Recent Updates

Textron AirLand, LLC, a joint venture between Textron and AirLand Enterprises, LLC, announced that its prototype Scorpion has completed 50 hours of flight time since the start of flight testing in December 2013, including a recent demonstration of low-speed handling in formation with a Cessna 182. After the need for an affordable combat airplane for […]

The first autonomous combat drone for carrier operations is the winner of the 2013 Collier Trophy. The National Aeronautic Association bestowed what many consider aviation’s top prize to the Northrop Grumman X-47B. The stealthy drone first flew in 2011 and spent much of 2013 in carrier and runway recovery operations. Last week it made its […]

At Aero 2014, a German company called E-volo drew lots of attention with its unique Volocopter, a multiple rotor electric helicopter design that flew unmanned last fall. The next step is to improve battery capacity and perhaps design a hybrid version. view on YouTube

Malaysia’s government has begun investigating civil aviation and military authorities to determine why opportunities to identify and track Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 were missed in the hours after it vanished, according toReuters. The internal inquiries come as tensions are rapidly escalating between civilian and military authorities over who bears more responsibility for the initial confusion […]

Maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industry officials are claiming that FAA employees and managers are in some cases imposing ad hoc rules on MRO companies. They claim the FAA officials are improperly using the FAAs internal online flight standards information management system (FSIMS), an electronic documentation system the agency adopted to replace the legacy inspectors […]

AVwebs weekly review of news found information about restoration of the oldest CH-47 Chinook, a video answering pilot questions on filling out the FAA medical form, Cessnas delivery of the 100th Grand Caravan EX and an expanded warranty for Penn Yan Aero engines. Building on its experience assembling and modifying Chinook helicopters, Middletown, Del.-based Summit […]

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