Recent Updates

Chinese scientists are looking to get into the space tourism industry with their own design fora reusable, rocket-equipped space vehicle. The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology announced its ambitious concept at the recent International Astronautical Congress in Mexico, according to a New Scientist report. The China Academy team’s concept is similar to thespaceplanes under […]

Dassault delivered its first Falcon 8X on Wednesday, to Amjet Executive, a charter operator based in Athens, Greece. The 8X is Dassault’s new flagship, with the longest range and the largest cabin in the fleet, at 43 feet long. It was certified by EASA and the FAA in June. Another 11 airplanes are in final […]

Aiming to reduce costs and speed decision making, Airbus Group will merge with Airbus Commercial Aircraft, the companies announced last week. Both companies are headquartered in Toulouse, France. The merger “paves the way for an overhaul of our corporate set-up, simplifies our company’s governance, eliminates redundancies and supports further efficiencies,” said Airbus CEO Tom Enders. […]

The first flight of the restored B-29 “Doc” in July was a huge achievement for the hundreds of volunteers who worked on the project, but the second flight, which took place last week, is also special — it’s proof that the first flight, despite a glitch in the fuel system that cut it short, was […]

Pilots in Canada can meet their requirements to stay current without ever getting into an actual airplane, under a rule exemption that was enacted by Transport Canada in August. The change will make pilot training more “cost effective and efficient,” officials at Transport Canada told The Globe in a statement. The agency also said the […]

Viking Air, of British Columbia, is now the owner of the type-design certificates for the line of amphibious aircraft formerly produced by Bombardier, the two companies announced today. The deal, which has been in the works since June, will also make Viking the main supporter for the 170 water bombers now flying, based in 11 […]

The FAA is demanding proof from the city of Santa Monica that it will be able to legally and safely provide aviation services at Santa Monica Airport now that it has evicted the FBO and flight school on the field. The agency has subpoenaed the city to provide all the relevant documentation (certificates, ratings and […]

GA pilots have been cited for delaying presidents, clearing the Capitol and stopping missile tests but a Minnesota floatplane owner may be the only one to be detained for interrupting a golf game. The unidentified man and his passenger were rowed to shore by Chaska Police (the motor on their boat failed) after they landed […]

While those of us in the cheap seats uniformly cheer for low oil prices because, well, we can buy more gas and fly more, what if the reverse were true? What if anemic oil prices are the cause of declining aircraft sales? Writing this week in Aviation Week, the Teal Group’s Richard Aboulafia made this […]

One of the world’s last surviving Battle of Britain vets, John Hart, of Naramata, British Columbia, Canada, went flying to celebrate his 100th birthday. Dave Watson, of Yellow Thunder Formation Aerobatics, took him up in his Harvard, the Canadian version of the T-6. view on YouTube