Also: Boeing 777X, Master Instructors’ Sandy Hill, Helicopter Foundation Int'l, FreeFlight Systems

A Sikorsky S-76B helicopter carrying NBA Legend, Kobe Bryant, has gone down with the loss of all on board. The total fatalities stand at nine people, all reportedly traveling in the rotorcraft. The accident site is in Calabasas, California.

The weather was overcast with impaired visibility, while the accident was reported to have occurred at approximately 0945 local time. Sources confirm that the aircraft involved was a Sikorsky S-76B, N72EX, owned by Island Express Holding Corp. The S-76B series was powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B-36A or Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B-36B turboshaft engines. There were 101 S-76Bs built. The new Boeing 777X jetliner took to the skies Saturday, starting a rigorous flight test program. The first 777X took off in front of thousands at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, at 1009 local time for a three hour, 51 minute flight over Washington state before landing at Seattle's Boeing Field. "The 777X flew beautifully, and today's testing was very productive," said Capt. Van Chaney, 777/777X chief pilot for Boeing Test & Evaluation. "Thank you to all the teams who made today possible. I can't wait to go fly your airplane again." A Redbull aerobatic aircraft has been involved in a fatal accident. Two Redbull performers were billed to perform at an airshow conducted by the Aeroclub of Iztapa, Escuintla. Both Kirby Chambliss and Steve Andelin were on the roster to fly at the show. Several videos show the aerobatic Zivko Edge 540T, N540ZA, monoplane, flown by Andelin, conducting some aerobatic maneuvers as it terminates too low and collides with the ground, nearly level, while the aircraft ultimately winds up off site and in a nearby body of water in a highly fragmented condition. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne!!!

Airborne 01.27.20 is chock full of info in this Daily News Episode, Monday, January 27th, 2020... Presented by Aero-TV veteran videographer and Airborne Host Sophie Hurlock. Sophie is supported by ANN Chief Videographer Nathan Cremisino, as well as ANN CEO/Editor-In-Chief Jim Campbell. This episode covers:

• Kobe Bryant, 8 Others, Lost In CA S-76B Heli Crash
• Boeing 777X Takes First Flight
• Guatemalan Airshow Crash Tragedy
• Master Instructors’ Sandy Hill Goes West
• Airshow Community Mourns Mark Nowosielski
• Helicopter Foundation International Changes Name
• FreeFlight Systems Expands ADS-B Installation Capabilities

Get Comprehensive, Real-Time, 24/7 coverage of the latest aviation and aerospace stories anytime, at aero-news.net. And be sure to join us again tomorrow, for the next edition of "Airborne Unlimited" here on Aero-TV. Thanks for watching. See you, again, tomorrow!

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