Aircraft

Fractional operator Flight Options, based in Cleveland, has accepted the first of 100 Embraer Phenom 300s ordered in 2007. The Brazilian light jet is destined to be the mainstay of the Flight Options fleet. See the June issue of Flying for a full report on the Phenom 300 by senior editor Robert Goyer.

Sierra’s update of the seminal Cessna retractable proves there’s lots of life left in these old birds.

A look at the NTSB’s report on the February 2009 crash in Buffalo, New York.

We leveled off at 5,500 feet, I set the power, and we watched the Texas Hill Country slide by below us. The three of us, Tom Canavera and Gary Buchanan from Sierra Industries and I, were heading over to Gillespie County Airport in Fredericksburg to grab a bite to eat at the regionally famous and […]

Many piston singles have much of the avionics capability of turbine-powered airplanes, but the Piper Matrix now has it all. Late last year Piper certified the same Garmin G1000 flat-glass avionics system in the unpressurized Matrix, and its pressurized sibling, the Mirage, that had been offered earlier in the turboprop Meridian. The claim that the […]

Piper’s unpressurized cabin-class piston single now has the cockpit of a turbine.

The hat is familiar — A cream-colored baseball cap with the capital letters VAF (for “Van’s Air Force”) embroidered across the front of it. What’s eye-catching is the rest of the outfit: an immaculate black tux, with tails, worn by a smiling man cradling a Stradivarius violin in his arms. Oh, yes. And then there’s […]

Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) has unveiled a two-engine project that will bring jet fuel to the light-aircraft industry. The first, a 230-hp four-cylinder engine is expected to be certified next year. A follow-on six-cylinder, 350-hp version could follow as soon as two years later. TCM said the engine program stems from acquired technology — but […]

Dornier Seaplane Company has selected Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec (a Montreal suburb), as the final assembly site for its Seastar twin-engine flying boat. Company President Joe Walker said he holds 25 letters of intent that are currently in the process of “being matured into firm contracts.” Among the factors in selecting the Canadian site are the skilled […]

Waco Classic Aircraft has announced FAA and EASA approval of its new YMF 5-D Model. The newest version of the classic biplane includes a new 300-hp engine, an elliptical MT propeller, Garmin glass panel, upgraded landing gear design and much more. For more info, visit www.wacoclassic.com.