Industry Standby Recognized for a Half Century of Advocacy & Scholarship

The 66th annual Aircraft Electronics Association International Convention & Trade Show saw the presentation of the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award to Ric Peri, AEA vice president of government and industry affairs. The FAA granted the award in honor of Charles Taylor, the first aviation mechanic in powered flight, as a way of recognizing those senior mechanics who have contributed a lifetime of work to the grand tradition of flight. Taylor was pivotal in the creation and design of the Wright's Flyer.

Boundary Layer Research Speedily Acquired by Engineering Company

BLR Aerospace, an aerodynamic research company, has been purchased by Ducommun, an umbrella company providing aerospace-centered engineering and manufacturing. The completed acquisition was fairly quick, by most corporate standards. The signed agreement was announced on March 21, 2023, a little over a month before the completed changeover.

SeaOnyx UAS to Deliver Up to 600-Pound Payload

A recent Request For Information (RFI) posting by the Marine Corps’ Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons called for a new UAS vehicle capable of delivering five-hundred-pounds of ordnance under combat conditions over a minimum distance of 8.7 nautical-miles (ten-kilometers). The machine is to weigh no more than 1,320-pounds, fit into a small ground-vehicle, operate effectively in day and night VFR and IFR conditions, and  take no more than thirty-minutes to set up and launch.

Matt Francour to Call it a Career

Enstrom Helicopter Corporation, the American helicopter aerospace manufacturer based on Michigan’s Menominee–Marinette Twin County Airport (MNM), is making ready to say goodbye to its long-time and storied president, Mr. Matt Francour. For nearly forty-years, Francour has served Enstrom, helping guide the company through a tumultuous and uncertain era from which it has recently and triumphantly emerged.

Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics and True Blue Power AEA2023 Booth #202

Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics Adds 5 New Digital Instruments to Flex® Product Line Flex digital instruments will be on display in the Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics and True Blue Power booth, #202, throughout AEA, April 24 – 27 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.  Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics unveiled five, new 2-inch digital instruments at the annual AEA International Convention and Trade Show. The company’s Flex® product line now in

A Hard Cell by Any Measure

Stuttgart-based H2Fly, a wholly-owned subsidiary of U.S. eVTOL concern Joby Aviation founded for purpose of researching, building, and testing hydrogen-electric aircraft powertrains, announced on 24 April 2023 that it has successfully passed liquid hydrogen on-ground filling tests of a newly-developed liquid hydrogen tank integrated into its HY4 aircraft—a four seat hydrogen fuel-cell powered contraption based on a Taurus G4.

New 12 kW System Suited to Large Drones and AAM Vehicles

On 24 April 2023, LaunchPoint announced it had begun shipments of its 12 kW motor and controller solution for hybrid-electric aircraft. The new motor system is designed for and compatible with both VTOL and fixed-wing applications in which low-weight, high-power solutions are required.

Arriving with G500 in Tow at AERO Friedrichshafen, Gulfstream Commits to the Market

Gulfstream Aerospace made some remarks at Aero Friedrichshafen that hinted at their plans to expand services in the region, with improved field and customer service throughout the German market. While the G500 may not technically be the latest and greatest from the marque, being a tad long in the tooth, but the 2018-released aircraft has been continuously refreshed and tweaked to keep it competitive in the aggressive jet market. Gulfstream's recipe for the G500 was a good one: High-tech avionics, comfortable furnishings, and a very livable interior make it a perennial favorite in the company portfolio.

Also: T-38 For Sale!, Unleaded Fuel Update, Pan Am Academy 737 MAX-8 Sim, USAF v English

SpaceX halted the test launch of its Starship due to a stuck valve in the 1st stage booster, cutting the launch sequence at 40 seconds. SpaceX chief Elon Musk live tweeted the launch as the fateful takeoff approached, only to announce that "a pressurant valve appears to be frozen, so unless it starts operating soon, no launch today." Not long after he said the firm was "offloading propellant, retrying in a few days... SkyDrive’s SD-05 will soon be available to the little guy, now that the company is accepting orders from private owner-operators. The move is still a

Also: T-38 For Sale!, Unleaded Fuel Update, Pan Am Academy 737 MAX-8 Sim, USAF v English

SpaceX halted the test launch of its Starship due to a stuck valve in the 1st stage booster, cutting the launch sequence at 40 seconds. SpaceX chief Elon Musk live tweeted the launch as the fateful takeoff approached, only to announce that "a pressurant valve appears to be frozen, so unless it starts operating soon, no launch today." Not long after he said the firm was "offloading propellant, retrying in a few days... SkyDrive’s SD-05 will soon be available to the little guy, now that the company is accepting orders from private owner-operators. The move is still a

Move Along, Nothing to See Here …

On Wednesday, 19 April 2023, the director of the Pentagon’s aerial phenomena research office summarily refuted the possibility that any Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) the office has investigated derive of extraterrestrial origin. Sean Kirkpatrick, director of the Pentagon's All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), made clear to lawmakers that not one of the 650-plus incidents under investigation since the AARO’s July 2022 inception were of alien derivation.  

Part Of A Group Of 6 Airplanes That Had Departed Wichita Falls, Texas

On March 18, 2023, about 1035 central daylight time, an Aero Commander 100-180, N4064X was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Gordonville, Texas. The pilot was not injured and the passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot and passenger reported that they were part of a group of 6 airplanes that had departed Wichita Falls, Texas, destined for Gordonville, Texas.

From 2015 (YouTube Version): Oshkosh Reveals Many Treasures... Including Old Warbirds Full Of History

While at EAA AirVenture 2015, ANN News Editor, Tom Patton, ventured out to visit the warbirds and was attracted to a large four engine aircraft that is a variation of the World War II Consolidated B-24. It turns out to be the world’s only flyable PB4Y-2, Privateer, which is a U.S. Navy version of the B-24. To get the full scoop about the airplane, Tom talked with Boyd Gallaher, who is the pilot of the aircraft.

Also: VFS Enjoys Growth, Airlines V Rockets, MQ-20 UAS, New Bell Prez

The FAA has granted SpaceX final regulatory approval to carry out the first orbital flight test of the company’s Starship super-heavy-lift launch vehicle. The inaugural space-flight MAY see the Starship SN24 prototype blasted spaceward atop SpaceX’s Super Heavy Booster-7 later this week after a halted attempt on Monday. The mission will launch from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. SkyDrop, neé Flirtey, has obtained its Part 102 approval from the New Zealand CAA to launch the firm's first drone hub in Huntly, New Zealand. The new location will allow t

Aero Linx: Florida Antique Biplane Association (FABA) "Biplanes.....outrageous fun since 1903." That quote really defines what the Florida Antique Biplane Association (FABA) is all about. Our members are dedicated to preserving pre-1950 Biplanes, while aviating around the gorgeous state of Florida to fly-ins hosted by fellow members. Our FABA Fly-in season starts in October and concludes before the Florida thunderstorm season kicks in. Each month, through May, one of our members hosts a fly-in at often unique destination airports, many times a private grass strips perfect for our vintage craft.

"I am humbled and honored to receive this recognition. Charles Taylor, the namesake of this award, saw powered flight from its birth to the introduction of the jet age. My career has taken me from round motors, tube radios, and sextants to electric propulsion, autonomous flight, and artificial intelligence. I am truly blessed to have been a part of this journey for the past 50 years. I wonder what the next 50 years will bring." Source: The 66th annual Aircraft Electronics Association International Convention & Trade Show saw the presentation of the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award to Ric Peri, AEA vice president of government and industry affairs.... and he was obviously pleased... and so are we at ANN, who know of NO ONE more dese