Aircraft

In subfreezing temperatures and buffeting winds, a Cirrus Aircraft test pilot yesterday flew the first production conforming Vision SF50 jet, taking off from Duluth International Airport at around 5 p.m. for the one-hour shakedown test. “The Vision Jet handled and performed very well and all systems functioned properly – just what you want in a […]

We cruised along under a high gray overcast at 13,500 feet, solitary in the sky over the winter patchwork Kansas countryside. On the gauges were figures that a pilot of any single-engine nonturbine airplane would be delighted to see: 210 knots true while burning 18 gph. This was the kind of true airspeed that 30 […]

The Cessna TTx is one of a few new-technology, high-performance, high-dollar piston singles that put technology and performance at the fore. The carbon fiber TTx is the second fastest piston single in production at 235 knots true. It is a roomy, comfortable and technologically advanced model; it is the only such model with Garmin’s G2000 […]

Daher-Socata unveiled its latest upgrade for the TBM series yesterday, the TBM 900. Retaining the same Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66D engine rated at 850 shaft horsepower, the new model has improved performance based on aerodynamic optimization of the airframe and the engine air intake configuration. It also comes with a new five-blade composite propeller […]

The first Eclipse 550 customer has left the Eclipse Aerospace factory in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as the manufacturer delivered the first modified version of the original very light jet, the Eclipse 500. The delivery was achieved less than two years after production restarted, but about six months later than the company had hoped when it […]

Cessna Skyhawks equipped with Centurion diesel engines, a retrofit installation recently offered as a part of Redbird Flight Simulations’ Redhawk conversion and Premier Aircraft Sales’ Skyhawk upgrade program, can now get another upgrade, which promises better climb rates and faster speeds. The FAA has signed off on a supplemental type certificate that allows for the […]

Arguing that the safety of other aircraft and people on the ground is in jeopardy, the FAA said it will appeal a judge’s ruling that the agency lacks the legal authority to impose a total ban on commercial drone flights. The FAA’s action arose from a case involving Raphael Pirker, who was fined $10,000 for […]

In December, Reuters reported that Chinese authorities are requiring pilots flying into Beijing Capital International Airport in the northeastern outskirts of the city to improve their landing capabilities in low visibility conditions. The airport has been suffering chronic flight delays due to poor visibility caused by smog. Now there is word out of China that […]

Since 1997, Cessna has been telling pilots of most of its light twins not to fly in known icing — but not all, as a previous report in Flying‘s eNewsletter suggested. Cessna issued a Mandatory Service Bulletin back then (MEB97-4) requiring that those twins not approved for flight in known icing (FIKI) have placards installed […]

Heli-Expo closed the doors of the Anaheim Convention Center last week with strong attendance numbers and many contracts closed for the OEMs that had helicopters on display. With a total of 19,038 attendees at this year’s Heli-Expo, the show attendance was down by about 1,000 from last year’s record numbers, but despite this slight drop […]