Aviation News

Archer Aviation, developer of the Midnight electric vertical takeoff and land (eVTOL) aircraft, reported today it has successfully completed battery-pack drop tests. Archer considers the milestone a major step toward similar “for credit” testing with the FAA. At the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) the batteries were dropped from 50 feet to simulate “extreme […]

Warbird fans visiting next month’s Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida, will enjoy a showcase of aircraft as part of the Expo’s Victory’s Arsenal Theatre. Starting the second day of Sun ‘n Fun (April 10) each day will bring a new vintage military aircraft to the Warbird ramp. Examples include a Ryan PT-19 […]

The U.S. Navy has modified its multi-aircraft contract with Boeing for the remaining 17 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. The Navy calls the $1.1 billion deal adjustment a “win.” Contract talks between Boeing and the Navy had stalled last year over pricing, which was bringing the cost per airframe closer to the tab for a fifth-generation Lockheed […]

Boeing, on behalf of its subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences, filed a lawsuit against Virgin Galactic for alleged unpaid bills and misappropriation of proprietary trade secrets. According to the March 21 filing, as reported by Spacenews.com, Mojave, California-based Virgin Galactic contracted with Aurora in July 2022 to design and build two new “mothership” aircraft designed to […]

Columbus, Ohio-based CAL Analytics has combined with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to initiate a low-altitude air traffic management system for drone operations. According to CAL Analytics, the system will provide digital tools to enable multiple UAS operators to share flight planning details, ultimately allowing safe “beyond visual line of sight” (BVLOS) drone flights. […]

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has secured an extension for its Small Aircraft Exemption through the end of March 2026. Doug Carr, NBAA’s senior vice president of safety, security, sustainability, and international affairs, said, “This valuable exemption allows operators of piston-powered airplanes, small airplanes and rotorcraft to realize the cost-sharing benefits outlined in Part […]

The FAA announced today (March 27) it has launched the “2024 FAA Data Challenge.” The object of the program is to invite university students to explore possibilities for innovating the information and data associated with the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS). The competition will be implemented by HeroX, self-described as an “open marketplace for crowdsourcing […]

Tecnam announced today (March 27) it has received full type certification approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for the short takeoff and landing (STOL) variant of its P2012 Traveller light twin. Capua, Italy-based Tecnam invested 18 months in the certification effort for the aircraft, which it says “is engineered and tailored to operate […]

The India Space Research Organization (ISRO) has successfully completed the second freefall flight and autonomous landing of a scaled prototype of a proposed reusable space plane. The vehicle, named Pushpak, was dropped from a tether on a Chinook helicopter at an altitude of almost 15,000 feet and glided to a landing at India’s Aeronautical Test […]

The pilot and builder of a one-third scale B-29 hit a dip in the grass runway and lost control of the big homebuilt before it hit a golf cart and injured a female videographer at Glenndale Airport in Kokomo, Indiana, last November. In the very short final report on the unusual mishap, the NTSB says […]