“Liberty Belle” B-17 Flying Fortress Crosses Atlantic Ocean For July 4th

Photo by Alton K. Marsh
The APOA Pilot Blog reports on the the “Liberty Belle”, a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress that is crossing the Atlantic Ocean and set to land on the Fourth of July in England.
According to the story, the Liberty Belle will arrive on the Fourth in Duxford, Englnad, performing a flyby above an cemetery where 300,000 Americans who died in World War II are buried.
You can track the flight on the Liberty Foundation's offical homepage.
There are more photos of the Liberty Belle on the Liberty Foundation's Flickr account and more photos of WWII aircraft.
Source: AOPA Pilot Blog and The Liberty Foundation

Eclipse 500 Receives Flight Into Known Icing Certification

© Eclipse Aviation Corporation, 2008

Eclipse Aviation, manufacturer of the world's first very light jet (VLJ), recently announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted Flight Into Known Icing (FIKI) certification for the Eclipse 500. With this certification, the Eclipse 500 can now operate in conditions in which ice is known to be present.

© Eclipse Aviation Corporation, 2008

"This certification process is one of the most difficult things to put a new model of aircraft through," said Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation. "We've worked through this process for some time, flying the Eclipse 500 in the precise natural icing conditions that the FAA requires. We tested the aircraft in some of the most severe weather conditions we could find, wherever we could find it. By receiving the FAA certification, we proved that the aircraft can withstand known icing conditions in a real-world operating environment with no structural changes required of the airframe," said Raburn.


Source: Eclipse Aviation

Brazilian Aircraft Builder Embraer Achieves New Success In The Global Market

The Miami Herald reports on the rise of Brazilian aircraft builder Embraer and the opening of their new U.S. headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Embraer is now number three among commercial aircraft builders in the world, behind Boeing and Airbus, and recently announced plans to build a $50 million dollar assembly plant in Florida for light and executive jets.

After overcoming financial problems in the 1990s, business is booming for Embraer with over four years worth of orders for commercial and executive jets to fill. The Miami Herald article explores how Embraer managed to overcome obstacles to find succcess and what challenges the company faces from global competitors.

Source: The Miami Herald

Cessna Seeks To Go Green By Establishing Environmental Strategy Council

Cessna's homepage reports on the announcement by Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack Pelton of the establishment of the Cessna Environmental Strategy Council.

According to Cessna, the council will assess the company’s impact on the environment and formalize initiatives to minimize that impact. The council is comprised of representatives from every part of the company.

“This is an important part of our long-term strategy,” Pelton said. “We are looking at boosting our efforts in recycling – both personal and industrial – conserving energy, aircraft operations and aircraft design,” he said.

The council is looking at how the company interfaces with the environment, with the goal of developing an action plan to lessen Cessna’s impact on the environment. The effort will also reach out to Cessna’s employees, encouraging them to embrace an environment-friendly approach to their everyday lives.

Pelton said Cessna is coordinating with industry and government groups, including the Federal Aviation Administration, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, the Aerospace Industries Association and the National Business Aviation Association.

Cessna already is thinking green in a number of ways: recycling materials such as aluminum and paper, designing lighter airplanes to complete the same mission and working with suppliers – especially engine makers – to develop more efficient systems.

Source: Cessna

Hawker 4000 Receives FAA Approval To Begin Customer Deliveries

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation recently announced Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Type Certification for the new flagship Hawker 4000 super-midsize business jet, allowing the company to begin delivering this revolutionary aircraft to customers this month.

The Hawker 4000 features innovative composite construction and considered one of the world’s most advanced business jets . HBC concurrently received the FAA production certificate for the Hawker 4000.

“This is a historic step forward for Hawker Beechcraft, as our hard work and dedication on the Hawker 4000 program has resulted in the most luxurious, most innovative and most advanced super-midsize business jet in the world.” said Jim Schuster, HBC chairman and CEO. “We’ve put a tremendous amount of effort into the Hawker 4000 and are eager to fulfill our substantial backlog of worldwide customer orders.”

Source: Hawker Beechcraft

Gulfstream Celebrates Roll-Out Of 200th Gulfstream G550/G500

Gulfstream Aerospace recently announced the roll out the 200th Gulfstream G550/G500 at its manufacturing plant in Savannah.

“The roll-out of this aircraft represents a significant milestone,” said Joe Lombardo, president, Gulfstream. “In less than five years, our work force has assembled 200 aircraft of the G550/G500 family. This roll-out reflects the hard work, dedication, and innovation of Gulfstream’s employees, as well as the popularity of the aircraft in the business-aviation industry.”

The G550/G500 was officially introduced on Sept. 9, 2002, in Orlando, Fla. In a first for Gulfstream, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued the Type and Production certificates for the G550 on the same day, Aug. 14, 2003.

Source: Gulfstream Aerospace

Cessna Citation XLS+ Earns FAA Certification

Cessna Aircraft Company recently reported that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted type certification (TC) to Cessna’s Citation XLS+. With nearly 600 hours of flight testing, the XLS+ met Cessna’s certification timeline goal.

According to Cessna, the XLS+ features 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+ at maximum takeoff weight will depart from runways as short as 3,560 feet (1,085 meters) at standard, sea-level conditions, travel as fast as 440 knots (815 kilometers per hour), have a range of more than 1,858 nautical miles (3,441 kilometers) and land on runways as short as 2,700 feet (823 meters) at its typical landing weight.

The original Citation Excel was delivered in May 1998, followed by the Citation XLS in July 2004. The 500th Excel/XLS was delivered in June 2006, making the Excel/XLS the best-selling aircraft of all business jet models since its introduction. The fleet of Excel/XLS aircraft comprises of nearly 650 planes with an accumulated total of more than 1.4 million flight hours.

The first XLS+ delivery is expected before the end of 2008.

Source: Cessna

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