Sat, Feb 15, 2025
Drone Confiscated, Child Taken To Hospital
A helicopter responding to a report of a child drowning raced to the scene to transport the child for medical treatment after nearly drowning was delayed on takeoff due to a drone flying overhead.
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Sat, Feb 15, 2025
Manufacturer’s New Flagship Aircraft Strengthens 2024 Growth
Piper Aircraft, one of the ‘big three’ general aviation plane makers, reported impressive company growth in 2024. It hit its highest delivery volume since 2001, with a total of 291 aircraft being distributed to customers. The report demonstrates a 20 percent, or 46 aircraft, year-over-year increase from 2023.
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Sat, Feb 15, 2025
Rocket Maker Begins Major Layoffs After Debuting its New Glenn Ship
Blue Origin leadership recently announced plans to lay off more than 1000 employees, making up 10% of its workforce. This cut follows just a month after the company debuted its long-awaited New Glenn rocket. The layoffs are part of the rocket maker’s effort to reduce costs and speed up launches.
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Sat, Feb 15, 2025
Planemaker Confirms ‘Take Off 2027’ Plan to Deploy Hybrid-Electric TBM
Daher, a major French manufacturer known for its TBM and Kodiak aircraft, has confirmed its plans to roll out a hybrid-electric aircraft by 2027. The company expects to complete the modified TBM 900’s technical design by 2025. The new aircraft will take inspiration from EcoPulse, a TBM 940-based demonstrator aircraft.
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Sat, Feb 15, 2025
Also: US Seizes 2nd Jet, More Osh Performers, Tuskegee Airman Passes, Safran Electric A/C Motor
JMB Aircraft and Ultralight Concept have formed a joint venture with plans to recreate the legendary Stampe-Vertongen SV-4b as a full-scale ultralight version. Ultralight Concept has been committed to preserving and modernizing the classic aircraft since acquiring the original plans for the SV-4b. Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and Secretary of President Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency, has pledged to make “rapid safety upgrades” to the US air traffic control system. This comes just days after the most deadly plane crash in decades. “With the support of President [Donald Trump], the [DOGE] team will aim to make rapid safety upgrades to the air traffic control system,” Musk noted on social media. The last two flying Boeing B-29 Superfortresses, dubbed Doc and Fifi, will be returning to Oshkosh, Wisconsin this su
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Sat, Feb 15, 2025
Also: Lakeland Aero Club, ATC Mandatory Retirement Age, EasyJet Incident, Flexjet-Embraer
Boom Supersonic conducted the second supersonic flight of its one-third scale demonstrator aircraft XB-1 over California’s Mojave Desert and on the same day the company announced what it’s calling Boomless Cruise for its supersonic Overture airliner. The 13th flight of XB-1 was conducted on February 10, 2025, with Chief Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg at the controls taking the aircraft through three supersonic passes during a 41-minute flight in the Bell X-1 Supersonic Corridor. In a significant yet largely symbolic decision, the FAA has decided to revert the NOTAM acronym from "Notice to Air Missions" back to "Notice to Airmen." This change, announced in Notice 7930.114, took immediate effect on February 10. A private jet owned by Vince Neil, lead singer of Mötley Crüe, veered off the Scottsdale Airport (SDL
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Sat, Feb 15, 2025
1,000 Qualified Trainees Rejected Over ‘Biographical Assessment’?
Michael Pearson, the lead lawyer in a class-action lawsuit against the FAA, says that 1,000 qualified air traffic control trainees were rejected in 2013 by the agency because of the sudden implementation of DEI hiring targets, leading to the present-day nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers.
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Sat, Feb 15, 2025
Also: Chinese Spy Balloon, Astro Homecoming Speeded Up, Flexjet Deal, Laser v Sheriff Chopper
Piper Aircraft reported impressive company growth in 2024, hitting its highest delivery volume since 2001, with a total of 291 aircraft sold. The report demonstrates a 20 percent, or 46 aircraft, year-over-year increase from 2023. The manufacturer’s high point was in international deliveries, with 74 aircraft marking a 76% annual increase. The final Martin JRM Mars flying boat, dubbed Philippine Mars, took its last flight on February 10. The iconic aircraft is now being taken apart and hauled to its permanent display in the Pima Air and Space Museum. The Martin JRM Mars is a four-engine cargo flying boat designed to serve the United States Navy during World War II. A US Navy EA-18G Growler crashed into San Diego Bay near Naval Air Station North Island on February 12 at 10:15 a.m. The two-person crew ejected safely and were rescued by a nearby
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Sat, Feb 15, 2025
Don't Miss Our Comprehensive Annual Coverage Of Aviation's 'Spring Break'
Here it comes! ANN has prepared its most comprehensive coverage EVER of the SUN n FUN Aerospace Expo... and we guarantee you that this is the best there is. We’re already posting stories to the SUN n FUN Digital Daily website at www.snfdd.com, but the real excitement starts on Monday aftewrnoon at 1600ET when the SUN n FUN Innovation Preview starts with announcements of dozens of new products, developments, and other surprises. Log on to www.airborne-live.net to see it all LIVE... and we have to say... some of these announcements are pretty exciting!
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Sat, Feb 15, 2025
Also: DeltaHawk RV-14 Runups!, GAMI G100UL Issues, Able Flight's 100th, New Rotax Problems
Sonex Aircraft has officially opened reservations for its highly anticipated Highwing kit, allowing prospective builders to secure their place in line with a $500 deposit. Once the prototype completes its first test flights, reservation holders will have the opportunity to convert their deposits into firm kit orders. Sonex expects the Highwing prototype to leave the ground as early as March or April. JMB Aircraft and Ultralight Concept have formed a joint venture with plans to recreate the legendary Stampe-Vertongen SV-4b as a full-scale ultralight version. Ultralight Concept has been committed to preserving and modernizing the classic aircraft since acquiring the original plans for the SV-4b. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University recently announced that its flight team, the Golden Eagles, will be moving out its legacy fleet of Cessna 150s. The aircraft
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