War-Pigs and Hog-Heaven

Already about the dubious endeavor of retiring the remainder of America’s A-10 Thunderbolt II fleet, the U.S. Air Force has set forth it intends to eliminate nearly half its elite Tactical Air Control Party over the coming three years. The Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) is a small but vital team of military personnel tasked with coordinating air and ground forces during Close-Air-Support (CAS) operations. Given their druthers, USAF generals will shrink the service’s TACP contingent from 3,700 to roughly 2,130 personnel—a 44-percent reduction in overall strength.

Wheels Ups and Downs

Wheels Up has reportedly retained attorneys specializing in corporate restructuring. In early-June, the company completed a reverse stock-split, raising its per-share price above $1.00 to avoid being delisted by the New York Stock Exchange. Founded in 2013 by Kenny Dichter, Wheels Up is a New York City-based provider of on-demand aircraft services. The company is among the world’s largest private aviation concerns--for now.

One’s Higher Self

Founded in 1993, Aerobility is a U.K. charity about the commendable mission of providing disabled individuals access to the liberating, self-affirming, independence-fostering challenge of piloting an aircraft. On 22 June 2023, Aerobility announced Chris Selway, a 56-year-old paralyzed man from Warmley in Bristol has mastered the basics of flying an airplane after having been awarded one of the organization’s scholarships.

NetJets NJASAP Feud Heats Up

NJASAP has filed a class-action grievance alleging: “NetJets is failing to provide adequate and standardized training across all segments of the pilot group from its newly hired pilots who are completing initial aircraft training to crewmembers who have been on property for decades and are completing new aircraft transition training.”

Of Education and Undertakings Integral Thereto

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and French air-framer Aura Aero have signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) by which the two entities will partner to train student pilots at the school’s Daytona Beach, Florida campus to fly Aura Aero’s zero-emission aircraft. Under the agreement, Aura Aero will launch an internship program for Embry-Riddle students interested in familiarizing themselves with the Integral—the French plane-maker’s two-seat, aerobatics-capable training-aircraft.

Les Temps Sont Bons

Elixir Aircraft, the French aircraft-maker founded in 2015 for the express purpose of designing and producing “safer, more economical, more environmentally-friendly, and more versatile aircraft,” asserted on the fourth-day of the 54th Paris Air-Show that sales of its training aircraft remain brisk.

California Dreaming

ZeroAvia, the British/American hydrogen-electric aircraft developer, announced that it has signed an agreement to provide 250 of its hydrogen-electric ZA2000 engines to certificate-holder Flyshare, Inc.—which intends to pioneer sustainable regional air service in the Western United States under the sobriquet Air Cahana.

From 2011 (YouTube Version): A Unique, Affordable and Isolated way to Enjoy Ballooning

Ballooning is both a unique as well as eclectic pursuit... and it attracts (naturally) a pretty unique brand of aviator to its ranks. But solo balloons are particularly rare... though an undeniably cost effective way to play in the sky. While there have been a number of single seat experimental and ultralight balloon systems offered over the years, Cameron says its Sky Hopper is a smaller, lighter and simpler concept. Still; they note that the

Klyde Notes That There ARE LImits... Even Among The NASA Nerds

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

Safran Engines Remain Popular in Sustainability Testing as Industry Eagerly Decarbonizes

China's first Sustainable Aviation Fuel-powered rotary-wing flight has been completed using an Airbus H125. The national first was performed using the aircraft from the State Grid Space Technology Company. The firm managed to make a footnote in their history by beating the rest of the field to flight using a hybrid ratio of 40% synthesized SAF from China National Aviation Fuel.

Workers Reject Spirit Aerosystems Contract Offer

Machinists in the employ of Spirit Aerosystems have voted to strike rather than accept a four-year contract proposed by executives of the Wichita, Kansas-based aerospace components and systems supplier. Spirit AeroSystems Holdings is the world's largest first-tier aerostructures manufacturer. Companies under the first-tier of the aerospace industry’s supply-chain produce major aircraft components and systems—wings, fuselages, control systems, landing gear, and the like. Spirit AeroSystems builds key facets of Boeing aircraft, including portions of 737 and 787 family fuselages and the cockpit sections (referred to in Boeing vernacular as Section 41) of nearly all the pla

During The Touchdown For The Third Landing On Runway 15, The Left Wheel Departed From The Left Strut

On June 2, 2023, about 1453 central daylight time, a Kolb Twinstar Mark III airplane, N1025T, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Starbuck, Minnesota. The flight instructor and the private pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The purpose of the flight was for the private pilot, who is also the airplane owner and the airplane builder, to work on soft field landings in the tailwheel-equipped airplane.

Aero Linx: National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO)

NASAO is dedicated to representing the interests of the states and the public before policymakers at the federal level. A safe, secure, efficient and well-funded aviation system is a powerful economic engine for growth and job creation across the nation. NASAO is the only organization deeply invested in representing the public interest in all facets of aviation and airports. The United States has developed the largest, safest and most complete aviation system in the world. All Americans reap the significant benefits of this unique and unparalleled transportation, shipping, emergency response and defense network.

Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) An FAA-registered aircraft, other than a helicopter or powered-lift, that meets certain weight and performance. Principally it is a single-engine aircraft with a maximum of two seats and weighing no more than 1,430 pounds if intended for operation on water, or 1,320 pounds if not. It must be of simple design (fixed landing gear (except if intended for operations on water or a glider), piston powered, nonpressurized, with a fixed or ground adjustable propeller). Performance is also limited to a maximum airspeed in level flight of not more than 120 knots calibrated airspeed (CAS), have a maximum never-exceed speed of not more than 120 knots CAS for a glider, and have a maximu

"We are at a turning point in aviation as we harness the power of hydrogen. By embracing this groundbreaking technology, we are making an unwavering commitment to eliminating airline emissions and dramatically reducing operating costs. With ZeroAvia's extensive flight testing and in-house IP [Internal Protocol] around core technologies, we have the perfect alliance to achieve our vision. Together, we are poised to revolutionize the aviation industry, setting a new standard for a greener sky and delivering an unparalleled passenger experience. This innovative collaboration positions Cahana as the front-runner in becoming the cleanest airline in the sky.” Source: Air Cahana CEO Tony Thompson, doing a little crowiong about the 250 of hy