Pair of 480B Helicopters Bound for ZAF Service in Utility, Training Configuration

Enstrom Helicopters announced a funky client for their most recent sale, with 2 of their turbine 480B aircraft bound to the Zambian Air Force. The company announced the deal in April, but the sale was made back in February to provide both the aircraft and training for ZAF personnel & pilots. The 480Bs will be based out of Zambia, Lusaka, as training and utility aircraft.

Piston Engine Sustainment, Parts Companies See New Partial Owner in Vance Street

Vance Street Capital LLC has announced an investment into Aero Group Holdings, LLC, which holds a number of aviation parts and manufacturing brands. Vance Street has now jumped in bed with a number of brands represented by Tempest, including half a dozen fairly well known names like Tempest, Alcor, Marve-Schebler, Precision Airmotive, Consolidated Fuel Systems, and Stratus Tool Technologies. Between the entire Tempest Aero Group portfolio, manufacturing for ignition, filtration, pneumatic components, instrumentation sensors, fuel systems components, and specialty tools can all be found under one investment 'roof'.

So States the International Aircraft Dealers Association

IADA set forth in its First Quarter 2023 Market Report that a global survey of its members occasioned a more optimistic six-month outlook for the pre-owned business aircraft marketplace than was anticipated in the fourth-quarter of 2022. The expressed expectations are supported by the sales results of IADA’s accredited dealers, which collectively buy and sell more aircraft by dollar-volume than the remainder of the world’s pre-owned aircraft dealers combined.

First Flight Expected Soon, After Lessons Learned

SpaceX halted the test launch of its Starship due to a stuck valve in the 1st stage booster, cutting the launch sequence at 40 seconds. SpaceX chief Elon Musk live tweeted the launch as the fateful takeoff approached, only to announce that "a pressurant valve appears to be frozen, so unless it starts operating soon, no launch today." Not long after he said the firm was "offloading propellant, retrying in a few days..."

Also: 2023 SnF Innovation Preview, 2022 Collier Trophy, NASA’s TEMPO, Virgin Orbit Kaput

As the efforts of American farmers bring about the onset of the nation’s growing season, the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) has respectfully requested that operators of UAS—drones, remote control aircraft, and the like—be mindful of low-altitude manned agricultural aircraft operations. Archer Aviation’s eVTOL, dubbed Midnight, had recently completed a six-week series of tests in RUAG’s Large Subsonic Wind Tunnel in Emmen, Switzerland. Archer stated that the tests had covered a range of data germane to the aircraf

Also: 2023 SnF Innovation Preview, 2022 Collier Trophy, NASA’s TEMPO, Virgin Orbit Kaput

As the efforts of American farmers bring about the onset of the nation’s growing season, the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) has respectfully requested that operators of UAS—drones, remote control aircraft, and the like—be mindful of low-altitude manned agricultural aircraft operations. Archer Aviation’s eVTOL, dubbed Midnight, had recently completed a six-week series of tests in RUAG’s Large Subsonic Wind Tunnel in Emmen, Switzerland. Archer stated that the tests had covered a range of data germane to the aircraft&rsq

STC Provides 100W Charging to 53 Passenger Seats on Regional Jets

Regional jet carriers have a new option to revamp their passenger experience now that True Blue Power has obtained a Supplemental Type Certificate for the installation of both its  TC2000 AC-to-DC Voltage Converters and MAX Power TA360 USB Chargers on the Bombardier CRJ-550. The USB chargers provide seats, galleys, and cockpits with up to 100 watts per port, enough power to charge the full gamut of personal electronic devices throughout any flight.

From 2016 (YouTube Version): The Aspen Aerospace Alliance Motivate Students towards STEM Subjects…

Here’s a video that runs a little longer than our normal Aero-Minute because it’s a subject that’s fascinating and could make a difference in the lives of children in our school systems. This video is about an organization called the ‘Aspen Aerospace Alliance’ that has set a goal to bring aviation into the lives of schoolchildren ranging from elementary through high school. ANN News Editor, Tom Patton, f

The Pilot Did Not Request Any Air Traffic Control Services During The Flight

On April 6, 2023, about 0750 eastern daylight time, a Cirrus Design Corp SR22, N911TK, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Jesup, Georgia. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to initial ADS-B data, the airplane departed from Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport (FHB), Fernandina Beach, Florida about 0728 and proceeded to the north-northwest, at 1,700 ft msl, toward Jesup-Wayne County Airport (JES), Jesup, Georgia. The pilot did not request any air traffic control services during the flight.

Aero Linx: Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association

At CHAA our mission is to Acquire, Preserve, Restore, Maintain, Display and Demonstrate the Harvard and other training aircraft associated with the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Aero Linx: Aviators Code Initiative

Innovative tools advancing aviation safety and offering a vision of excellence for aviators. The ACI materials are for use by aviation practitioners -- pilots, mechanics, organizations, and the entire aviation community.  Designed to be adaptable by the implementer, they are provided without charge and periodically updated.

Chaff

Thin, narrow metallic reflectors of various lengths and frequency responses, used to reflect radar energy. These reflectors, when dropped from aircraft and allowed to drift downward, result in large targets on the radar display. 

“Although pre-owned inventory levels have begun to slowly replenish, most OEMs have grown their order backlogs to represent more than two years of production and they are straining to accelerate deliveries in the face of slowly recovering supply chains. Our organization foresees a continuation of relatively tight market conditions through 2023, driven by customers who cannot or will not wait two or more years to receive their next aircraft.” Source: IADA executive director Wayne Starling, reporting that in its First Quarter 2023 Market Report that a global survey of its members occasioned a more optimistic six-month outlook for the pre-owned business aircraft marketplace than was anticipated in the fourth-quarter of 2022.