Aircraft

Perhaps the first of the “high performance LSAs”

Yeee-Haa! That was the unbridled reaction to my first solo takeoff in a Carbon Cub SS, the new LSA from CubCrafters. When I pushed the little black knob forward to unleash the 180 hp CC340 engine, the tail lightened swiftly and the airplane quickly started dancing softly on its 29-inch Alaska Bushwheel Airstreak tires before […]

Last week, Eurocopter took the wraps off its developmental X3 helicopter, with a claimed top speed of 220 knots. The “speed barrier” for conventionally designed rotorcraft has always been defined by the speed differential between the advancing rotor blade(s) set off by that of the retreating blade(s). The faster the aircraft flies, the greater the […]

Daher-Socata has announced it will enter a joint development program with Allied Aviation Technologies, the company that ultimately acquired the assets of Grob’s SPn light jet program. In development since 2002, the all-composite jet had shown promise, but Grob’s timing turned out to be unfortunate and its financial backing melted away in 2009. Allied owns […]

Fractional ownership plan OurPLANE declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy in September, leaving many of its aircraft “owners” with a lot less return on investment than they thought they’d bargained for. Founded in 2003, OurPLANE sold shares in Cirrus SR22s, but the intention was always to add Eclipse 500 very light jets (VLJs) to the business plan […]

Eurocopter recently took the wraps off its developmental X3 helicopter. What’s unique is it’s configured with two forward-facing propellers on stub wings. At higher airspeeds, the lifting and thrusting duties are progressively shifted to the wings and props. This arrangement is meant to compensate for lost lift on the side of the retreating main rotor […]

In a move aimed at helping bring aviation jobs back, the Senate has approved continuing the bonus tax incentive through the end of this year for new aircraft purchases. The rule allows companies or individuals buying new aircraft to record the purchase’s depreciation in the first year, rather than stretching the tax benefits over five […]

WHAT IF YOU COULD bring back the magic of the golden age of aviation without the hassle of oil leaks, crummy brakes, no electrical system and short-lived fabric covering? Wouldn’t that be heaven for a pilot? Well, that’s exactly what Waco Classic Aircraft does. It builds brand-new sport biplanes right out of the 1930s but […]

Open a desk drawer at work and there it is. Check the bedside table; there it is again — a single sheet of glossy paper, almost as thick as cardboard, with a flattering shot of my favorite turboprop: the Piper Cheyenne. The airplane is dear to me because my wife and I own one. The […]

Cessna told workers on Tuesday it is forced to further pare its workforce with 700 more layoffs across the board. This announcement came on the heels of a vote by Cessna’s 2,500 union employees on Saturday not to strike. The no-strike vote meant the union accepted by default a new contract they had voted by […]