Recent Updates

At the 2018 Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, Zenith Aircraft invited AVweb to build a rudder for its new kit, the CH 750 Super Duty. Two hours later, we were done. Here’s Paul Bertorelli’s video report on the project. After pulling rivets, we flew the airplane. view on YouTube

Five years ago, one strain of conventional wisdom predicted that the demise of the Third Class medical would equal the demise of the light sport aircraft market, too. With BasicMed firmly entrenched, the reality is proving more mixed according to an AVweb canvass of the flight line at the Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring this […]

Rotax is about ready to roll out its new 915 iS engine and it will soon be available in uncertified form as a powerplant choice for experimental amateur built aircraft and high-performance LSAs. At 141 HP max for five minutes and 135 HP continuous, the Rotax 915 iS occupies a unique niche for factory-provided engines. […]

The most improbable hands to ever handle the controls of an airplane belong to Niloofar Rahmani. She was born in Afghanistan just as the Soviet Union was departing her country as the repressive Taliban became dominant. A captain in the Afghan Air Force, she was the first woman in the country’s history to become a […]

The 14th annual U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, Florida, caught a break from the weather Wednesday and opened under clear skies and light winds. Show organizers told AVweb that both exhibitor participation and pre-show ticket sales are up over last year’s numbers. Moreover, the show grounds continue to get tweaks, including additions to the […]

Michael Huerta, who finished his term as FAA administrator early this month, has joined Macquarie Capital as a senior advisor, the firm has announced. “Michael has an exceptional reputation as a federal administrator in U.S. transportation,” said Nick Butcher, a leader of the Infrastructure and Energy Group at Macquarie.”His deep industry experience, relationships and insights […]

If the universe lacks for not having a midnight-red Tesla Roadster orbiting Mars, SpaceX is about to set things right. This week the company assembled its massive Falcon Heavy booster on Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center for what’s planned to be the first launch of the most powerful booster since the Saturn 5 […]

Gulfstream Aerospace delivered its last G450 business jet last week, ending a 12-year production run. More than 360 of the jets have been delivered, collectively logging more than 964,000 hours and 461,000 flights. “The G450 made its mark in aviation history,” said Gulfstream President Mark Burns, in a news release. The company will continue to […]

Peter Maurer is retiring as CEO of Diamond Canada and moving to a new role in “senior global strategy and business development” according to a news release from the newly reunited Diamond Aircraft Industries. Earlier this month, Wanfeng Corporation took over control of Diamond’s European operations, a year after acquiring the Canadian assets in London, […]

The new federal tax law that took effect this month includes several provisions that impact the various segments of general aviation, from private owners with small airplanes to corporations with their own fleet of jets. Buyers of business aircraft now can immediately write off the entire cost of their new or pre-owned aircraft. That’s good […]