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December 14, 2023

Airborne Affordable Flyers 12.14.23: Van$ Increase, YouTube Scandal, Switchblade

Also: Aeromedical Happenings, SUN ‘n FUN 2024, Aviation Adventure Speaker Lineup, Hummingbird Heli

Well... there’s bad news and some not quite-as-bad news... Van’s Aircraft is increasing most of their kit prices by approximately 32%. Online order forms will be updated with the new kit prices. Prices of individual parts and components will also be increasing, some more than 32%, and others less. While these price changes are significant, Van’s believes them to be necessary. Trevor Jacob, of "intentionally crashed Taylorcraft for Youtube" fame, recently bragged about getting his pilot’s license back on his YouTube channel. Jacob started off opaque about exactly what "getting a pilot li

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Poseidon Removed, Coral Damaged

Damage Not as Bad As Feared, Thanks to Aircraft's Buoyancy

A $1.5 million salvage endeavor finally removed the P-8 Poseidon that sat in Hawaii's Kaneohe bay for weeks, allowing investigators to evaluate the extent of natural damage caused by the runway overshoot. The Navy had previously purged all the fuel from the Poseidon, hoping to prevent any hazardous contamination of the delicate ecology of the bay. In order to remove the plane, the Navy placed a series of inflatables underneath to lift and roll it straight up, removing its landing gear straight upwards in the hopes of minimizing coral damage.

Once Quarter-Scale Testing is Complete, Regent Eyes Full-Scale Demonstrations

Not much news on the Regent front since last October, when they got a $4.75 million deal with the US Marine Corps for a Seaglider demonstration - but the company remains hard at work for a commercial service entry in 2025. The company gained a little blurb in mainstream press thanks to recent test flights in quarter-scale, proving out their design ahead of a full-size demonstrator in 2024.

$15 Million for a Chinook Defection Embarrases Defense Minister

A Taiwanese Chinook pilot's court case has lifted the cover on Chinese espionage, illustrating how a Lt. Col. was courted into flying his CH-47 Chinook onto a waiting PRC aircraft carrier. The price for the scheme, about $6,355 per month, initially failed to entice Lt. Col. Hsieh, until the Chinese agents upped the ante to a cool $15 million USD. They promised that the PRC would help evacuate his family to Thailand in the event of an inter-Chinese conflict, too. In return, Hsieh was to fly his Chinook along the coastline to a PRC aircraft carrier on drill about 24 nm offshore.

Enhanced Vision System Available for Legacy Aircraft

Universal Avionics has announced their Supplemental Type Certification approval for AerAware on the Boeing 737NG, an Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) powered by their ClearVision tech. They say it's the "world’s first EFVS to achieve a 50% reduction in minimum visibility requirements and the first aircraft to be certified with a complete dual-pilot EFVS solution featuring a wearable Head-Up Display."

Also: NJSAP v Buffet, WAI 2024, NAHF 2024, Alaska-Hawaiian

Van’s aircraft has filed for reorganization under the chapter 11 bankruptcy code. Van’s Founder Dick VanGrunsven said "I realize that the word "bankruptcy" here is shocking, however the key word here is "reorganization", which implies continued operation and improvement. Our doors will remain open and we will continue to work hard to serve our customers." The Collings Foundation have announced an end to their flying WWII aircraft wing, deciding to ground all aircraft and intern them on display at the American Heritage Museum. The turning point appears to be the Oc

StandardAero Graduates 4th Class of In-House AMTs

Pathway to Employment Increasingly en Vogue for Tech-Starved Industry

StandardAero graduated their 3rd and 4th classes from their in-house Aviation Mechanic Training Program, sending 25 new employee-students at their Port San Antonio, Texas location. The graduation was celebrated at the Boeing Center at Tech Port, showing the invited friends and family around the place. Reps from the company, City of San Antonio and Port San Antonio were in attendance, as is often the case when job creation is happening in the vicinity.

Holiday Travel Safeguarded Thanks to Sam Graves' Assistance

Airlines for America (A4A) commented with gratitude on a recent FAA extension that will ensure the regulator remains operational should Washington not pass its Reauthorization in time. The House Committee On Transportation said that “H.R. 6503 is a clean extension of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) authorities through March 8, 2024, in the absence of Congress enacting a long-term FAA reauthorization bill by December 31, 2023.”

Incremental Order will Increase Boeing Backlog to 110

Boeing signed a deal with Irish lessor Avolon for 40 additional 737-8 aircraft, expanding the company's fleet of Boeings-to-be to more than 110 aircraft in all. The firm will sport a mix of 737-8 and -10 variants, once current orders are filled. The order tags on to an additional deal earlier this year that saw 40 aircraft purchased in the same fashion.

Expanding Collection to Grow to 265 Planes in 2026

ATP Flight School is attempting to bolster an increasingly critical rep by adding to their Cessna Skyhawk fleet with an order for 40 more C-172s, scheduled to be delivered from 2026 on. The order reinforces their large fleet of 225 of the type already in service, flying out of 85 training locations around the country.

The Pilot Advised PCT TRACON That He Intended To Cancel His Instrument Flight Rules Clearance In The Air

On December 3, 2023, about 1548 eastern standard time, a Beech C23 airplane, N76SB, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Midland, Virginia. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Initial Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) track data revealed that the pilot departed from runway 15 at Warrenton-Fauquier Airport (HWY), Midland, Virginia about 1308 and conducted several practice instrument approaches to Stafford Regional Airport (RMN) in Stafford, Virginia and Culpeper Regional Airport (CJR) in Culpeper, Virginia before

Aero Linx: International Ryan Club The International Ryan Club is a community dedicated to the preservation and appreciation of pre-WWII Ryan aircraft. Help us keep the Ryan flyin! Members enjoy access to a network of Ryan enthusiasts, technical resources, vintage publications and the ability to post questions, events, news, photos, and classified ads to community forums.

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (12.14.23): Total Estimated Elapsed Time [ICAO]

Total Estimated Elapsed Time [ICAO] For IFR flights, the estimated time required from takeoff to arrive over that designated point, defined by reference to navigation aids, from which it is intended that an instrument approach procedure will be commenced, or, if no navigation aid is associated with the destination aerodrome, to arrive over the destination aerodrome. For VFR flights, the estimated time required from takeoff to arrive over the destination aerodrome.

"U.S. airlines are prepared to meet this season’s high demand and are relieved to have certainty at such a critical time for the flying and shipping public. Our National Airspace System remains at an inflection point, and operating extension-to-extension is not conducive to the efficiency of our airspace. We continue to encourage a bipartisan Senate work product so that conference between chambers can produce a long-term reauthorization." Source: Airlines for America (A4A) commented with gratitude on a recent FAA extension that will ensure the regulator remains operational should Washington not pass its Reauthorization in time.