Recent Updates

With Solar Impulse plying its way around the globe, solar-powered flight is getting plenty of press, but there are dozens of other quieter projects already in service or in development. A California company called Alta Devices is building super-efficient solar panels for these, but the company recently told us that as with pure electric aircraft, […]

A renowned computer security expert/hacker is alleged to have hacked into the guts of the flight control computer system on a United Airlines Boeing 737-800 through its television system and scrolled through a menu of vital aircraft functions. Details of the previously reported incident have emerged through asearch warrant application (PDF) filed by the FBI. […]

Producing electrical power from the sun has come a long way, and solar cells are getting remarkably efficient. But where to put all that power remains the issue for pure electric aircraft. AVweb’s Paul Bertorelli spoke with Rich Kapusta of California-based Alta Devices about the issues and the opportunities. Duration: 9:02 File Size: 8.5 MB […]

A $2 million prize from the U.S. Air Force awaits the first American team to successfully develop a small 100-horsepower turboshaft engine. Registration for the Air Force Prizeopened this week. The engine must be rated to 100 horsepower, consume fuel up to 0.55 pounds per horsepower per hour, and generate at least two horsepower per […]

In an effort to prevent unmanned aerial systems from buzzing around Washington, D.C., during the busy tourist season, the FAA launched a public awareness campaign to declare the area a “No Drone Zone.” The announcement reminds the public that unmanned UAS flights are prohibited in the airspace in the 15-mile radius of Ronald Reagan Washington […]

Tecnam is exploring the idea of developing a single-engine turbofan for military training and other markets, the company announced this week. Named the “P Jet,” the concept would feature what the Italian aircraft maker calls a “podded” engine design atop the fuselage for maximum efficiency, safety and easy access. The design also includes two side-by-side […]

AVweb’s search of aviation news around the world found ADS-B upgrades for the Airbus A320, an engine-mount kit from Kaolin Aviation, a UAS research center at Texas A&M, and a call for entries from theNational Aviation Hall of Fame.ACSS, an L-3 & Thales company, announced that its XS-950 Mode S Transponder and T3CASSurveillance System have […]

Privatizing the National Airspace System, which drew criticism from FAA employees when discussed with members of Congress in March, could become a real proposal this year when the FAA’s reauthorization comes before Congress. The Wall Street Journalreported this week that Rep. Bill Shuster, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is tinkering with legislation […]

Deliveries of general aviation airplanes in the first quarter of this year were down by 15 percent compared to the same period last year, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported last week. Helicopter sales fell even more, with a drop of 18 percent. The numbers reflect difficulties with U.S. export rules, according to GAMA. “Our […]

Commercial supersonic flight, alternative fuels and autonomy rank high on NASA’s first 20-year road map of research priorities for aeronautics, released on Monday. The draft plan (PDF) covers 15 fields of research, including space exploration, robotics, nanotechnology and information technology. NASA first issued a research road map in 2012; this is the first update, and […]