Recent Updates

After a couple of years of tweaking training, Cirrus says the fatal accident rate for its models is now below the average for all of GA. Travis Klumb brings AVweb up to speed on the numbers. Duration: 7:45 File Size: 6.6 MB download here

Bombardiers Learjet 85 successfully made its first test flight on April 9 from Wichitas Mid-Continent Airport despite delays that have pushed the program back several months. The first composite structure Learjet reportedly flew for over two hours, reaching a maximum altitude of 30,000 feet and speed of 250 knots. Spokesperson Annie Cossette said that the […]

At Aero 2014 in Friedrichshafen, the big new is Piper’s introduction of the new Archer DX, its first diesel-powered aircraft. The engine uses Continental’s Centurion 2.0S. In this overview of the show, AVweb’s Paul Bertorelli and Thomas Borchert from the German fliegermagazin give an overview of the show. view on YouTube

At Aero 2014 in Friedrichshafen, Germany, Piper introduced its first diesel, the Continental Centurion-powered Archer DX. AVweb talked to Piper CEO Simon Caldecott and Continental’s Rhett Ross about the new DX. view on YouTube

Anyone who’s ever seen an Erickson AirCrane knows how distinctive these flying machines are, and recently one of the aircraft completed an unusual mission to transport an endangered female Sumatran rhinoceros to a wildlife reserve. Laurentius Ambu, the director of the Sabah Wildlife Department in Malaysia, said the rhino is “on the verge of extinction” […]

With the FAA running into a legal quagmire over its blanket ban on commercial drone use, operators are losing patience. A Texas group that uses drones to help search for missing people told the Wall Street Journal they plan to challenge the FAA’s restrictions in federal court. The FAA responded that the group should try […]

Textron’s acquisition of Beechcraft has resulted in the creation of Textron Aviation, the combination of Cessna and Beech. AVweb’s Rick Durden spoke with Textron Aviation’s Joe Hepburn about the transition. Duration: 4:40 File Size: 4.3 MB download here

Norwegian skydiver Anders Helstrup may be pretty much incalculably lucky thanks to a chance encounter with a meteorite that has the skydiving and astronomy world buzzing. Helstrup did a wingsuit jump over his native land in June of 2012 and said he didn’t see anything but he got the feeling something happened during the canopy […]

Built in 1937, the Flagship Detroit is the oldest flying airworthy DC-3 in the world. The airplane is operated by the Flagship Detroit Foundation, which brought the restored DC-3 to Sun ‘n Fun 2014 in Lakeland, Florida. Steve Jacobson, who captains the aircraft, gave AVweb a tour at the show. view on YouTube

The panel in one of CubCrafters Carbon Cubs has caused more than a few double takes by visitors at Sun n Fun. Instead of a few dials, its glass-and not just any glass, Garmins new G3X Touch flight display system. Referred to as Executive GLASS touch, it replaces the companys previous high-end panel with an […]