There are lots of DC-3s still flying around the world, but only one original DC-2. It showed up at AirVenture in Oshkosh (via Rock Falls, Illinois), and AVweb had a look at it.This video is brought to you by Lightspeed Aviation and Conoco-Phillips.
Oma Sud, an Italian aircraft company that builds parts for the likes of Airbus, has it's own unusual new twin. AVweb's Mary Grady took a closer look at EAA Airventure Oshkosh.This video is brought to you by Bose Corporation and WxWorx XM WX Satellite Weather.
In his latest post to the AVweb Insider blog, Paul Bertorelli seems dazed and baffled by a world class case of whipsaw. On the one hand, EPA says it has no authority to ban leaded fuels; on the other, FAA Admin Randy Babbitt says oh, yes it does. Who the hell is driving this thing? Click here to read Paul's blog and make your best guesses as to what's going on.
It's at nearly gross weight before the pilot steps in and can only fly for 15 minutes, but that's not the point. Sikorsky Innovations sees the Firefly as a testbed for the technologies that may make for a real electric helicopter ... someday.This video is brought to you by Conoco-Phillips and Lightspeed Aviation.
At EAA AirVenture 2010, Ford has a number of attractions, not the least of which is a portable vertical wind tunnel. It'll give you a good taste of what skydiving freefall is all about. AVweb staffers from our show intern Adam Cutler to resident skydiver Paul Bertorelli tried it out — and here's the video report.This video is brought to you by Bose Corporation and WxWorx XM WX Satellite Weather.
All 152 souls on board an Airbus A321 were killed on Wednesday when the aircraft crashed into a hill while trying to land at an airport near Islamabad in clouds and rain. Fire and smoke was visible at the scene, the Associated Press reported, and the wreckage was strewn widely across the hillside of broken trees. No distress calls were heard from the pilots, according to the AP. The flight was operated by Airblue, a private service based in Karachi, where the flight had departed from. One witness told the AP the airplane appeared to have "lost balance" in the air, and then went down.
Matthieu de Quillacq flew his lightweight Kompress CH-7 kit helicopter from southern France to Oshkosh, and he hopes to continue right around the world. AVweb's Glenn Pew caught up with him at AirVenture to find out more.This video is brought to you by Conoco-Phillips and Lightspeed Aviation.
Take a tour of a beautiful corporate-owned DC-3. It's never been restored, but you'd be hard pressed to find a nicer one than Esther Mae.This video is brought to you by Bose Corporation and WxWorx XM WX Satellite Weather.
Gotta hand it to Bose, says Paul Bertorell on the AVweb Insider blog. They've been at this noise-cancelling thing for more than 20 years, and the new A20 shows that experience. After you check out the A20, walk right across the street to Lycoming and sniff around at that company's new technology. They're definitely moving forward. Catch up with Paul's quick thoughts on the show in his latest blog post.
Has it been 20 years since Bose pioneered the first aviation noise cancelling headset at Oshkosh? Yes, it has — and at this year's EAA AirVenture, they've introduced the latest and greatest, the new A20, a follow-on product to the popular Headset X. Here's AVweb's quick look at the new headset.This video is brought to you by WxWorx XM WX Satellite Weather.
Long-time EAA President Tom Poberezny is skilled at conveying the passion that drives aviation innovation. Can his successor do the same? AVweb's Mary Grady thinks Rod Hightower may have stumbled a bit when asked to comment on his vision for EAA's future. Click here to read Mary's analysis and share your own thoughts (and visions).
EAA president Tom Poberezeny introduced Rod Hightower of St. Louis as EAA's next president at a news conference at Airventure Oshkosh on July 26, 2010.This video is brought to you by Conoco-Phillips and Lightspeed Aviation.
PHL Approach:"Air Canada 364, PHL airport. 2 o'clock and four miles. Report the field in sight."Air Canada 364:"Yeah, we have the terminal in sight."PHL Approach:"Don't land on the terminal. Cleared the visual 27R, tower on 118.5."A. Mellovia e-mail
>>> AVWEB FUEL FINDERCURRENT PRICE FOR 100LL: $4.76 (down 1¢ from last week)CURRENT PRICE FOR JET A: $4.42 (down 1¢ from last week)Fuel prices provided weekly by AirNav, based on prices from the past 2 weeks. Changes are relative to last week's prices. /TEXT_ONLY-->http://media.avweb.com/banmanavweb/a.aspx?Task=Click&ZoneID=0&CampaignID=5859&AdvertiserID=167&BannerID=2979&SiteID=19&RandomNumber=782381113&Keywords=/TEXT_ONLY-->AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to the FBO at St. Clair County Airport (KPLR) in Pell City, Alabama.AVweb reader Randy Martin put PLR to the test when he decided to change his go-to airport for trips to Birmingham. Having already spoken with the airport manager (Larry), Randy expected thins to run smoothly when he arrived. What Randy didn't expect was an experience he called "Southern hospitality at its finest."Upon my arrival, a silver van was planeside before the prop stopped spinning, and Heath [a lineman] ask me if I needed a ride to the motel. ... [After finding myself stranded at the motel later on, I reluctantly called Larry and asked for a ride.] Bill arrived at the motel within half hour and happily drove me over, offering several local attractions to visit my next time in, and would not take any money for gas — or even a tip. ... A very big thank you for all the guys at KPLR. I will definitely be back.Keep those nominations coming. For complete contest rules, click here.AVweb is actively seeking out the best FBOs in the country and another one, submitted by you, will be spotlighted here next Monday!
More than 30 DC-3s were on the ramp at Whiteside County Airport in Rock Falls, Ill. from July 24-26 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first flight of the aircraft that some say changed the way aviation was used and perceived. Organizer Dan Gryder gave AVweb a unique perspective on the event and the people involved.
The Cobalt 50 is a pusher-prop design that the company hopes will carry five people at 220 knots. AVweb's Jeff Van West spoke with Cobalt founder and CEO David Loury to find out more.This video is brought to you by WxWorx XM WX Satellite Weather.
Sonex Aircraft's Jeremy Monnett explains the development of the Onex single-seat kitbuilt on the day of the aircraft's rollout.This video is brought to you by Lightspeed Aviation and Conoco-Phillips.
Although it looked ugly Saturday night, Wittman Field is rapidly drying out for the start of EAA AirVenture 2010 at Oshkosh. AVweb's Paul Bertorelli walked the North 40 on Sunday and found it more dry than wet. EAA's Dick Knapinksi said Sunday that the field may be dry enough for normal operations by Monday.This video is brought to you by Lightspeed Aviation and Conoco-Phillips.
Boeing said last week it will launch an ecoDemonstrator program to help develop new green aviation technologies and get them to market more quickly. The project will focus on fuel efficiency, noise reduction and operational efficiency. "Commercial aviation is in rapid pursuit of its goal of carbon-neutral growth by 2020, primarily driven by technology advancements," said Billy Glover, managing director of Environmental Strategy for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The ecoDemonstrator program can help accelerate industry efforts by providing a platform that integrates innovation and technologies in a way that ensures as they mature, they are market-ready. The program also will enable emerging technologies to be tested for further research consideration." The FAA recently awarded Boeing $25 million in matching funds to support the project.
How hard is it to upgrade your old headset to become noise-canceling? Aviation Consumer's Jeff Van West tried it out. And he only burned himself with the soldering iron once.
Avgas and the lack of a replacement for it will be a hot agenda item at AirVenture 2010 — and that's A-O.K. with Paul Bertorelli. In his latest post to the AVweb Insider blog, Paul explains why he's hopeful that the year's biggest aviation gathering will energize the quest for 100LL replacement. Click here to read Paul's guideposts for a productive fuel discussion at the show.
Click for photos & videoA Canadian Forces airshow demonstration pilot is in the hospital with undisclosed but non-life-threatening injuries after his CF-18 Hornet fighter crashed during preparation for an airshow in Alberta on Friday. Capt. Brian Bews, 36, ejected from the aircraft just before it dove into the ground at Lethbridge, Alberta. In advance of the weekend airshow, Bews was practicing a maneuver called the High Alpha Path when witnesses say they saw sparks coming from one of the engines and heard loud "popping noises." The High Alpha Path is a maximum angle of attack/minimum speed maneuver that relies on engine power to keep the aircraft stable. "I noticed it start to bank a little bit off to one side, which I kind of thought was unusual and I saw a couple of pops and all of a sudden this plane just banked and slowly dropped into the ground into this huge orange ball of fire," said Lethbridge Herald photographer Ian Martens, who took these jaw-dropping images.
The PD-1 combines a modified Glasair Sportsman with a road-worthy trike undercarriage driven by a separate engine; it has flown and is expected to arrive this week at AirVenture Oshkosh 2010, according to its developers. The design combines the Sportsman GS-2 with a kit that incorporates an auxiliary external drive pod below the aircraft, between two large wheels and behind an oversized nosewheel. Plane Driven says the drive's location maintains the aircraft's original center of gravity. A streamlined pod helps minimize the aerodynamic impact of carrying one inert engine in flight. That engine is an 80-horsepower, 4-cycle, 2-cylinder, liquid-cooled powerplant fueled by a separate gas tank. It's attached to an automatic transmission with a reverse gear. The weight of the kit is yet to be announced and it's not clear if the prototype vehicle is currently street-legal. The vehicle's developers say that, as of July 21, the Plane Driven prototype has flown, and they've offered proof.
Going vertical? Get more from your GPS. VNAV is a great feature that goes unused or underutilized on many a GPS. See how a GNS 430's VNAV can do more than just tell you when to start down for the airport.
It was considered inevitable among most aviation industry observers that former Cirrus CEO Alan Klapmeier would get back in the airplane business, and it was announced in Maine Friday that he will head up the company that will certify and bring to market the Kestrel turboprop single. In an announcement at Brunswick Landing (soon to be the former Naval Air Station Brunswick), Maine Gov. John Baldacci announced that Klapmeier's new venture, the Kestrel Aircraft Company, has taken an option to lease a 170,000-sq. ft. hangar built for the Navy in 2004. Baldacci said Kestrel is pouring $100 million into the development of the mostly composite aircraft and about 300 people will be hired initially.
An agreement between Russian Helicopters Holding and Avicopter of China may produce an Mi-26-type helicopter weighing in between 30 and 35 tons, if details are ironed out. The two partners hope to arrive at technical decisions regarding the new aircraft this fall, according to The Voice of Russia. The Mi-26, which is similar in empty weight, has a maximum takeoff weight near 120,000 pounds. It has been called the heaviest and most powerful helicopter in the world and can carry up to 150 tightly packed people (90 is more common). It flies under an eight-blade rotor spanning 105 feet, driven by two turboshaft engines that can propel the aircraft at 180 mph. The Mi-26 won respect from the Chinese government for its participation in rescue efforts following a 2008 earthquake in China.
The Farnborough International Airshow ended Thursday after seeing roughly 820 passenger aircraft sold but relatively little movement of high-profile aircraft like Boeing's 787 and Airbus' A350 widebody, and none for the A380. Orders for Airbus and Boeing aircraft appear to have topped out somewhere near $28 billion as measured by non-discounted list prices, and accounting for about 237 jetliners. That triples sales seen at the Paris Airshow, last year, according to Bloomberg news. Narrow-body aircraft accounted for nearly all the aircraft sold and that made Embraer a relative winner, selling about 44 Embraer 190 jetliners. The big two, Airbus and Boeing, saw most demand for their 737-800 and A320 narrow-body jetliners, respectively. Boeing's 787 Dreamliner made its international debut at the show and the manufacturer may have been surprised by buyers' reaction.
When the American Barnstormers made a stop in Watertown, South Dakota, Heather Kallhoff seized the opportunity to capture a few scenes that may well have come from another time. We look forward to seeing more photos from Heather, but for the moment, we're content to soak in the nostalgia brought on by this one, our "Picture of the Week."
Reader Brinley Peck is wondering if there is any appetite for an "owner maintenance" category of small, simple aircraft in the U.S. as there is in Canada. We'd like to know what you think.Plus: Last week, we asked AVweb readers what kind of impact the recession had on their flying; click through to see how they answered.
Click for more photosNext week at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Sean Tucker and Team Oracle will wow the crowds and show off their brand-new Challenger III. Team Oracle's Brian Norris shared some of the biplane's unique aerodynamic features with AVweb's Mary Grady, who brought home a few photos. Click through for the photos and click here to listen to the podcast.
Also Announces New Flitestar Version For Enhanced Weather Data Jeppesen has introduced an avionics data solution to support leading light sport and experimental aircraft original equipment manufacturer (OEM) providers, including Advanced Flight Systems, Dynon Avionics, Garmin and MGL Avionics.
Lindbergh Electric Aircraft Prize (LEAP) Created to Advance Green Technology in Aviation During the World Electric Aircraft Symposium at AirVenture on Friday, Erik Lindbergh will be awarding the first set of prizes designed to promote the practical development of electric aircraft by recognizing specific advances in this emerging clean technology industry.
USAF Military Heritage Database This web site exists to record and preserve the personal information and the military records of those individuals who served in the United States Air Force from its inception in 1908 and on into the future.
Let Aspen Avionics Guide You Through ANN's 2010 Special Coverage! Aspen Avionics, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was founded by aviation enthusiasts in 2004. The company specializes in bringing the most advanced technology and capability from the commercial and business aviation markets into general aviation cockpits. Its products increase situational awareness and reduce pilot workload, making it even easier and safer to fly in both VFR and IFR conditions.
'Skycar' Introduced From Across The Pond One of the more unusual new designs at Oshkosh in 2010 is OMA SUD's prototype Skycar, which is on display here at AirVenture. This new light twin from Italy is certified in Europe, and FAA certification is expected in December.
This is Aero TV's Daily Update on EAA AirVenture Oshkosh for Wednesday, July 28th. FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt was on hand today to address the media, and delivered a mixed report on safety. Babbitt defended his agency from charges it inflates the costs of certifying new designs. Regarding the future of leaded aviation fuel, Babbitt explained the FAA's place in what is really an EPA process.
Live The Dream! Own and Fly A REAL Waco YMF-5D! WACO Classic Aircraft of Battle Creek, MI, is the world's only manufacturer of a brand new 1930's era open cockpit sport biplane, the WACO YMF. Since 1983, WACO Classic has been building new production aircraft under the original FAA type certificate. There are currently over 120 WACO YMF's flying around the world.
Let ForeFlight Show YOU The Way To Oshkosh 2010 With ANN's Favorite iPad App!! Founded in 2007, ForeFlight builds Intelligent apps for pilots that run on iPad, iPhone, and Google's Android operating systems. ForeFlight's critically acclaimed and highly-rated apps are used by thousands of pilots worldwide to efficiently gather the critical information they need to assess flight conditions, plan flights, obtain pre-flight weather briefings, and file flight plans with aviation authorities.
The VLJ Revolution Continues With The Total Eclipse! In September 2009, Eclipse Aerospace, Inc. (EAI) embarked on a mission to finish the design and promised capabilities of the breakthrough Eclipse 500. Since acquisition of the company, Eclipse Aerospace has been investing in, and completing the design and certification of, the original EA500 jet, which now includes FIKI (Flight Into Known Icing) and GPS coupled autopilot.
Sandia Aerospace Expands Its Line Of Products The Albuquerque, New Mexico company is branching out into a line of its own products, starting with the STX-165 Transponder, which is debuting at AirVenture at Oshkosh. The STX 165 Sports a professional 1/2 3ATI Bezel that compliments any aircraft panel. Its bright OLED display is readable in virtually all lighting conditions and automatically dims for night time operations.
You CAN Have It YOUR Way! Over the years, ANN has listened long and hard to those of you who have so generously taken the time to suggest upgrades and modifications to our site. ANN has designed several options that you can utilize to configure our homepage to your personal preference, as well as your computer's abilities.
Piper's Legend Continues!!! Piper's rich aviation legacy is born of 72 years of unparalleled history, with almost 150,000 aircraft brought to market and more than 160 certified models. Approximately 90,000 of those aircraft are flying today and being serviced and supported on every continent by Piper's 65 service centers, 27 dealers and 2,500 field personnel.
Check Out The Cobalt Co50 At Oshkosh Display Area 22! Cobalt Aircraft Industries is an aircraft conceptual design company and is organized to become an Original Equipment Manufacturer. Headquartered across from Toussus-le-Noble airport (LFPN) and only 20 km from Paris, Cobalt will provide total OEM service from Aircraft On Ground (AOG) assistance to long-term study, manufacture, and certification of customization requests. The first aircraft in the Cobalt range, the Co50, shall be the first certified canard in its class in the world.
Concorde Battery Powers ANN's Special Event Coverage When you own a Concorde, rest assured that you are flying with a product designed by people distinguished in the field of lead aircraft battery design, who have been instrumental in writing military aircraft battery specifications and setting FAA and International Aircraft Battery Standards.
New EAA Prez is Long-Time Member, Stearman Pilot/Rebuilder During remarks in advance of the Piper press conference at Oshkosh 2010, current president EAA Tom Poberezny let loose with the fact that EAA has selected new leadership to 'augment' his aims for the organization.
