Interesting Airplanes

Swedish startup Heart Aerospace has rolled out the full-scale demonstrator of its future 30-seat hybrid electric airliner. The prototype of the ES-30 looks like a cross between a De Havilland Dash-7 and an ATR 42. It has a glider-like 100-foot wingspan and has four wing-mounted electric motors. “It is a testament to the ingenuity and […]

The Coast Guard has approved crewed testing of the wing-in-ground-effect Regent Viceroy seaglider, and the company is anticipating a speedy trip to certification. Although the Viceroy is technically planned to fly, albeit at less than 30 feet ASL, it’s considered a boat and therefore under the Coast Guard’s jurisdiction rather than the FAA’s. The FAA […]

California company Airhart Aeronautics says it is developing a semi-autonomous flight system for light aircraft that its founder says sharply increases flight safety. Autoweek is reporting that Nikita Ermoshkin, a former SpaceX engineer, hopes to roll out a modified Sling TSi in which electronics look after keeping the airplane in the flight envelope. The pilot […]

Two priceless vintage aircraft are up for sale and their asking price is correspondingly lofty. A rare CF-104 Starfighter in flying condition is being offered by a nonprofit for $4.25 million, and one of a handful of flying Nakajima A6M-2 Zero fighters is on the block for $5 million. The Zero, offered by Platinum Fighter […]

One of the enduring mysteries of the summer aviation news cycle was just how the world’s largest flying boat was going to get to one of the country’s most land-locked museums, but that may have been solved. The folks who keep the A-26K “Special Kay” flying posted on Facebook Sunday that the massive Philippine Mars, […]

Electric aircraft propulsion company magniX has acquired the use of a rare four-engine turboprop airliner as part of the next phase of NASA’s Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration program. Eventually the De Havilland Dash-7 will have two of its four engines replaced with magniX electric motors and that will cut fuel consumption and emissions by 40%. […]

One of the business units abandoned by Bombardier a few years ago is flourishing under its new Canadian owner as it capitalizes on the worldwide increase in wildfires. De Havilland Canada bought Bombardier’s highly specialized amphibious water bomber business and is now building new DHC-515 Firefighter water skimming aircraft at its Calgary, Alberta, plant from […]

Recently retired FAA Certification head Lirio Liu has joined Skyryse to help guide it toward certification. Skyryse says it’s built a “the world’s first universal operating system for flight” and it has an elaborate booth at AirVenture. “I am excited to engage with Skyryse and contribute to their mission of making all aviation simpler and […]

Donald Trump didn’t just announce his running mate on Monday, he rolled out his 2IC’s new ride. According to various reports, Vance will hit the campaign trail on a 22-year-old Boeing 737-800 (N917XA) that was most recently in service with IAERO Airlines, which shut down in April of this year. It has toiled for a […]

The FAA has granted Type Inspection Authorization to Boeing for its 777-9 after a shakedown flight with FAA inspectors aboard on Saturday. “This certification test flight validates the aircraft’s safety, reliability, and performance. We appreciate our regulator’s rigorous oversight and are grateful to our customers who have chosen the 777-9 for its efficiency, environmental performance, […]