Eclipse Aviation Introduces Eclipse 400 Single-Engine Jet

© Eclipse Aviation Corporation, 2008

Eclipse Aviation recently announced they are taking orders for the Eclipse 400 single-engine jet, a production version of the Eclipse Concept Jet first displayed at EAA AirVenture 2007.

© Eclipse Aviation Corporation, 2008

According to Eclipse Aviation, they are rewarding many loyal Eclipse 500 customers by allowing them to be the first to place deposits on an Eclipse 400. Additionally, Eclipse 500 customers will receive an exclusive $125,000 discount off the final delivery price provided their deposits are placed prior to July 25, 2008. Deposits from all others will be accepted starting at EAA AirVenture in July 2008.

© Eclipse Aviation Corporation, 2008

"Ten months of quantitative and qualitative Eclipse Concept Jet (ECJ) research has convinced us that this is absolutely the right airplane for the emerging single-engine jet market," said Vern Raburn, Eclipse Aviation president and CEO. "The ECJ has elicited a tremendous emotional response from current and potential customers alike – people just love this airplane. We are excited to formally add this new aircraft to the Eclipse Aviation product family as the Eclipse 400."

© Eclipse Aviation Corporation, 2008

At an estimated 330 knots, the environmentally-friendly Eclipse 400 uses less than one pound of fuel per nautical mile — making it the world's most fuel-efficient jet aircraft.

© Eclipse Aviation Corporation, 2008
Source: Eclipse Aviation

The Next Generation Of Private Jets And "The Jet" From Cirrus Design

Halogenguides.com features a report on the four trends for the next generation of private jets.

What will the future of private aviation hold? We already know that flying cars are out (for now).

According to the story, the bodies of private jets will likely be constructed from lighter and stronger composite material instead of aluminum. Designers are striving to build supersonic jets that will dampen the impact of sonic booms. The engines of new jets will be greener, saving fuel and reducing emissions.

Cirrus Design offers a glimpse of what future private aircraft with the concept simply called The Jet.

According to Cirrus Design, The Jet will be powered by a single-engine Williams International FJ33-4A-19 Fanjet, small enough to be stored in a conventional hangar, and feature controls simple enough to enable single-pilot flight.

Source: HalogenGuides.com and Cirrus Design

Piper Aircraft Plans To Stay In Florida

Piper Aircraft recently announced an agreement that will keep the general aviation manufacturer’s headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Indian River County. Piper Aircraft builds The Matrix, a cabin-class six seat aircraft, pictured above.

According to Piper Aircraft....

“Florida is a state that leads the nation in encouraging aviation, and Piper Aircraft is one of general aviation’s uncontested leaders,” said Florida Governor Charlie Crist. “This agreement is an investment in Florida. It represents thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in wages, economic development and other contributions for Indian River County, surrounding local communities and our state.”

“We are pleased and honored to announce our decision to remain and expand our operations in Indian River County,” said Piper President & CEO James K. Bass. “Our decision is not just a vote of confidence for our hometown, it is also a commitment by Piper to Indian River County and the State of Florida.”

The decision to stay came after an extensive site selection process that addressed fundamental issues and needs that Piper cited as vital in remaining competitive and prospering in what is a very challenging industry.
Source: Piper Aircraft

Nesting Birds Can Use Your Plane as a New Home

Birds can be aviation hazard if they fly or nest too close to runways. They can also be a problem if they claim the inside of your plane as a new home.

The AOPA Pilot Blog features a story on birds building nests inside parked aircraft. Birds will build nests in places ranging from inside the engine cowling, wheel wells, and even the tail section.

Make sure to inspect your aircraft to make sure the only thing with wings is the plane.

Source: AOPA Pilot Blog

The Worlds Smallest Helicopter GEN H-4 Honors The Memory of Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci drew an early concept of a helicopter in the 1500s. Centuries later, a pilot plans to honor the famous inventor and painter with a flight of a unique helicopter.

The 165 pound GEN H-4 helicopter is not much bigger than the person who flies it and holds the Guinness World Record for smallest helicopter. According to the Associated Press, the GEN H-4 features two rotors for stability and can fly up to 35 miles an hour.

Gennai Yanagisawa, developer of the GEN H-4, was to fly the helicopter in the city of Vinci, near Florence, Italy, on May 25th.

Here is You Tube video of the GEN H-4 in action.



Source: Associated Press, Wikimedia Commons, and YouTube

Cirrus Aircraft To Feature Cirrus Perspective Flight Deck By Garmin

Garmin International Inc. announced today that Cirrus Aircraft will offer Cirrus Perspective, Garmin’s all-glass, fully-integrated flight deck tailored for the Duluth, Minnesota, based aircraft manufacturer and its SR22-G3.

According to Garmin...

Cirrus Perspective will be offered as an option on Cirrus SR22-G3 aircraft. All information — from aircraft attitude and air data to engine instrumentation, real-time weather data link, traffic and terrain — is integrated and digitally depicted on the 12-inch primary flight display (PFD) and multi-function display (MFD). Thanks to these large displays, pilots will be able to see the big picture, which will ultimately help simplify operation, enhance situational awareness and increase flight safety.

The Cirrus Perspective cockpit includes a “LEVEL (LVL) MODE”, a new safety feature that may be used in times of high workload when the pilot needs a few extra moments to flip through charts or read back a clearance. When engaged, it brings the aircraft to straight and level flight.

In addition, Perspective is the first single engine piston aircraft with an all-glass Garmin cockpit to utilize dual, solid-state Attitude and Heading Reference Systems (AHRS) that can align while in motion, including in-flight dynamic restarts. This turbine aircraft style architecture provides Cirrus pilots with an extra level of redundancy and safety.
Source: Garmin and Cirrus

U.S. Aviation Emissions Drop...By How Much?

According to recently released figures from the Environmental Protection Agency, emissions from domestic commercial aviation have fallen 13 percent between 2000 and 2006.

Evan Sparks’s Aviation Policy Blog explores the findings of the EPA and the numbers behind the conclusions.

Airlines have made an effort to switch to lighter aircraft and harmonize schedules to cut down on fuel consumption.

Source: Evan Sparks’s Aviation Policy Blog

Yves “FusionMan” Rossy Flies Over The Alps In First Demonstration Flight

Skydivers are sometimes asked "Why would anyone jump out of a perfectly good airplane?" How about if you jump out of a plane with your own wings?

Yves “FusionMan” Rossy, the first man to fly under a single jet-powered wing, recently completed his first official demonstration before the international press.

Released from a plane at an altitude of 8,000 feet, he completed a circuit in just over 5 minutes which saw him fly over the Swiss Chablais and neighboring mountains.

According to the press release...

The spectacle was impressive. Yves Rossy leapt from the plane with his wing folded, then deployed his craft and began the flight proper. He made several “figure of eights” above spectators aware of being present at an exceptional event. At the end of the flight FusionMan deployed his parachute, folded the wing and landed safely at Bex airdrome.

The fusion of technology, body and mind Yves Rossy represents the intensely close relationship between the development of a technology, a body honed to perfection which he uses to steer his craft, and a mind attuned to split-second coordination of flight parameters. The only instruments available to Yves Rossy are a throttle and an audible altimeter. Otherwise he flies like a bird, using only his body to change direction. The name FusionMan reflects this synergy of diverse skills that has made a dream come true.

This marks the first official step in developing the wing designed by Yves Rossy. Thanks to the support of Jean-Claude Biver, the boss of Hublot watches, the pilot can devote more of his time to his passion and its future development. Some exploits are likely to leave a lasting impression: the first release from a hot air balloon, the first flight in formation or the first “loop the loop” are just some of the pioneering feats that FusionMan is hoping to accomplish over the coming months.

The Channel crossing is scheduled for next autumn. Powered by scaled down Jet-Cat engines, his aircraft has exceptional potential in terms of flying time and range, safety and handling.
Here is video of a previous FusionMan flight posted on YouTube.



Source: Jet-Man.com

Mooney Airplanes Use Of Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS)-aided navigation and Safe-Taxi Certified By FAA

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently certified Mooney’s family of airplanes — the Acclaim Type S, Ovation 3 and Ovation2 GX — to use Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS)-aided navigation and Safe-Taxi.

According to Mooney...

The amended Type Certificate for the upgrade was awarded to Mooney by the FAA on April 30. WAAS and Safe-Taxi will provide additional safety and ease pilot workloads in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) or high traffic environments, both in the air and on the ground. Mooney will begin delivering aircraft with the WAAS system and the SafeTaxi software upgrade immediately.

The addition of WAAS navigation to our airplanes allows Mooney operators to take full advantage of the capabilities, accuracy, reliability and integrity of their Garmin G 1000 avionics and Global Positioning System (GPS),” noted Mooney Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dennis Ferguson. “The overall performance of Mooney airplanes permits them to be operated in the same environment as many business aircraft, especially turboprops. That’s why we have made an ongoing commitment to provide our customers with all the tools necessary to do so efficiently. That’s the reason Mooney airplanes are the only ones in their class to be approved for flight into known icing and that’s also why we made it a priority to obtain WAAS certification. We appreciate the way the FAA worked closely with us to make this happen,” he added.

WAAS uses satellite-based navigational aids for precise lateral and vertical approach guidance. It improves position accuracy from a typical 49 feet down to approximately 9 feet. With the FAA’s published LPV (lateral position with vertical guidance) approaches, operators can frequently make approaches to general aviation airports down to minimums of less than 300 feet and ¾ of a mile.

In fact, the WAAS avionics system approved for Mooney aircraft even generates a virtual glide path for more than 3,000 straight-in GPS and Area Navigation (RNAV) approaches that the aircraft’s navigation system has programmed into it. Coupled with the precision flight guidance of the Garmin GFC700 autopilot, this additional capability ranks Mooney airplanes among general aviation’s safest.

Mooney is working on a retrofit package and pricing structure for aircraft produced prior to April 30 who wish to add the capability to their airplanes. It is expected to be released during the second quarter of this year.
Source: Mooney Aircraft

Fly-In Theater Free Movies On July 27-August 2 At EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008

Airventure.org features details about the Experimental Aircraft Association's annual convention, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, and the return of Fly-In Theater.

According to Airventure.org...

In just two years, aviation movies under the stars have become a favored tradition at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Those feature films will be returning in 2008 as Ford Motor Company and Eclipse Aviation bring back the popular “Fly-In Theater” on the AirVenture grounds. The 56th annual EAA fly-in convention is July 28-August 3 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

The outdoor theater, located adjacent to EAA’s Camp Scholler camping area, will be open each evening (weather permitting) from Sunday, July 27 through Saturday, August 2. The walk-in theater is reminiscent of the famous drive-in theaters of the past, complete with open-air seating and popcorn! There is no admission charge for the theater, which is open to all AirVenture guests. Each evening’s show begins at approximately 8:30 p.m., with an introduction by a celebrity presenter, followed by a classic aviation film, shown on a projection screen measuring five stories high.

“It’s impressive to see just how popular the aviation films at the Fly-In Theater have become in such a short period of time at EAA AirVenture,” said Tom Poberezny, EAA president and AirVenture chairman. “We appreciate the support of Ford Motor Company and Eclipse Aviation to bring this popular feature back to Oshkosh in 2008. Join us during the week for these great aviation films and have the entire family enjoy a superb way to top off a full day at Oshkosh!”

Source: Experimental Aircraft Association

Are Electric Aircraft The Future?

As technology improves and fuel prices rise, will electric planes start taking the place of their gas-powered cousins? A story on GreentechMedia.com explores the promise and pitfalls of electric planes.

The Experimental Aircraft Association recently announced a petition to the Federal Aviation Administration for permission to sell electric-powered aircrafts to consumers.

Electric aircraft are currently classified under the experimental category, where pilots must construct their own planes. If the EAA’s petition succeeds, electric planes could be sold to the larger light sport aircraft (LSA) market.

One such electric aircraft is the Taurus Electro by Slovenia-based Pipistrel. The Taurus Electro launches by motor to glide on air currents and recharges as fast as a cell phone.

Here is YouTube video of The Taurus Electro in flight.



Source: Greentech Media and Pipistrel

Bombardier Aerospace Expects Growing Demand For New Business Jets

Reuters reports that Bombardier Inc's aerospace unit has significantly raised its forecasts of global demand for business jets and airliners.

According to the Reuters story, due to the the growing demand for air travel and the need to replace aging aircraft, Bombardier expects expects the industry to deliver 1,320 business jets annually from 2008 to 2017.

Bombardier Aerospace is the world's third-largest builder of civil aircraft.

You can read the Bombardier Market Forecast on the Bombardier homepage.

Cessna Flies Production Model Of Skycatcher

Cessna Aircraft Company reports on the completed first flight of the first production model SkyCatcher on May 1st.

According to Cessna...

The 30-minute SkyCatcher flight departed Cessna Aircraft Field Airport adjacent to McConnell Air Force Base and consisted of flight maneuvers evaluating the controllability and stability of the aircraft. The SkyCatcher, flown by Cessna Engineering Test Pilot Dale Bleakney, returned to Cessna Field (KCEA) as scheduled where it will continue development testing.

In addition to having two aircraft in the test program, Cessna is set to begin static and fatigue testing on a separate airframe in mid-May.

Preliminary design parameters for the SkyCatcher include a maximum gross weight of 1,320 pounds, a service ceiling of 15,500 feet, a useful load of 490 pounds and a usable fuel capacity of 24 gallons.

It has a cabin width at shoulder height of more than 44 inches, equaling that of the much-larger, 6-place Cessna 206 Stationair. It features two top-hinged cabin entry doors and forward pivoting seats giving access to a 12.5 cubic-foot baggage compartment.
Source: Cessna

AOPA Says Look Out For Ethanol In Your Aircraft Fuel

The AOPA website features a story suggesting pilots make sure their fuel does not contain ethanol.

According to the story, more blended fuel is offered at pumps around the country. Some pumps might lack labels indicating the fuel contains ethanol.

Ethanol can degrade hoses in aircraft engines and attract water, which promotes corrosion.

Source: AOPA

Oysters could lead to new protective aircraft coatings

A new protective coating for aircraft might have its source from an unlikely place: your local seafood restaurant.

Scientists at the University of Dayton Research Institute are studying how oysters could lead to new corrosion-proof and environment-friendly aircraft coatings.

According to AOPA Online, the research focuses on how oyster blood cells deposit nacre, a natural ceramic material used by oysters to form shells and pearls, and apply it to metal surfaces.

Source: AOPA Online

Cessna Rolls Out First Production Citation XLS+

Cessna reports the first production Citation XLS+, the latest version of the world's best-selling business jet model, rolled out last Friday at the company's primary design and manufacturing facilities in Wichita.

According to Cessna...

The first production unit now will go to paint and interiors, while two flight test aircraft continue to work toward type certification. Federal Aviation Administration certification is expected by mid year, with deliveries starting before the end of 2008.

The upgrade to the mid-size Excel/XLS will feature the fully integrated Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite and electronically controlled (FADEC) engines from Pratt & Whitney Canada. Exterior and interior restyling is also integrated into the new model, most prominently the extended contour of the nose and expanded seat widths, both introduced to more closely resemble Cessna's Citation X and Citation Sovereign models.

The Citation XLS+ will travel as fast as 440 knots, have a range of more than 1,800 nautical miles and land on runways as short as 3,180 feet at its maximum landing weight, 2,700 feet at its typical landing weight.

Source: Cessna

Boeing tests fuel cell powered plane

Boeing recently announced that a manned airplane has flown using hydrogen fuel cells as a power source, a first in aviation history.

The fuel cell plane is the work of an engineering team at Boeing Research & Technology Europe in Madrid, with assistance from industry partners in Austria, France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.

According to Boeing...

"Boeing is actively working to develop new technologies for environmentally progressive aerospace products," said Francisco Escarti, BR&TE's managing director. "We are proud of our pioneering work during the past five years on the Fuel Cell Demonstrator Airplane project. It is a tangible example of how we are exploring future leaps in environmental performance, as well as a credit to the talents and innovative spirit of our team."

A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts hydrogen directly into electricity and heat with none of the products of combustion such as carbon dioxide. Other than heat, water is its only exhaust.

A two-seat Dimona motor-glider with a 16.3 meter (53.5 foot) wingspan was used as the airframe. Built by Diamond Aircraft Industries of Austria, it was modified by BR&TE to include a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell/lithium-ion battery hybrid system to power an electric motor coupled to a conventional propeller.

Three test flights took place in February and March at the airfield in Ocaña, south of Madrid, operated by the Spanish company SENASA.

During the flights, the pilot of the experimental airplane climbed to an altitude of 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) above sea level using a combination of battery power and power generated by hydrogen fuel cells. Then, after reaching the cruise altitude and disconnecting the batteries, the pilot flew straight and level at a cruising speed of 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) for approximately 20 minutes on power solely generated by the fuel cells.

According to Boeing researchers, PEM fuel cell technology potentially could power small manned and unmanned air vehicles. Over the longer term, solid oxide fuel cells could be applied to secondary power-generating systems, such as auxiliary power units for large commercial airplanes. Boeing does not envision that fuel cells will ever provide primary power for large passenger airplanes, but the company will continue to investigate their potential, as well as other sustainable alternative fuel and energy sources that improve environmental performance.
Source: Boeing

Gulfstream G200 business jet sets new speed records

Gulfstream can't get enough of having their name in the news it seems. Only a short while ago Gulfstream introduced the G520, the largest and fastest business jet.

Now a Gulfstream G200 business jet has set seven city-pair speed records in just 10 days, connecting cities in North America, Europe and Asia.

The G200 is powered by twin Pratt & Whitney Canada PW306A engines, each rated at 6,040 pounds. The aircraft has a range of 3,400 nautical miles and a normal cruise speed of Mach 0.80.

According to Gulfstream...

The large-cabin, mid-range G200 took off from Gander International Airport in Gander, New Foundland, Canada, on Feb. 16 and flew 2,193 nautical miles northeast-bound with 4-knot tailwinds at an average speed of 0.79 Mach. It landed at the London Luton Airport 4 hours and 45 minutes later. Gulfstream International Captain Eric Henman was the pilot in command and Captain Nicholas A. Rose served as second in command. On board the aircraft were flight attendant Emily Caldwell and one passenger.

Two days later, the same flight crew and passenger boarded the G200 for a 1,362-nautical-mile flight from London to Moscow. The aircraft left London traveling eastbound at 0.80 Mach with 13-knot tailwinds and arrived at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow 3 hours and 13 minutes later.

After repositioning the aircraft to Athens, Greece, the group flew from Athens to Dubai, a distance of 1,836 nautical miles. The aircraft flew southeast-bound with tailwinds of 72 knots at an average cruising speed of 0.80 Mach, arriving in Dubai 3 hours and 59 minutes later.

On Feb. 21, the same group traveled from Dubai to Hulule Island in the Maldives, making the 1,668-nautical-mile flight in 3 hours and 54 minutes. The aircraft flew southeast from Dubai at an average speed of 0.80 Mach with headwinds of 10 knots.

On the same day, the group returned to Dubai. The aircraft traveled northwest from Hulule Island with 6-knot tailwinds at an average cruising speed of 0.81 Mach, landing 3 hours and 54 minutes later in Dubai.

After being repositioned to Germany, the aircraft completed the last two legs of its intercontinental journey on Feb. 24 and 26. The G200 took off from Munich on Feb. 24 with the same three crew members but no passenger on board. It traveled 544 nautical miles west with 60-knot headwinds at an average cruising speed of 0.82 Mach. The aircraft landed at London Luton Airport 1 hour and 30 minutes after take-off.

On Feb. 26, the aircraft left London Luton for its return trip to Gander, flying 2,072 nautical miles in 5 hours and 39 minutes at an average cruising speed of 0.80 Mach.

Source: Gulfstream

First flight of the Prototype Cessna Model 162 SkyCatcher just months away

Gizmag.com reports that Cessna is nearing the first flight of the new Model 162 Skycatcher.

According to the official Cessna Skycatcher site.

With first flight of the Prototype Cessna Model 162 SkyCatcher just months away, a series of milestone projects is progressing in the development of this entirely-new aircraft that will introduce the next generation of pilots to the exciting world of general aviation.

The Skycatcher site also reports that the first deliveries and full production of the Skycatcher are expected in the second half of 2009.

Source: Gizmag and Cessna

Gulfstream business jets recieve FAA approval to fly predetermined approaches

Gulfstream has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the company’s PlaneView - equipped business jets – the G550, G500, G450 and G350 – to fly “Required Navigation Performance Special Aircraft and Aircrew Authorization Required” (RNP SAAAR) airport approaches.

For the past year, Gulfstream has been working with the FAA, NetJets and Honeywell International to secure FAA approval that would allow the two companies’ Gulfstream PlaneView-equipped aircraft to fly RNP SAAAR approaches. Aircraft flying under RNP SAAAR procedures use both global positioning and inertial navigation reference systems to fly predetermined paths preloaded in their flight management computers.

These paths, which are navigated through the Flight Guidance Control System, allow pilots to fly safer, more-direct and lower-minimum approaches, thereby reducing typical diversions. These more direct airport approaches reduce the time aircraft are in the air, saving operators both time and fuel.
“This recent effort is an example of our continued commitment to ensuring our customers aircraft are operating at top efficiency,” said Joseph T. Lombardo, president, Gulfstream. “By utilizing the RNP SAAAR airport approaches, we expect both NetJets and Honeywell will immediately see positive effects in terms of fuel costs and passenger satisfaction.”
This approval followed the successful completion of Gulfstream’s two-pronged effort -- to prove the accuracy of the aircraft’s onboard navigational systems and to create flight crew operations and maintenance documents that provide guidance on conducting RNP SAAAR approaches.
Source: Gulfstream

Happy New Year!

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Happy New Year from Aero Trader Insider!

Cessna 195 Keepsake Ornament from Hallmark

This Cessna 195 ornament from Hallmark looks sleek enough to have Santa consider giving the reindeer a break this year and getting his own plane. While this ornament's nose is not red and shiny like Rudolph's, it does have a propeller that turns.

According to Hallmark...

This winged Keepsake Ornament is so richly detailed it seems just about ready for takeoff. The little Cessna will make a great addition to the tree or a treasured stocking stuffer for a child or armchair pilot. Comes with a full-sized Hallmark greeting card, with your personal message.

Source: Hallmark

AOPA Sweepstakes prize Cessna coated by Akzo Nobel Aerospace Coatings

A 1977 Cessna Cardinal 177B aircraft, being given away by the world’s largest pilots association, AOPA, hasbeen refurbished with coatings donated by ANAC (Akzo Nobel Aerospace Coatings) through their distributor network.

US based AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) is giving away a Cessna Cardinal aircraft in their annual sweepstakes. The sweepstakes, which features a different restored aircraft each year, is the mainspring of the annual membership drive with every member entered. The members, who own and operate primarily single and twin-engine planes for business and personal use, are able to follow the progress of the work on line and through AOPA’s publications, taking notes for their own projects. AOPA has a membership of 414,000, two thirds of all pilots in the U.S.

The paint design, applied by Advanced Aircraft Refinishers of Georgia, was created by Scheme Designers, owned and operated by Craig Barnett of Cresskill, New Jersey, who also works with OEMs on paint schemes. His inspiration for this project was the Cessna Cardinal logo, originally displayed on the tail in a smaller form.

After the complete disassembly of the airframe into more than 280 parts, each piece of the airplane was put through a thorough the paint refurbishing process to ensure the best possible protective finish was achieved.

Following the removal of the existing paint layers, the surfaces were chemically cleaned and a conversion coating applied. A zinc chromate epoxy primer was followed by ANAC’s Alumigrip Matterhorn White topcoat, producing a superb, high gloss finish. The white was then masked for the application of the red, gold and black trim, all in ANAC paints. The paints were donated by ANAC distributor Aero Performance.

The high gloss finish delighted the entire restoration team. “The result was a long-lasting shine most aircraft owners would envy,” commented Julie Boatman of AOPA.

The refurbishment of the Cessna was the biggest that AOPA has undertaken so far.

The ‘Catch-a-Cardinal’ sweepstakes will be drawn in January 2008. In the meantime, the beautiful and fully restored airplane has been on display at aviation events around the U.S.

Source: ANAC AOPA

Cessna Aircraft Company to acquire assets of Columbia Aircraft

Cessna Aircraft Company recently announced it was the successful bidder for select assets of Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Company, a Bend, Oregon-based producer of high-performance, single-engine aircraft.

The bid of $26.4 million was the high bid in United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon.

According to Cessna...

“This is a significant day as it brings together two top aircraft design and production companies to offer the global general aviation community the widest range of propeller aircraft, along with world-class product support, all under the Cessna brand – one of the most trusted names in aviation,” said Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack. J. Pelton. “I would like to thank the 400-plus Columbia employees for their continued hard work and dedication during the bankruptcy process. We look forward to welcoming them to the Cessna family.”

Cessna is the world’s largest general aviation manufacturer in terms of annual unit sales, producing single-engine piston aircraft, turboprops and the world’s best-selling line of business jets, the Cessna Citation. Columbia has produced more than 600 aircraft in its 10-year history.

“The Columbia models are a good fit with our existing product line,” Pelton said. “We look forward to providing existing Columbia owners with improved levels of service and support and introducing new customers to these outstanding aircraft.”

“We plan to make significant investments in Bend, in people and operations, to bolster customer satisfaction and business profitability. We will continue to improve quality, reliability and performance as we strive to deliver customer value and fulfill our commitments,” Pelton said.

Source: Cessna Aircraft Company

Beijing Airport to be the world’s largest and most advanced

China is getting ready for the 2008 Olympics in a big way. Travelers from all over the world will get their first glimpse of China from inside the world’s largest and most advanced airport building.

According to Foster and Partners website...

Beijing's new international airport terminal will be the gateway to the city as it welcomes athletes from around the world to the twenty-ninth Olympiad in 2008. The world's largest and most advanced airport building - not only technologically, but also in terms of passenger experience, operational efficiency and sustainability - it will be welcoming and uplifting. A symbol of place, its soaring aerodynamic roof and dragon-like form will celebrate the thrill and poetry of flight and evoke traditional Chinese colours and symbols.

The terminal building will be one of the worlds most sustainable, incorporating a range of passive environmental design concepts, such as the south-east orientated skylights, which maximise heat gain from the early morning sun, and an integrated environment-control system that minimises energy consumption and carbon emissions. In construction terms, its design optimises the performance of materials selected on the basis of local availability, functionality, application of local skills, and low cost procurement. Remarkably, it will have been designed and built in just four years.

Source: Sci Fi Tech Blog and Foster + Partners

HondaJet interior revealed

The HondaJet website features images of the interior of their new light jet.

Honda made the announcement at the annual National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention. The company showcased new exterior color scheme studies, and an animated tour of the exclusive HondaJet sales and service facilities.

Honda Aircraft Company also announced a partnership with Flight Safety International to create a new flight simulator and pilot training program for HondaJet.

According to Honda's press release, HondaJet's new interior concept was introduced with a special focus on human fit, ergonomic efficiency and safety for the customer.

Honda also reports that the HondaJet's new cockpit design incorporated learning from extensive study on the human factors of pilots and pays special attention to the layout. The production version of HondaJet will also incorporate an all-glass avionics package developed for HondaJet by Garmin.

Honda also provided a glimpse into potential additional production colors.

Google Earth features hidden flight simulator

TechCrunch reports that Google Earth users can access a hidden flight simulator.

According to TechCrunch, to start the simulator...

...open Google Earth and hit Command+Option+A (note it must be capital A) or Ctrl+Alt+A if you’re using a Windows Machine.

Using Google Earth's vast array of satellite imagery, you can zoom over cities and landscape in a modest SR22 4 seater or the daredevil ready F16 Viper.

YouTube features videos of the Google Flight Simulator in use. Here's one uploaded by InsideDesign.

Sneaky snake stows away on a small plane

No...it's not a scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark or a Samuel L. Jackson movie.

SanDeigo.com.net features an Associated Press story report about a pilot finding a rat snake in the cockpit of his small plane shortly after takeoff.

The pilot was a physician flying a one-seat plane across Mississippi, who preformed aerial "aerobatics" to get the snake to slither away till he could land.

Source: Planenews Aviation

Replacing a small plane alternator

A pilot in Northern California writes about his experience doing field repairs on his plane on his personal blog.

The story on Jack's Flying Blog details how he detected a low voltage indication on his engine. After landing, he discovered his alternator needed replacing.

Lucky for the pilot, he had friends in the area who could do the maintenance on his plane and installed a new alternator.