Ownership

Sonex Aircraft flew its JSX-2 single-seat single-engine jet for the first time, last Thursday, the company announced on Monday. The jet was subsequently flown several more times and proved “fast and smooth,” according to test pilot Bob Carlton. Carlton said he practiced stalls in the jet and flew at speeds above 200 mph. The company […]

At Sun ‘n Fun in April 2014, Rotax announced the new 912iS Sport, which has more mid-range torque for aircraft without constant speed props. In this video, AVweb’s Paul Bertorelli flew the engine with Rotax’s Alexander Mitter. view on YouTube

The PAL-V ONE, a roadable gyrocopter or flying motorcycle-take your pick-has announced that it will make its first deliveries in 2016. Made by PAL-V Europe NV, based in Raamsdonksveer in the Netherlands, the two-place PAL-V ONE (PAL-V stands for Personal Air and Land Vehicle) uses a 230-HP engine to turn a pusher prop-the main rotor […]

We get e-mail from readers who have had what they often prefer to call prop incidents as to possibly avoid the term prop-strike, and its frequent need for a recommended or mandatory engine tear down. In our response to readers we quote the latest manufacturer directives and FAA guidance, and add our perspectives and experience […]

The Thai Air Force extended the life of its fleet of DC-3s by decades with their conversion to Basler BT-67s. They’re used for everything from troop transport to making it rain. view on YouTube

AVwebs weekly dig into aviation developments uncovered news that two states passed laws that include aviation in recreational activity protections, Lightspeed launched its long-promised Zulu PFX headset, the Cessna TTx was approved for flight into known icing (FIKI) and Zenith Aircraft set the date for its annual Hangar Day. On June 25, California Governor Jerry […]

In casual conversation, some people tell me that they think the best part of an aviation journalists job is getting to fly lots of different kinds of airplanes. Maybe. On the other hand, it should be no surprise that most new airplanes these days fly about the same, given that most were certified years ago […]

The love-hate relationship between pilots/aircraft owners and mechanics/shops seems to wax and wane, depending on the person you spoke with last. The good news is that most of the time mechanics and pilots recognize that they depend on each other for their livelihood and existence. The bad news is that there are times that certain […]

The resumption of supersonic passenger travel is getting closer to reality, NASA said this week, as the agency’s aeronautics researchers are making progress in developing low-sonic-boom technology. “Lessening sonic booms … is the most significant hurdle to reintroducing commercial supersonic flight,” said Peter Coen, head of the High Speed Project in NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission […]

Cessna 172s may be not be fast or sexy, but there are plenty of them out there and prices reflect that supply. There are also lots of aftermarket mods for these airplanes. Larry Gettleman of Louisville, Ky., put that to work in his refurb of this months Refurbished Aircraft the Month. I have owned this […]