Caps Off New Place With Longest Test Hop to Date

Samson Sky headed into this Fall with a move to a larger, better equipped research facility, right before beating previous records with a mile-long test flight. Work on their convertible flying car, the Switchblade, has continued at full pace throughout the year, but worsening weather across the country means that those perfect sunny day flight tests in Moses Lake, Washington aren’t going to be around much longer. In late September, the team managed to see their testbed aircraft fly for just under a mile in ground effect, continuing to evaluate the handling and aerodynamics of their flying car prototype.

Tim Hodgson’s Replica Sees One Injury, but No Fatalities

A brand-new 35% scale B-29 replica had an unlucky virginal flight when the landing aircraft collided with a photographer’s golf cart during its landing. Glenndale Airport of Indianapolis saw one injury during the affair. The experimental aircraft was Tom Hodgson’s B-29 replica, a Honda-powered redux on the classic WWII bomber. According to the incident report, the November 11th flight was marred when one of the golf carts carrying an excited onlooker strayed a little too close to the flight line, and the drifting B-29 made contact while attempting to land. The cart passenger was knocked unconscious and taken in for evaluation. 

From 2019 (YouTube Version): Sporty’s Is More Than Just a Pilot Shop

Sporty's is well known for their line of products for pilots, having been a part of the aviation landscape for decades. But less-well known is the company's in-airplane flight training, according to Sporty's Academy president and COO Eric Radtke, who spoke recently with Aero-News Editor-in-Chief Jim Campbell. Sporty's says that the Academy is committed to its students success, and is proud of a success rate more than double the national average.

Airplane Appeared To Slow, Lose Altitude, And Stall

On October 17, 2023, about 1219 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N6192J, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near H A Clark Memorial Field Airport (CMR), Williams, Arizona. The two flight instructors and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A witness observed the airplane takeoff from runway 18 and climb to about 200 ft above ground level. The airplane continued on runway heading for about 1/4 mile, and then began a slight left turn. The airplane appeared to slow, lose altitude, and stall. An additional witness located near the airport observed the airplane flying at a