Also: Flight Club, Jet Shades, MyGoFlight’s FlightFlix Acquisition

FIFTY YEARS! What a milestone for the aviation world’s master aero-education duo! John, Martha, along with their CEO Barry Knutilla have come to Sun ‘n Fuin to celebrate a half-century of keeping us educated while also casting eyes upon the future. Ya want to land and take off REALLY short? Ya want to keep it simple? Ya want it to cost less than your house? Bryce Angell’s newly created Top Rudder aircraft has some affordable, highly capable STOL-ready aero-toys for you! The ultimate cockpit visual aid? Aileronics has introduced the Sentinel, a portable sensor that can be mounted in any cockpit and assist with the chores of seeing and avoiding hazards in your flight path. There is a cool new offering by the name of Flight Club... Flight Club is a double-sided marketplace that connects aircraft owners with pilots looking to rent an aircraft. The idea is not a n

Also: Seaplane Pilots Association, Rotax 916’s First Year, Gene Conrad

After a decade and a half of struggling with the FAA and other aero-politics, G100UL is in production and there are a million gallons currently available. You can NEVER have too many good aids in keeping a flight safe... Holy Micro has an interesting approach to keeping pilots informed. The folks at Plane Tags have collected memorabilia from over 200 aircraft of all makes and categories... And offer mementos of great planes in aviation’s proud history. SPA’s Steve McCaughey updates the Airborne team on the latest and greatest in one of the aviation world’s coolest (sometimes we mean that literally) aviation pursuits. ANN had the honor of helping to introduce the Rotax 915 at last year’s Innovation Preview and we got a chance to review what a year in the field is teaching the aviation biz. Gene Conrad Catches His Breath During Our Morning Brief... an

Also: B-29 Superfortress Reunion, FAA Wants Controllers, Spirit Airlines Pulls Back, Gogo Galileo 

Van's Aircraft posted a short video recapping the goings-on around their reorganization as they continue to move away from the brink, and by all accounts, things are going great. Clyde Hamstreet indicated that things are going pretty well in the Chapter 11 process, and they expect their reorganization plan to be approved by the court come May. Hammerstreet noted, with pleasure, that few companies in a similar position manage to survive the process, but Van's is sitting pretty. The Affordable Flying Expo is on the books for January 9th through the 11th of 2025. The new fly-in offers a well-timed excuse to take the family down south to enjoy the Florida sunshine in the same excellent facilities as Sun 'n Fun. The Affordable Flying Expo will focus on the love of flight, and all things that bring it into reach of the average, fun-loving pilot. T

The 44th FG Is Transitioning Alongside The 325th Fighter Wing

The 44th Fighter Group, Air Force Reserve, conducted its first flying unit training assembly at Tyndall Air Force Base, April 6, since returning to Tyndall. This training proved valuable for the pilots and maintainers by giving them hands-on experience with F-35A Lightning IIs and their first local sortie since departing Tyndall prior to Hurricane Michael. The 44th FG is transitioning alongside the 325th Fighter Wing to become a fully capable fifth-generation aircraft combat unit, and these training experiences provide the framework needed to produce unrivaled combat airpower through mission-ready Airmen. 

Also: Martha King Scholarship, Montaer Grows, Textron Updates Pistons, FlySto

The FAA is hiring thousands of air traffic controllers, but the window to apply will only be open for a short time. The FAA has issued a call to action, requesting anyone and everyone meeting the relatively accommodating standards. They will have to bolster their numbers soon, with plans to hire 1,800 more controllers this year, and another 2,000 in 2025. Spirit Airlines announced its decision to defer the delivery of new Airbus aircraft and furlough approximately 260 pilots. The budget airline, headquartered in Miramar, Florida, is taking these measures as part of its strategy to boost liquidity amidst challenging times. Redbird Flight, manufacturer of flight simulators and training devices, came out in force to Sun 'n Fun 2024, with all kinds of new goodies in tow. Their new friends at the Recreational Aviation Foundation have kept up their momentum in keeping a presenc

Airbus Forecasts 45% Increase in Global Services Forecast

 In a recent announcement from Herndon, Virginia, Airbus has outlined a robust growth trajectory for North America's commercial aircraft services market, projecting an expansion to $45 billion by 2042, from its current valuation of $31 billion. This forecast, a 45% increase, is anchored in Airbus' latest Global Services Forecast (GSF), reflecting the region's swift recovery in the post-pandemic era and a steady passenger traffic growth with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.1%.

Also: Bushcat Woes, Hummingbird 300 SL 4-Seat Heli Kit, Carbon Cub UL

The newest Junkers is a faithful recreation that mates a 7-cylinder Verner radial engine to the airframe offered last year with a Rotax 912... but a desire for more historic accuracy led to the A50 Heritage. The Helicycle has gone through a number of owners and iterations but looks to be in good hands with a company that keeps tweaking and improving this unique turbine single-engine, single-seat kit helicopter. The Brazilian Montaer MC-01 is about to be joined by a four-place sibling, the MC-04. The two-seater is holding its own though with a number of impressive fleet sales and growing popularity here in the states. Life throws challenges at you now and then... and the folks got thrown a curveball at the start of SnF24. AeroSport has been the US Distributor for SkyReach and its BushCat light sport aircraft... until the manufacturer announced that they were not going to offering kits

International Women's Air & Space Museum is teaming up with Southern Tier Brewing Cleveland for the 3rd Annual Trivia Night

The International Women's Air & Space Museum is teaming up with Southern Tier Brewing Cleveland for the 3rd Annual Trivia Night on April 30, 2024. The event, running from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. EDT, will challenge participants with questions on space, museums, and Cleveland history. Proceeds from ticket sales will support IWASM's educational programs, which include a variety of initiatives such as the Dinner with a Slice of History Program, Speakers Bureau, Lunch and Learns, tours, field trips, and summer camps. The trivia night aims to bolster a dedicated education fund to ensure that K-12 programs remain accessible to the community.

Classic Light Prop Gains More Options with a Price Cut, to Boot

The newest contender on the Ultralight scene is Ultra-Prop and their Ultra-Prop II, a new, lightweight design aimed at ultralights and experimental. The new Ultra-Prop II aims to strike the optimal balance between efficiency, weight, and performance in all phases of flight. The Ultra-Prop II sports enough adjustability to fine-tune the pitch as desired, with a variety of pitch blocks offered from 8 to 13 degrees. Ultra-Prop adds no twist to its blades, so those block measurements are essentially fairly comparable to blade angles on traditional offerings.

FOSAA Conference Focuses on Seaplanes and Amphibious Aviation

In an impressive showcase of global interest and industry solidarity, the Future Opportunities for Seaplanes and Amphibious Aviation (FOSAA) conference marked its successful debut in Venice on March 20, 2024. Organized by Quaynote Communications and Arena Group, this event brought together a diverse array of stakeholders from the vibrant resurgence and untapped potential within the seaplane and amphibious aviation sectors.