Flight Lasted 55 Minutes And 'Went Exactly As Planned'

The first ever PC-24 took off on its maiden flight today at 10:00 local time Monday from Buochs airport. Just under 1800 Pilatus staff, all of whom are directly or indirectly involved in the PC-24 project, were there to applaud the business jet as it taxied for takeoff. Prototype P01, call sign HB-VXA, flew across central Switzerland for a total of 55 minutes. The flight went exactly as planned with no problems whatsoever, the planemaker said.

Assembly Concept Will Be Used To Build Bell Relentless

The American Helicopter Society International's Supplier Excellence Award has been presented to KUKA Systems Aerospace for its new assembly concept that will be used in building Bell Helicopter's 525 Relentless. The award, presented at the charity's annual awards banquet last night in Virginia Beach, VA, is given each year to a supplier "which through the quality of, innovativeness and cost-effectiveness of its products, has made a notable contribution to the vertical flight industry."

Will Study X-Rays Emitting From A Phenomenon In The Cygnus Loop

In early May 2015, a NASA-funded sounding rocket will be ready to launch, carrying new technology to peer at the X-rays streaming from a supernova remnant called the Cygnus Loop – and assess what the debris from this 20,000-year-old explosion is made of. Flying such technology will also open the door to probe the deep universe for missing matter believed to exist, but yet to be observed.

Unmanned Mission Launch Targeted For 2020

The blueprints and science goals for the first Arab mission to Mars have been revealed for the first time. The Emirates Mars Mission probe, named "Hope", will create mankind's first integrated model of the Red Planet's atmosphere.

Inducted May 6 At Ceremony In Washington, DC

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. Vice President and General Manager for Strategic Operations Debra Facktor Lepore has been selected as a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).  Lepore was inducted on May 6, 2015 with other new fellows and honorary fellows at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.

State Department Has Approved The Sale Worth $3 Billion

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Japan for V-22B Block C Osprey aircraft and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $3 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale.

Two Students Will Be Able To Attend Specific Courses To Advance Their Careers

The Maintenance Committee of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) announced the inaugural recipients of the Hank Hilsmann Memorial Scholarship at NBAA's Maintenance Management Conference (MMC2015) in Portland, OR.

Adds To Hawaii’s Largest Fleet Of Next-Generation Aircraft

Blue Hawaiian Helicopters has placed its newest Airbus EC130 T2 “Eco-Star” into service, making it the eighth EC130 T2 to enter operation with Blue Hawaiian in the past two years. To date, Blue Hawaiian’s fleet total is 14 EC130s, eight EC130T2s and five AS350B2s.

NASA Improves Monitoring Of Spacecraft Orbiting The Red Planet

NASA has beefed up a process of traffic monitoring, communication and maneuver planning to ensure that Mars orbiters do not approach each other too closely.

More Than 800 People Attended The Event In Oregon

The 2015 NBAA Maintenance Management Conference (MMC2015), held this year for the first time in Portland, OR, attracted a record number of attendees – more than 800 individuals representing 42 states and the District of Columbia, as well as several foreign countries.

Improvements Tailor Training Devices To Royal Australian Air Force Fleets

Boeing will update two maintenance trainers for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) so they better support the RAAF’s F/A-18F and EA-18G aircraft.

Aptima's 'Human-System Performance Assessment' Capability Offers New Insights From Big Data

What are the early indicators that an air traffic controller will shortly become overloaded? And how can technology predict and assist the human before performance degrades?

After Restoring Mustangs, What Could Possible Be Next? A JN-4D Jenny, Of Course!

While at EAA AirVenture 2014, Special Aero-News Correspondent Michael Maya Charles has a chance to take a step back in time with Bob Baker from Alva, Oklahoma who is restoring a World War I era Curtis JN-4 Jenny. Baker is well known and recognized for his restoration of two P-51 Mustangs, and he tells Charles that he wanted to try something different. The JN-4 Jenny certainly qualifies as something being different from a P-51. As you hear the story of Baker’s restoration of this classic World War I trainer pl

A First Visit To The Airport And A First Flight With A General Aviation Pilot Is Vitally Important To The Life Of General Aviation

It seems like no matter what we do, general aviation remains in the doldrums. Organizations like EAA and AOPA have some great programs to get people interested in general aviation flying, and we at ANN fully support these programs, but there is more we can do.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Held May 4

A new Tuskegee Airmen exhibit officially opened to the public May 4 during a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Airman Heritage Museum.

First Races Scheduled For June 7 In Tunisia

The only international multiple-airplane racing series in the world, Air Race 1, is set to begin on 7th June 2015 in the resort town of Monastir, Tunisia. Organizers say the event will "make history" as the first race of its class on the African continent.

Seeks Public Input On Establishing Sustained Human Presence On Red Planet

What do you need to bring, and how do you minimize the need for delivery of future supplies in order to establish a sustained human presence on a planet 140 million miles away from Earth?

Klyde Just LOVED The Arsenal of Democracy!

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

Unmanned Landing Could Lead To More Rapid Development Of The Moon's Commercial Potential

Japan's space agency JAXA has set a target of landing an unmanned mission on the moon before the end of this decade, and analysts say if they are successful, it could have implications for the development of the Moon's commercial potential.

Aircraft Landed April 27, Recovery Expected To Take Two Weeks

A NASA tracking and communications payload suspended beneath a super pressure balloon (SPB) landed safely upright via parachute in the Australian outback April 27 (April 28 in Australia) following the commanded flight termination of the balloon. 

Part Of Ongoing Transformation Of RAAF Cargo Fleet

At a ceremony at Royal Australian Air Force Base Townsville in northern Queensland, Australia commissioned their first two Boeing CH-47F Chinook advanced configuration aircraft. It’s a major milestone in the updating of the Australian Army’s cargo helicopter fleet.

Cabin Crew Said Handling Agents Did Not Restock The Airplane, So No Toilet Paper Was Available

Passengers on a recent Ryanair flight from Spain to London may have experienced some discomfort on the flight, and it wasn't from turbulence. There was no toilet paper on board the flight.

Barber Pole A thunderstorm updraft with a visual appearance including cloud striations that are curved in a manner similar to the stripes of a barber pole. The structure typically is most pronounced on the leading edge of the updraft, while drier air from the rear flank downdraft often erodes the clouds on the trailing side of the updraft.

Aero Linx: The National World War II Glider Pilots Association, Inc. This is the official site of the Association with headquarters at 4037 Ringdove Way, Roanoke, TX 76262, is a 501(c)(19) non-profit veterans organization consisting of World War II Glider Pilot members who earned the MOS 1026 and the Glider Pilots wings. Other individuals may apply for affiliation by virtue of their interest in, contributions to, the general goals and purposes of the association. As the total Troop Carrier population has declined significantly, we have invited those former Troop Carrier Group veterans who wish to continue the fellowship of annual reunions to join with us as affiliates.

"... rare and regrettable stock shortage as caused by the failure of our handling agents in Murcia to deliver toilet rolls and milk sachets that had been ordered on the turnaround in Murcia.” Source: A spokesman for Ryanair, commenting on media reports following that passengers on a recent Ryanair flight from Spain to London may have experienced some discomfort on the flight, and it wasn't from turbulence. There was no toilet paper on board the flight.

Also: Barnstorming On AOPA, AUVSI Renames Tradeshow, Navy Strike Fighter Squadron 151, UAV Training Program, North Dakota

A Georgia entrepreneur wants to return the Lazair ultralight to production, and with your help, Gene Yarbrough might just get it done. ANN readers may recognize Gene's name from his reporting as a stringer during Oshkosh over the past several years. An aeronautical engineer, Gene has brought that expertise to ANN on topics ranging from high-tech engines to ultralights, which remains one of his passions. A company called Polyhelo is developing a Hexicopter that they claim offers unique