Aircraft

Whenever new pilots ask me to suggest a first airplane to learn to travel in, the Cessna 182 Skylane is always at the top of my list. My recommendation of the Skylane is especially strong for a pilot new to IFR flying. Part of the reason I believe so firmly in the value of the […]

After 28 flights, stage one of testing is complete for the Terrafugia ‘Transition’ roadable airplane. Woburn, Massachusetts-based Terrafugia (Latin for ‘escape from land’) now moves on to the Beta Prototype testing stage, with a second airframe to be developed based on lessons learned from the POC vehicle. First flight was March 5. First deliveries of […]

A coal-powered CitationJet? It just might happen. Williams International, the turbofan engine manufacturer, has completed an extended engine run of one of its FJ44-3 turbofans running fuel made from coal. The tests, which included 21 hours of operation and 118 operating cycles, were extremely promising and confirmed, Williams said, the promise of the FJ44, a […]

Diamond Aircraft has earned European certification for an Austro-engine-powered version of its Twin Star, the DA42 NG. The certification came on the heels of European certification of the Austro AE300 turbodiesel engine, developed by Diamond sister company Austro Engine for use in the revived twin. FAA approvals for both the airplane and engine are expected […]

At a web-based press conference officials of Bombardier’s Learjet division gave a progress report on the status of the company’s Learjet 85 all-composite midsize bizjet. If it succeeds, the 85 would be the first all-composite business jet to earn certification under Part 25. The program, however, appeared to be at risk with the failure of […]

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University ordered 10 Diamond DA42 L360 Twin Stars for use in its training programs at the Daytona campus. ERAU plans to take delivery of the airplanes and have them up and running in time for the start of the fall semester. The L360 version of the DA42 replaces the turbodiesel Thielert engines with […]

Robinson Helicopter has been building its piston-powered helicopters in Torrance, California, for decades. Because they build so many of the parts that go into their aircraft, as opposed to most manufacturers who contract out many subassemblies, Robinson employs a lot of workers and uses a lot of factory floor space. The result is a busy […]

Viking Air, the British Columbia company that successfully reintroduced the Twin Otter last year, has made a pitch to the Canadian government to consider something old in its quest for a new search and rescue platform: the Buffalo, a heavy-duty midsized utility transport hauler. Last produced in the ’70s by de Havilland, the Buffalo is […]

The new Air Tractor AT-504 ag aircraft is a side-by-side trainer that has full capability for aerial application. The ranks of experienced ag pilots are being thinned by age so it is essential that new, younger pilots be trained in the demanding flying of aerial application. But the high-performance agplanes from Air Tractor and others […]

Continental has reduced the price of its factory-new or factory-rebuilt engines by 10 percent. Unlike a major overhaul done on your existing engine when unexpected problems can be found after work begins, you know exactly the price of the new or rebuilt Continental, and it’s now 10 percent less. Rebuilt is the FAA term for […]