News

For the first time in a decade, Boeing is the number-one planemaker in the world, selling and delivering more airplanes than Airbus in 2012, according to the Seattle Times. The company delivered about 585 commercial jets over the year, its highest total ever. Orders also were up, including about 1,000 commitments to buy the new […]

Although early reports of a fatal Tupelov 204 crash in Russia cited pilot error as the likely cause, investigators now are saying the airplane’s brakes or thrust reversers may have failed. “After landing, the pilot used all the available brake systems on the plane, but for some reason the machine did not stop,” a member […]

One of the cool things about being a Web-only publication is that we can tell at a glance what our readers considered the most popular of the thousands of items we served up in 2012. In recent years, that’s been spectacular video, and this year is no exception in the top spot. Another video (and […]

A de Havilland Mosquito fighter bomber, the only one of its kind in the world that is flying, will appear at the Wings Over Wairarapa airshow in New Zealand, Jan. 18 to 20. The airplane is owned by Jerry Yagen, owner of Fighter Factory in Virginia Beach, Va. It first flew in September, and news […]

Don’t see a video screen?Try disabling ad blockers and refreshing this page.If that doesn’t work, click here to download the video directly. Here’s one we missed earlier this year but New Scientist‘s year-end wrap included its April coverage of a novel (and so far useless) method of propulsion the clever folks at German technology company […]

Don’t see a video screen?Try disabling ad blockers and refreshing this page.If that doesn’t work, click here to download the video directly. Four crew members died when a Red Wings Tu 204 overran a runway at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport on Saturday. Eight others, all flight crew for the Russian airline, survived the crash but four […]

A twin turboprop Beechcraft King Air 100 that crashed at night during a snowstorm on Dec. 19 near Libby, Mont., killing both aboard, was piloted by 54-year-old Carl Douglas who, FAA records show as of Friday, held only a student pilot certificate. Douglas was CEO of Stinger Welding and was flying with passenger John Smith, […]

The FCC Friday issued a statement that it has “adopted a Report and Order establishing rules to help speed deployment of Internet services onboard aircraft,” to meet with consumer demands and promote economic growth. The action formalizes a license application process for broadband systems and creates standards to establish that they do not interfere with […]

In November the International Air Transport Association said 2012 was on track to become its safest year on record and now Ascend, an aerospace analytics service, estimates that airline passenger fatalities and aircraft destroyed could set record lows for 2012 … and that’s not all good? Airline fatal accident rates are now twice as safe […]

The Balloon Federation of America has invited balloonists across the country to take part in its annual Long Jump Challenge, an opportunity for pilots to use their skills and equipment beyond the usual treetops-and-champagne flight. The competition, which has been held every year since 1990, is open from November through March, and the idea is […]