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 […]
Briefings
Run the Runway at 6B6
By JAMES E. ELLIS Minute Man Air Field is a thriving general aviation airport about 25 miles west-northwest of Boston, mostly in Stow, Massachusetts. Owned by Don and Nancy McPherson, the airport has always tried to be open and inviting to the public. It starts with Nancy’s Airfield Café, an airport restaurant run by Nancy […]
TruTrak Vizion STC approved for Cessna 177s
EAA STC has received FAA approval to begin selling STCs for the Cessna 177 series for the installation of the TruTrak Vizion Autopilot. The Approved Model List (AML) for this STC also includes models F through S of the Cessna 172 series. The Vizion autopilot is a two-axis system with vertical and horizontal navigational capabilities, […]
Collegiate Drone Challenge takes off
The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), an association for model aircraft flying hobbyists, and the University Aviation Association (UAA) have launched the Collegiate Drone Challenge. The UAS4STEM Collegiate Challenge is designed for university students to learn, practice, and demonstrate professional unmanned aircraft system (UAS) knowledge, mission planning, flight skills, data collection, analysis, and safety practices […]
FAA chief: Collaboration key to maintaining U.S. leadership in aviation
As his term at the FAA comes to an end early next year, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta told members of the Aero Club in Washington, D.C., the “only way forward” is to foster more “constructive relationships” in the aviation community. “The result is the safest, largest, most complex, and most efficient air transportation system the […]
Air Plains hits milestone
WELLINGTON, Kansas — Air Plains Services, which specializes in extreme performance upgrades for a variety of general aviation aircraft models, marked a milestone in September 2017 with its 2,500th 180-hp engine upgrade for Cessna 172s. The milestone 172XP Extreme Performance engine upgrade was installed on N733EA, a 1977 Cessna 172N. “The rate of climb with […]
Badass Pilot premieres
AARP Studios has launched “Badass Pilot: The Series.” The unscripted five-part series follows jet pilot Art Nalls and his journey to buy and fly one of the rarest and most elusive planes in the world, a Harrier jet. “I think the title of this show says it all. Art is, in fact, a badass pilot, […]
Airplane shipments up, but billings down so far this year
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The latest numbers from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association show that airplane shipments increased by 1.7% through the third quarter of 2017, but billings declined 2.8%. The news was better for rotorcraft, which saw a 7.7% increase in shipments through the third quarter, with an 8.8% jump in billings. Airplane billings totaled $13.2 […]
MooneyShares takes off
Aircraft manufacturer Mooney International and Partners in Aviation (PIA) have formed a new partnership: MooneyShares. The new program is designed to match prospective owners to share ownership and operation of the aircraft. “Customers with varying needs and requirements can now come together, through PIA, and realize acquisition costs as low as 50 cents on the […]