Aviation News

Forget Stealth, how about the invisible plane? NASA is tinkering with a coat that makes the wearer seem invisible. Kazutoshi Obana has developed the coat, which has caught NASA’s eye for — among other things – aeronautical designs. The idea is to coat the inside of an airplane cockpit with micro reflectors so pilots could […]

The FAA (or is it the TSA?) eased restrictions ever so slightly at Washington- and New York-area towered airports covered by the ADIZs on the weekend, allowing pilots and students to do some pattern work. From 0600 Saturday to 02000 Sunday, those staying in the pattern didn’t have to file a flight plan and they […]

NOTAMs, wherefore art thou? It’s getting easier to find NOTAMs online, though calling FSS before every flight is still the only way to be sure. But you can get a head start, at these links: the FAA NOTAM site, which is updated every 28 days, and the NBAA site, which posts major TFRs and frequently […]

Air show performer Chris Smisson was killed Saturday in a strange accident at the Gulf Salute 2003 air show at Tyndall AFB, near Panama City, Fla. Witnesses told the Panama City News Herald that Smisson, 55, a Delta international captain and U.S. Air Force veteran, was to race a rocket-propelled truck on the runway. When […]

Owners of Diamond Aircraft have formed their own organization. The new Diamond Owners and Pilots Organization recently debuted online. This non-profit organization was established to “support the owners and pilots of certified aircraft manufactured by Diamond Aircraft Corporation and to educate, promote the safety of and encourage ownership of these aircraft.” The group will also […]

A bill that would require background checks on student pilots has been held back by the Illinois state representative sponsoring it. Rep. Suzanne Bassi (R-54th) has agreed to delay the bill’s introduction pending further consultation with AOPA, which sent her a letter assuring that the federal government has the issue in hand… A replica of […]

The Civil Air Patrol will receive the National Aeronautic Association‘s Frank G. Brewer Aerospace Education Trophy for 2002, in recognition of “significant contributions of enduring value” for more than a half-century of leadership in educating the nation’s young people on the many opportunities available to them in the fields of aviation and space flight… The […]

Lycoming has smoothed out a minor production glitch in its IO-540 recall effort. Spokeswoman Sue Bishop said the line had to be slowed down after problems were found in an unidentified part and replacements were temporarily lost by the airline shipping them. Everything’s back up to speed now and the schedule is being maintained… There’s […]

Airline Training Academy, in Orlando, Fla., apparently ceased operations last week, the Orlando Sentinel reported on Saturday. Students and instructors said the school closed its doors without warning… The 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction built by The Wright Experience for EAA’s Countdown to Kitty Hawk will be officially unveiled in Washington, D.C., on March 18… Two […]

Saturday, Lancair rolled out it’s first aircraft since funding problems stopped the production line back in August. The $55 million infusion from the Malaysian Department of Finance should fund future operations “indefinitely,” company president Bing Lantis told the Bend Bulletin. Lancair expects to ramp up production and fill its backlog of 180 planes before 2005… […]