briefs

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Video: Sean Tucker described getting “stuck on the tail” when he jumped from his crippled Challenger Biplane, Tuesday. AVweb covered Tucker’s Thursday press conference in our Friday issue and captured Sean’s story live in two-part video at Sun ‘n Fun. Watch Part 1 and Part 2 of his compelling story, online.

Online Now: Today’s news, plus exclusive interviews not included in AVweb‘s Flash or NewsWire. Click here to listen. Subscribe to AVweb audiocasts and receive them automatically, or check this spot each Monday and Friday to download them individually for listening on your iPod, while sitting at your computer, or traveling with any MP3 player. Find […]

John McBean, owner of Sport Plane LLC in Idaho, is now also the new owner of the Kitfox kitplane. Skystar, the former owner of the model, declared bankruptcy last October, leaving some homebuilders stuck. Some had already ordered and paid for their Rotax engines through the company, but that money never made it to Rotax. […]

The folks at BRS, the ballistic parachute company, seemingly won’t be happy until everything that flies comes with a BRS chute installed. The systems so far have saved a documented 188 lives. A Symphony SA 160 set for delivery this week will be the first certified aircraft other than the Cirrus to have a BRS […]

Two of the newest U.S. fighter aircraft, the Stealth fighter “Raptor,” visited Sun ‘n Fun Friday through Sunday, and there was no missing them … they make a bit of noise. Tracks stopped and heads turned each afternoon when the two roared past, showing off with low-level steep turns and power climbs. Designed to replace […]

A new prototype for what could be a future LSA was on exhibit by AviaDesign, a California company that provides mods for business aircraft. At first glance, with its round belly and top-mounted pusher prop, the A-16 Sport Falcon looks like a seaplane, but the fixed gear nixes that concept. Mark Ward said future versions […]

Mercury Computer Systems normally makes imaging equipment for military and medical applications but there are a lot of pilots in the company and, well, you know the rest of the story. The Massachusetts company showed off its Vista Nav synthetic vision system, which, at about $4,000 for the complete system (weather’s an option), the company […]

Marion Blakey, administrator of the FAA, received a warm welcome at Sun ‘n Fun on Friday afternoon, in her first appearance at the show. “Sun ‘n Fun … it sure sounds a lot better than most of the things I get invited to,” she said. In the hour-long “Meet the FAA” session, she recounted the […]

More images from the show grounds at Sun ‘n Fun. We hope you brought sunscreen.Click through for access to the latest images posted to our image galleries