Aircraft

Textron AirLand LLC is making good progress on its Scorpion tactical jet project. After more than 50 hours of flight-testing, the light attack airplane has shown promising performance numbers and the pilots describe the airplane as nimble and agile with plenty of power yet stable in the landing configuration. The test pilots have brought the […]

The Solar Impulse team, makers of the airplane set to fly around the world next year on nothing but solar power, has completed the construction phase of the Solar Impulse 2 — the airplane that is set to attempt the flight. The single-seat airplane is powered by four electric motors, has a wingspan of 236 […]

On the opening day of Aero Friedrichshafen 2014 in Germany, Czech Sport Aircraft unveiled its latest light sport aircraft, the PS-38 Tourer. The new model is an all-metal two-seater with a high wing that Czech Sport Aircraft says shares commonality with the low-wing PS-28 Cruiser and Sport Cruiser models. All come equipped with dual Dynon […]

Piper Aircraft yesterday launched a diesel version of the Archer at the Aero Friedrichshafen show in Germany powered by a Continental/Centurion 2.0S jet-A compression-ignition engine. Piper and Continental have already completed flight testing of the prototype in Germany, leading to an EASA STC in Europe and clearing the way for deliveries to start early next […]

The United States Helicopter Safety Team (USHST), a group made up of FAA and industry representatives, shared some good news this week regarding helicopter accident statistics. The group analyzed accident data during two three-year periods and found that the accident record has improved by 21 percent. USHST compared accidents that occurred during the three-year period […]

Beechcraft celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first flight of the King Air Model 90 with cake at the company’s Sun ‘n Fun exhibit and a fly-over at the Beech factory in Wichita, Kansas. The first flight of the King Air on January 20, 1964, started a remarkable production run for a remarkable airplane that […]

Embry-Riddle flight students will continue training in Cessna 172s for years to come after the university signed a long-term purchase agreement for 57 Skyhawks as part of a multi-year agreement. Cessna said 29 aircraft will be delivered to ERAU this year and the remaining 28 next year. The fleet will replace the Cessna 172s currently […]

Lancair has introduced a new option for the Evolution turboprop kit airplane called “rough service landing gear,” or RSLG for short. The new gear allows pilots to land the four-seat composite airplane at airports with unpaved runways without fear of damaging the gear. The new landing gear option has wide 12-ply Goodyear tires, which are […]

Embraer Executive Jets has enjoyed a very successful introduction of its Phenom line of light jets. Only a little more than five years after the Brazilian airplane maker introduced the Phenom 100, it has recently delivered the 300th version of the model. “We are very grateful to our Phenom 100 customers, with whom we share […]

Some of the booths drawing attention at the Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-In and Expo this week are those with piston-powered helicopter trainer simulators. We checked out a couple of affordable simulator versions, the Elite TH22 and X-copter flight simulators, both of which feature models from the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world — Torrance, […]