Aircraft

NEBOair, a UK-based electric transport company, announced this week that Pipistrel’s Velis Electro has received UK CAA certification. The company plans to use the all-electric, two-seat airplane primarily for sightseeing flights and flight training, but also for its “micro airline” operations, transporting one customer at a time between London and the British Midlands. NEBOair representative […]

A few years ago, I strolled a back alley in Volterra, Italy, and stumbled upon a cluttered workshop where craftsmen were sculpting large chunks of alabaster into gorgeous works of art. Every surface wore a light coating of fine alabaster dust probably dating back to the 16th century. The worn hand tools and the techniques […]

“We’re on pace,” which is amazing given the pandemic, said Gulfstream’s Collin Miller, senior vice president of innovation, engineering, and flight. Gulfstream’s flight test team—including Miller and Jake Howard, lead test pilot for the G700 program—provided an update on the G700 development program, which is on track, with high-altitude testing complete and flight into known […]

For the past three years in the aviation press, occasional spy photos have appeared, showing an unusual blimplike airplane parked at the former George Air Force Base, now Southern California Logistics Airport, near Victorville, California. This oddity has now made its formal debut. Its name is Celera 500L, and it is a product of Otto […]

The flagship of the super-midsize line for Embraer Executive Jets, the Praetor 600 has gained type certification from Transport Canada, the company announced on February 12. The jet was first delivered in June 2019, and a total of 18 600s went out the door for Embraer in 2020—along with 10 Praetor 500s, 50 Phenom 300s, and 6 Phenom 100s. […]

In its annual earnings report for 2020, presented on February 11, 2021, Bombardier’s leadership announced the cessation of production for the Learjet series in Wichita, Kansas. The Montreal, Quebec-based company will refocus its facilities in Wichita towards flight test and special missions aircraft. With the end of major aircraft manufacturing there, the Learjet 75 model […]

With performance and exterior components optimized for short, rough runways, the Pilatus PC-24 light jet has been poised to get into airports that other jets in the segment avoid. On February 5, the company delivered the first of its PC-24 models positioned for use by charter and regional use with a 10-seat commuter configuration and […]

Unveiled at Oshkosh 2019, the new Extra NG has now been approved by the FAA, adding to the EASA certification it saw in the fall of 2019. The news signals the beginning of deliveries into the US and other customers, and a new step forward for Extra. We talked with Walter Extra about the process […]

Textron Aviation announces airstair door, cabin, and connectivity enhancements to the Cessna Citation CJ4 with the new Gen2 version, its largest jet in the light-jet segment. Most of the upgrades reflect ways to improve passenger comfort. For starters, the company has introduced a lower point of entry on the redesigned stairs to make boarding easier. […]

Since the days of the Jetsons, people have been dreaming of flying cars that would be able to carry passengers high above the gridlocked traffic below. Now, as the urban air mobility (UAM) sector gains momentum with more VTOL designs and air taxis on drawing boards, the mainstream media is more than happy to call […]