […]

The thought of an Extra 300 tearing up the sky in near total silence is unfathomable to aerobatic fans expecting a routine that’s part gyrating airplane and part roaring piston engine. But that was in the old days, before Siemens announced in April it was planning to hitch its new 260 kw electric motor to […]

Europes major general aviation show, Aero Friedrichshafen, opened in April with a focus on new technology. Prospective Icon A5 owners have been waiting years for their amphibious LSA, but this spring, many buyers balked at the 40-page contract they were asked to sign. In April, the Senate passed a new FAA funding bill that satisfied many general-aviation advocates, but the bill must still be reconciled with the House bill, which would shift control of ATC to a not-for-profit corporation, with scant support in GA groups.

A new hybrid electric motor developed through a project named Hypstair has the potential to make a breakthrough in emission-free propulsion in aviation. The motor is being tested on a Pipistrel airplane and was recently powered up for the first time at the factory in Ajdovscina, Slovenia. Hypstair claims its 200 kW motor is the […]

At about 1950 Mountain time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. Night visual conditions prevailed. While en route, the pilot determined adequate fuel to complete the flight as planned was not aboard. The right fuel tank apparently failed to feed the engine. While preparing to land, the engine lost power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted.

Electric airplanes are becoming a reality. There are already electric trainers in Europe, but the Federal Aviation Administration is just now considering accommodations for electric aircraft batteries and motors. It is reasonable to think that standards for fully certified aircraft with electric propulsion is well on its way.

When did the world shrink? When did the vast distances between continents fall away like sheer cliffs, leaving behind a much smaller planet? The aviation-savvy reader might choose a specific date, Dec. 17, 1903, on the sand dunes at Kitty Hawk with the Wright brothers — the dawn of the age of the airplane. Today, […]

Aero Electric Aircraft Corp.’s first all-electric Sun Flyer trainer has hit the assembly line. Arion Aircraft in Shelbyville, Tennessee, has been contracted to build the initial two-seat prototype, which will feature an Avidyne touchscreen avionics system. “After extensive analysis of the options available for this critical phase of the development process, we have selected a […]