Recent Updates

The economics of “synergy” were a driving force that motivated Eclipse Aerospace and Kestrel Aircraft to join together into a new company called One Aviation, Kestrel CEO Alan Klapmeier told AVweb on Wednesday at Aero Friedrichshafen. The new company was announced Wednesday in a news release. “This gives us more choices and more independence,” Klapmeier […]

Epic Aircraft is “pushing hard” for certification of its E1000 turboprop by the end of this year, the company said Wednesday. Structural testing is underway, and the first prototype will fly this spring in the first phase of in-flight testing, Epic said. There are more than 60 reservations from buyers and the first deliveries are […]

At Aero Friedrichshafen this week, Kestrel’s Alan Klapmeier spoke with AVweb’s Mary Grady about his rationale in joining forces with Eclipse Aerospace to form the new company, One Aviation. Duration: 5:04 File Size: 11.6 MB download here

Pipistrel’s all-electric trainer, long known as the “WattsUP,” has acquired a commercial designation, the Alpha Electro. And according to chief engineer Tine Tomazic, she’s ready to meet the public. Tomazic gave us the lowdown at Aero in Friedrichshafen, Germany. view on YouTube

An Indiana company is hoping to demonstrate a multi-copter patterned after unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) that can carry a person while in autonomous or remotely operated flight at this year’s AirVenture Oshkosh. AirBuoyant, LLCof Anderson, Indiana, briefly pirouetted its VertiPod with a 125-pound man in a rudimentary cage suspended from a howling quadcopter for a […]

Amazon received an updated letter of approval from the FAA this week to test its package delivery drones after the company said its initial waiver came so late it was “obsolete.” Meanwhile, the FAA stated on its website it’s expediting these types of updated approvals and will also allow sport pilots with driver’s licenses to […]

AVweb’s search of aviation news worldwide found new loan options for AOPA members in Alaska and Hawaii, Textron’s new service center in France, JETTECH’s upgraded avionics STC for Citations, and a call for entries from the National Aviation Hall of Fame.AOPA now offers members in Alaska and Hawaii competitive aircraft loans that were previously difficult […]

Glasair Aviation’s new Merlin LSA had its first flight this week, launching the in-air test phase for the composite light-sport airplane. The flight departed from Arlington, Washington, on Tuesday and lasted for 57 minutes. Following ground tests including engine run-up, high-speed taxi, and ground roll liftoff, test pilot Grant Smith conducted the flight to evaluate […]

The former CEO of Epic Air, Rick Schrameck, has pleaded not guilty to federal fraud charges stemming from the turboprop airplane kit business he operated in Bend, Oregon, The Bulletin reported this week. Prosecutors allege that Schrameck sold kits to customers for $1.4 to $1.8 million each but used their money for other projects as […]

For what can be a long list of new product introductions, AEA has a great strategy: Give every company five minutes on the stage to make the elevator pitch, then on to the next one. Still, with 33 new products on Wednesday’s opening day, it was two-hour slog to sit through it all. I amused […]