Rocket trainer under construction

Posted on July 25th, 2012 by

Black Sky Training (BST) has begun to build its rocket-powered flight trainer. After 6 years in development, BST’s pilot training course for rocket-powered flight has been reviewed by the FAA and is now awaiting the prototype and certification on its way... Continue Reading →

Diane Thornton (right) was thrilled with her ride, the first ride, of EAA's new Eagle Flight program. Rod Hightower offered up his T-6 for the first flight.

EAA Eagle Flight #1, check

Posted on July 24th, 2012 by

OSHKOSH — Diane Thornton from Dallas was the inaugural passenger in EAA‘s new Eagle Flight program on Tuesday morning at AirVenture. Modeled after the successful Young Eagles program, which has flown more than 1.7 million kids (aged 7-18), Eagle Flight aims to expose... Continue Reading →

TBM850

Fleet nears 1 million flight hours, while Socata debuts enhancements

Posted on July 24th, 2012 by

OSHKOSH — More than 600 single-engine turboprop TBM700 and TBM850 (pictured below) in the global fleet have amassed nearly 1 million flight hours, Daher-Socata‘s Senior Vice President Nicholas Chabbert said Tuesday at AirVenture. In addition to the fleet milestone, officials reported the... Continue Reading →

New Sky Arrow Sport (LSA)  at Oshkosh 2012_1

Two new Sky Arrows introduced at Oshkosh

Posted on July 24th, 2012 by

OSHKOSH — Magnaghi Aeronautica, the Italian aerospace group that manufactures the Sky Arrow aircraft series, introduced an updated Sky Arrow light-sport aircraft (LSA) Tuesday at AirVenture. Enhancements include new extended wing tanks, modified aerodynamics on the stabilizer, and a new,... Continue Reading →

Searey

Factory-approved Searey training takes off

Posted on July 24th, 2012 by

OSHKOSH — Chesapeake Sport Pilot in Maryland has been granted FAA authorization to provide factory-approved Searey transition training, officials reported Tuesday at AirVenture. The flight school is the first in the nation to receive a letter of deviation authority (LODA)from... Continue Reading →

Van1

RV-1 #1 donated to EAA

Posted on July 23rd, 2012 by

OSHKOSH — Richard “Van” VanGrunsven’s first RV-1 was donated to the EAA at a ceremony on Phillips 66 Plaza on Monday at AirVenture. “The RV-1 had a tremendous impact on the industry,” said Rod Hightower, EAA President. “It and subsequent... Continue Reading →

Xtreme

Xtreme Decathlon unveiled at Oshkosh

Posted on July 23rd, 2012 by

OSHKOSH — Powered by the new 210-horse Lycoming AEIO-390-A1B6, American Champion Aircraft‘s Xtreme Decathlon was unveiled on opening day of AirVenture 2012. Still tagged with an experimental sticker, flight testing will begin immediately following AirVenture. “We expect an October 2012... Continue Reading →

Wipaire

Wipaire debuts LSA float

Posted on July 23rd, 2012 by

OSHKOSH — Wipaire rolled out its new Wipline 1450 amphibious float on opening day at AirVenture 2012. The float will be approved under ASTM standards for light-sport aircraft and eventually certified under TSO for CAR 3 and Part 23 installations. Continue Reading →

SkyCatcher

Skycatcher moving from LSA category

Posted on July 23rd, 2012 by

OSHKOSH — Cessna will move the 162 Skycatcher from the Light Sport Aircraft category to Part 21 to aid in certification in countries around the world that do not recognize the LSA category. In the U.S., sport pilots will still... Continue Reading →

Glasair

Chinese company acquires Glasair

Posted on July 23rd, 2012 by

OSHKOSH — Airplane kit manufacturer Glasair Aviation has been acquired by Fang Tieji, chairman of Jilin Hanxing Group Co. Glasair manufactures the Glasair, Glastar and Sportsman aircraft, having delivered approximately 3,000 planes which are being built and/or flown all over... Continue Reading →