Aviation News

Cirrus president Alan Klapmeier teased EBACE press conference attendees by promising that ‘the jet’ would eventually receive a more substantial name, but he didn’t provide clues as to what it might be. More important, the company released photos of the prototype under construction and hinted that it might be flying in time to arrive at […]

L-3 Communications has announced it received FAA Technical Service Order (TSO) authorization for its SmartDeck glass panel avionics suite. At the same time, the company announced Supplemental Type Certification (STC) approval for the Cirrus SR22 G2. That gives Cirrus owners the option of having the SmartDeck installed as a retrofit. No price was announced for […]

Upgraded Williams FJ44-3AP turbofans and elliptical winglets give the Hawker Beechcraft Premier II jet improved performance, longer range and upgraded payload capability. With a 23 percent increase in thrust over their predecessors, the new engines provide 3,000 pounds of thrust each, increasing climb capability (14 minutes to FL 370) and extending the Premier II’s service […]

One of the first questions many are asking is, “How will Avidyne survive, now that Cirrus has embraced Garmin?” The ultimate answer will come with time; but Avidyne has reminded the market that it is still the sole producer of avionics for the Cirrus SR20, and remains the standard suite for the SR22, for those […]

With some 40 letters of intent (backed by refundable $250,000 deposits), Aerion announced its backlog sits north of the $3 billion mark for its proposed supersonic business jet, projected to cost $80 million each. Company Vice Chairman Brian Barents is even more bullish on the prospects for the jet now than he was 30 months […]

Cirrus announced on Tuesday it will offer a new Garmin avionics option package-dubbed “Cirrus Perspective”-for SR22 buyers. Perspective incorporates 12-inch screens, 35 percent larger than those on existing G1000 systems, and the ideal canvas for Garmin’s recently announced Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT). Cirrus also simplified data input with its GCU 478 alphanumeric keypad replacing the […]

For the first time the total value of general aviation airplanes delivered in 2007 broke through the $20 billion mark. Thanks to a 28 percent increase in business jet shipments, and an 11 percent growth in the numbers of turboprops, total billings by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association were $21.9 billion worldwide, up a whopping […]

Bombardier has increased the max takeoff weight of its large cabin Global 5000 business jet to 92,500 pounds, allowing it to carry more fuel. The added fuel increases the IFR range 400 nm to 5,200 nm when cruising at a fast Mach .85 (488 kts), a range increase of 8 percent. The extra fuel is […]

According to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association first quarter tally, deliveries of new piston aircraft were off by about 28 percent compared with Q1 numbers from last year. Manufacturers delivered only 399 piston-powered aircraft in the first three months of this year, compared with 544 in last year’s first quarter. Cirrus’ numbers were down by […]

“It’s a one-G maneuver. It’s absolutely nonhazardous, but it’s very impressive.” So Tex Johnson explained himself to Boeing president Bill Allen after performing an impromptu barrel-roll in the 707 prototype before a Seattle gathering of IATA bigwigs. Equally impressive, but more subtle, was Bob Hoover’s demonstration, watchable on YouTube, that he could smoothly pour water […]