Aviation News

In his most recent blog, Fantasy of Flight founder Kermit Weeks has elaborated on how he believes Howard Hughes helped arrange for him to acquire the deceased aviation legend’s Sikorsky S-43. Weeks bought the airplane from the estate of well known car collector Ron Van Kregten, the man who bought it from Hughes, and he […]

A Boeing 787 completed a two-hour flight on Monday in the first test of the troubled airliner’s redesigned lithium battery system. The Dreamliner departed Everett, Washington, just after noon local time and flew along the Pacific coast into Oregon before returning to land at Paine Field. Afterward Boeing said the flight went “according to plan.” […]

The FAA has released a three-part phase-in period for closing 149 of the nation’s contract control towers. The shutdowns will start on April 7, when 24 federal contract towers will close, followed by 46 on April 21, and the remaining 79 on May 5 (see the full list below). The FAA says it is closing […]

A California teenager convicted of shining his laser pointer at two aircraft in flight has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison as part of a federal crackdown on such incidents. Adam Gardenhire, 19, aimed his commercial-grade green laser in March 2012 at a Cessna Citation on approach to Bob Hope Airport […]

The FAA published on Friday afternoon a list of the contract air traffic control towers that will close by April 7. The list is extensive and includes a number of iconic airports that are traditionally important to GA. These include the tower at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, home to the Experimental Aircraft Association’s […]

Beechcraft has filed suit in the Court of Federal Claims contesting the U.S. Air Force’s decision to reject its protest of a multimillion-dollar light attack aircraft contract awarded to Embraer earlier this month. In a statement Beechcraft said the Government Accountability Office (GAO) continues to review its protest of the $428 million Light Aircraft Support […]

SportairUSA, the distributor of the Sting and Sirius light sport models, and World Aircraft Co., developer of the Spirit and Vision LSAs, have chosen the Vertical Power VP-X Electronic Circuit Breaker System to manage the electrical system and control of trim and flaps. The VP-X integrates with EFIS units from Dynon, Grand Rapids Technology and […]

With the Chinese government expected to announce a lifting of the ban on flying below 1,000 meters (3,281 feet), Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC) is looking at building “reliable general aviation aircraft,” said company chairman Xu Heyi. The company did not specify what category or class of aircraft it is planning to build. BAIC sold 1.7 […]

The Aircraft Kit Industry Association (AKIA) has brought on Flying Editor-in-Chief Robert Goyer to serve on its advisory committee. AKIA formed last summer to help promote the kit industry and increase the safety of amateur built airplanes. Goyer will provide advice and counsel on issues that affect the association’s growth and the industry’s regulatory environment. […]

Harrison Ford visited Capitol Hill on Tuesday to lend his considerable star power to the plight of more than 200 control towers slated to close as part of the so-called government sequester. The actor joined aviation industry leaders at a special meeting of the House General Aviation Caucus to warn members of Congress and their […]