Will a Fourth High-Altitude Launch Prove The Full Concept?

As early as Monday, March 29, the SpaceX team states that they will attempt a high-altitude flight test of Starship serial number 11 (SN11) – their fourth high-altitude flight test of a Starship prototype from Starbase in Texas. Similar to previous high-altitude flight tests of Starship, SN11 will be powered through ascent by three Raptor engines, each shutting down in sequence prior to the vehicle reaching apogee – approximately 10 km in altitude. SN11 will perform a propellant transition to the internal header tanks, which hold landing propellant, before reorienting itself for reentry and a controlled aerodynamic descent.

Will Support The Certified Version Of The New Flight Design F2, Called the F2-CS

Flight Design USA has selected Professional Instrument Courses (PIC) to assist in developing a simulator training course for the upcoming certified version of the new Flight Design F2, called the F2-CS in the United States. PIC is a Connecticut based company that travels to customers with their simulators and instructors, allowing what they report to be a cost-effective and time-effective system for getting and maintaining an Instrument Rating. “We are very excited to be working with PIC for our planned simulator syllabus for the F2-CS, which is planned to be sold in the USA as an IFR approved certified aircraft, said Flight Design USA  President, Tom

Identifies Key Safety & Security Protections That Could Help Advance All-Cargo Operations

Via a recently published white paper, ALPA has detailed a number of policy recommendations for 'rebuilding a strong, sustainable airline industry.' In addition to advancing aviation safety and security for commercial passenger operations, ALPA also renewed efforts to achieve one level of safety and security for all-cargo pilots. While many of the same federal regulations are used for both commercial passenger and cargo airlines, ALPA claims that lesser requirements are used for all-cargo operations in several crucial areas, which results in unnecessary safety and security risks.

Gulfstream Reports Strong Demand For G500 And G600 Flight Deck And Cabin

Gulfstream has made the 100th customer delivery in their 'next-generation' Gulfstream G500 and Gulfstream G600 program. The 100th aircraft is a G500. “Gulfstream saw great demand for the all-new G500 and G600 right out of the gate,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “Once they entered service, interest in these innovative aircraft soared even more as operators experienced the compelling combination of the Symmetry Flight Deck and outstanding cabin comfort. Reaching 100 deliveries at this stage in the program is remarkable and a clear reflection of the advantages the G500 and G600 give our customers.”

Cuts Will Undermine Safety, Say Air Traffic Controllers Surveyed

More than 80 per cent of Canadian Air Traffic Controllers say public safety will be put at risk if NAV Canada proceeds with intended Area Control Centre layoffs and Air Traffic Control tower closures, according to a survey commissioned earlier this month by the Canadian Air Traffic Control Association (CATCA), which heard from 1,400 of Canada's 1,800 licensed controllers. Just over 40 per cent of controllers said the looming cuts pose a high risk to public safety, while roughly 39 per cent indicated there would be a moderate safety risk if the cuts go ahead. Notably, only two per cent of those surveyed said there is no safety risk.

NASA's Mark Vande Hei, Roscosmos' Pyotr Dubrov, and Soyuz MS-18 Cdr Oleg Novitskiy Are Next Up

The station astronauts have been focusing their research efforts this week on microgravity’s long-term impacts on the human body and other biological processes. NASA Flight Engineer Kate Rubins examined space-grown protein crystals in a microscope on Friday morning for insights into pharmaceutical production beyond Earth’s gravity. She later peered at microscopic worms wriggling in unique sample slides, set up by NASA Flight Engineer Shannon Walker, to understand how weightlessness affects genetic expression in muscles.

From 2017 (YouTube Version): Company Will Refurbish An Older Helmet, Offers New Ones As Well…

Not every pilot has a need for a flight helmet, but for those that do, it is definitely a necessary piece of equipment. Recognizing that need, FligthHelmet.com set out to build a line of helmets that meet the needs of today's pilots, and will also refurbish a favorite helmet if you have one you just can't part with. GM Bell, owner of FlightHelmet.com, told ANN news editor Tom Patton that the company's basic helmets can be configured with a variety of electronics to suit the pilot's particular mission. Bell said the company is the first to be c

Also: Ultimate Bad Reg?, Van's Aircraft, Soyuz Repositioned, Hartzell Engine Technologies

Next year is the 2022 Special Olympics USA games and Textron is asking for help transporting the athletes... Textron has started work on what they call (rightfully), the "company’s signature industry endeavor" — the Special Olympics Airlift (SOA), by starting the call for Cessna Citation, Beechcraft King Air, Beechcraft Premier, Beechjet and Hawker owners and operators to help transport more than 4,000 athletes and coaches from across the nation to the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Fla. A

Pilot Set Mixture To Full Rich And Attempted To Restart The Engine

On March 3, 2021, about 1745 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172G, N4456L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Sisters, Oregon. The pilot and passenger had minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, personal flight. The pilot reported the first part of the flight was uneventful with multiple touch and go landings at nearby airports. Upon returning to the originating airport, the pilot demonstrated a forward slip at idle power, with no flaps during the approach. The approach was fast, and the airplane bounced on landing. The pilot initiated a go-around by applying full throttle and turning off carbureto

AD 2021-06-02 Prompted By The Failure Of A Second Stage Planet Gear Installed In The MGB

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model AS332L, AS332L1, AS332C, and AS332C1 helicopters. This AD was prompted by the failure of a second stage planet gear installed in the main gearbox (MGB). This AD requires identifying the part number of each second stage planet gear assembly installed in the MGB, replacing an MGB having certain second stage planet gear assembly part numbers with a serviceable MGB, modifying the helicopter by installing a full flow magnetic plug (FFMP), repetitively inspecting the FFMP and the MGB bottom housing and conical housing for metal particles, analyzing any metal particles that are fo

Aero Linx: The Vertical Flight Society The Vertical Flight Society is the world’s oldest and largest technical society dedicated to enhancing the understanding of vertical flight technology. VFS is a non-profit, charitable educational and technical organization. Since it was founded as American Helicopter Society (AHS) in 1943 — just as the first US helicopter was being put into service — the Society has been the primary forum for interchange of information on vertical flight technology. According to the Society Bylaws, the purpose of the Society is to "advance the theory and practices of the science of vertical flight aircraft."

Aero Linx: The Rhode Island Pilots Association The Rhode Island Pilots Association has more than 300 members in and around the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. As a member of RIPA, you can both participate with and benefit from us. We are here to promote the mutual benefit and welfare of our members as a part of the aviation community. We: Promote aviation safety Exchange information among our members as well as the general public concerning the aviation industry and general aviation Foster good will and camaraderie among our members Assist our members with issues relative to general aviation <

Runway Entrance Lights (REL) An array of red lights which include the first light at the hold line followed by a series of evenly spaced lights  to the runway edge aligned with the taxiway centerline, and one additional light at the runway centerline in line with the last two lights before the runway edge.

"The Starship prototype will descend under active aerodynamic control, accomplished by independent movement of two forward and two aft flaps on the vehicle. All four flaps are actuated by an onboard flight computer to control Starship’s attitude during flight and enable precise landing at the intended location. SN11’s Raptor engines will then reignite as the vehicle attempts a landing flip maneuver immediately before touching down on the landing pad adjacent to the launch mount." Source: From a SpaceX description of the flight and testing protocol to be attempted in the near future by SpaceX Starship prototype SN11.