Also: Commercial A/C Certification, GMR Adds More Bell 429s, Helo Denial, John “Lucky” Luckadoo Flies West

CAF’s Col. Mark Novak has accumulated more than 1,000 flight hours in the two remaining airworthy B-29 Superfortress aircraft, Fifi and DOC, a feat that has not been accomplished in at least 65 years. Col. Novak has been a member of the CAF for more than 30 years and began flying Fifi in 2012 as the Second in Command. One year later he upgraded to Pilot in Command and flew the aircraft until 2022... On Friday, September 5, Texas pilots learned the hard way exactly how important it is to use tie-downs, with one plane being flipped by 75-mile-per-hour wind gusts and coming to rest on another. Several planes and hangars were damaged in the storms, but fortunately, no injuries were reported. The FAA has pushed back the expiration date for the Port-au-Prince flight ban from September 8, 2025, to March 7, 2026. The restriction, ori

Acubed’s Modified King Air Collecting Data for AI-Powered Autonomous Tech

Airbus’s Silicon Valley innovation shop, Acubed, touted its new autonomy systems testbed at this year’s EAA Oshkosh AirVenture. The modified Beechcraft King Air C90 fills the shoes of the company’s old Baron to collect airport runway imagery and data from hundreds of fields. “Our main job is to bring technology innovation and software from all over the world, from machine learning [to] artificial intelligence, into the Airbus ecosystem,” said Paul Smith, Director of Flight Test and Operations for Acubed. The King Air offers more cabin space for hardware and, just as importantly, a tail camera mounted at the same height as an Airbus A320’s belly.

Reiterates Call For Secondary Barriers On September 11 Anniversary

The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l held its 69th Annual Air Safety Forum, and took the opportunity to honor two pilots with its Superior Aviating Award for overcoming significant operational challenges during in-flight emergencies. The Association also used the anniversary of the attacks on September 11 to restate its call to airlines to implement secondary flight deck security barriers.

Rep. Nehls: Supersonic Bans “Outdated And Ridiculous”

U.S. House Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX), Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Aviation, says that bans on overland commercial supersonic flight are outdated and ridiculous, and he wants to get new designs flying before the end of the decade.

Also: Carrier Landings Not Required, UAL To Tel Aviv, ATC in College, EMAS Systems Stop 2

Swift Fuels 100R unleaded fuel has earned ASTM production specification approval. This 100-octane blend is the company’s third to pass the milestone, with its UL94 being on the market for over a decade. The Commemorative Air Force’s iconic B-24, Diamond Lil, is working hard to maintain its status as the only regularly flying Liberator. It recently accomplished its first engine run in more than a year and is now progressing through extensive testing and inspections before getting back in the air. Diamond Lil was grounded in April 2024 after routine inspections revealed weather damage to her fabric-covered control surfaces. Who said we can’t be excited for Florida’s favorite airshow year-round? EarlyBird Tickets for SUN ‘n FUN’s 52nd annual aerospace expo, celebrating ‘Red, White, and Blue at 52,’ have officially g

Improper Installation Of The Fuel Line That Connected The Fuel Pump To The Four-Way Distributor

Analysis: The airplane was on the final leg of a flight to reposition it to its home base. This was the fourth flight since the airplane had been reassembled after it was manufactured, disassembled, and shipped. The pilot reported a normal takeoff, and during the initial climb the airplane performed normally. Upon reaching 2,200 ft mean sea level (msl), the airplane lost all engine power. The pilot turned back toward the airport and attempted to restart the engine multiple times without success.

 

 

Van’s Aircraft is giving potential buyers their final chance to pick up a kit for the RV-3, RV-4, and RV-6 aircraft before they move into retirement once and for all. The deadline for orders is September 30, 2025. After that, no more empennage, fuselage, wing, or finish kits will be offered for the three models. Northrop Grumman announced that the second B-21 Raider stealth bomber flew from Palmdale, California, to Edwards Air Force Base after conducting a strenuous test flight. At Edwards, the U.S. Air Force will move forward with integration of weapons and mission systems as well as sustainment upgrades developed through an enhanced software package. Some Israeli weapons manufacturers have been refused entry to one of the world’s biggest aerospace expos in the United Arab Emirates after receiving letters from the organizers of the

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