Campaign Showcases the Aircraft’s Solar Flight Endurance

The Skydweller Aero US has successfully completed its uncrewed autonomous flight test campaign. This included several endurance tests, with the longest lasting 16 hours and 22.5 hours. They were launched from Skydweller Aero’s facility at Stennis International Airport (HSA) in Kiln, Mississippi.

No Injuries, But Taxiway Is Cratered And Flights Canceled

On October 2, an American World War II-era 500-pound bomb that had lain buried beneath a taxiway at Miyazaki Airport (KMI) in southwestern Japan exploded suddenly and without warning, leaving a crater about 20 feet wide and 3 feet deep in the taxiway.

Response In North Carolina Ramped Up By The Christian Relief Organization

Samaritan’s Purse, the international Christian relief organization headquartered in Boone, North Carolina,  has mobilized emergency airlift operations and also deployed an Emergency Field Hospital in western North Carolina to provide aid and assistance to citizens who have been isolated from basic necessities and medical treatment by destruction of roads and other infrastructure caused by Hurricane Helene.

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The FAA has issued an NPRM that will expand the models of Piper aircraft that are subject to the AD adopted by the FAA in January 2021. The AD requires wing spar cap inspections and was prompted by an accident involving wing separation on a Piper Model PA-28R-201 Arrow III. The issue is primarily found in aircraft used in flight training and other aircraft used predominantly in high-load flight regimes. Gogo Business Aviation has acquired Satcom Direct. This builds a more flexible service range by establishing an all-encompassing in-flight connectivity provider for business aviation. Satcom Direct will be receiving a $375 million cash payment plus five million shares of Gogo stock once the deal closes. Over the next four years, the agreement includes up to $225 million extra for performance threshold milestones. A Piper Cherokee executed a

Supports Carrier’s Domestic and International Routes

Cebu Pacific recently finalized an order for 70 Airbus A321neo following its initial MoU in July. This reflects the carrier’s mission to expand domestic and short-haul international routes in the Asia-Pacific region. Cebu Pacific’s original memorandum of understanding (MOU) included up to 152 A321neo, costing an estimated $24 billion.

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Flight testing of the new Van’s Aircraft RV-15 engineering prototype is underway, and despite a few setbacks, the process is in full swing. The company is currently working on a few tweaks to enhance both aerodynamics and usability. Van’s released several other changes, including moving the flap handle from the overhead position to a floor mount, updating aileron control systems, and evaluating a conventional horizontal stabilizer/elevator design. Zenith’s 33rd annual Homecoming event was hosted on September 20 and 21 in Mexico, Missouri. Visitors flew and drove in from across the country for a chance to learn and mingle with both kit lovers and builders. The annual event is the primary gathering for Zenith owners and kit enthusiasts. The Trio Avionics Pro Pilot Autopilot was recently granted three new Supplemental

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Nathan Finneman has been flying since childhood, including hang gliders for a time. But when he found paramotors in 2010 he’s been flying them over the world and in air shows. He also represented the USA in the World Air Sports Federation’s (FAI) world paramotor slalom championships. Finneman was at the Lake County Airport (KLXV) in Leadville, Colorado, to launch on his record-setting flight. LXV is the highest public-use airport in North America at 9,934 feet MSL. The record actually took two attempts due to some issues such as turbulence he experienced on the first flight. California has a new law a bill that prohibits the sale, distribution, or making available leaded avgas beginning on January 1, 2031. Brought by State Senator Caroline Menjivar, it originally had a much shorter timeline, but was still opposed by some environmental groups. To no one&

Facility to Provide Maintenance and Overhaul for PW300 and PW500 Engines

Duncan Aviation recently broke ground on its new Pratt & Whitney Canada Designated Overhaul Facility (DOF) in Lincoln, Nebraska. The facility will support the maintenance and overhaul of PW300 and PW500 power plants. Representatives from Pratt & Whitney Canada, Hausmann Construction, Tectonic Management Group, and Duncan Aviation attended the ceremony.

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Electra recently showed off its Ultra Short demonstrator in front of prospective U.S. military buyers. The flights focused on the aircraft’s dual-use potential for logistics operations in challenging environments, particularly where traditional airstrips may be unavailable or compromised. Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office reported a ten-year-old girl, Peyton Saintignan, missing late on September 22. After a several-hour search including hundreds of volunteers and law enforcement agencies, a thermal sensing-equipped drone was able to save the day. SpaceX has been forced to ground its Falcon rocket fleet for the third time in three months after experiencing a second-stage firing issue. The company will need to quickly resolve this problem in preparation for two exploration missions slated to launch in early October. SpaceX commented that the discr

845,000 Square Foot Facility Meets Demands For Multiple Engine Types

Pratt & Whitney announced the opening of its largest facility for manufacturing military jet engines in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, adjacent to Tinker Air Force Base. The $255 million facility boasts 845,000 square feet and is capable of meeting the demands of both U.S. and global defense users of the F135, F117, TF33, F100, and F119 engines.