South Korean Program Coming Along Nicely, with Demonstrator on Track to Fly This Year

Supernal LLC Motor Group got to strut their stuff with their brand new eVTOL concept in tow at the Farnborough International Airshow, updating the world on how far along their S-A2 development has come. Supernal said that they believe they're on pace to begin launching commercial flights in 2028, which is good news to those who've been awaiting news on South Korea's entrant in the eVTOL market battle. The S-A2 in its current guise aims for a cruise speed of 120 mph at an altitude of 1,000 to 1,500 feet AGL, with a range of about 60 statute miles on average. It will, like many of its competitors, be powered solely by batteries, eschewing the hybrid direction other

Central Coast Air Fest Will Be New Home For Vintage Aircraft Competition

Steve Hinton, President of the Planes of Fame Air Museum, announced at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh that the National Aviation Heritage Invitational (NAHI) vintage aircraft competition will move from Reno, Nevada, to make the Central Coast Air Fest at Santa Maria Airport (KSMX) in California its new home. Hinton said “NAHI will bring some of the finest restored aircraft in the country to our ramp and provide guests and sponsors a new and exciting element to our airshow." The 2024 Central Coast Air Fest will be hosted by Planes of Fame on September 21-22 at KSMX and will have former NAHI winners and participants on the ramp as well as NAHI representatives. The full vintage air

EAA Introduces New Procedures in Light of Past Accidents

Ultralight and sportplane aviation represents a new, innovative way of flying that is completely unique from all others. It involves powered parachutes, rotorcraft, gyrocopters/autogyro, and sometimes traditional fixed-wing aircraft. All of these lighter types, ultralight-wise, must have one thing in common: an empty weight that does not exceed 254 pounds  -- but they all share a lightplane area at the south end of Wittman Field.

Avilution’s Cockpit Creator Initiative at AirVenture Taking User’s Ideas Into Consideration Overnight

Avilution’s Cockpit Creator event at EAA’s Oshkosh AirVenture allows customers to redesign their avionics. Their setup features a QR code that takes users to a suggestion site where they can input their ideas or feedback, and then vote on what others have submitted. The team of software engineers then takes the panel home, implements the top-voted suggestions, and puts it back on display the next day. The foundation for this unique opportunity is Avilution’s Unpanel. This is different from traditional PFD/MFD displays in that it is designed specifically for VFR flight and user interaction.

An Inside Look at the Community that Makes It Possible

If you are an Aviation enthusiast, or at least familiar with the industry, you may know that EAA’s Oshkosh AirVenture is the largest, most widely celebrated airshow in the world. What you may not know, however, is that there are over 5,000 volunteers making it all possible. There is a wide variety of volunteer opportunities available, ranging from flight line safety and parking assistance to first aid and scooter repair. Throughout the week, volunteers will put in over 250,000 hours combined. They are also invited to attend the Weekend Work Party, which is a two-day event intended to prepare for the Airshow. These tasks include grass cutting, construction, staging, and generally making e

Partnership Announced at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

Honeywell and GoAERO announced in a joint press conference that Honeywell has become a strategic partner and sponsor of the GoAERO Prize, a worldwide competition to stimulate the development of an uncrewed Emergency Response Flyer to execute critical emergency medical response, disaster rescue, and other crisis missions. Making the announcement were Bob Buddecke, Honeywell’s President of Electronic Solutions, and GoAERO’s CEO Gwen Lighter. Honeywell joins NASA, Boeing, RTX, and other aerospace companies in assisting GoAERO carry out its mission. Honeywell will also serve as a judge in the competition as well as provide lectures, training, mentorship, and software for competing teams throu

Trickle down economics not always market friendly

Of the many exhibitors and vendors at Oshkosh, insurance carriers and brokers are an often overlooked, but necessary part of aircraft ownership and operation. ANN spoke with Casey Delanghe of Assured Partners on the ever changing landscape of Aircraft insurance. The rising cost of aircraft owners' insurance has become a significant concern within the aviation industry. Various factors contribute to these escalating premiums, affecting individual aircraft owners, flight schools, charter operators, and larger aviation businesses. Understanding the dynamics behind these cost increases is crucial for stakeholders to manage expenses and ensure continued operations.

Also: Oshkosh 2024-The Highs/The Lows, Firefighting Contract, Hartzell Display, NetJets 

Able Flight has announced its Class of 2024 will receive their wings in a ceremony at the upcoming EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. This will be Able Flight’s first year partnering with Southern Illinois University at Carbondale for flight training of its scholarship recipients. Mayor John Nichols of College Station, Texas, sent a letter to the FAA asking it to delay the increase in the number of deliveries requested by Amazon Prime Air for its facility in College Station. The letter was sent on behalf of the City Council of College Station as a public comment on t

07.22.24: Piper Aircraft Takes Over, VAA Youth Building, Pelton Int'vw - Part 1

Jack Pelton has been leading EAA for more than a few years and is looking forward to at least three more... but his plans for AV2024 and his outlook on aviation's greatest aero-love fest show promise for an amazing event. Among Jim Bede’s many designs, none was more successful or proven than the BD-4... now a new generation of offerings surrounding the BD-4C offer incredible value and the chance to get yourself a rugged, 4 seater that makes no excuses. They flew all the way across the Atlantic in a Rotax-powered Risen... burning only 42 gallons... and now we get a look

Flight Attendants On Track To Avoid Strike

All that strike prep may end up going to waste, now that the Association of Professional Flight Attendants has reached a tentative contract agreement in the final week of bargaining. The new agreement will be presented to the APFA Board of Directors and Executive Committee for review and a vote, but those in the know seem to feel it has a good chance of passing muster from the membership. "Our latest contract negotiations have resulted in significant benefits for our Flight Attendants," said APFA National President Julie Hedrick. "After years of bargaining and with the assistance of the National Mediation Board, we have reached a long overdue agreement with American Airlines, which addresses our concerns

07.26.24: Checking Out An Ornithopter, Kay’s Speedster, Electric Aircraft Symposium, Night Air Show, Jack Pelton Pt5

One of the highlights of ANN CEO and Test Pilot, Jim Campbell’s 51st Oshkosh was the chance to fly the latest bird from CubCrafter, powered by a Rotax 916... and built to be tough and light. Even through some off airport landings on a recently plowed field, the Carbon Cub UL stood up in a great way... this may be their best effort yet. Even with Oshkosh in full swing, we can’t wait for the 51st rendition of the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo, where, once again, ANN will serve as their media partner. Big upgrades, numerous new

07.24.24: Extra's Latest, GoAero, Kiddie Pedal Plane Parade, Pelton On Safety

We’ve seen some extraordinary homebuilt projects, several of them replicas of historic aircraft, but a gorgeous, stunning and all-around incredible 2/3 scale P-38 may top them all... and then there’s the story about how it came to be and the folks that are it’s caretakers now. Come Wednesday morning, the female staff of the Aero-News Network disappear... to attend various WomenVenture functions and enjoy the partnership WAI has created amongst a growing segment of the aviation community. The LSA crowd has been going ga-ga- over various promised high-wing platf

07.25.24: King Schools Expansion, Avilution Update, Gogo Communicates!, Pelton Int'vw-Part 4 

The annual Meet The Administrator event was not what we hoped for. The Administrator didn’t show up and apparently disappointed, neither did Jack Pelton (who often oversees this event). From the allotted time of 1130 to 1245 CT, the FAA talked, answered some prepared questions from EAA and ignored the audience. Finally, after the official end time, they took a few questions... but offered little in the way of answers. Year after year, MOSAIC has been promised to an aviation community hungry for progress and the chance to build a new industry that is m

From 2014 (YouTube Version): The Stunning Technology Behind What Keeps Much Of The Aero-World Flying

In this video we have the pleasure of meeting, J.J. Frigge, the Executive Vice President (then) for Hartzell Propeller, and we receive a personal guided tour of the Hartzell production facility. The Hartzell Propeller Company goes back to the early days of aviation when they were innovators in airplane propeller research and development. The spirit of those days has not been lost on the modern company. The video takes u

Airplane Entered A Flat Spin Maneuver. After Multiple Revolutions, The Airplane Entered A Nose Low Dive, And Impacted The Water

On July 4, 2024, about 1725 mountain daylight time, a Game Composites LLC GB1 Gamebird, N786AE, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Irwin, Idaho. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot of another airplane, he and the accident pilot were practicing an aerobatic formation flight for a future airshow within an aerobatic practice area just west of Alpine Airport (46U), Alpine, Wyoming. After completing the formation flight, the pilot maneuvered his airplane away from the aerobatic box

Aero Linx: International Air Transport Association (IATA) The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is the trade association for the world’s airlines, representing some 330 airlines over 80% of global air traffic. We support many areas of aviation activity and help formulate industry policy on critical aviation issues.

Braking Action Advisories When tower controllers receive runway braking action reports which include the terms “medium," “poor," or “nil," or whenever weather conditions are conducive to deteriorating or rapidly changing runway braking conditions, the tower will include on the ATIS broadcast the statement, “Braking Action Advisories are in Effect." During the time braking action advisories are in effect, ATC will issue the most current braking action report for the runway in use to each arriving and departing aircraft. Pilots should be prepared for deteriorating braking conditions and should request current runway condition information if not issued by controllers. Pilots shou

“We accomplish these goals by hosting a friendly annual vintage aircraft competition, where each aircraft is judged against restoration standards in line with those of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. We bring together rare vintage aircraft which have been meticulously restored to compete for the coveted Grand Champion Neil A. Armstrong Aviation Heritage Trophy. The Armstrong Trophy resides throughout the year in the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum’s Hazy Center.” Source: Ken Perich, Executive Director of NAHI, explaining why the National Aviation Heritage Invitational (NAHI) vintage aircraft competition will move from Reno, Nevada, to make the Central Coast Air Fest at Santa Maria Airport (