Business & Military

After nine years of covert development and testing, California-based Opener Inc. revealed what it is calling the world’s first ultralight fixed-wing, all-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft on Thursday. According to the company, the amphibious BlackFly has already completed more than 1,000 flights and flown over 10,000 miles. As an ultralight, the single-seat aircraft […]

ForeFlight has announced that its new portable, dual-band ADS-B In receiver is now available for purchase. The ForeFlight Sentry provides FIS-B weather, flight information, traffic, backup attitude, a rechargeable 12-hour battery and—a first for portable ADS-B receivers according to the company—a carbon monoxide monitor and alarm. The device also has a high-capacity data card that […]

I’m one of those guys who believes that most people in government are trying to do a good job and trying to help the country, the state, the city or the local water board. I fear what many of them don’t understand is that they hold the common sense of the nation in their collective […]

The FAA issued a statement on Wednesday warning drone owners to steer clear of people and companies offering to help register their drones with the agency. According to the FAA, it “neither regulates these entities nor will speculate on their legitimacy” and cautions that some of the vendors offering these services have made attempts to […]

Faced with competition from airlines in dire need of pilots, the U.S. Marine Corps is offering incentives worth up to $210,000 to pilots who re-enlist for a six-year commitment, Military.com has reported. The bonuses will be available starting next year. “One of the things I’m pretty excited about is that we gave them options,” Lt. […]

The progression of flying technology housed in our military aircraft museums is fascinating for its scope and testament to the airmen, inventors, companies and manufacturing men and women who came before us. I’ve seen a number of excellent museums: The National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. is a must see. So is the […]

Norwegian amphibian manufacturer Equator Aircraft has completed its first runway hop of the P2 Xcursion electric amphib prototype. The aircraft was flown by test pilot Eskil Amdal. The aircraft reached a speed of 100 knots and was flown at about 30 feet above a runway before being landed again. Amdal reported the aircraft to be […]

Airbus says it will change the name of its newly acquired CSeries airliner program and launch a major marketing push that will include order announcements at Farnborough Air Show in mid-July. The company took a majority stake in Bombardier’s CSeries on July 1 and seems to be wasting no time ramping up sales and production. […]

My friend and fellow blogger Paul Berge revealed what a sheltered life he has led when he confessed in last week’s blog to not knowing the significance of Sidney, New York. At the expense of appearing a boorish know it all—as opposed to just a boor—I can say that I most certainly did know the […]

Mixed News On Refurb Trainers I think the key issue is what you said in your next to last paragraph: The cost of replacement parts is out of control. I can’t speak for Piper, but Cessna parts have skyrocketed in the past 5-6 years, making a full 172 refurb prohibitively expensive. Add to that, the […]