Aircraft

As the economic downturn continues to stymie demand in the light and midsize business jet sectors, Bombardier has announced it is pausing production of its Learjet 60XR. The decision comes after an extended period of low sales numbers for the seven-passenger jet, which boasts a 2,405 nm range and a cruise speed of Mach 0.81. […]

Last week’s AirVenture air show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was a big treat. As I’ve come to expect after years of attending, the show was filled with new exciting aviation products and every imaginable airplane type. And there was plenty of opportunity to learn new things at the forums and seminars. As I’ve also come to […]

There have been over 500 designs for homebuilt aircraft over the past six decades, the majority being for single- and two-place aircraft. It’s unlikely that there have been 15 four-seat designs, and not many have enjoyed any kind of success as kits. Very few have shown up at Oshkosh. Of those in production, the RV-10 […]

A federal judge is weighing whether to allow up to $5.3 million in bonuses for eight senior Hawker Beechcraft executives after the company’s union and federal regulators criticized the payouts as a money grab. The court has approved an exclusivity agreement with Superior Aviation Beijing allowing Hawker Beechcraft to sell the company to the Chinese […]

The NTSB is investigating a preflight incident over the weekend in which falling debris from a Boeing 787 engine triggered a grass fire at Charleston International Airport in South Carolina. There were no injuries as a result of Saturday’s fire, but analysts are now looking into what caused the GEnx engine failure and whether an […]

The fuel-injected, fadec-equipped Rotax 912 iS, which was introduced by BRP earlier this spring, has achieved ASTM approval. What this milestone means is that LSA manufacturers can now install the engine and meet the industry’s consensus standards without the airplane being under an experimental certificate. Engines already installed will be able to get ASTM stickers […]

Cessna announced it is moving its 162 Skycatcher out of the light sport category and into the primary category. But before you lose any sleep worrying what the change will mean for you – if you fly a Skycatcher, that is – rest assured, the shift is nothing more than a way to ease approval […]

Simplicity and durability are defining characteristics of so many of the classic American products we love best: The Harley-Davidson Flathead. A well-worn pair of Levi’s jeans. A Rawlings baseball improved by the scuffs and scars and patina of use. For generations of pilots, the object of our nostalgic affection is the Piper Cub. Introduced 75 […]

Van’s Aircraft surprised Oshkosh attendees by bringing a fully finished RV-14 to AirVenture 2012 and parking it at the company’s show booth. The long-rumored homebuilt model features side-by-side seating for two and a top speed of 205 mph in a package that Van’s says has been designed both for aerobatic fun and long-distance cruising. The […]

On the opening day of AirVenture, American Champion introduced a new, more powerful version of the Super Decathlon called the Xtreme Decathlon. The airplane is intended for aerobatic training and the working prototype that is on display at the show will eventually go to a Melbourne, Australia-based flight school called Aerobatics Australia. The new airplane […]