Aircraft

Marking the final flying season of the Vulcan XH558, the U.K.’s Royal Air Force Aerobatics Team, the Red Arrows, took its final flight with the mighty Cold War bomber on Saturday, September 19 at the Southport Air Show. With only three scheduled displays left, the Vulcan will be grounded for good in October. The Red […]

The Max-Viz infrared enhanced vision system from Astronics Corp. that has been offered for years in certified aircraft is now available for Experimental and homebuilt models after the company this month introduced a noncertified version designated X1 and priced at $6,000. The unit makes use of essentially the same technology that’s installed in certified aircraft, […]

Perlan 2 — the glider slated to fly to the edge of space next year — has lifted off for the first time. The successful first flight was conducted yesterday from Roberts Field Airport in Redmond, Oregon. The glider was pulled off the ground by an agricultural airplane and released to soar to an altitude […]

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has launched a new design for landing gear that could enable helicopters to land just about anywhere. Rather than the traditional fixed skids or wheels that are attached to the bottom of the helicopter’s fuselage, the Mission Adaptive Rotor (MAR) Robotic Landing Gear is comprised of four articulated, […]

Doc’s Friends have a reason to cheer once again as the Wichita, Kansas-based volunteer crew has reached the point of engine start in the monumental task of returning the massive B-29 bomber to the skies. The first engine run was conducted days ago at the McConnell Air Force Base on the east side of the […]

If you are an air race fan, it’s time to make the annual migration to Reno for the National Championship Air Races. The competition starts today at Reno Stead Airport, 10 miles northwest of the city. In addition to the promise of adrenaline-pumping races from buzzing miniature sport airplanes to roaring unlimiteds, the weekend promises […]

The French commercial jet manufacturing giant Airbus this week held the official opening of its first manufacturing facility in the United States, at a sprawling new plant in Mobile, Alabama. The facility has been in operation since July and Airbus expects to deliver its first U.S.-built airplane next year. The $600 million, 53-acre facility will […]

October, Palm Springs and airplanes. What could be better? Final preparations are underway for Flying Aviation Expo, the premier West Coast fly-in event for general aviation pilots and enthusiasts, with hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of visitors anticipated at the three day show October 15-17 inside the Palm Springs Convention Center in southern California. The […]

Getting the airplane of your dreams doesn’t always have to include a stop by the showroom to check out the latest models. For would-be owners who have the time and money to invest in upgrading an aging bird, the possibilities are endless. Longtime pilot and aircraft owner Christophe Jouany recently went through that exact process, […]

Changes in the software for Gulfstream’s G280 is highlighting how advanced technology has become in the bizjet world. Gulfstream and Rockwell Collins have updated the PlaneView280 software installed in the G280, a change that has resulted in performance improvements for the luxury 10-passenger jet. The change has reduced the approach speed by as much as […]