Moyes Was a Trailblazing Hang Glider Pilot

Bill Moyes, a record-setting hang glider pilot, passed away on September 24. He was a legend in free flight and is known to be one of the founding fathers of hang gliding. Moyes received the Order of Australia in 1998 and the FAI’s Gold Air Medal in 2013.

Investigation Links Safety Issues to Cheap 787 Components

Italian prosecutors have formally accused seven individuals and two subcontractors of fraud and aviation safety regulation violations. This follows a 2021 investigation in which Boeing reported several parts of its 787 Dreamliner, supplied by a subcontractor of Italian aerospace group Leonardo, were defective.

Latest Flight Hits Halfway Point Of 10 Planned

October 7, 2024 marked the fifth successful test flight for Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 demonstration aircraft. It flew to an altitude of 17,800 feet MSL in the R-2515 airspace and represents the halfway point in the 10 subsonic flights planned before breaking Mach 1.

Agency Ends Period of Enhanced Oversight

After nearly 7 months, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has put an end to its period of increased oversight on United Airlines. The agency found no significant red flags in its safety review. The airline was subject to several indirect restrictions during this period.

Brian Coughlin was a Valued Volunteer and Board Member

On October 5, longtime volunteer and board member Brian Coughlin crashed in his Fokker D-VIII replica. The fatal accident occurred during Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome’s weekly airshow. Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome has since canceled its weekly Saturday Night Shoot and Sunday airshow events.  

Also: Insurance Trial, Elixir Contract, Crazy Russkie Su-35, Airline Cautions

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&

Also: World Ultralight Fly-In, Pipistrel Velis, EAA Touts Larsen, Aero-TV: Keeping the Helicycle Legacy Alive

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

Also: Textron's 180 About NBAA, NetJets Prevails In Suit, Cebu Pacific A321neo, Mackay Trophy 

After seeing a Facebook post about a family stranded on a mountain, Jordan Seidhom and his son set out on a rescue mission with their R44 helicopter -- at their own expense. After some successful efforts, local authorities intervened, inexplicably threatening to arrest Seidhom if he proceeded with rescue operations. Seidhom, the former head of Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office narcotics unit and a 1,400-hour pilot, knew that he could help locate and rescue them. He found a safe place to land, loaded up on supplies, and got clearance from ATC before departing. 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. Thankfully, no one was injured in the expl

Also: Former FAA Contractor Indicted, SpaceX Grounds Falcon, Buh-Bye KC-10, Sustainable Aviation Caucus

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

Vigilant’s FlightHorizon Will Monitor And Report Drone Traffic

DronePort Network announced the launch of its Community Airspace Awareness Project (CAAP) at two Oklahoma sites, Ardmore Industrial Airpark and Mid-America Industrial Park. The project supports the buildout of drone and autonomous flight operations centers by offering developers a solution for airspace monitoring and enhancing safety. This is possible with real-time traffic alerts and detailed longer-term traffic reporting in what may grow into low-altitude airspace congested with pilot-controlled or autonomous commercial drone traffic.