News

“It was like an explosion going off inside the plane,” a passenger of a Great Barrier Airlines Trislander told the New Zealand Herald, after the aircraft’s right engine threw at least one blade into the side of the aircraft as it carried 11, with an empty seat in the cabin … where the blade hit. […]

The collection of aircraft set for display at this year’s (July 27 to August 2) EAA AirVenture Oshkosh airshow does not scream recession or depression and could prove to be among the best gatherings the group has put together. Aside from the roughly 2,500 showplanes expected annually, the 2009 collection will include the space-tourist-launching Virgin […]

The NTSB has determined downdrafts were the probable cause of the fatal September 3, 2007, crash near Mammoth Lakes, Calif., of a Bellanca 8KCAB-180 piloted by Steve Fossett. The Board determined the aircraft inadvertently encountered descending air that exceeded the climb capabilities of the Bellanca, which was flying over mountainous terrain at a high density […]

With the July 4th holiday behind us, and the Arlington fly-in going on this weekend, the next big thing on the aviation world’s calendar is EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh … coming up in just about two and a half weeks. The Notam is out, and pilots planning to fly in should be studying it soon […]

This Tuesday, the Antares DLR-H2 took off at Hamburg Airport in Germany using only power from fuel cells, a feat that its builders say is a first for a piloted aircraft. The motorglider, built by the German Aerospace Center, flies with zero carbon-dioxide emissions and is much quieter than similar aircraft. “This motorglider achieves new […]

Teledyne Continental Motors announced this week that its O200 lightweight engine is now for sale to the piston aircraft market. The 199-pound engine, which is up to 40 pounds lighter than some earlier versions, is fully FAA-certified and comes with a factory warranty and 2,000 hours TBO, TCM spokesman Mac Little told AVweb. The O200 […]

Times have been tough lately for the U.S. aircraft biz, but a bright moment occurred this week when Allegro announced that its LSA, formerly built in the Czech Republic, will now be manufactured in Roseburg, Ore. “We believe in the Allegro and the USA Light Sport market and will continue with our expansion,” said Doug […]

Pilots who are ready to get out and explore the western U.S. this summer will find a warm welcome in Bozeman, Mont., thanks to the folks at the Recreational Aviation Foundation. Volunteers have built a new pilot shelter on land donated by the Gallatin Field Airport (KBZN), with bath and shower facilities, lots of green […]

Aviators in the U.S. who received forwarded e-mails from AOPA-Italy in the last few days soliciting contributions may have thought it was a scam — the e-mail offered a bank account number for direct deposits, or suggested that readers “please call Antonella from Tuesday to Friday… giving us your credit card number.” But although the […]

A new system to help guide pilots away from severe storms and turbulence in remote ocean regions is being developed at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colo., NASA said this week. NASA is funding the development of a prototype that should be ready for testing next year. The system combines satellite […]