Aircraft

Diamond Air innovation gives birth to a pair of modified DA42 twin engines: the Lycoming-powered L360 and the Austro diesel-powered NG2.

The ANAC National Civil Aviation Authority of Brazil approved Embraer’s Phenom 300 light jet for production last week. With the factory in São José dos Campos, Brazil, gearing up to meet orders, FAA certification and first deliveries are expected within the next few weeks. The $8.14 million, Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535-E-powered twinjet has exceeded […]

GE will begin certification testing on its up-to-800-shaft-horsepower H80 turboprop engine by year end. The company has also signed a launch customer — the Thrush 510 crop duster will be the first to fly with H80 power. GE expects the engine to be certified by mid 2010, with the Thrush 510 receiving FAA certification around […]

Solar Impulse, a Swiss-designed aircraft, made its first flight last week. Its developers hope to eventually fly the Solar Impulse around the world, but for now are satisfied with a “flea hop” of around 1,150 feet at an altitude of about three feet. Still, their first flight traveled almost 10 times as far as the […]

Each month, Flying answers questions about the new Sport Pilot/Light Sport Aircraft rule with assistance from the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), the authority on the opportunities available within the category commonly known as “Sport Pilot”: Q: Can vortex generators be installed prior to Phase 1 flight testing to enhance the probability of legally meeting LSA […]

In anticipation of a flurry of training activity surrounding the introduction of the Cessna 162 SkyCatcher, Cessna has launched its Cessna Sport Pilot/Private Pilot Course, which recently won Part 141 approval from the FAA. The Web-based course gives customers, Cessna Pilot Centers (CPCs) and instructors access to materials anywhere there’s an Internet connection. The scenario-based […]

Where I lived in Wisconsin, no one considered storing an airplane outside. But here in New Jersey, we sum up the expected wear and tear on paint and compare it to the cost to keep an airplane under wraps. So, for a lot of us, it means keeping our pride and joy out in the […]

Piper has completed certification allowing it to offer the Garmin G1000 avionics suite on its Mirage and Matrix aircraft models. The G1000 was previously available on the Piper Meridian. With the new certification, the G1000 panel is now available on all three Piper PA-46 versions. Both the Mirage and Matrix are piston-powered — the Mirage […]

Gulfstream’s latest widebody jet, the G650 flew for the first time last Wednesday afternoon. The flight was a short one, as a slight vibration originating with one of the landing gear doors led to a precautionary landing back at Savannah (Georgia) after 12 minutes. But Gulfstream still considers the flight a success, having reached an […]