Also: Mars Rover Explores, True Blue Power, Faulty Ejection Seat, Historic Lockheed Electra

NBAA has issued a much-needed call to action urging members of the New York state business aviation community to write to Governor Kathy Hochul to urge against the signature of Senate Bill S7493A. The proposed law would allow anyone to sue a pilot, flight department, line service personnel, or company employee operating in the state for any alleged helicopter "noise pollution", regardless of whether or not the operation complied with Federal Regulations. The "Stop the Chop" act passed the NY state assembly last June. Elektra Solar GmbH has won the prestigious eT

Recently Participated In One Of The Largest Annual Airshows In France

The CAF French Wing has had a busy summer continuing the restoration of their Piper Cub and attending several fly-ins and airshows. They kicked off the season in May with a fly-in at their home airfield in Le Plessis-Belleville. They hosted over 30 vintage aircraft and held a barbecue with 200 guests.

Also: Mars Rover Explores, True Blue Power, Faulty Ejection Seat, Historic Lockheed Electra

NBAA has issued a much-needed call to action urging members of the New York state business aviation community to write to Governor Kathy Hochul to urge against the signature of Senate Bill S7493A. The proposed law would allow anyone to sue a pilot, flight department, line service personnel, or company employee operating in the state for any alleged helicopter "noise pollution", regardless of whether or not the operation complied with Federal Regulations. The "Stop the Chop" act passed the NY state assembly last June. Elektra Solar GmbH has won the prestigious eT

Klyde Just LOVES NASA Politics...

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

US Marine Corps Debuts Beastly CH-53K External Hauler Helicopter 

Earlier last month in Idaho, home of the spud, the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 conducted tests by exercising a CH-53K King Stallion helicopter, straight from the stables of Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky subsidiary. The test site, Mountain Home Air Force Base (KMUO) is home to the 336 Gunfighters Fighter Wing and was the perfect place to conduct the nearly 3-week exercise of 3 of these heavy haulers in varied t

New Design Aims to Combine 400+ Kts Top Speed, Low Downwash, Long Range, and Survivability in a Single Aircraft

Bell Textron has announced the impending development of a High-Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing (HSVTOL) aircraft, tapping in the Sierra Nevada Corporation for support in the developmental process. Bell’s HSVTOL aircraft will aim for similar, but loftier design targets as their V-22 Osprey, the only VTOL aircraft in the lineup that could approach fixed-wing speeds in level flight. The yet-unnamed HSVTOL is hoped to “blend the hover capability of a helicopter with the speed, range and survivability features of a fighter aircraft” at speeds greater than 400 knots.

After 1.5 Years of Design, Testing, & Development, BelugaST Fleet Sees Improved Loading Equipment

Airbus Defence and Space has successfully tested a new and improved loading system for its Beluga A300-600St aircraft, testing it out on a German CH53. Outsized cargo is the raison d'être of the Beluga series, with an expanding customer base for the unique fleet as air cargo demand rises around the world. The new loading system aims to simplify and streamline the process of cargo transfer to the inconveniently located door aboard the aircraft.

First of Six Aircraft Delivered for SAR Duty, Input on H160M Guépard Development

The French Navy took delivery of the first Airbus H160 helicopter this month, fulfilling the first of 6 aircraft purchased for their Search and Rescue mission. The aircraft is part of an interim fleet delivered by a partnership formed by Airbus Helicopters, Babcock, and Safran Helicopter Engines. It’s a landmark delivery as the first delivery of an H160 to a military customer, the last pair being sold off to civilian customers around the world. 

Uncrewed Avenger Takes to the Skies Using AI, Machine Learning Software

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, (GA-ASI) has completed a fully autonomous sortie using an Avenger MQ-20A equipped with their Artificial Intelligence Piloting software. The flight used the company's Open Mission Systems (OMS) software stack and an otherwise garden variety Avenger to carry out the 30 minute voyage. The Avenger's AI pilot directed the flight while cooperating with a live (but virtual) constructive UAS swarm, stress testing General Atomics' machine learning and AI systems in a simulated battlespace.

From 2017 (YouTube Version): Pilots Competed For $10,000 For A First Place Finish…

Drone Racing came to the Sebring Sport Aviation Expo in January, with pilots competing for a $10,000 first prize. But the event was about more than just the money, according to Chris Thomas, founder and president of MultiGP, which organized the event. Thomas told ANN CEO and Editor in Chief Jim Campbell that the Sebring event was the first time MultiGP had worked with the FAA to conduct a drone race in close proximity to General Aviation activity.

Company Now Supports Immediate In-Region Care For P&W GTF and V2500 Engines

Pratt & Whitney has announced a comprehensive upgrade to their Asian service capabilities that now provide rapid response engine repair based out of their Shanghai, China facility. The company sent personnel from the Dallas, Texas Pratt & Whitney Line Maintenance Services to train their counterparts at the Shanghai Engine Center, providing immediate in-region care for Asia-Pacific-based GTF and V2500 engine customers.

This Was The First Flight Since He Purchased The Airplane

On August 2, 2022, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Smith Aerostar 600, N9784Q, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near South Haven Area Regional Airport (LWA), South Haven, Michigan. The air transport pilot and commercial pilot were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to a friend of the pilot, he spoke to the commercial pilot/owner on the morning of the accident. He said the commercial pilot purchased the airplane about five years ago and had been working on it since then.

Aero Linx: LiveATC LiveATC.net is primarily a streaming audio network consisting of local receivers tuned to aircraft communications around the world. It is also a large community designed to unite pilots, student pilots, flight instructors, air traffic communication enthusiasts, FBO operators, and real-world (and virtual) air traffic controllers. Its target audience is anyone who can learn from or just enjoys listening to or discussing aviation communication topics. The community is supported by volunteers who live within radio range of airports and who use spare radio and computer equipment to relay airband transmissions into the LiveATC.net audio network.

Procedure Turn Inbound That point of a procedure turn maneuver where course reversal has been completed and an aircraft is established inbound on the intermediate approach segment or  final approach course. A report of “procedure turn inbound” is normally used by ATC as a position report for separation purposes.

“In an effort to advance technical maturity and deliver HSVTOL capability to warfighters sooner, Bell is assembling a team of industry-leading partners. We’re thrilled to have Sierra Nevada Corporation onboard. We’ve made significant progress in Bell’s HSVTOL technology development in 2022, and we look forward to showing this progress in the upcoming year.” Source: Bell VP of innovation, Jason Hurst, chatting about the impending development of a High-Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing (HSVTOL) aircraft, tapping in the Sierra Nevada Corporation for support in the developmental process.