Also: Vertical Flight Society, New FAA Admin Nom?, Droneup-Iris, A2Z Drone Delivery
The Florida legislature has enacted a law by which Sunshine State governmental, police, fire, and similarly-critical agencies were barred from utilizing drones made by a “foreign country of concern.” The legislation tacitly but clearly refers to China, and strongly implies Chinese drone-maker Shenzhen DJI Sciences and Technologies Ltd.—more widely known as Da Jiang Innovations, or simply DJI. AeroVironment has been awarded a $10-million contract by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to co-design and co-develop rotary-wing concepts germane to NASA’s Mars Sample Recovery Helicopter mission—a near-future initiative
Will Operate June 8-11, 2023, at Tulsa International Airport
The B-29 Doc History Restored Tour will land in Tulsa, Okla., at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium (TASM), June 8-11, 2023, at Tulsa International Airport. The tour stop will include B-29 Doc Flight Experience rides, along with ground and cockpit tours of B-29 Doc, one of only two B-29 Superfortress aircraft still airworthy and flying today. “The Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium is an inspiring facility that tells the story of aviation and provides visitors unique and up close exposure to the world of flight,” said Josh Wells, B-29 Doc executive director.
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Veteran Of Two Shuttle Missions... And A Good Friend...
E-I-C Note: As I get older, I note that the world seems to be getting smaller... especially as the people who showed me how big and extraordinary it is, disappear from our existence. NASA Veteran Astronaut Sam Durrance, a truly unique gentleman, and a great person to discuss 'life' with, has gone west. Normally, I'd have a lot to say... but his beloved family says it best. "Sam died quietly today (May 5, 2023) surrounded by family after a long struggle with dementia and Parkinson’s disease. He had spent his final days in hospice care at a facility in Viera, Florida. Sam was a veteran of two Space Shuttle missions, flying in 1990 and 1995 as a p
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New Owners Look to Revitalize Popular Ultralight Marque
Kolb Aircraft Company is a Kentucky-based manufacturer of kit-built ultralight aircraft. Founded in 1980 by Homer Kolb—who flew his initial design, the Kolb Flyer, in 1970—the company has marketed a dozen models of ultralight and experimental flying-machines, selling and delivering over 3,500 specimens in the last 43-years. In 1999, the company was sold to a group of investors; moved to London, Kentucky; and renamed The New Kolb Aircraft Company. Re-mastered, relocated, and rebranded, the New Kolb concern introduced several fresh models to the legacy Kolb lineup, to include the Pelican and the
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Pilot (On Unicom Frequency) Report(ed) That He Had Engine Problems Immediately After Takeoff
On April 24, 2023, about 0846 central daylight time, a Maule MXT-7-180 airplane was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Laporte, Texas. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 pipeline patrol flight. According to the operator, the flight was intended to takeoff from Laporte, Municipal Airport (T41), Laporte, Texas, to aerial-inspect pipelines.
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“We continue to experience great progress with the Denali development program, and we believe the aircraft will be a game changer in the single-engine, high-performance turboprop segment. Our customers are excited for the Emergency Autoland feature on the Denali and, while our goal is to achieve type certification as quickly as possible, it is of greatest importance to assure that every detail is completed with the highest quality.”
Source: Chris Hearne, Textron senior vice president, Engineering, discussing the progress made in the Beechcraft Denali development program.
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