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November 23, 2020

Airborne 11.23.20: Drone Pilot Arrest, AirVenture 2021!, Virtual WAI

Also: Vega Flight VV17, Expanded ISS Crew, XTI Aircraft-Verdego Aero, Helo Maritime Strike Squadron 37

Special agents with the FBI this week arrested a Hollywood man on a federal charge alleging that he recklessly operated a drone that crashed into a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter. 22-year-old Andrew Rene Hernandez,was arrested pursuant to a criminal complaint that charges him with one count of unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft. Using data from the remains of the drone that hit an LAPD helicopter last September and other evidence, the Feds believe they have found the operator of the rogue aircraft. The drone damaged the LAPD aircraft and the pilot was forced to initiate an emergency landing. At last week's fall meeting – held in a virtual format – th

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Powered by Sunshine: Beam Demo's E-Charge of Car, Motorcycle, Pipistrel Electro

No Electricity – No Problem... EV Charging Stations Are Solar Powered

An interesting company, Beam, positioning itself as a 100% sustainable EV charging solution for the world's electric vehicles, is rapidly deploying EV charging stations all over the globe. To demonstrate it's potential; Beam conducted the world’s first 'Flying on Sunshine' flight in a Pipistrel production electric aircraft, powered completely by Beam’s EV ARC solar-powered charging unit delivering off-grid, sustainably generated, locally stored energy. The world-first maiden flight took place at Reedley Municipal Airport in Fresno County, California with local officials present and Pilot Joseph Oldham at the controls.

Also: GAMA 3Q Stats, E-AB Accident Total Drops, MU-2 STC for Scimitar Hartzell, Virgin Galactic Delay

FAA Boss Steve Dickson has signed an order that paves the way for the Boeing 737 MAX to return to commercial service. For nearly 2 years, FAA employees worked to identify and address reported safety issues that were blamed for the loss of 346 lives aboard Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. Throughout the process, they cooperated closely with foreign counterparts, while Dickson personally took the recommended pilot training and piloted the Boeing 737 MAX, himself. "It's been heartbrea

Deployed 30 Small Satellites To Orbit

Rocket Lab has successfully launched its 16th Electron mission and deployed 30 small satellites to orbit – the largest number of satellites deployed by Electron to date on a single mission. The ‘Return to Sender’ mission also saw Rocket Lab complete a successful splashdown and recovery of the first stage of an Electron launch vehicle for the first time, bringing the stage back to Earth under a parachute after launch. The recovery of a stage is a major milestone in Rocket Lab’s pursuit to make Electron a reusable rocket to increase launch frequency and reduce launch costs for small satellites.

Will Provide Scholarships, Education Resources

EAA and Microsoft are reporting that they are teaming to provide flight training scholarships and education resources throughout the country in conjunction with the release of the new edition of the Microsoft Flight Simulator software. EAA and Microsoft have committed to establishing three Microsoft Flight Simulator Scholarships for each of the next three years, giving young aviation enthusiasts the opportunity to move from virtual flight via simulators to the real thing. In addition, Microsoft will provide copies of its new Flight Simulator to EAA's current youth flight training scholarship recipients, including the Ray Aviation Scholarship students, for the next three years as well as offer a discou

In 2021, CREATeV Will Attempt To Set The FAI Record For Longest Unmanned Flight

On Thursday, November 12, 2020, the CREATeV solar-powered airplane flew nonstop for over 10 hours. After taking off at 9:11 am, the aircraft circled over the field of Canada's York Soaring Association for over 10 hours. The landing went well despite being two hours after sunset. This flight was a major milestone in a quest to break the world flight endurance record. The goal of the CREATeV project is to develop an ultra-long endurance solar powered aircraft capable of sustaining flight for 60 days continuously. The major challenge with sustaining multi-day flights is the ability to cruise through an entire night on battery power, without the ability to recharge the bat

Klyde Morris (11.23.20)

Klyde Knows That Even An Airplane Can't Help You Escape The Pandemic...

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

The Championships Will Return To Salina, Kansas

At the IAC's Fall Board Meeting, November 14, 2020, the location and dates of the 2021 U.S. National Aerobatic Championships and contest director were approved by the IAC Board of Directors. The championships will return to Salina, Kansas, September 19-24, 2021, and Doug Bartlett IAC #431228 was approved as the Contest Director. Doug joined IAC in 2003 and started competing that same year. While working his way up the competition ladder from Sportsman to Unlimited he served as contest director for several regional contests as well as for the 2007 U.S. National Aerobatic Championships when they were held in Texas. As a national judge, he served on the line at the 2018 nationals which were held in Oshk

The Dixie Wing Maintains And Flies Seven World War II Aircraft

On Saturday, November 14, 2020, the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Dixie Wing held a dedication ceremony for their assigned P-63 Kingcobra. The aircraft was named "Miss Betty" in honor of long time Wing member Betty Bishop. During World War II, Bishop worked for Bell Aircraft in Niagara Falls building P-39 Airacobras and P-63 Kingcobras. The women who worked in factories on the homefront while many male soldiers were fighting overseas are known as "Rosie the Riveter."

From 2016: Fresh & Enlightening Views On BizAv From EAA’s New Boss…

In this interesting and informative interview with EAA’s Jack Pelton at NBAA2015, ANN CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell, asked Pelton for his opinion of this year’s convention and to express his thoughts on the state of business aviation as a whole. In the process of the interview, we are reminded of the incredibly strong background Pelton has in the business aviation world. Because of Pelton’s position as EAA’s CEO, he is able to stand on the outside of business aviation and look at it

The Flight Instructor Reported That During Initial Climb There Was A Drop In Engine Speed (RPM)

On October 26, 2020, about 1410 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140 airplane, N32458, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Crystal Beach, Texas. The flight instructor and his student were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor reported that the accident occurred during a takeoff from a private airstrip adjacent to a restaurant. The flight instructor estimated that the grass airstrip was about 2,500 ft long by 35 ft long, and that the takeoff was made to the south-southeast. He stated that the grass runway condition was dry and

Aero Linx: The Canadian Sport Parachuting Association (CSPA) The Canadian Sport Parachuting Association (CSPA), through affiliation with the Aero Club of Canada (ACC), is Canada’s representative to the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), and is thereby the official sport organization for sport parachuting in Canada. Incorporated in 1956, CSPA promotes safe, enjoyable sport parachuting through cooperation and adherence to our self-imposed rules and recommendations. CSPA is run by its Members and Registered Participants, joined together, voluntarily, for our mutual benefit. CSPA is a Registered Canadian Amateur Athletic Association and is thereby recognized as the National Sport Or

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (11.23.20): Center Weather Advisory

Center Weather Advisory An unscheduled weather advisory issued by Center Weather Service Unit meteorologists for ATC use to alert pilots of existing or anticipated adverse weather conditions within the next 2 hours. A CWA may modify or redefine a SIGMET.

“What the team achieved today in recovering Electron’s first stage is no mean feat. It took a monumental effort from many teams across Rocket Lab, and it’s exciting to see that work pay off in a major step towards making Electron a reusable rocket." Source: Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Peter Beck, following the successful recovery of a first stage booster, via parachute and splashdown.