Mild Performance Increases at Lighter Weight, Higher Price

DJI revealed their newest top-tier "prosumer" drone, the Mavic 3, available for sale at time of announcement. The successor to their Mavic 2, the 3 asserts DJI's skill in delivering improvements in performance with longer service time, albeit at a much higher price. The Mavic 3's primary strengths come from its enhanced camera system, flight time, sensing performance, and transmission range. DJI seems to be approaching the limits of generational advancements, as each new version lacks the dramatic leaps in capability the early models once had. Iterative, consistent improvements are the order of the day, now, and the Mavic 3 delivers. Most impressive, perhaps, is the slight weight redu

Felon Nets Surface-to-Air Drone Kill With .22 

What may be the first time charges have been filed in such circumstances, the Lake County Sheriff's office has brought federal prosecution for an unmanned system shoot-down. The accused was able to bring down their small drone with 2 well-placed shots of .22 long rifle, for which he now faces federal charges for interference with the operation of an aircraft. In July 2021, law enforcement responded to a burglary call at a 10 acre business property in Mount Dora, Florida. In order to surveil the property and find the culprit faster, they deployed their drone to begin searching the expanse, only to see it quickly drop to the ground and catch fire. The man, inside a nearby building, believed th

Pilot Uninjured, Tuskegee Exhibit Continues

On November 4, a Commemorative Air Force P-51 Mustang on tour with the Tuskegee Airmen Exhibit ran off the runway at Tallahassee International Airport, Florida. According to reports after the incident, the Mustang had been in the landing roll when it strayed into the grass. Tallahassee Deputy Director of Aviation Jim Durwin said the pilot was uninjured and no fire or fuel leaks occurred following the impact. "It basically went off the runway and came to rest on the side of the runway. There appears to be some damage to the landing gear," Durwin said, "It's in one piece." 

Stash Away, One-Stop Crash Preparedness

Lightspeed Aviation, purveyor of noise-cancelling headsets and other essential flight equipment, has released their Aviation Survival Gear Kit, an easy, compact, all-in-one solution to off-airport landings. Designed by pilots to maximize capability in a lightweight footprint roughly equivalent to a headset case, Lightspeed aims to simplify survival requisitions for owners and pilots who want to spend more time flying, and less time researching equipment to assemble a kit from scratch. Leveraging their expertise gleaned from their custom pilot bags, they created a small canvas tote with external MOLLE webbing, external hook velcro for patches, and straps for easy carry. Weighing in at 10 ounces, the bag

Disability Activist Passes Due to Complications

Disability activist and member of Hand in Hand, Engracia Figueroa, passed away due to complications incurred when her custom-built wheelchair was damaged by United Airlines while in their cargo hold. Having incurred lasting injuries that required highly specific support structures to maintain her balance and spinal cord patency, Figueroa was given a temporary loaner chair which failed to provide the standard of care she required. The Company was reluctant to accept fault and replace the chair, instead spending months trying to insist on theoretically cheaper, but only cosmetically functional repairs. Described as a vital extension of her body by a fellow activist, United’s negligence in carriag

From 2017: Kitfox Introduces A New Version Of The Venerable Speedster…

In 1992, Kitfox brought its first Speedster to Oshkosh. In 2017, the company gave the public the first look at the newly-redesigned variant of the aircraft. Working from the very successful and robust Kitfox S7 Super Sport, Kitfox has created a clipped wing, aerodynamically refined and superbly stylized tail dragger that is guaranteed to get the heart rate up to redline.  With Rotax fuel injected power, the 2017 Kitfox Speedster is significantly larger and faster than its earlier namesake, with a great useful load and excellent short field performance. With clipped wings

Attempts By ATC To Contact The Pilot After The Airplane Climbed Through 18,000 Ft Were Not Successful

On October 27, 2021, at 1817 central daylight time, a Beech B36TC airplane, N75RM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Lena, Wisconsin. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Airplane position data indicated that the flight departed Fort Worth Meacham Airport (FTW), Fort Worth, Texas, at 1357 and proceeded on a northeasterly course. The airplane initially leveled about 15,500 ft mean sea level (msl). However, as the airplane approached a line of storms, the pilot began to deviate. Ultimately, the airplane leveled about 24,000 ft msl

AD 2021-21-08 Requires An Inspection Of Each TRB For The General Condition And Any Evidence Of Burns

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of damage (burns) on the tail rotor blades (TRBs). This AD requires an inspection of each TRB for the general condition and any evidence of burns and replacement if necessary, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective December 10, 2021.

AD 2021-21-11 Requires Inspecting The Engine Mount, The Temperature Probe, And The Reversing Cable For Damage

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL airplanes. This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI identifies the unsafe condition as insufficient clearance between the engine mount, the Beta control rod, and the inter-turbine temperature (ITT) sensing probe that could lead to chafing damage. This AD requires inspecting the engine mount, the temperature probe, and the reversing cable for damage, and taking any necess

Aero Linx: Gliding Australia Gliding Australia welcomes you to the exhilarating, spectacular yet serene flying experience of gliding.  Gliders take to the air like birds with wings outstretched, soaring on rising air currents, immersed in three dimensional space and flying silently with an eagle’s view of the world. Gliding is an all-inclusive and very social sport attracting men and woman of all ages and walks of life. In Australia you can fly solo from the age of 15 and some pilots continue gliding into their eighties. It is never too late to learn to glide and many pilots take up the sport in their 40s, 50s or even 70s.

Middle Marker A marker beacon that defines a point along the glideslope of an ILS normally located at or near the point of decision height (ILS Category I). It is keyed to transmit alternate dots and dashes, with the alternate dots and dashes keyed at the rate of 95 dot/dash combinations per minute on a 1300 Hz tone, which is received aurally and visually by compatible airborne equipment.

"It basically went off the runway and came to rest on the side of the runway. There appears to be some damage to the landing gear... It's in one piece."  Source: Tallahassee Deputy Director of Aviation Jim Durwin, following up on reports that a Commemorative Air Force P-51 Mustang on tour with the Tuskegee Airmen Exhibit ran off the runway at Tallahassee International Airport, Florida. According to reports after the incident, the Mustang had been in the landing roll when it strayed into the grass.