Also: HAI's Salute to Excellence, Caldwell Airpt Changes Name, Masten Expands, Tupolev Tu-160M

Zeva has completed the first untethered flight test for its Zero flying wing airframe, where the aircraft took off and flew under its 8 electric propellers.

With the first flight completed, the Zero now boasts the bragging rights of being a functional, real aircraft, with flight time in its logbook in an industry rife with ground demonstrators and digital renders. The flight is an important milestone in the airworthiness certification process, proving the unmanned demonstrator could take off and maintain position in a controlled hover, as well as taxi, climb, and maneuver at low altitude. Some in the collective aerospace community have expressed a measure of annoyance at the recent non-statement issued by the FAA in regards to a ground stop issued January 10. The halt saw departures from west coast airports paused for around 15 minutes. The FAA twitter account posted a terse statement, stating, "As a matter of precaution, the FAA temporarily paused departures at some airports along the West Coast on Monday night. Full operations resumed in less than 15 minutes. The FAA regularly takes precautionary measures. We are reviewing the process around this ground stop as we do after all such events." Despite the warnings, the cajoling, and the requests from a range of stakeholders, the County of Santa Clara, California, has gone ahead with its plans to end the sale of leaded fuels in their county, particularly 100LL at Reid-Hillview and San Martin airports. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne!!!

Airborne 01.14.22 is chock full of info in this Daily News Episode, Friday, January 14th, 2022... Presented by Aero-TV veteran videographer and Airborne Host Holland Lee. Holland is supported by ANN Chief Videographer Nathan Cremisino, as well as ANN CEO/Editor-In-Chief Jim Campbell. This episode covers:

• Zeva Zero eVTOL Completes First Powered Test
• Vague FAA Statement Reveals Nothing
• Moronic Politics... San José Undeterred, Ends Delivery of 100LL 
• HAI's Salute to Excellence Awarded to MD Helicopters
• Boise Alternate, Caldwell Airport Changing Name
• Masten Expands Operations, Doubling Pace
• Tupolev Tu-160M Takes Flight

Get Comprehensive, Real-Time, 24/7 coverage of the latest aviation and aerospace stories anytime, at aero-news.net. And be sure to join us again tomorrow, for the next edition of "Airborne Unlimited" here on Aero-TV. Thanks for watching. See you, again, tomorrow!

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