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March 11, 2021

Airborne-Flight Training 03.11.21: SAFE v NTSB, Huge Diamond Buy, Hodges U

Also: Pan Am Flight Academy, Virtual WAI, Rod Machado eCourses, NAS Pensacola

If you were looking forward to the 2021-2022 most wanted list, well the NTSB postponed it , with no future announcements set. The agency said only it will post the new date on the NTSB Board Calendar. SAFE has long advocated for flight training reform based on educator improvement. SAFE convened the GA Pilot Training Reform Symposium in 2011 (which was extensively documented by ANN's video teams). This event led to the creation of the FAA ACS. "The MVL press release says the postponement is to let them 'further refine' the safety items on their next two-year MWL," said Kevin D Murphy, SAFE Communications Director. Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc. and Blue Line Aviation recently inked a firm o

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Airborne 03.10.21: Virtual WAI, Sun ‘n Fun 2021, ASR eFlyer 2 Parachute

Also: Mars Rover Landing Site, King Air Ground Cooling, SmartSky, Rod Machado eCourses

Women in Aviation International members and conference attendees will no doubt connect with the impressive roster of speakers scheduled for the 32nd Annual International Women in Aviation Conference, March 11-12, 2021, from the convenience of one’s home or office. “Although we are disappointed that we can’t meet in person, this virtual conference has allowed us to assemble a dynamic group of keynotes from all over the world,” Allison McKay, WAI CEO says. The Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo is l

'Aluminum Overcast' Begins 2021 National Tour This Month

EAA's B-17 bomber, Aluminum Overcast, will return to a full national tour in 2021 after being sidelined for nearly all of 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. The first portion of EAA's 2021 tour schedule includes stops in Florida and Georgia before the aircraft heads northward to additional locations through the spring and early summer. The year-long tour will continue into the summer, with the airplane back "home" for the full week of EAA's annual AirVenture fly-in on July 26-August 1 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Serves As Landing Altitude Callout Assistant

Send Solutions' new product will reportedly improve landings and provide accurate above-the-ground callouts to assist throughout the final parts of the landing process. Land-DAR information comes from a single, small, light-weight, digital device using a Laser. The name LIDAR is an abbreviation for Light Detection and Ranging. Land-DAR is Distance and Ranging information to be used in the Landing phase of flight. Older Radar Altimeters in airplanes have traditionally been used to make a single callout at a preset altitude. Larger modern airplanes, business, commercial and military aircraft traditionally use Ground Proximity Warning Systems (GPWS) that will call out a prescribed list of altitudes on appr

It Is Estimated That Fewer Than 40 BT-13s Remain

One of the most widely used trainers during WWII, the BT-13 was much more complex than the other primary trainers. It possessed a more powerful engine, was faster and heavier, had landing flaps and a two-position variable pitch propeller, and flying the BT-13 required two-way communicate with ground personnel. Today it is estimated that fewer than 40 BT-13s remain in flying condition. Donated to the museum by Mike Abajian, a retired Marine lieutenant colonel, the BT-13 was built for the Navy in San Diego near the end of World War II. Navy variants of the BT-13 were given the designation SNV (a scout trainer built by Vultee). The aircraft spent its entire service career at the Great Lakes Naval Stati

Another Falcon Leaves The Nest!

Dassault Aviation’s widebody Falcon 6X has successfully completed its first flight (as planned in the first quarter of 2021) -- 'demonstrating the maturity of the program and opening the test campaign for certification.' “Today’s flight is another milestone in Dassault history, made all the more satisfying by the remarkable efforts of the entire Dassault organization and its partners over the challenging past year,” said Dassault Aviation Chairman/CEO Eric Trappier.

Classic Aero-TV: Active Winglets -- Tamarack Aerospace Partners with Cessna

From 2014 (YouTube Version): Innovative Aerodynamic Technologies Produce Game-Changing Results

At the NBAA 2013 convention, ANN CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell had a chance to talk with Tamarack Aerospace Group about their partnership with the Cessna to provide winglet modifications for certain Cessna jet models. Nick Guida, founder and president of Tamarack Aerospace Group explained to Jim the uniqueness of their product. Adding winglets to an airplane aerodynamically increases the aspect ratio of the wing creating less drag and more efficiency. However, they also create greater wing bending moments which leads to a requ

ESC Represents A $612 Million, 10-Year Renewal Of A Prior ESC

Gulfstream has been awarded $696 million in contracts from the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center for engineering services support and contractor logistics for C-20 and C-37 aircraft. The Engineering Service Contract (ESC) represents a $612 million, 10-year renewal of a prior ESC. The contractor logistics support (CLS) award for $84 million exercises Option Year Four of an existing CLS contract, bringing its cumulative face value to $594 million.

The King Air 260 Offers Occupancy Of Up To Nine and A Max Range Of 1720 NM

Textron has achieved Type Certification by the FAA for its newly upgraded twin turboprop Beechcraft King Air 260, paving the way for customer deliveries to commence in the coming weeks. Announced in December 2020, the King Air 260 features a number of technological advancements to the cockpit and improvements to the cabin. “The continual conversations we have with our customers play an integral role in the decisions we make about the design of new aircraft, as well as enhancements to our existing fleet,” said Chris Hearne, senior vice president, Engineering and Programs.

This Will Be The Second Hot Fire Of The SLS Rocket’s Core Stage

NASA is targeting Thursday, March 18 for the second hot fire of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket’s core stage at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. After performing tests to demonstrate that a recently repaired liquid oxygen pre-valve was working, the team has continued to prepare the core stage, its four RS-25 engines, and the B-2 test stand for the second hot fire at Stennis. Later this week, the team will power up the core stage again and do a final check of all its systems. Then, on March 16, two days before the test, they will power up the stage, starting the clock for the second hot fire.

“As The Airplane Went Higher, The Tail Dropped And The Plane Went Into A Back Flip.”

On February 22, 2021, about 1756 central standard time, an experimental amateur-built Vans RV-7, N383DB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Mayfield, Kentucky. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Several witnesses observed the airplane as it conducted touch-and-go landings on runway 1 at Mayfield Graves County Airport (M25), Mayfield, Kentucky. Another witness who was in a vehicle traveling eastbound on a nearby highway saw the airplane climbing, and stated that “as the airplane went higher, the tail dropped and the plan

Aero Linx: The European Society of Aerospace Medicine The European Society of Aerospace Medicine was founded in 2006 as an umbrella organisation in the field of Aerospace Medicine. As a pan-European, independent forum, it works to promote the safety and health of all persons involved in aviation and space operations , and to coordinate European aerospace medical interests across all national and organisational boundaries. We aim to assist the various responsible bodies in the development and harmonisation of educational activities in aerospace medicine throughout Europe, and to develop continuous information flows and dialogue between the National Aeromedical Associations, and encourage the exchange

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (03.11.21): Center Weather Advisory

Center Weather Advisory An unscheduled weather advisory issued by Center Weather Service Unit meteorologists for ATC use to alert pilots of existing or anticipated adverse weather conditions within the next 2 hours. A CWA may modify or redefine a SIGMET.

“Today’s flight is another milestone in Dassault history, made all the more satisfying by the remarkable efforts of the entire Dassault organization and its partners over the challenging past year. We dedicate today’s achievement to Olivier Dassault, who died tragically on Sunday. Olivier was a Falcon pilot who perfectly embodied his family’s boundless passion for aviation.... The 6X is the latest example of the fusion of military know-how and business aviation expertise for which Dassault Aviation is so respected. The new capabilities in efficiency, performance and safety it offers will set a new benchmark in the long-range segment. This airplane will also set a new standard in terms of cabin comfort and spaciousness, as demanded by our customers.”