The decision has been made. Wrapping up two days of meetings in Chicago, Boeing's board of directors Monday decided the fate of what would be the company's first new line of aircraft in more than 13 years. Only they're not saying what they decided.

Enstrom Helicopter Corporation has earned FAA approval for pop-out floats on its 480B turbine. "These floats add one more option to our broad range of uses for the 480B," said William Taylor, director of engineering. "They will add versatility to operations by increasing safety in over-water flights."

With flight tests, engine firings and hardware roll outs occurring on a weekly basis, the pace of the X PRIZE New Race to Space has hit an all-time high. Wednesday, people all over the planet will celebrate the accomplishments of the Wright Brothers. This 100-year anniversary is a time of reflection and appreciation for many; to the 27 X PRIZE Teams competing to become the first private astronauts, it is a special source of inspiration.

"If we do have news to share, it will be done out of Seattle. But there will be nothing sooner than Tuesday." Source: Boeing spokesman Ken Mercer, after the company's board of directors met in Chicago (IL) to discuss the future of the 7E7 project. All indications are that Boeing will go ahead with its first new line in 13 years -- but the company prefers to make its announcement to employees first.

This week near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina the jet that is poised to define the next century of flight, Eclipse Aviation's revolutionary Eclipse 500 jet, stood face-to-face with the world's most accurate 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction for the first time in a moment that signified the transition from the first century of flight to the second.  The milestone meeting took place at the First Flight Centennial Celebration, a six-day tribute to the past, present and future of aviation that begins today. To symbolically unite the past and the future of flight, Eclipse Aviation and EAA brought the 1903 Wright Flyer reproduction, which will attempt to fly on the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight, together with the Eclipse 500 jet in front of the Wright Brothers Nat

NOTAM:  3/1789  Issued:  12/15/2003 17:32  Effective:  12/17/2003 13:45 - 12/17/2003 17:00  State:  NC  Facility:  ZDC - WASHINGTON (ARTCC),DC.  Type:  VIP  Description:  KILL DEVIL HILLS, NORTH CAROLINA, DECEMBER 17, 2003 LOCAL.   

50 flags from 50 states, one from D.C. and one from Puerto Rico. When the EAA puts their mind to something, it usually happens, and they were all smiles when Exec. V.P. Bob Warner took the stage in Kitty Hawk to thank all the members who flew to Kitty Hawk and First Flight field with their state flags. In honor of the Centennial of Flight, that mission has been underway for the last year. The flags are flown here, it's raised up the flag pole, pictures are taken, handshakes made. The aircraft ranged from a Falcon 50 to some guys from Maine who did it in powered parachutes, and took 4 or 5 days. There was a Super Cub from Alaska.

Where to begin: If you didn't know you were on the outer banks of North Carolina, you could be in the Florida Panhandle, driving down Highway 98. Or heading towards Mesa from downtown Phoenix. Looks the same. Food Lions, Outback Steakhouse, Shell gas stations, normal stuff.  And  then, you drive north along Highway 158, through Nags Head, (NOT named for Patty Wagstaff) and into Kitty Hawk, and on the left, on the bay side of the barrier island, there is the monument. Atop Kill Devil Hill, now covered with grass, the sixty-foot marker reaches to the sky. Just the names there, Wilbur Wright, Orville Wright. This is it. This is where it all started, 100 years ago. Monday's weather couldn't have been better, CAVU, winds 15-20 knots. The procession of flight

John Cudahy, President of the International Council of Air Shows, is relaxed, smiling, and for the first time in a week, NOT running to another meeting while talking on a cell phone. It is the end of the ICAS convention in Dallas. All around him, the staff is packing up, getting things shipped back to headquarters in Virginia. He’s in jeans and a non-airshow t-shirt. (That’s a surprise), bears a strong resemblance to an actor on “ER” (NOT George Clooney) and he takes 15 minutes to sit down with ANN and recap the show. Aero-News: Best part of the convention? John Cudahy-ICAS: I would say there was a definite increase in the business orientation…with both performers and organizers treating this as a busines

We're coming to the end of the year, and you all know what that means… along with chasing the popular toys through mobbed malls, enduring puerile, saccharine Christmas Muzak, and bearing up under a ceaseless barrage of Year in Review prose, you have to face the close of the tax year. Ouch. One way to swing a double-edged sword of reducing your pre-tax income and promoting a worthwhile cause is to donate to a tax-deductible (in the USA) charity, such as the AOPA Air Safety Foundation. The Air Safety Foundation does an awful lot of good, and the vast majority of its output is available free. I have a "safety binder" of ASF materials, and you can too (at the cost of a few hours on the website [http://www.asf.org] and a bunch of printer paper). I've enjoyed and benefited

Guess Who's Coming To Albany, GA? NOTAM: 3/1809 Issued: 12/15/2003 22:15 Effective: 12/17/2003 22:20 - 12/18/2003 20:50 State: GA Facility: ZJX - JACKSONVILLE (ARTCC),FL. Type: VIP Description: ALBANY, GEORGIA DECEMBER 17-18, 2003.

NOTAM: 3/1790 Issued: 12/15/2003 17:48 Effective: 12/17/2003 13:45 - 12/17/2003 17:00 State: NC Facility: ZDC - WASHINGTON (ARTCC),DC. Type: VIP Description: ELIZABETH CITY, NORTH CAROLINA, DECEMBER 17, 2003 LOCAL.

GW Sure Gets Around... NOTAM: 3/1808 Issued: 12/15/2003 21:51 Effective: 12/16/2003 21:05 - 12/16/2003 22:05 State: GA Facility: ZJX - JACKSONVILLE (ARTCC),FL. Type: VIP Description: VALDOSTA AND THOMASVILLE, GEORGIA, DECEMBER 16-17, 2003.

A TFR For Avalanche Control? NOTAM: 3/1803 Issued: 12/15/2003 20:07 Effective: 12/16/2003 17:00 - 12/16/2003 19:00 State: UT Facility: ZLC - SALT LAKE CITY (ARTCC),UT. Type: HAZARDS Description: PROVO, UT.

Who said there wasn't a Santa Claus (from 23,000 feet msl)??? In the case of the missing "Hot Wings" in Oklahoma that we detailed on ANN on the Fifth of December, we're happy to report that they were seen by a friendly high-altitude "Santa." Thereafter, the police were notified and most important... the wings were found!

ARINC Engineering Systems, has been awarded the contract for an innovative Air Force program that trains air crews to recognize threats from the ground quickly and to react properly. The Visual Threat Recognition and Avoidance Trainer (VTRAT) is currently used by the Air Force Special Operations Command to train fixed-wing and helicopter crews. The system is easily adapted to train crews of any aircraft, including private jets and commercial airliners.

Curtiss-Wright Controls' subsidiary, Penny & Giles Aerospace Ltd., has been awarded a new defense contract by Bell Helicopter to upgrade all United States Marine Corps H-1 helicopters. The contract will be worth approximately $5 million over an 11-year-period.

Patty Wagstaff needs no introduction. What might surprise you at this point in her career, is that after 12 years, she’s looking for a new sponsor! She told ANN that “Goodrich and I have mutually agreed to seek other opportunities.” She admits that “it’s a little scary, but I want a bigger sponsor, who’s more involved in the day-to-day promotion, a message or product that we can work with 12 months a year.”

Gulfstream IISP Makes LA-Kitty Hawk Run In Record Time

A Gulfstream IISP business jet approaching for a flyby at Kitty Hawk (NC) Monday set a new world speed record, flying from Los Angeles to Kitty Hawk in 3 hrs 48 min; average speed of 631 mph.Flown by renowned pilot Clay Lacy, this is his 29th World Record. Clay's previous records include World Speed Records from Los Angeles - Paris and Moscow to Los Angeles aboard this same Gulfstream IISP in 1995 and the Absolute Around the World record in 1988 flying a Boeing 747.