When David Porter took his first flight in his RV-7 on Nov. 24, 2017, he probably didn’t know he was making history. The Martinsburg, W.Va., pilot’s plane became the official 10,000th Van’s RV aircraft to transition from a collection of parts and take to the skies. “We say ‘official’ because there are certainly more than […]
Aircraft
New Carbon Cub unveiled
CubCrafters has introduced two new variants of the Carbon Cub model: The Carbon Cub EX-3 and FX-3. The Carbon Cub EX-3 is an experimental amateur built (E-AB) kit, and the Carbon Cub FX-3 is the company’s FX (Factory eXperimental) builder assist version. Both feature a more powerful, fuel-injected engine, constant-speed propeller, and higher 2,000 pound […]
Homebuilt accidents drop to historic lows
Fatal accidents in experimental category aircraft, particularly amateur-built aircraft, continued their decline during the FAA‘s 2017 fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, falling to historic lows. For the 12-month period from Oct. 1, 2016, to Sept. 30, 2017, fatal accident totals in amateur-built aircraft were down 18% to just 27, compared with 33 during the […]
Lancair Builder Assistance Center takes off
UVALDE, Texas — Lancair’s first production Mako customer was welcomed last week to the newly-launched Builder Assistance Center at the company’s Texas headquarters. Housed in a 10,000-square-foot climate-controlled hangar, the Builder Assistance Center provides a dedicated work environment for Lancair kit owners to complete critical aircraft assemblies or the entire aircraft. In-house factory support, including […]
First flights of Bearhawk Patrols
AUSTIN, Texas – Bearhawk Aircraft reported the recent first flights of five amateur-built Bearhawk Patrol aircraft. These builder-pilots join several others who completed their Bearhawks in 2017 and include a Bearhawk LSA completion and a couple who built matching aircraft. Additionally, the company released a new video showcasing the Bearhawk Aircraft kit factory. First Flights […]
First flight: Scaled Composites experimental jet
Scaled Composites‘ most recent project, an experimental jet known as Model 401, made its first flight Oct. 11, 2017. Officials with Scaled report they worked with a customer to build two vehicles to demonstrate advanced, low-cost manufacturing techniques and to provide aircraft for research flight services to the aviation industry and the United States government. […]
Video: What’s it like to own a Cessna 310Q?
The PreBuyGuys recently interviewed Arthur Billingsley, a frequent contributor to General Aviation News, about what it’s like to own, fly, maintain, and manage his 1974 Cessna 310Q. Arthur gives the inside scoop on aircraft ownership from aircraft ownership costs, aircraft maintenance, pilot training, great tips for every aircraft owner, and more. There’s two companion videos, […]
New electric aircraft promises ‘disruptive affordability’
DENVER – The developer of the four-seat “Sun Flyer 4” reports that 10 deposits have been received for the electric airplane unveiled at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017. According to officials with Aero Electric Aircraft Corp. (AEAC), Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology is the first flight school to hold a deposit for a Sun Flyer […]
Search crews discover Avro Arrow in Lake Ontario
TORONTO — Sonar imagery and underwater video footage confirms a free-flight Avro Arrow model has been discovered on the floor of Lake Ontario. “We are very pleased and tremendously proud to announce we have discovered the first example of one of the free-flight Arrow models,” says John Burzynski, Raise the Arrow expedition leader and CEO […]