Requests GAO Review of Contract Award for UH-60 Replacement Aircraft

What modern aircraft development program would be complete without drawn-out court shenanigans? Thankfully, as seems to be the norm today, Sikorsky has done the needful and protested the recent contract award for the U.S. Army's Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) contract to Bell Textron. Sikorsky filed a formal protest with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review the Army’s decision on the contract, hoping to finagle a 'win' out of the jaws of defeat. 

Former USMC Aviator Indicted For Training Chinese Military Aviators 

As China's aviation industry grows, it's worth noting that the "Five Eyes" states frown upon their former servicemen teaching their military trades to the country's services. Australian (formerly American, with renounced citizenship) national Daniel Duggan, 54, will soon be extradited to the USA for his work in training Chinese military pilots. His flying career began with a stint in the US Marine Corps as a Harrier pilot, before moving on to a variety of flight services and training engagements throughout his post-military service.

Also: Blue Angels On for SnF23, Young Eagles, Damaged Soyuz, Cocoa Beach Air Show $nubbed

The Air Force has grounded the entirety of its B-2 Spirit fleet, and will inspect all twenty of the enigmatic aircraft in the wake of a 10 December incident in which an in-flight malfunction forced a B-2 crew to make an emergency landing at Missouri’s Whiteman Air Force Base. A UK court has ordered an upcoming trial to be split into two parts on account of the sheer weight of disagreements between litigants Airbus and Qatar Airways. The parties are in a protracted dispute over alleged breaches of contracts stemming from the subjective airworthiness of A350 j

Commuter Turboprop Testbed to Take Flight in Early 2023

The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has granted a permit to fly for ZeroAvia’s upcoming hydrogen-electric Dornier 228. The hybrid commuter aircraft will fly after an "extensive ground testing campaign and a rigorous review of the full development program" according to recent company announcements. With the approval ZeroAvia can now begin the first test flights of its 600kW hydrogen-electric powertrain.

Dashing Through the Snow …

A Gulfstream G200 (nee Astra Galaxy) slid into a snowbank shortly after landing at Wyoming’s Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) on 27 December 2022. The super-midsize jet–designed to compete with Bombardier’s Challenger 300 and Raytheon’s Hawker 4000 models–reportedly failed to execute a turn from Runway 19 onto intersection A1, the airport’s southernmost taxiway exit, and hit an adjacent snowbank.

Also: Air New Zealand-VoltAero, Rocket Labs, ND ANG Honors, Aussie Hydrogen UAV

FulcrumAir power line construction and maintenance, has begun using its E7500 heavy lifting drone on the work site, offering slung loads up to 120 lbs. The company put its drone to work with K-Line Line Maintenance and Construction in the Canadian wilderness, rebuilding a 138 kV line being reconstructed in the great white north. In 2017, Matternet became the world’s first company to be authorized to perform commercial Beyond Visual Line Of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations over cities in Switzerland. In 2019, the company partnered with UPS to launch drone delivery servic

The National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) Appoints Aimee Maruyama as Interim President & CEO

"Over the past three years, Aimee has worked in tandem with outgoing CEO Amy Spowart," said Michael Quiello, Chair of the NAHF Board of Trustees. Quiello said Maruyama “has important institutional knowledge of our mission and programs” that will be “key to our transition to new leadership." The interim president has served as consultant to the NAHF on programs, strategy, and development since 2019. Prior to her time with the NAHF, Maruyama built up nearly 20 years of experience in strategy development, management, philanthropy, marketing,  communications, and event planning.

Klyde Has His Own Way Of Celebrating The Holidays...

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

Of Dire Necessity and Inspired Improvisation

Steve Couchman, 71, of Prince Frederick, Maryland narrowly escaped calamity on the morning of December 26th 2022 when the Piper Cherokee he was piloting went down in a frozen inlet of the South River moments after departing Lee Airport (ANP). Mr. Couchman survived the aircraft’s impact with the river’s frozen surface, but faced hypothermia in the uncertain moments following the accident. Fortunately, two good Samaritans and a fast-thinking police officer—perhaps manifesting residual Christmas spirit—sprang into action, manning kayaks and improvising liberally to get the pilot to firm ground and warmth.

Italian Medium Altitude, Long Range Drone Eyes European Market

Leonardo has completed the first phase of flight testing for its upcoming Falco Xplorer drone. The aircraft now moves on to the second phase of the campaign as part of the company's "Be Tomorrow 2030" plan. The Xplorer will be the largest UAV ever made by Leonardo, hopefully becoming a strong product in an EU looking to gain increasing sovereignty over its ISR products. The company says it has everything it needs for a successful, combat-ready UAV platform, from sensors and aeronautics to software and control. 

From 2011 (YouTube Version): Looking At Rebuilding The Art and Craft Of Flight Instruction

One of the few bright lights of 2009-2010 was the rise of SAFE... an uncommon new aviation association that seems to be on the road to DOING THINGS rather than just bragging about how good they are. Born of the political strife that resulted during the NAFI/EAA melt-down, we have come to find that th leading personalities in SAFE are some of the most dedicated flyers and aero-ed

Also: Air New Zealand-VoltAero, Rocket Labs, ND ANG Honors, Aussie Hydrogen UAV

FulcrumAir power line construction and maintenance, has begun using its E7500 heavy lifting drone on the work site, offering slung loads up to 120 lbs. The company put its drone to work with K-Line Line Maintenance and Construction in the Canadian wilderness, rebuilding a 138 kV line being reconstructed in the great white north. In 2017, Matternet became the world’s first company to be authorized to perform commercial Beyond Visual Line Of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations over cities in Switzerland. In 2019, the company partnered with UPS to launch drone delivery servic

The Airplane Impacted A Utility Pole And The Terrain

On November 18, 2022, at 1510 central standard time, a Cessna 421C airplane, N6797L, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Decatur, Texas. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. Flight tracking information indicated the airplane departed Denton Enterprise Airport (DTO), Denton, Texas, at 1459. The pilot proceeded about 30 miles west and climbed to an altitude of about 2,200 ft mean sea level (msl).

Aero Linx: Porterfield Airplane Club Brief History of the Porterfield Airplane: The American Eagle Aircraft Corporation was started in 1925 by Ed Porterfield for the express purpose of providing a safe training aircraft for the fledgling Porterfield Flying School. Porterfield felt that a safer, better performing trainer was badly needed to replace the existing "Jennys" and Lincoln "Standards" being used in his flight school. In April 1926, the American Eagle, Model A-1, first flew from Richards Field in Kansas City, Missouri...

Navigable Airspace Airspace at and above the minimum flight altitudes prescribed in the CFRs including airspace needed for safe takeoff and landing.

"Based on a thorough review of the information and feedback provided by the Army, Lockheed Martin Sikorsky, on behalf of Team DEFIANT, is challenging the FLRAA decision... The data and discussions lead us to believe the proposals were not consistently evaluated to deliver the best value in the interest of the Army, our Soldiers and American taxpayers. The critical importance of the FLRAA mission to the Army and our nation requires the most capable, affordable and lowest-risk solution. We remain confident DEFIANT X is the transformational aircraft the Army requires to accomplish its complex missions today and well into the future." Source: From an official Boeing release, in protest of the FLRAA award to their competitors at Bell Helicopter