Commercial Space Transportation Operator License Will Allow Carriage of Space Flight Participants

Virgin Galactic has reported that the FAA updated the Company’s existing commercial space transportation operator license to allow the spaceline to fly customers to space. The Company also announced that it has completed an extensive review of data gathered from its May 22 test flight and confirmed that the flight performed well against all flight objectives. The adjustment to Virgin Galactic’s operator’s license, which the Company has held since 2016, marks the first time the FAA has licensed a spaceline to fly customers.

The Team, Led By Team Manager Mike Heuer, Has Officially Withdrawn From The World Advanced Aerobatic Championships

After weeks of turmoil by those supposedly responsible for the World Advanced Aerobatic Championships and reports of all manner of problems, the US Team has withdrawn from the event. "The USA's support for international aerobatic competition is unwavering, but the international sanctioning body, CIVA, came up with a plan that was entirely incompatible with the needs of the U.S. Team," said IAC President Jim Bourke.

Also: Walmart Invests in DroneUp, Rocket Lab, Airmen Improvement Act, Crew-3 Launch/Return Updated

One of the ANN's best weeks of the year happens when we gather the crew together to cover all things avionics at the annual Aircraft Electronics Association Convention and Trade Show. ANN, in a 12 YEAR-long partnership with AEA, is pleased to announce the schedule for the upcoming 2021 AEA Convention and Trade Show, to be held in Dallas, TX, June 22-25th, in what will be our record-setting 12th LIVE online programming initiative. Better yet, this programming will also be shared via our worldwide syndicatio

Also: Oft Described As Aviation's Most Accomplished Leader, Phil Is Anything But Retired

Former AOPA president Phil Boyer is considered one of aviation's most effective leaders. Over the course of 18 Years, Phil led the organization to greater prominence and built membership numbers to well over 400,000 -- Heights of popularity the organization has not seen since his departure. Upon retirement, Phil, and his wife Lois, moved to an airport home where he continued his love for aviation... for both manned and unmanned aviation.

Also: Eve Urban Air Mobility, Electra Hybrid-Electric, Aerovironment Relocates, ASTM International

Avolon and Vertical Aerospace have agreed on a ground-breaking US$2 billion order for up to 500 electric eVTOL aircraft. Building out of the technologies here-to-fore pioneered by the autonomous air vehicle industries, Avolon and Vertical Aerospace have agreed on a ground-breaking agreement. This agreement, which is subject to certain conditions, will introduce the ultra-short-haul aircraft category to commercial aviation. The agreement will see both companies collaborate throughout the development, road m

EAA Urges Teachers to Get Aviation Into the Classroom

EAA is hosting Teacher Day on July 30 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2021, and educators are encouraged to attend this free event that brings new ideas and activities on incorporating aviation and aerospace into the classroom. This event is open to all educators. The event comes along with a box lunch and an AirVenture wristband as a thank you to our educators.

Will Continue To Adelaide And Aiming To Achieve 1350 KM By The End Of The Journey

South Australian-based Eyre to There Aviation has achieved a world endurance record for an electric aircraft, breaking the previous mark set in Germany last year. Flying a Pipistrel Alpha Electro plane, Eyre to There Aviation Managing Director Barrie Rogers and his team arrived in Port Augusta late Friday, June 25, after breaking the previous mark of 750km on the leg between Shoalwater Point Station and Whyalla. They will continue to Adelaide and aiming to achieve 1350km by the end of the journey.

Archer Claims Wisk Filed Patent for Aircraft Design Nearly Identical to Archer’s Weeks After Learning of Their Design

In court papers filed over the weekend by Archer Aviation, in opposition to Wisk’s motion for a preliminary injunction; Archer, citing Wisk employees’ testimony and documents produced by Wisk in discovery, states that Wisk filed its aircraft design patent application -- which as Wisk points out in its lawsuit appears nearly identical to Archer’s -- weeks after learning of Archer’s aircraft design. The filing says that Wisk’s Chief Engineer learned of Archer’s aircraft design during an Archer recruiting meeting in December 2019, shared that information with senior executives at Wisk, and the

From 2016 (YouTube Version): The RANS S-21 Kit-Built Airplane Encompasses a Unique Building Concept…

While ANN CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell, was stomping around EAA AirVenture 2016 on his “What’s New” rounds, he stopped to talk with Randy Schlitter, the founder and owner of RANS Designs, which is the company that produces the RANS line of kit-built airplanes. While RANS has been around for a long time, they still managed to come up with something new in the RANS S-21. For those of you who are familiar with the RANS airplanes this truly is “Breaking News.” RANS has been noted for building tube-and-rag a

Will Support Main and Tail Rotor Blade Repair For The Taiwanese Fleet Of S-70/UH-60 rotorcraft

Aviation Blade Services has entered into a multi-year Inspection and Repair Training and Maintenance contract to support Main and Tail Rotor Blade repair for the Taiwanese fleet of S-70/UH-60 rotorcraft. ABS General Manager John Brennan commented "We are excited to continue growing our footprint with foreign military operators of the Blackhawk and Seahawk by expanding our longstanding relationship with the AMS Group and AACL. The training and service partnership allows AACL to support fleet readiness in country and reduce turnaround times (TAT) by leveraging ABS's industry leading technical capabilities."

Aero Linx: The James C. Ray Scholarship Fund The Central Florida Aerospace Academy Foundation, Inc. (CFAAF) is very proud to administer the James C. Ray Scholarship Fund. Applicants seeking grants from the Scholarship Fund will be evaluated on many factors, including, (but not limited to) GPA, community service history, extracurricular activities and personal recommendations from teachers and employers, and a personal interview during the application process. Eligible students must be a Polk County Public or Private High School Student or equivalent home schooled student residing in Polk County. A key element of the application is a short, thoughtful essay about the applicant, his/her career aspirati

The Student Pilot Had Begun Flight Lessons About 1 Month Prior To The Accident

On May 25, 2021, about 0730 central daylight time, a Gulfstream American AA-5A, N26889, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Crossville, Tennessee. The student pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. Preliminary radar data obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), an interview with the student pilot’s flight instructor, and telephone records revealed that the airplane departed Crossville Memorial Airport (CSV), Crossville, Tennessee on the second leg of its flight about 0715. The airplane’s next planned stop was Cleveland Regional Jetport (RZ

Procedure Turn The maneuver prescribed when it is necessary to reverse direction to establish an aircraft on the intermediate approach segment or final approach course. The outbound course, direction of turn, distance within which the turn must be completed, and minimum altitude are specified in the procedure. However, unless otherwise restricted, the point at which the turn may be commenced and the type and rate of turn are left to the discretion of the pilot.

"Our team could not work with the changing contest dates or venues which made it impossible to ship planes nor could they arrange to have a coach present at the contest. One by one our team members left the team feeling discouraged. I've asked the IAC's CIVA delegate, Mike Gallaway to express our profound disappointment and feelings of discouragement at the next CIVA plenary, and to protest the transformation of what should be a world event into an event that is run entirely by and for teams from continental Europe. My thanks to everyone on the U.S. Team for the amazing effort they put forward this year. They may not find a place on the podium but they served their country well." Source: Part of a statement made by IAC President Jim Bourke