Aviation News

The old wisdom was that a thick airfoil would carry plenty of ice. It’s a folk tale based, perhaps, on innumerable stories of DC-3s from the early days of the airlines landing with thick coats of ice. The stories might be true, but the fact that DC-3s had chubby wings does not translate to aeronautical […]

It’s been three years and 17 temporary funding packages since the FAA had long-term funding legislation in place. But next week, Sen. John Rockefeller (D-W. Va.) will introduce a “new” two-year, $34.5 billion bill, which he says is identical to the one passed last year 93-0 by the Senate. That bill stalled in the House […]

It’s just one small step for some helicopters, but it could grow to a giant leap for general aviation in China — and ultimately, the rest of the world. China has begun testing a policy that shows promise of massive strides for general aviation. Over the coming weeks, four helicopters will be permitted to fly […]

Piqua, Ohio-based Hartzell Propeller has announced the development of a new two-blade Top Prop conversion kit for Piper PA-23-250 Aztec twins. The scimitar-shape, 77-inch propeller blades incorporate blade-mounted counterweights, offering greater redundancy for pitch control and feathering, compared with the original-equipment propellers that relied on air pressure. The shape of the blades is more efficient, […]

Five manufacturers of Light Sport Aircraft (LSAs) will launch a statewide “roadshow” tour following the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo, which opens today in Sebring, Florida. Bill Canino of SportairUSA said, “We wanted to create an intimate atmosphere for purchasers to see planes, without the noise of a show.” Jim Julius of Sport Planes Florida said, […]

Twelve minutes might not seem like such a long time to hold a flight. No general aviation pilot would think twice about such a minimal delay. But for Mark Dickinson, it seemed like an eternity. And for one Southwest Airlines pilot, those 12 minutes spotlighted a show of humanity that has touched the hearts of […]

Flying and AMPT have announced the dates and locations of their Parade of Planes events for 2011. For its fourth season, PoP will be visiting the Chicago and upstate New York areas for the first time, bringing the “dealership” experience direct to consumers who would not otherwise have the opportunity to meet with manufacturers and […]

The U.S. Sport Aviation Expo, kicking off today, should provide a forum for further answers to the future of Czech Sport Aircraft’s SportCruiser. Last week, Piper announced it was breaking off its relationship with the Czech Republic-based company, and the name PiperSport has been stripped from the aircraft’s marketing resume. The 13 U.S. dealers quickly […]

(January 2011) — It happened nearly seven years ago, but the accident remains a shining example of a confluence of unlikely circumstances causing a catastrophe when none of them, by itself, would have amounted to more than a nuisance. Five airplanes belonging to Pan Am International Flight Academy were flying from Deer Valley Airport in […]

Each and every day last year, an average of eight cancer patients were flying on corporate aircraft thanks to the efforts of the Corporate Angel Network (CAN). In all, 3,021 patients flew during the year — a record. That’s 9 percent more than the previous annual record of 2,778 and a 21 percent increase over […]