Recent Updates

I’ve covered this budding electric aviation thing just enough to understand this: The idea that an electric motor has so few moving parts that all you do is keep feeding it power and it will run smoothly forever is just wrong. The minimal parts count is right, but the simplicity isn’t. But it’s nice to […]

The U.S. government has given permission to six airlines to go ahead and start service to secondary cities in Cuba, but the OK to fly to Havana is still on hold till later this year. The new treaty between the U.S. and Cuba allows U.S. airlines to ultimately fly up to 110 flights daily to […]

John Frank, a founder and executive director of the Cessna Pilots Association, died at his home in Santa Maria, California, on Thursday, June 9. Frank was well-known as an expert and advocate for Cessna aircraft and pilots. He hosted seminars, consulted with the FAA and other agencies, and authored three buyers’ guides. He was an […]

The U.S. Senate today passed a bill that includes changes for how third-class medicals would be implemented, marking the third time in the last six months that such legislation has been passed by the Senate. “It’s clear that third-class medical reform has strong bipartisan support,” AOPA President Mark Baker said in a statement today. “The […]

Airbus will become the first foreign company to assemble helicopters in China, under a new deal to deliver 100 H135 aircraft. The deal is worth about $788 million, according to The Wall Street Journal. “With the further opening up of the Chinese skies and the increasing growth in the civil and parapublic segments, China is […]

The state of Ohio has come up with $1 million to preserve what some consider to be the crucible of aviation manufacturing. The former Wright Aircraft factory in Dayton will be preserved and perhaps rekindle aerospace industry in Dayton. “It’s here that started it all,” Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger said. “No other state in […]

Powered by a Rotax 914 turbocharged engine, the Stemme S10VT and the in-development S12 represent the latest in touring motorglider technology. With a 50:1 glide ratio, 18,000-foot service ceiling and day and night VFR capability, the aircraft can be used for competition and long-distance travel. Aviation Consumer magazine editor Larry Anglisano took a closer look […]

Two major airports suspended operations briefly over the weekend after drones were spotted flying in the area. Landings at Warsaw’s Chopin Airport were stopped for 30 minutes after two drones were seen in the area. At Dubai International Airport, 22 flights were affected by a 69-minute closure when a drone was spotted. Polish officials said […]

A Russian-made airliner designed to compete with the top makers of mid-range passenger jets rolled out this week in Irkutsk. The MC-21 will make a first flight in 2017 and start service the following year with Russia’s largest airline, Aeroflot, according to a Seattle Times report. The manufacturer is Irkut, part of a state-supported conglomerate […]

Airbus introduced the first 3D printed airplane at the recent International Aerospace Exhibition in Germany, demonstrating what the company calls the future of aerospace manufacturing. The 13-foot-long unmanned airplane, somewhat resembling a full-scale Airbus jet but with propellers, is named Thor, short for “Test of Hi-tech Objectives in Reality,” according to a report from phys.org. […]