Electron Rocket Continues to Impress

Rocket Lab, the publicly traded, American space-launch concern with a New Zealand subsidiary, announced on 17 March 2023 that it will launch a pair of satellites on a dedicated mission of its Electron rocket—a proper noun, not an allusion to the contraption’s workings—for BlackSky, the geospatial intelligence subsidiary of global launch services provider Spaceflight, Inc. The slated mission’s launch window opens 22 March at approximately 16:30 EDT.

Cancers Disproportionately Prevalent Among Air and Ground Crews

A study undertaken by the Pentagon has identified worryingly high rates of cancer among U.S. military pilots and aviation support personnel—such as aircraft maintainers, fuelers, and those responsible for launch and retrieval operations aboard U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. The data—long-sought by retired military aviators who’ve persistently raised alarms vis-à-vis the disproportionately high incidence of cancer among themselves and their air and ground crew comrades—contradicts former Pentagon assertions that personnel engaged in military flight operations are at no greater cancer risk than the general U.S. population.

Also: SnF Innovation Preview Is ON!, SnF NOTAM, DarkAero Prototype, MSFS Reno Race

Lovers of Low and Slow were captivated by the EAA’s Virtual Ultralight Days, which returned in 2023 with 15 webinars over three-days in late February. The presentations highlighted the joys of ultralight flight to the more than five-thousand enthusiasts who availed themselves of live webinars featuring a variety of ultralight topics, including how to get started in the endeavor of ultralight flying, maintenance tips, and airport operations. Aeromarine LSA has an update on the Merlin Lite. Earlier this year the company claimed handy performance of the Merlin as equipped with the Vtwin-power  engine, reporting that the ultralight-configured Merlin flew well during a trip to the Czech Republic. The high-wing, tricycle geared Merlin LIte provides the soul of an old Cessna 152, updated and lightened for the modern era. Australian developer Kite Magnetics announ

Also: Int'l Skydiving Museum, Axiom Space, WWII Airman Identified, NAFI Has Plans For Sun 'N Fun

US officials have released video that shows a Russian Su-27 fighter jet colliding with the aft-mounted pusher-propeller of a US MQ-9 Reaper UAV. The newly declassified video, which U.S. European Command released early Thursday, 16 March 2023, depicts—albeit less than transparently—the critical moments leading up to and immediately following the 14 March midair collision that allegedly resulted in the downing of the $20-million USAF drone. Aero-News Network is saddened to report that Sergeant First-Class Michael “Ty” Kettenhofen lost his life in a 13 March 2023 training mishap at Florida’s Homestead Air Reserve Base. Kettenhofen had served with the Army’s elite Golden Knights parachute demonstration team since 2020. Sikorsky is building a fully autonomous hybrid-eVTOL which will serve as a flying testbed by dint of whi

Also: FAA Admin Nom Contested, Beechcraft Guide, Russia Honors Dumb SU-27 Pilots, USAF Budget

After an enthusiastic reception at Oshkosh, ScaleWings's SW-51 Mustang returns to Sun ´N Fun 2023.The machine is a seventy-percent replica of the North American P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft of the Second World War. The SW-51 was first flown in October 2014 and is supplied as both a kit for amateur construction and a complete, factory-built, ready-to-fly-aircraft. CAV Ice Protection Limited is patenting an anti-icing solution for sUAS. CAV notes that the new system has the potential to revolutionize the manner in which commercial drones are utilized in cold climates. During the FAA’s Safety Summit, GA industry leaders participated in both the opening public session and a closed-door breakout session for purpose of discussing the challenges by which the GA industry is currently faced and determining means by which to improve safety. All this -- and M

The Cost of Doing Business

The National Transportation Safety Board reported that the Biden administration’s proposed 2024 fiscal year budget included the agency’s requested $145-million allotment. The sought sum reflects an increase of $15.7-million over the NTSB’s fiscal 2023 budget. The additional monies will be plied to the agency’s investigative efforts and the acquisition of new technologies germane to the NTSB’s charter.

Also: B-21 First Flight Delayed, EAA's 30th, Ducommun Acquiring BLR, Qantas Warning

The SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo is proud to present, as the lead-in to the aviation year via its partnership with the Aero-News Network, the 2023 SUN ‘n FUN Innovation Preview scheduled for 1030 ET on DAY ONE. See it LIVE at www.airborne-live.net at 1030ET or come to SnF and see it for yourself in the Pavilion (ACE3 on the SnF Map), on the West side of the SnF Headquarters building. Following recent incidents involving runway incursions and traffic conflicts between Part 121 aircraft, the FAA has resolved to increase the archival capability of Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVR) from the thirty minutes of magnetic-tape designs and two hours of solid-state architectures to a comparatively expansive 25-hours. Delta Air Lines will launch the Delta Propel Flight Academy, partnering with Sky

Also: DJI Mini 2 SE, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inmarsat & Heron AirBridge, Sikorsky eVTOL

Senator Mark Kelly (Democrat, Arizona), a former U.S. Navy combat pilot and NASA astronaut, has openly opined that the 14 March 2023 incident in which a pair of Russian Su-27 Flanker jet fighters downed a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) over the Black Sea is ascribable to incompetence on the parts of the Russian pilots. Lift's Hexa aircraft made a notable demo for the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), obtaining approval for additional demonstrations. The company completed Phase 1 flight testing and initial envelope development with the USAF, moving onward to Alpha Flights to allow persons outside the company to fly the prototype Hexa. Demonstrations were held on a field within sight of the Osaka Castle. CAV Ice Protection Limited is patenting an anti-icing solution for sUAS. CAV notes that the new system has the potential to revolutionize the manner in

Also: Air Force One Livery, Task-Based Phase I Guidelines, AirVenture Pattern Changes, Enstrom Rotor Governor

CubCrafters has achieved an unprecedented and, frankly, remarkable feat of aeronautical engineering and airmanship by landing one of its fixed-wing Carbon Cub aircraft on the heliport of the United Arab Emirates’ world-famous Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. The Bull’s Eye landing event was performed with with a specially-modified version of the bestselling CubCrafters’ aircraft on the 78-foot-diameter helipad—which is itself suspended 696-feet above sea-level atop the iconic 56-story hotel. The Association of Professional Warbird Operators (APWO) is a cooperative established to facilitate the development and sharing of best practices in Warbird operations—to include pilot and maintenance training, standardization, and safety protocols. Boeing and Jeddah-based Saudia announced on 14 March 2023 that the Saudi national fl

Also: Airborne-Special Editions Reports On EVEN MORE Cool Things Coming To SnF23!

Welcome to this special edition of Airborne. As we continue to prepare for the 49th rendition of the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo, now some ten days or so away, SnF BOss, Gene Conrad has kept the Lakeland staff busy with all manner of new updates and improvements. In this chat, we start with the good stuff! It's airshow time and there are few better reason o go to Sun 'n Fun than to watch the airshows that they present in many forms. The daytime shows, with the US Navy Blue Angels heading up the roster is a big draw,,, but so are many other performers that fly both NIGHT and DAY. The two night airshows have become huge favorites. Even better, the LightPlane area, alias Paradise City has it's own gig going in the evenings with the Sunset Aerial Circus which promises to liven up the sport aviation arena quite a bit. And then, there's the elephant in the room... PARKING! G