Also: First US-Built A320, True Blue Power, Sonic Boom, Signature-CAF, Boeing Helena, USAF Combat Rescue, Atlantic Aviation

This year’s selection of the best SportPlanes of 2017 remains a pretty intriguing pursuit -- and much busier than we expected. Previous list assignments established that aircraft by Progressive Aerodyne, The Airplane Factory, Kitfox,  Van's and Sonex were early leaders for the list. Other have now qualified -- one of the foremost of which is the Zenith CH750 series, especially with the advent of the enlarged Super Duty airframe and the availability of the outrageously cool UnPanel... The total solar eclipse that passed across America Monday was truly a sight to behold. And what better way to witness this historical event than to view it from the air? Zenith Aircraft pilot Roger Dubbert went flying in the new Zenith STOL CH 750 Super Duty (with the Avilution UnPanel

Also: Kratos Mako, Dronecode's Meier, Virginia Tech, Edwards AFB, Department Of The Interior

A California-based startup company plans to introduce a new,  long-range, high-endurance, vertical take-off aircraft, designed and manufactured in the US. FlightWave Aerospace Systems says that the aircraft is designed to bring new capabilities to customers who need a sustained aerial presence in high-wind, maritime, or terrestrial missions. FlightWave’s FlightWave Edge UAS, requires no nets, no catapults, and no cumbersome ground equipment, according to the company. The Edge’s quick, tool-free assembly, payload swapping, and click-to-fly touchscreen tablet controller mean users are flying, vertically or horizontally, in a few minutes. Robotic Skies, LLC, has raised a round of venture capital financing. The capital will accelerate the expansion of the Robotic Skies maintenance network for

Organizational Adjustments Made August 20 To Improve Efficiency

The FAA’s Flight Standards Service (AFS) plays a vital role in making the U.S. aviation system the world’s safest. But even the best can get better.

Also: Yuneec Extended Service Plan, UAV on A/C Carrier, Blue Angels Incident, Drone Operator Safety Act

MultiGP’s 2017 MultiGP International Open, conducted on the grounds of AMA HQ turned out to be a recordsetter! The AMA crew has reported that some 300 quadcopter pilots inundated Muncie, Indiana, August 8-13 for the much-anticipated Riot-MultiGP International Open. The races were held at AMA’s International Aeromodeling Center and in addition to plenty of opportunities to simply fly for the fun of it, pilots competed at eleven tracks spread out across nearly 1,100 acres. Racers came from all over the globe... A drone operator with a Part 107 license was recently cited by the City of Chicago for flying his aircraft over people without consent... except that it didn't happen. Attorney Jeffrey Antonelli represented Jerrick Hakim, who made one flight on Chicago's lakefront. Stopped by th

It's Official: Aggressive Upgrades For New Airborne Programs WILL Require New Digs

It's been in development for years, but we're getting to a point where we think we can pull off something TRULY REMARKABLE - which will require us to make BIG CHANGES. So... ANN is officially looking for a new home for a major new initiative... hopefully, a permanent one. We are now in the implementation phases of THE most significant upgrades we've ever undertaken and preparing to make significant operational modifications to accomodate them. As a result, we're currently inviting proposals for a NEW airport/office studio facility to serve as a home base and studio for new programming about to be introduced by the Aero-News Network, Inc., the Aviation World's Real-Time News and Information Service, our Daily Airborne Unlimited programming, our new 'Aero-Doc' documentary division, as well as other Aero-TV/Aero-Verse  productions.

Registration For Sixth Annual Competition Currently Open For High School Teams

GAMA and Build A Plane have opened registration for the 2018 Aviation Design Challenge, an annual competition promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills among U.S. high school students through aviation.

Upgrade Required For Flight After September 1

DJI will be releasing a new firmware update this week to further enhance flight safety and performance of the DJI Spark. The new firmware update enhances Spark’s battery management system to optimize power supply during flight.

The VA001 Flew For Nearly 56 Hours Without Refueling

The FAI has ratified a duration world record for a unique experimental unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The VA001, an unmanned aircraft that looks like a glider but is powered by a diesel engine, successfully flew for 55 hours and 56 minutes non-stop and without refueling on December 2, 2016.

Model Aircraft Pilots Are Invited To Participate August 24 - 27

The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) Foundation, in conjunction with Fly Iowa 2017, will be hosting the AMA Foundation for the Future Jet Rally in Ottumwa, Iowa from August 24 to 27.

Increase Elevates First Year, First Officer Pay To The Highest In The Regional Airline Industry

First year, First Officer pay at Compass Airlines will soon be the highest in the regional airline industry.  Compass is pleased to announce that effective October 1, 2017, its first year, First Officer pay will increase to $41.00 per flight hour.  Additionally, First Officers at all pay steps will receive an increase.