Flight of the Disruptor

The Switchblade, a flying car 14-years in the making has received FAA approval.The three-wheeled vehicle accommodates two occupants in a side-by-side, enclosed cockpit with space enough for fifty-pounds of baggage. The machine's hybrid-electric powerplant drives a ducted, aft-mounted pusher-propeller situated forward of a stowable, dual-vertical stabilizer, T-tail empennage. The contraption’s wings—which fold into its fuselage—span 8.2-meters (just under 27-feet) and feature slotted flaps. The Switchblade’s maker claims the machine will reach speeds of up to two-hundred-statute-miles-per-hour and a maximum altitude of 13,000-feet.&nbs

The Road from Oshkosh to Lakeland

Sun ‘n Fun, the Lakeland, Florida nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of aviation education and renowned for its annual week-long fly-in and airshow, has named Dennis Dunbar its new Director of Air Shows and Attractions. Over the course of his two decades in the air show management business, Mr. Dunbar has helped organize hundreds of aerial events ranging from fly-ins to fleet weeks to Super Bowls. For the last ten-years, Dunbar has overseen the air shows at EAA’s storied AirVenture event. Currently, Mr. Dunbar serves as the Chairman of the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) Board of Directors. Prior to his appointment to the ICAS board, he c

Voluntary NAAA C-PAASS Program Launching in 2023

For purpose of bettering the safety of agricultural flying, the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) is launching its Certified-Professional Aerial Applicator Safety Steward (C-PAASS) program in 2023. The voluntary program will allow aerial-applicators (crop-duster pilots) who strive to constantly educate themselves to better their flying safety and the accuracy and efficiency of their applications to be recognized for their efforts.

Down and Dirty, Up and Coming

The U.S. military’s Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has selected the AT-802U Sky Warden—produced by Air Tractor and L3Harris Technologies—for its Armed Overwatch program. Subject program seeks to replace the U-28A Draco intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft currently in-service with USAF Special Operations Command (AFSOC). The aging Dracos—militarized Pilatus PC-12s—have supported special operations teams since 2006.

SlideDown To Secure Your Airplane With The “No Tie” Tiedown

Mr. Sal Corio, founder of SlideDown, took a few moments out of a busy day at the recent Oshkosh 2022 to talk about his airplane tiedown product, SlideDown. Designed and engineered by a Mr. Corio who is also a pilot, has been flying since the age of 14, and having visited many fields beyond his home airport, soon discovered that he was at the mercy of what was not there…tiedowns with ropes in good condition that he could confidently use…in addition to “the best knot” to use when faced with few options.

Stop-One for Space Tourists: New Mexico

Virgin Galactic—the spaceflight and space-tourism subsidiary of Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson’s Virgin Group—has announced that it has secured land on which to build an astronaut training facility. The land—located in Sierra County, New Mexico, near the company’s Las Cruces headquarters—will be home to a new, first-of-its-kind astronaut campus for the exclusive use of future Virgin Galactic astronauts (and up to three of their guests) in advance of spaceflight from the company’s Spaceport America complex.

91UL and 94UL Approvals Pending

Continental Aerospace Technologies, the storied aircraft engine manufacturer headquartered at the Brookley Aeroplex in Mobile, Alabama, has announced its efforts to expand the use of alternative fuels in select lower-compression models of its avgas reciprocating engines. Continental has submitted a formal application to the FAA that, if approved, would authorize the use of unleaded aviation gasoline in over one-hundred of its popular engine models—including select O-200s, IO-360s, O-470s, and IO-470s.

Airplane Impacted An Area Of Tundra And Rock-Covered Terrain In A Near Vertical Attitude

On July 11, 2022, about 1730 Alaska standard time, a Champion 7EC airplane, N4340C was destroyed when it was involved in an accident about 20 miles Northeast of Valdez, Alaska. The student pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot had departed from the Valdez Airport (VDZ), Valdez, and was returning to a private airstrip in Sutton, Alaska. When the airplane did not arrive in Sutton, family and friends of the missing pilot reported the airplane overdue.

Aero Linx: National Association of State Aviation Officials NASAO is dedicated to representing the interests of the states and the public before policymakers at the federal level. A safe, secure, efficient and well funded aviation system is a powerful economic engine for growth and job creation across the nation. NASAO is the only organization deeply invested in representing the public interest in all facets of aviation and airports. The United States has developed the largest, safest and most complete aviation system in the world. All Americans reap the significant benefits of this unique and unparalleled transportation, shipping, emergency response and defense network.

Low Approach An approach over an airport or runway following an instrument approach or a VFR approach including the go-around maneuver where the pilot intentionally does not make contact with the runway.

“Our goal isn’t to create an Oshkosh in Florida, but to create a culture that focuses on people first and encourages everyone to play a role in becoming the best Sun ‘n Fun we can be. As the director of air shows and attractions, I have an awesome opportunity to empower and support our volunteers so we can foster a low stress, safe, and entertaining event where our aviation friends and family can come together to be inspired and enjoy the camaraderie of flight.” Source: Dennis Dunbar, the new Director of Air Shows and Attractions for the SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Expo.