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March 12, 2021

Airborne 03.12.21: Falcon 6X 1st Flt!, King Air 260 TC, Nat'l Aerobatics Day

Also: EAA B-17 Resumes, Land-DAR Introduced, Vultee BT-13 Joins LSFM, SLS Hot Fire Test

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.' With test pilots Bruno Ferry and Fabrice Valette at its controls, aircraft 6X s/n 01 lifted off from Dassault Aviation’s Mérignac plant near Bordeaux at 2:45 PM. This approximately, two hour and thirty minute maiden flight was executed per the test plan, with the pilots testing aircraft handling qualities, engine response and the behavior of key aircraft systems. The aircraft topped out at 40,000 ft and reached a speed of M0. 8 before returning to its base.

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CAF Awarded $500,000 Matching Grant From Ray Foundation

Close To Completing Funding The Completion Of Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center

The Commemorative Air Force has announced a generous $500,000 matching grant from the Ray Foundation to aid in funding the Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center at the CAF’s headquarters in Dallas. The Ray Foundation will match all funds raised dollar-for-dollar, up to $500,000, received through December 31, 2021. The CAF has raised $13 million against a campaign goal of $14 million. The gift comes as construction of the Education Center nears completion this spring. The Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center will provide hands-on learning activities for all ages. The 47,000 square foot facility includes a Science, Techno

The Air Force Plans To Acquire 144 F-15EXs

The U.S. Air Force officially accepted the first F-15EX from the Boeing Co. March 10 at the company’s St. Louis facility. The new fighter is a two-seat aircraft—though operable by a single pilot—with fly-by-wire flight controls, digital cockpit displays, and advanced avionics systems, to include the Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System, an electronic warfare upgrade also being fielded on F-15E Strike Eagle models. “This is a big moment for the Air Force,” said Col. Sean Dorey, F-15EX program manager with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Fighters and Advanced Aircraft Directorate, responsible for the acquisition, modernization and sustainment

“Doc” Is One Of Only Two B-29 Superfortresses, Still Airworthy, In The World

The Hastings Airport Association, in partnership with the Hastings Airport, & EAA Chapter 544, announced the exciting performer lineup and planned events for the Nebrasaka State Fly In scheduled for Fathers Day weekend in Hastings, NE. Headlined by the World War II B-29 Superfortress “Doc”, one of only two B-29 Superfortresses still airworthy in the world, the Nebraska State Fly In & Airshow promises to be a celebration of aviation for all ages. B-29 Doc will arrive in Hastings, NE, on the evening of Thursday, June 17.

June 26th Is The Inaugural National Aerobatics Day

The skill, beauty, and excitement of aerobatic flight will be celebrated on Saturday, June 26, during the inaugural National Aerobatics Day, as announced by Jim Bourke, President of the International Aerobatics Club (IAC). "National Aerobatics Day is the perfect day to host an aerobatic camp, a BBQ, a practice session, or to share videos of aerobatic activity online," Bourke said. "With over 40 chapters nationwide and two international chapters, IAC members will be organizing these types of activities and others to engage the public and general aviation pilots in aerobatics."

Despite Wasteful/Partisan Aspects of the Bill, ALPA Thinks The Av-Industry REALLY Needs The Bucks

Capt. Joe DePete, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued the following statement after President Joe Biden signed the so-called American Rescue Plan into law. The legislation provides a $14 billion extension of the Payroll Support Program through September 30, 2021, saving tens of thousands of aviation workers from furlough. “During this global pandemic, ALPA pilots have repeatedly demonstrated their essential role by keeping supply chains moving and delivering medical staff and equipment around the world. And today, these same pilots remain on the frontlines as they to deliver shipments of vaccines, which

Classic Aero-TV: Empowering Educators - Wings Over the Rockies' Teacher Outreach

From 2016 (YouTube Version): An Amazing Opportunity For Colorado’s STEM Educators…

In this video you’ll hear about a program that is designed to inspire teachers to inspire their students by sharing with them the excitement of flying in a 1942 Boeing PT-17 Stearman trainer plane. Hetty Carlson, of the Teacher Flight Program, explains how they use aviation as a tool to motivate and encourage students. Their Colorado-based operation has a goal of flying one teacher from every school along the Colorado Front Range. Counting up the school districts and the schools involved means that they are offering 1,600 teachers, through the year 2020, the

The Public Comment Period Opened On January 13, 2021

The FAA has extended the comment period for the existing noise research portfolio, including the Neighborhood Environmental Survey, and additional areas recommended for investigation to April 14, 2021. Both notices are available on FAA’s website; in addition, you can review the first notice and read the comment extension notice at the Federal Register website. The FAA is sharing information on its aircraft noise research programs that includes a portfolio of research initiatives related to the effects of aviation noise impacts on the public, efforts to mitigate such noise exposure, and research regarding public perception of aviation noise. The public comment period opened on January 13, 2

Also: CAE Acquiring L3Harris, USHST Report, FAA Vaccine Report, FRASCA Expands

The original and highly regarded Master Instructor program, which arguably set the standard of excellence in aviation education when first introduced in 1997, has settled comfortably in the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) nest as the Master Instructor Continuing Education Program (MICEP) for all aviation educators. The original Master Instructor Program, written and introduced by professional educators Sandy and JoAnn Hill of Colorado, celebrates its 24th year representing what then-FAA Administrator Marion Bl

AD 2021-04-01 Requires Removing Certain Forward Facing Center Seats

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Leonardo S.p.a. (Leonardo) Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. This AD requires removing certain forward facing center seats (seats). This AD was prompted by a design deficiency that affects seats on certain main cabin floor installations. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products. This AD becomes effective March 26, 2021.

AD 2021-04-16 Requires A One-Time Inspection Of The Landing Gear

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-92A helicopters. This AD was prompted by the manufacturer discovering nonconforming threads, resulting in a life limit reduction on multiple landing gear components including threaded hinge pins and main landing gear (MLG) and nose landing gear (NLG) actuator pins. This AD requires a one-time inspection of the landing gear for components with non-conforming threads and removal of any nonconforming threaded hinge pin and MLG and NLG actuator pin. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective April 14, 2021.

Aero Linx: The International Association of Natural Resource Pilots (IANRP) The International Association of Natural Resource Pilots (IANRP) merged with the Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA) on January 1, 2019. As part of this merger, all members of IANRP received a one year free membership to APSA.

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (03.12.21): Hold For Release

Hold For Release Used by ATC to delay an aircraft for traffic management reasons; i.e., weather, traffic volume, etc. Hold for release instructions (including departure delay information) are used to inform a pilot or a controller (either directly or through an authorized relay) that an IFR departure clearance is not valid until a release time or additional instructions have been received.

"National Aerobatics Day is the perfect day to host an aerobatic camp, a BBQ, a practice session, or to share videos of aerobatic activity online. With over 40 chapters nationwide and two international chapters, IAC members will be organizing these types of activities and others to engage the public and general aviation pilots in aerobatics." Source: Jim Bourke, President of the International Aerobatics Club (IAC), commenting as they established the inaugural National Aerobatics Day event.