Aircraft

Over the years I’ve flown around a dozen varieties of the Cessna 182, from the latest glass-panel turbo models to impeccably restored early birds, but I’d never experienced anything like this. As I advanced the single black lever in Cessna’s new 182 JT-A to roll around the corner onto 19L at Wichita’s iconic Mid-Continent Airport, […]

Even as Eurocopter continues with the rapid development of its X3 compound helicopter, the company is planning a two-phase introduction of the advanced X4 helicopter, with the first version entering service in 2017 followed by the second in 2020. The X4 is an EC 155 replacement that Eurocopter says will test the boundaries of what […]

The simple design, appealing shape and fun flying characteristics of the Piper Cub put a glint in the eye of most pilots. Countless aviators trained and made their first solo flights in this beloved bird. But, being introduced in the 1930s, it’s no wonder the original Cub design could benefit from some improving modifications. Piper […]

Photos of what appears to be a new Chinese stealth fighter recently surfaced on the Internet, triggering a flood of speculation regarding the jet’s potential capabilities and what implications it holds for the evolution of Chinese military air power. The single-seat, twin-engine fighter has been designated as the J-21 or the J-31, and is the […]

Piper Aircraft and Aircraft Technical Publishers (ATP) announced this week that beginning Dec. 5 access to all Piper maintenance publications and regulatory documents will be available exclusively through the ATP Aviation Hub Online Service and ATP’s NavigatorV Desktop Platform. Until then, Piper will continue to offer its manuals and technical publications through Avantext, Inc. “Going […]

Even as the large-light HondaJet continues to make headway in flight and ground testing toward a scheduled 2013 certification, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is recognizing the man behind the aircraft – president and CEO of Honda Aircraft Michimasa Fujino – for the aerodynamic innovations that lie within the jet’s distinctive design. […]

Bombardier is prepping for the start of certification flight testing of the all-composite Learjet 85 as the first of five eventual test airplanes for the program undergoes final assembly in Wichita. Bombardier isn’t saying exactly when the first flight will occur, but with certification and entry-into-service of the Learjet 85 targeted for late next year, […]

Eclipse Aerospace has made jet ownership a little easier by offering a limited number of Eclipse 550 positions with an incentive program called the Eclipse Carefree Ownership Program. During the first year of ownership, customers will receive up to $75,000 worth of fuel, which covers approximately 225 hours of flight, according to Eclipse Aerospace. In […]

A Cirrus SR22 crashed early Saturday morning in southwestern Missouri, killing all five occupants. The 2002 SR22 went down around midnight approximately five miles away from Springfield-Branson National Airport, which is believed to have been its intended destination. A few witnesses who were near the crash site at the time of the accident told local […]

After one Cessna 172RG experienced a serious in-flight fire, the FAA on Tuesday proposed a new Airworthiness Directive to prevent similar events that could affect up to 3,000 Cessna singles and twins. According to the FAA, the fire started in the 172’s landing gear hydraulic power pack system due to the improper installation of certain […]