Of Overtures and Symphonies

After losing engine partner Rolls-Royce in September, Boom Technology (trade name Boom Supersonic), the Denver-based American company about the perilously speculative business of bringing to market a supersonic civilian airliner, announced on 13 December 2022 that it will partner with three aviation companies to develop and build engines for its proposed Overture Super Sonic Transport (SST).

Also: Networked Avenger, Skypersonic Rover, Airbus Hydrogen, Droner's Manual

Lilium announced the signing of a contract with eVolare. The inchoate partnership includes a firm commitment on eVolare’s part for ten Lilium Pioneer Edition Jets, with options for an additional ten aircraft. The newly-signed deal—under which Volare will make an undisclosed pre-delivery payment to secure acquisition of the first ten Pioneer Edition Lilium Jets—marks the formal launch of the platform—so says Lilium. Archer Aviation has announced that its Maker eVTOL made its first full-transition to wing-borne flight on 29 November 2022. The 29 November

Competition for Artemis Program Continues, as the Defeated Join Hands

Blue Origin must feel the need to dig in deep to take on SpaceX for the Lunar Lander contract, to the point the company partnered with Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The trio will provide a joint proposal to take on the SpaceX bid for the Artemis lander, providing Blue Origin with a 'round two' to catch NASA's eye. Last year, SpaceX handily won the initial slate of Artemis moon missions, ostensibly beating out the Blue Origin bid on a cost basis.

Delta's 34% Raise a Likely Benchmark for Other Legacy Carriers

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby believes the recent Delta Air Lines deal will point the way on upcoming pilot contracts, with a rumored 34% cumulative pay bump. The rising tide will likely raise more than Delta pilots' dinghy, especially with so many pilot contracts up for negotiation this year. As airlines begin to catch up postponed contract debates, worsening inflation and a sometimes tenuous fuel supply cast a pall over the process. A recent leak of Delta's offer gives raises that ramp up over the next 4 years, while granting catch-up pay for services rendered while the contract was up for renegotiation through 2020 and 2021. 

Snowbirds, Raptors, and More in the Heart of London

Airshow London is back for 2023, bringing out some banner performances for their 5th drive-in show. Both the Canadian Forces Snowbirds and the United States Air Force F-22 Raptor demonstration team have signed on to perform in London, breaking the news with the release of their 2023 performance schedules. The two teams are only some of the bigger household names (for aeronautical enthusiasts, at least) set to perform in London, with many more from North America on track to make appearances of their own.

From 2021 (YouTube Version): Michael Tomazin Gives An Overview Of The Aircraft

ANN and Michael Tomazin, the North American Distributor for Skyleader Aircraft reflect on the days past at Oshkosh. “We’ve had an outstanding turnout, a lot of excitement around our new 600 model, and we’ve just really been pleased with all the folks that have come by and all the new leads. We have got a lot of the demo rides to give after the show so we are looking forward to that, and showing customers the product that we offer,” Tomazin says.

Personal Air Vehicle Kit Ready for Order

Founded in 2007 to develop “unique solutions to air, land, sea, and space-based problems and challenges,” Torrance, California-based small defense aircraft contractor Advanced Tactics Inc. has teamed with Arizona’s Rotor X Aircraft Manufacturing Company to surreptitiously develop and demonstrate Dragon, the world’s first aircraft-factory-built Ultralight eVTOL Personal Air Vehicle (PAV) kit.  

Also: Networked Avenger, Skypersonic Rover, Airbus Hydrogen, Droner's Manual

Lilium announced the signing of a contract with eVolare. The inchoate partnership includes a firm commitment on eVolare’s part for ten Lilium Pioneer Edition Jets, with options for an additional ten aircraft. The newly-signed deal—under which Volare will make an undisclosed pre-delivery payment to secure acquisition of the first ten Pioneer Edition Lilium Jets—marks the formal launch of the platform—so says Lilium. Archer Aviation has announced that its Maker eVTOL made its first full-transition to wing-borne flight on 29 November 2022. The 29 November

Airplane Impacted A Utility Pole And The Terrain

On November 18, 2022, at 1510 central standard time, a Cessna 421C airplane, N6797L, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Decatur, Texas. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. Flight tracking information indicated the airplane departed Denton Enterprise Airport (DTO), Denton, Texas, at 1459. The pilot proceeded about 30 miles west and climbed to an altitude of about 2,200 ft mean sea level (msl).

Israeli/German Program Opens New Doors with Approved Interoperability

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has obtained a German type certificate for the Heron TP, a medium-altitude, high-endurance, uncrewed aircraft. Undoubtedly helpful in the process was the fact that the Heron is a joint effort with Airbus DS Airborne Solutions, as well as its long combat history throughout Afghanistan and Mali in German and Israeli operations.

Aero Linx: Silver Wings Fraternity You are cordially invited to join the Silver Wings Fraternity if you have an interest in aviation, regardless whether or not you are a pilot. Silver Wings Fraternity Membership is open to any person with a genuine interest in aviation. Levels of accomplishment are recognized for Active Members who achieve specific aviation events to include; Solo flight in a powered aircraft, the Silver Anniversary of (25 years since) that Solo Flight, and Members who soloed more than 50 years ago.

Execute Missed Approach Instructions issued to a pilot making an instrument approach which means continue inbound to the missed approach point and execute the missed approach procedure as described on the Instrument Approach Procedure Chart or as previously assigned by ATC. The pilot may climb immediately to the altitude specified in the missed approach procedure upon making a missed approach. No turns should be initiated prior to reaching the missed approach point. When conducting an ASR or PAR approach, execute the assigned missed approach procedure immediately upon receiving instructions to “execute missed approach.”

“It became clear that this was far and away the best path for us to go. We could have taken a subsonic engine and adapted it. We could have taken a subsonic business model and adapted it. That works, but it’s not nearly as good for our customers and our passengers because it brings the baggage of designs that were never optimized for supersonic flight and significantly increased operating costs.” Source: Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl, as he informed an audience gathered on the GSO terminal’s upper concourse that his company will team with a consortium of three lesser-known aerospace concerns to design, produce, and maintain a jet-engine capable of powering an economically-viable, environmentally responsible SST.