A Powerful New Tool For You To Use For Your Aero-Conversations

Want to start a conversation about a story you've seen on Aero-News? It's even easier with Disqus, a powerful, web-based comment tool you can use to talk about stories on Aero-News with your friends.

"(The) successful launch of the NROL-39 mission is a testament to the tremendous government-industry partnership. We greatly appreciate the teamwork with the NRO Office of Space Launch and our many mission partners. We are honored to be entrusted to launch these one-of-a-kind national assets to orbit to protect our national security and to support the many brave men and women serving around the world." Source: Jim Sponnick, ULA vice president, Atlas and Delta Programs, following the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket liftoff, carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg AFB in California on Dec. 5 at 2314 PST. 

Also: Mohr Retires-Quietly, iFly on iOS, Record Female Skydive, China Goes To The Moon, SAFE Resources

EAA Counsel Alan Farkas has filed a 48 page Petition for Review of FAA Action and Other Relief with United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in support of EAA's attempt to overturn last spring's surprise FAA decision to bill the organization for the annual AirVenture Fly-In. The Farkas brief, again, seems very well-constructed and takes the FAA to task on several key points. Shell has reportedly become the first major oil company to develop a lead-free replacement for aviation leaded gasoline, and will now begin a strict regulatory approvals process. The Screamin’ Sasquatch presented by John Klatt Airshows was unveiled Monday night at the International Council of Air Shows in Las Vegas. The airplane, a Taperwing Waco made famous by barnstormers of the 1920s and 30s, adds the modern twist of a jet engine bolted to its belly. A

GPS Service In Florida, Other Southern States, Atlantic Ocean May Be Unreliable

The FAA has announced that it will be conducting GPS testing over the next several days that may affect large areas of the southeast United States.

Plans Call For The Spacecraft To Use Hydrogen Peroxide As Rocket Fuel To Propel Scientific And Commercial Payloads From Earth Orbit To The Moon

Privately funded lunar resources company Moon Express has unveiled its "MX-1" lunar lander spacecraft, calling it a "breakthrough robotic space vehicle capable of a multitude of applications including delivering scientific and commercial payloads to the Moon at a fraction of the cost of conventional approaches."

Deliveries Already Underway From Independence, KS Facility

Cessna has received type certification of the all-composite TTx aircraft in Brazil from the Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil. Deliveries of the aircraft to customers in Brazil commenced in November at Cessna’s facility in Independence, KS.

Performances Penciled In For The Closing Weekend Of The Show

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds has scheduled an appearance at Oshkosh during AirVenture as part of its 2014 flying schedule. The 62nd annual EAA fly-in convention is scheduled for July 28-August 3 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, WI.

Searching For Missing Bonanza Believed Down In Rugged Terrain

When a single engine plane goes down in the continental U.S., Civil Air Patrol’s cell phone and radar tracking experts are certain to be involved. Their mission – reduce the search area from thousands of square miles to the actual crash site or within a couple of square miles – is urgent, because reducing the crash-to-rescue time saves lives.

House And Senate Republicans Ask Huerta For Information On Cell Phone Use In Flight

Leaders of the U.S. House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over aviation have sent a letter to FAA administrator requesting a long overdue report on the results of the agency’s study on the impact of the in-flight use of cell phones for voice communications.

Sea Robin System Is An All-Electric Fuel-Cell-Powered Autonomous Aircraft

The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) with funding from SwampWorks at the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the Department of Defense Rapid Reaction Technology Office (DoD/RRTO) demonstrated the launch of an all-electric, fuel cell-powered, unmanned aerial system (UAS) from a submerged submarine.