News

GE has purchased a stake in the growing small turboprop market with the acquisition of Prague-based Walter Engines. The 750-hp M601 engine produced by the company is in the same class as the dominant Pratt & Whitney PT-6. The M601 is less expensive than the Pratts and devotees of the Walter say it’s rugged and […]

Comp Air says its Comp Air 12, a large single-engine turboprop that it hopes to certify, is performing as expected in the proof-of-concept stage. The company introduced the aircraft at Sun ‘n Fun in April and also flew it to EAA AirVenture. CEO Ron Lueck said in a news release that predicted performance is being […]

If the accounting department really wants to know what the company aircraft are costing, Conklin and de Decker says it has the software tools to help them. The aviation information firm publishes a variety of aircraft operating and acquisition data products and the Life Cycle Cost software is designed to create a comprehensive budget analysis […]

The Hawker 900 XP received type certification on Aug. 24 and company officials say this upgrade of the 800 series will provide greater flexibility and lower operating costs. At the heart of the performance promise are new Honeywell TFE731-50R engines that the company says will boost the numbers across the board. Hawker Beechcraft CEO Jim […]

Hawker Beechcraft’s new 750 light-to-midsize jet flew for the first time Aug. 23. The 750 is a version of the 800 series midsized products and will be priced in the $11.2 million to $11.9 million range. “First flight of a new model to the market is always an exciting time,” said Brad Hatt, president of […]

Operators of Cessna 441 Conquest II twin turboprops must comply with a life limit of 22,500 flying hours, Cessna has said, and several of the aircraft have been grounded. “As part of the continuing product safety process, Cessna looks at data from test articles and from field reports regarding the structural integrity of its aircraft,” […]

Two Indian Air Force officers have completed a circumnavigation of the globe in a Light Sport Aircraft in 79 days. Wing Commanders and Squadron Leaders Rahul Monga and Anil Kumar visited 19 countries in a Flight Design CTsw. The flight marks the 75th anniversary of the Indian Air Force. Monga and Kumar, who normally fly […]

Eclipse Aviation CEO Vern Raburn announced at Oshkosh that one Eclipse 500 jet would be auctioned off on eBay and the owner could take it home right away, without having to wait until 2009 for their turn to come up. “We’ll let the market decide what that could be worth,” Raburn said, and this week, […]

Winnipeg, Manitoba police say the actions of two men who made repeated attempts to get into the cockpit of a WestJet Boeing 737 while it was in flight from Calgary earlier this month was not a reportable incident. Canadian Pressreported Sunday that the two men insisted on seeing the cockpit while the aircraft was on […]

A passenger who jumped about 50 feet from a flaming hot air balloon basket told reporters from her hospital bed she wonders why the pilot was already safely on the ground with a minor burn. Diane Rutledge was among 12 passengers on the Fantasy Balloon Charters flight last Friday evening when a fire engulfed the […]