Millions In Possible Losses By Builders, Compounded by Other legal Woes Make Rotor X's Future Questionable

New details are coming forth showing that the Rotor X situation continues to decline. A New Jersey company has sued Rotor X for nearly $200,000 in a contractual dispute where they apparently provided some level of financing, while Rotor X Boss Don Shaw and his company did not follow through on their contracted obligations. The Aero-News Network continues to take calls each day from customers of the defunct helicopter kit operation in which they state that they paid as much as full price, and received little or nothing significant in return. The previously reported bankruptcy has been denied due to legal errors and has not yet been refile

Folding-Wing Aircraft At Risk for Wing Separation

A Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin has been published for the Seamax Model M-22, an amphibious LSA. An NTSB investigation into the 2022 crash of one aircraft discovered the "right wing was separated from the main wreckage and located in a tree, and the right wing strut was separated from the right wing." More worrisome was their finding that the "bolt attaching the right strut to the right wing remained attached...and was not fractured; however, the nut was not present." The fact that the bolt's threading exhibited "no significant damage" only worsened the impression that the strut/wing attachment point in other Seamax M-22s could be at risk of a disappearing bolt, too. Operators hav

AMT Program Helps Students Aim High

Brian C. Rain High School of Mobile, Alabama is doing another student aircraft build, and it’s already supported with $350,000. The school’s Signature Academy Aviation and Aerospace pathway offers dual enrollment courses with the local community college, allowing high schoolers to directly earn an Associate in Applied Science degree in Airframe Technology, in addition to FAA certification as an AMT with an Airframe Endorsement.

Regional Turboprop Proves Popular in Growing Short-Haul Markets

Turboprop lessor Abelo has placed an order for 10 new ATR 72-600s, with options to double that number should they choose to exercise them. Abelo is a repeat customer for the ATR brand, with a similar order placed in July of 2022 for 10 of the same aircraft. At the same time, Abelo confirmed another order for 10 STOL 42-600S aircraft. The new additions will allow Abelo to meet growing demand for regional air transit, apparently going strong even when others have begun to downsize their new aircraft orders. Abelo should get its first new aircraft of the 2022 order before 2024, with deliveries of this newest batch running from 2026 through 2028.

Also: Rare Boeing P-26, Solo Round-the-World Flight, Delaware State Police Bell 429s, LuxAero Designs

CubCrafters is releasing a new thermal infrared imaging system option for G3X equipped aircraft that dramatically improves flight crew situational awareness during both air and ground operations in reduced visibility or low light situations. Developed in collaboration with Hood Tech Aero, the new camera system is fully integrated with its G3X Avionics. The Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) has released its third-quarter 2023 Avionics Market Report. In the first nine-months of the year, total worldwide business and general aviation avi

Li-Ion Power Comes to Sporty Italian Turboprop

True Blue Power is now selling a lithium ion battery for the Piaggio Aerospace P.180 Avanti EVO, providing reliable, lightweight power and engine start for the turboprop twin. The TB40 provides 40 amp-hours in a lighter, smaller package than traditional lead-acid batteries, adding a stitch of useful load and lasting far longer in service. The TB40 offers realtime state-of-charge and battery health information on demand, courtesy of True Blue’s built in Battery Management System. The 5th generation battery requires no capacity checks, and lasts 8 years according to company press. “This significant savings contributes to the aircraft’s overall lower operating cost, delivering a je

Instruments and Batteries For All Your Needs!

Todd Winter and Van Winter of Mid-Continent Instruments & Avionics took a moment catch up with Aero-News Network at this year's NBAA. True Blue Power brought out the latest and greatest from their lineup of useful bizjet accouterments. Of particular note this time around, the range of Flex standby instrumentation was out in force with a wide range of installation options to show off just how flexible the small digital gauges can be. Customized displays, trim, and fitment allow for an unobtrusive retrofit that matches the OEM flight deck. Winter emphasized the fact that they aim for well sorted, certified product

Also: Rare Boeing P-26, Solo Round-the-World Flight, Delaware State Police Bell 429s, LuxAero Designs

CubCrafters is releasing a new thermal infrared imaging system option for G3X equipped aircraft that dramatically improves flight crew situational awareness during both air and ground operations in reduced visibility or low light situations. Developed in collaboration with Hood Tech Aero, the new camera system is fully integrated with its G3X Avionics. The Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) has released its third-quarter 2023 Avionics Market Report. In the first nine-months of the year, total worldwide business and general aviation avi

All-Knowing Excel Doc Demystifies Training Process

The National Air Transportation Association has shown off its new NATA Aviation Apprenticeship Tracking Tool. The system allows members to develop "test-ready" and "well-documented aviation maintenance technician applicants", with "turn-key process for documenting on-the-job tasks required by FAA to meet the minimum qualifications for an FAA signed and completed FAA Form 8610-2." The NATA Aviation Apprenticeship Tracking Tool streamlines and demystifies the process of working towards a full FAA Aviation Mechanic Certificate with privileges of Airframe and Powerplant (A&P), too. They can power through the program in "just over 30 months", while those aiming for Airframe or Powerplant add-o

Klyde Notes The Many Difficult Transition Chores For The New FAA Boss...

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

Industry Marches On Towards Net-Zero

The National Business Aviation Association announced its newest corporate additions to their Sustainable Flight Department Accreditation. The program, which was launched last year, includes 4 separate areas of accreditation: flight, ground support, operations and infrastructure. The categories are meant to "recognize the diversity of business aviation entities and different emissions scopes."

Airplane Began A Right Turn, At Which Time The Left Wing Separated And The Airplane Rapidly Descended

On September 22, 2023, about 1446 Pacific daylight time, an unregistered experimental amateur-built Golden Circle T-Bird II was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Arlington, Washington. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to a witness, who was standing in front of a hangar at Arlington Municipal Airport (AWO), he observed the accident airplane complete a series of what appeared to be practice takeoff maneuvers during which the airplane would become momentarily airborne. During the airplane’s final takeoff maneuve

Aero Linx: Ercoupe Owners Club We fly an airplane that was at the peak of pre-World War II development. It took more than a decade and a half before the features of the Ercoupe were the norm in civil aviation. Yet the industry finally followed. The members of the Ercoupe Owners Club provide each other with mutual support as we keep these classic aircraft in the air. Along the way, we've found that Coupe people are a little bit special, themselves. Please browse our site and enjoy.

Clearance Void If Not Off By (Time) Used by ATC to advise an aircraft that the departure release is automatically canceled if takeoff is not made prior to a specified time. The expiration of a clearance void time does not cancel the departure clearance or IFR flight plan. It withdraws the pilot’s authority to depart IFR until a new departure release/release time has been issued by ATC. Pilots who choose to depart VFR after their clearance void time has expired should not depart using the previously assigned IFR transponder code.

"...right wing was separated from the main wreckage and located in a tree, and the right wing strut was separated from the right wing."

Source: Part of an NTSB report concerning a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin has been published for the Seamax Model M-22, an amphibious LSA. A notable Seamax M-22 incident last year has resulted in a bulletin regarding the integrity of the strut mounting joints on folding-wing aircraft. The October 2022 crash saw the pilot fatally injured during a routine personal flight.