Aircraft

In the wake of Gulfstream’s blockbuster introduction of its flagship G650 (and now G650ER) fly-by-wire, ultralong-range and high-subsonic beauties, I guess I should have stopped being surprised by any large-body wonders the company puts in the air. The G650 Gulfstream jet set the standard for the ultralong-range category, leaving its two large-cabin, ultralong-range rivals staring […]

Daher-Socata today announced it has signed on as a major partner with Airbus Group’s VoltAir subsidiary for the design, development and certification of a new electric airplane unveiled earlier this year called the E-Fan 2.0. The all-electric two-seater is the first product in what is being billed as a full-scale electric aircraft development program, launched […]

If you love going to airshows to watch military jet teams such as the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds, next year will present opportunities to enjoy the performance of one of the best aerobatic formation teams in the world — the Breitling Jet Team. The team will make its North American debut on April 26 at […]

AOPA is urging the FAA to take steps to address the safety risks of small recreational UAVs, including stipulating penalties for pilots who operate them recklessly. The association made the recommendation yesterday in prepared comments at a House aviation subcommittee hearing on UAV operations. AOPA told the subcommittee that an “increasing number of incidents” involving […]

The FAA yesterday issued another five exemptions for commercial UAS operations to four companies under Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. The new exemptions greatly broaden the spectrum for legal commercial UAS uses, which has previously only been approved for movie making operations operating in controlled environments. The companies that […]

With media attention increasingly focused on the safety of UAVs, the House aviation subcommittee will hold a hearing this week on the status of drone integration into U.S. airspace. The hearing will focus on the state of the emerging UAV industry in the United States, including the FAA’s efforts to safely integrate unmanned drones into […]

Dassault is making good progress on the development of the** Falcon 5X wide-body twinjet**, which was announced at the National Business Aviation Association’s annual convention last year, and the Falcon 8X, the ultra-long-range bizjet announced at the European Business Aviation Convention and Expo this year. Company pilots started testing the 5X in a simulator environment […]

A company out of Cotswold, England, called Faradair, which also has roots in the United States, is in the process of developing an airplane that incorporates environmentally friendly propulsion methods melded into what it calls a Bio Electric Hybrid Aircraft, or BEHA for short. The hybrid airplane is designed for six occupants and features a […]

Torrance, California-based Robinson Helicopter has achieved FAA certification for inflatable floats for its turbine-powered R66 — an option named the R66 Turbine Marine. The floats were primarily added for emergency purposes in case of a forced landing while flying over water. While primarily designed for emergency use, the floats are approved for water takeoffs during […]

About a year ago we reported on the development of a flying car by a company in Slovenia called Aeromobil. The company has now taken a new version of the aircraft to the skies — the Aeromobil 3.0 — and it looks like progress has been made. In comparing the video of the new version […]