Aircraft Upgrades

Whelen Engineering, the well-known manufacturer of aircraft lamps and strobe lights, announced Friday that is has acquired LoPresti Aviation, another manufacturer of aircraft lighting systems and aircraft mods. The new entity, to be called Whelen Aerospace Technologies or WAT, will be based in Chester, Connecticut, Whelen Engineering’s long-established home. Whelen also has an extensive line […]

This week, AVweb‘s news roundup uncovered reports on acceptance for a new flying boat, a company’s 10,000th transponder delivery, an anniversary for an online ground school provider and an organization taking applications for an aircraft competition. The roundup also found announcements about an acquisition in the aviation lighting industry, a new aircraft maintenance pickup and […]

Over the weekend, Elon Musk tweeted out images of what his completed Spaceship test vehicle will look like, and said it should be ready for first flight within weeks. The ship is 30 feet across, the same as the final vehicle, according to Engadget. It has a shiny aluminum hull, but no windows. Musk said, […]

Bell Helicopter revealed a full-scale concept eVTOL on Monday, during the press day at the Consumer Electronics Show 2019 in Las Vegas. The air taxi, namedBell Nexus, is powered by a hybrid-electric propulsion system and driven by Bell’s powered-lift concept, incorporating six tilting ducted fans designed for safety and efficiency. Bell is working with Uber […]

If you’re in the market for a retrofit primary EFIS, you’ll can expect entry-level, fly-away pricing for full-featured glass around $8000, and flagship systems well north of $35,000. That’s a big spread and Aspen Avionics hits both ends, and a few price points in between. To help sort out the tricky buying decision, Aviation Consumer […]

Garmin’s G500H TXi touchscreen flight display has now been certified, the company announced on Thursday. The display, which was designed for normal category VFR helicopters, is compatible with existing system sensors in rotorcraft equipped with the original G500H. It is available in 10.6-inch, 7-inch portrait and 7-inch landscape versions. Garmin also announced that a new […]

Those of a certain age may remember the famous New York Sun editorial from 1897, when a little girl was reassured that “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.” The FAA took the same position this week, announcing that Santa has equipped Rudolph with new ADS-B avionics and received a $500 rebate. “This state-of-the-art technology […]

Starting with 2019 production, Textron says it will upgrade the flight deck on its Cessna Caravan and Grand Caravan EX turboprops. The features aim to provide pilots with greater control and connectivity, Textron says. New standard equipment includes dual audio panels with 3D audio capabilities. Textron says the 3D system spatially distributes the audio and […]

Lift Aircraft, based in Austin, Texas, has introduced a design for an electric-powered VTOL that it aims to operate as an ultralight. The company’s plans include establishing flying zones in scenic, rural areas where customers with no flight experience can take a short training course and then go for a flight on their own. The […]

A modified Robinson R44 designed and built by Tier 1 Engineering has set a Guinness World Record for the farthest distance traveled by an electric-powered helicopter, the company announced this week. The flight launched from the Los Alamitos Army Airfield in California, and covered 30nautical miles at an average speed of 80 knots, at about […]