News

After several years of tweaking training programs, Cirrus reports that the fatal accident rate for its aircraft has dropped dramatically in the past couple of years and is now measurably below the fatal accident rate for GA as a whole. At the Aero show in Friedrichshafen, Germany, the companys Travis Klumb told assembled journalists that […]

The Italian aircraft manufacturer Vulcanair is best known for its distinctive twin, the P68. But at Aero 2014 in Friedrichshafen, the company announced that its getting into the single-engine business with a new model called the V1.0. Think of the airplane as in the Cessna 172 mold, but with one striking difference: the projected price […]

Bombardiers Learjet 85 successfully made its first test flight on April 9 from Wichitas Mid-Continent Airport despite delays that have pushed the program back several months. The first composite structure Learjet reportedly flew for over two hours, reaching a maximum altitude of 30,000 feet and speed of 250 knots. Spokesperson Annie Cossette said that the […]

On Wednesday, the Solar Impulse team, based in Switzerland, introduced their new solar-powered aircraft, which they plan to fly around the world in 2015. Solar Impulse 2 is even bigger than the team’s first aircraft, which flew across the U.S. last year. It’s built from carbon composites, with a wingspan that stretches 236 feet. The […]

In what appears to be the major product introduction of the Aero show in Friedrichshafen, Piper Aircraft announced Wednesday that it began marketing a diesel-powered Archer, the Archer DX. The aircraft is certified under an STC developed by Piper and Continental Motors and it will have Continentals Centurion 2.0s, a 155-horsepower variant of the base […]

With more 600 exhibitors and increased North American presence, Europes largest general aviation trade show opens in Friedrichshafen today. At least two new certified aircraft are expected to be announced and a number of companies, including Garmin, will introduce Europe-specific products. The show will have four spotlight areas, including an engine display sponsored by AVwebs […]

Anyone who’s ever seen an Erickson AirCrane knows how distinctive these flying machines are, and recently one of the aircraft completed an unusual mission to transport an endangered female Sumatran rhinoceros to a wildlife reserve. Laurentius Ambu, the director of the Sabah Wildlife Department in Malaysia, said the rhino is “on the verge of extinction” […]

Carter Aviation Technologies recently has started public demos of its technology demonstrator, which “takes off like a helicopter, transitions to an autogyro, and flies like a fixed-wing aircraft,” CEO Jay Carter told AVweb on Tuesday. “We’re pretty excited about this technology.” The aircraft flew several times at Sun ‘n Fun last week, and then the […]

Lightspeed Aviation Foundation has announced the 2014 finalists for its 5th annual round of charitable grants, and pilots are invited to visit the foundation’s Facebook page to vote for their choice to receive funding. Each of the finalists will receive an award up to $10,000, with the final amounts determined by the Facebook votes cast. […]

Bonus depreciation could be making a comeback for business aircraft buyers and NBAA is encouraging lawmakers to make it happen. The Senate Finance Committee last week drafted legislation that would restore a series of tax incentives for two years, including bonus depreciation on capital assets. Under bonus depreciation, businesses are allowed to write off a […]