Novel Architecture to Broaden UAV Operations

CAV Ice Protection Limited—a leading global supplier of airborne ice protection solutions, announced on 17 March 2023 that it had filed documents germane to the patenting of an anti-icing solution for small Uncrewed Aerial Systems (sUAS). CAV set forth that the new system has the potential to revolutionize the manner in which commercial drones are utilized in cold climates.

Belaboring the Obvious

Citing what he referred to as an "uptick" in recent aviation incidents, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg called upon attendees of the Federal Aviation Administration’s 15 March safety summit to investigate and address the "root causes” of a series of runway incursions and near collisions which have occurred at numerous U.S. airports since the beginning of 2023.  

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US officials have released video that shows a Russian Su-27 fighter jet colliding with the aft-mounted pusher-propeller of a US MQ-9 Reaper UAV. The newly declassified video, which U.S. European Command released early Thursday, 16 March 2023, depicts—albeit less than transparently—the critical moments leading up to and immediately following the 14 March midair collision that allegedly resulted in the downing of the $20-million USAF drone. Aero-News Network is saddened to report that Sergeant First-Class Michael “Ty” Kettenhofen lost his life in a 13 March 2023 training mishap at Florida’s Homestead Air Reserve Base. Kettenhofen had served with the Army’s elite Golden Knights parachute demonstration team since 2020. Sikorsky is building a fully autonomous hybrid-eVTOL which will serve as a flying testbed by dint of which th

Also: Airborne-Special Editions Reports On EVEN MORE Cool Things Coming To SnF23!

Welcome to this special edition of Airborne. As we continue to prepare for the 49th rendition of the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo, now some ten days or so away, SnF BOss, Gene Conrad has kept the Lakeland staff busy with all manner of new updates and improvements. In this chat, we start with the good stuff! It's airshow time and there are few better reason o go to Sun 'n Fun than to watch the airshows that they present in many forms. The daytime shows, with the US Navy Blue Angels heading up the roster is a big draw,,, but so are many other performers that fly both NIGHT and DAY. The two night airshows have become huge favorites. Even better, the LightPlane area, alias Paradise City has it's own gig going in the evenings with the Sunset Aerial Circus which promises to liven up the sport aviation arena quite a bit. And then, there's the elephant in the room... PARKING! G

The Subjectivity of Heroism

The pilots of two Russian Su-27 Flanker jet fighters ostensibly responsible for bringing down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) over the Black Sea on Tuesday, 14 March 2023 have been honored by their country. In a statement announcing the aviators’ imminent awards, the Russian Ministry of Defense contended that the two pilots had "prevented the violation" of a military exclusion zone established by Moscow. The statement went on to assert that the Su-27s flown by the feted pilots neither deployed their weapons nor came into contact with the MQ-9.    

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CubCrafters has achieved an unprecedented and, frankly, remarkable feat of aeronautical engineering and airmanship by landing one of its fixed-wing Carbon Cub aircraft on the heliport of the United Arab Emirates’ world-famous Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. The Bull’s Eye landing event was performed with with a specially-modified version of the bestselling CubCrafters’ aircraft on the 78-foot-diameter helipad—which is itself suspended 696-feet above sea-level atop the iconic 56-story hotel. The Association of Professional Warbird Operators (APWO) is a cooperative established to facilitate the development and sharing of best practices in Warbird operations—to include pilot and maintenance training, standardization, and safety protocols. Boeing and Jeddah-based Saudia announced on 14 March 2023 that the Saudi national fl

Klyde's On the Lookout For The Next RedBull Stunter...

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

Get Your Wacky Ideas In NOW!

ANN E-I-C Note: Folks... we gotta warn you... we're trying to do our best April 1st Edition yet and based on all the nonsense we've had to endure in 2022-2023 (which we are duty-bound to lampoon), we certainly have good reason for that... so if you have any ideas of your own as to how to heighten the insanity, this is your LAST CHANCE. As always... NO ONE IS SAFE. We're going to have some fun with EVERYONE... the FAA, Cirrus, USA Today, Congress, TSA, Cirrus, EAA, AOPA, Sun 'n Fun, Dale Klapmeier, every UAV ever flown, Cirrus, every UAV-phobe in the known universe, every self-appointed aviation expert who can't spell aileron, the USAF, Cessna, Cirrus, NASA, you name it. If you want to be a part of the foolishness, get your ideas and submissions to us ASAP!

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A UK-based medevac company has announced a partnership with PAL-V for the use of their Liberty flying car. The Liberty combines aspects of an aircraft with the terrestrial mobility of a traditional automobile, providing the best of both capabilities with access to speedy, ubiquitous road infrastructure. The PAL-V will see use as a fast response vehicle, with paramedics and doctors able to arrive on scene faster and more efficiently to begin treatment sooner than any other method. General Atomics snagged a new contract with the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) for 3 of their MQ-9B SkyGuardians. AFSOC now becomes the first US customer for the -9B model. Archer is heralding the final assembly of the first production Midnight eVTOL. The company reports all major aerostructures, to include the machine’s fuselage, wing, and empennage, h

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Archer is heralding the final assembly of the first production Midnight eVTOL. The company reports all major aerostructures, to include the machine’s fuselage, wing, and empennage, have been built and mated into a cohesive aircraft. What’s more, a significant portion of the inaugural Midnight’s wiring, electronics, flight-control-system-actuators, and additional systems have been successfully installed. We must never forget who and what got us here... and our responsibility to treasure it. A World War II vet got to go for a nostalgic ride aboard one of the Commemorative Air Force’s Stinson AT-19s, complete with a birthday celebration for his 100th. The ceremony included an Honor Guard flag ceremony and special guest speakers, with remarks by Nelms as he reminisced about his time with the 447th Bomb Group in Rattlesden, England. This is what a comeback looks