Aero-News Network: The aviation and aerospace world's daily/real-time news and information service

A Fresh Breeze Blows Through Seawind

Certification Program Funding

Kimberton (PA) based Seawind says it has received funding to complete the certification process for its amphibian single-engine aircraft. The company says this new funding will also allow it to set up manufacturing operations.

Go For Launch! X Prize Foundation Announces Teams Ready To Compete For $10M

The X PRIZE Foundation announced key next steps by two of its top competitors for the ANSARI X PRIZE. The American Mojave Aerospace Ventures, LLC Team (a partnership between Paul G. Allen and Burt Rutan and his team at Scaled Composites) announced that it has given its official 60-day notice and has scheduled its first competition flight on September 29th, 2004, at the Mojave Airport Civilian Aerospace Test Center in Mojave, California. To win the $10 million, SpaceShipOne will need to make a second flight within two weeks, by October 13th, 2004.

Oshkosh Kicks Off!

New Opening Ceremony For New Century Of Flight

Perhaps it was only fitting. After all, what do you do after celebrating a century of flight? That was the theme of last year's AirVenture and you might have thought the EAA would be hard-pressed to top it. But the theme of this year's AirVenture is the second century of flight and the EAA kicked it off with a new tradition -- an opening ceremony.

They're Coming In Droves

Mass Arrivals Mark Opening Days Of AirVenture 2004

By ANN Contributor Christopher Armstrong Almost as interesting as the flight demonstrations and static displays as AirVenture 2004 begins is the mass arrival of aircraft here. Hundreds of Piper Comanches, Beech Bonanzas, Mooneys and Stinsons began arriving on Sunday.

And The Winner Is...

Experimentals Race From Dayton To Oshkosh, Vying For AirVenture Cup

It's the latest in what appears to be a growing trend -- air races designed to get people excited about aviation again. Case in point: The 2004 AirVenture Cup Race, where organizers hope to capture the excitement of the Bendix Trophy Races of the 1930s. It was a cross-country race open to all EAA Members. Forty-two race planes participated and 7 chase planes flew along as well.

OU's Deal With Piper

And Now You Know The Rest Of The Story

As ANN reported at the beginning of the month, the University of Oklahoma's Department of Aviation finally decided to replace its fleet of Piper Warriors. After checking around, Aviation Directdor Glenn Schaumburg went back to New Piper and ordered 13 new Warrior IIIs.

Mooney To Unveil Product Enhancements At 2004 Airventure Oshkosh

Garmin G1000 Heads List Of Upgrades On New GX Series

With a reputation for providing fast, personal travel, Mooney Airplane Company will unveil two new models – Ovation 2 GX and Bravo GX – featuring its top-line Garmin G1000™ panel plus comfort and performance upgrades, at the 2004 AirVenture Oshkosh, July 27 through August 2.

Garmin Announces XM Weather Interface

Garmin made a number of announcements at AirVenture 2004 yesterday, among them the news that they will provide a new weather information service for their G1000 and MX20 units using the company's new GDL-69/69A XM weather downlink units.

Lancair Delivering Columbia 400s At A 'Great Pace'

As Oshkosh 2004 got off to a rousing start, the folks at the Lancair Company boasted (justifiably) that it has already delivered 15 of their speedy new four seaters. And this just in the few months since their first delivery in Lakeland last April.

Klyde's At Oshkosh: Run For Your Life! -- Day One

Klyde Does Oshkosh--Day One

C-5A Galaxy Arrives At Airventure

The largest transport aircraft in the USAF inventory, the C-5A Galaxy, has finally returned to AirVenture after a 12-year absence.

Defying Gravity: Part Two

The Remarkable Story Of Jamail Larkins

Right after his first Young Eagle's flight, Jamail Larkins became a volunteer for the organization. He did whatever he could, helping with the Young Eagles flights, preflight briefings, paperwork, moving planes, washing airplanes and traditional airport-kid stuff for anyone else on the airport. Anything to get a few hours in the cockpit.

Avidyne Delivers 1,000th Integrated Flight Deck

Glass For The Masses

Avidyne Monday said it's delivered the 1,000th FlightMax Entegra integrated flight deck, a demonstration of just how well-unprecedented acceptance of integrated flight decks for general aviation aircraft.

Heavy-Breathing: A First Look At Lancair’s Columbia 400 (Part One)

233 Kts, FL230, 26 Minutes From Brake Release... Wow!

The general aviation industry, for the last few years, has been nothing if not innovative. The extraordinary progress we’ve seen in an industry that has heretofore been populated by derivations of older, staid designs marks an amazing change in pace and direction for our industry.

ANN Intro's Oshkosh 2004 Special Coverage Major Sponsor: Unison!

Another One of The Great Companies Makes All This Coverage Possible--UNISON!

It's getting REALLY interesting here at Oshkosh... already. ANN's Jim Campbell has already spent a considerable period of time hob-nobbing with all types of flyers, conned a few into letting him fly their brand new birds AND has been getting the skinny on even MORE exciting news that will be coming your way in the next few days... and let's face it, the last few day's worth of news has been breathtaking.

Rotax Offers Competitive Exchange Program

ANN has learned that Rotax has instituted a time-limited competitive engine trade-in program.

New Sport Flying Company Takes Off

The remarkable opportunities engendered by the advent of the FAA's new Sport Pilot rule are attracting important new entrants into the flying business. Integrity Brands, a Boston-based investment organization, has announced a new business initiative aimed at the emerging Sport Pilot market.

Paint Your Wagon -- Online

Scheme Designers Develops New Online Paint Visualization Tool

What would your Piper Tomahawk look like in red? How about blue with a gold stripe? If a company called Scheme Designers has its way, you won't have to guess any more. Nor will you have to spend a fortune before you find out that you really wanted a strawberry-colored stripe instead of magenta.

Aero-News Quote Of The Day (07.27.04)

"PAMA does remain concerned about the ability of Light Sport Aircraft manufacturers to develop and deliver appropriate maintenance training programs for this new category of maintenance technician. FAA must remain vigilant in their oversight of those programs." Source: PAMA President Brian Finnegan, who says, while his organization generally approves of the new Sport Pilot rule, it does have some questions -- and some caveats.