Air Shows & Events

AVweb will be at the big spring airshow held annually at Lakeland, Fla., this April 8 – 13, providing full coverage — video, podcasts and text updates, every day. Sun ‘n Fun this year includes all the latest gear, gadgets and aircraft ready for prime time … and may include some early previews of big […]

copyright John Fleck We’ve chosen the winners to fly left seat in the Herpa Wings DC-3 at Sun ‘n Fun! Aircraft owner Dan Gryder has opened up another flight for a left-seat winner, so we were able to pick two of our favorite essayists from more than 200 entries. First and foremost, we say thank […]

copyright John Fleck Entry Deadline:April 1, 2008 Flight Date:April 8, 2008 (7 a.m.) Flight Location:Linder Airport, Lakeland, Florida Winners Announced:April 3, 2008 To qualify, you must have a valid pilot certificate and current medical. (It doesn’t have to be a U.S. certificate.) Arguably the most important aircraft ever produced, the DC-3 ushered in the “modern” […]

Acting FAA Administrator Bobby Sturgell told delegates attending the annual HAI Heli Expo in Houston that Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) will be up and running for helicopters servicing offshore oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico (and any other aircraft properly equipped) by the end of next year. Sturgell said the system designed by ITT […]

Helicopter Association International says a total of 17,373 people attended Heli-Expo in Houston from Sunday to Tuesday, setting a new record and leaving the record number of exhibitors tired but happy. A total of 573 companies displayed their wares at the event and there were 65 helicopters on the showroom floor, which covered 252,700 sq. […]

A Virginia helicopter pilot will try to set a record for flying a helicopter around the world by making the 19,865 nm flight in 14 days. Scott Kasprowicz set a record for flying from New York to Los Angeles earlier this year (15:09.10 with six fuel stops) in his AgustaWestland Grand. The trip will be […]

A new 16-passenger helicopter being built in a joint venture with Harbin Aviation Industry Group in China was unveiled at Heli-Expo on Sunday. A mock-up of the aircraft is on display at the show, and the aircraft is expected to fly in 2009. “With regard to our Chinese partner, Harbin Aviation Industry Group (Avic II), […]

Sikorsky and its subsidiary, Schweizer Aircraft Corp., announced Sunday they are developing the next generation of the popular Schweizer 333 and that it will incorporate technology derived from the unmanned Fire Scout VTUAV. “The S-434 helicopter introduces a whole new level of flight performance,” said Schweizer President Paul Schweizer. “With a four-bladed rotor system, increased […]

American Europcopter announced at Heli-Expo that it had delivered its first EC225 to a U.S. customer. The EC225 is a heavy twin-turbine helicopter that draws on the company’s experience with the Super Puma family of helicopters. Era Helicopters bought the helicopter for its offshore operations in the Gulf of Mexico. “We are excited to be […]

The main players in the civilian turbine helicopter market delivered 813 aircraft last year, a 30 percent increase over the previous year, and that rate of growth is expected to continue, Honeywell predicts in its annual forecast of helicopter sales released at Heli-Expo. The company says medical and law enforcement sectors will account for 65 […]