Back, Yet Again, to the Middle East

Notwithstanding repeated attempts by United States Air Force brass to retire the aircraft, Fairchild-Republic’s mighty A-10 Thunderbolt II, a U.S. ground attack jet widely regarded as the world’s finest and most-feared close-air-support platform, is being deployed in numbers to the Middle East as Israel makes ready to move decisively, perhaps finally, on Hamas forces massed in Gaza.

The Biggest Little Jet Since its 2006 founding, Honda Aircraft has salted general aviation’s turbine sector with innovations the likes of a unique, over-wing engine-mounting scheme; natural laminar-flow wings, and advanced carbon composite construction techniques. Comes now 16 October 2023 and the revelation—more or less—of the HondaJet Echelon—an aircraft Honda asserts will be the “ … world's first single-pilot light jet capable of nonstop transcontinental flight across the United States.”

Diminishing Tailwinds

Arcline Investment Management, a self-professed growth-oriented private equity firm with $8.9-billion in cumulative capital, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Hartzell Aviation from Tailwind Technologies. Arcline’s acquisition of Hartzell Aviation is consistent with the former firm’s stated aim of seeking to “ … invest in technology driven, meaningful-to-the-world industrial businesses that enable a better future.”

Turboprop Single Attains Historic Milestone

Daher today announced its delivery of the 500th TBM 900-series aircraft, underscoring the continued global market demand for this best-selling family in the highly efficient and fast TBM turboprop-powered product line. This accomplishment was detailed during Daher’s press conference at the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas, Nevada. The milestone aircraft was a high-end TBM 960 version delivered to a private owner in the United States.

Technology Demonstrator Flies

Bombardier, on 16 October 2023, unveiled exclusive images of its EcoJet research project’s second test phase to the attendees of NBAA-BACE 2023. The promising flight tests were conducted with an 18-foot-wide demonstrator and have generated important results, contributing to the advancement of this pivotal project.

Augmentation to Commence Mid 2025

Textron Aviation, the Wichita, Kansas-based parent company of Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Bell Helicopter, Lycoming Engines, and Pipistrel, will add Garmin autothrottles to its hot-selling Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 beginning in mid 2025. The system, which optimizes engine power, simplifies flight-management, and increases overall operating efficiency, will reduce pilot workload and facilitate smoother, more predictable flight profiles, thereby improving the flight experience for aviators and passengers alike.

Promising Future?

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) will welcome industry leaders of the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) sector who will take part in a panel discussion of AAM technologies and the likelihood aircraft deriving of such will, in fact, drive sustainable on-demand aviation in the coming years. The keynote session will convene on the second-day of 2023’s NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition to Hillwood Aviation president and CEO Matt Byrd, who will serve as moderator, the panel is slated to comprise: Ben Marcus, co-founder and managing partner at UP Partners; Melissa Tomkiel, president and general counsel at BLADE; and Shannetta Griffin, associate administrato

The Pilot Reported That He Was Conducting An Autorotation During A Proficiency Flight

On October 1, 2023, about 1230 central daylight time, a Robinson R44 helicopter, N379SH, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Hochatown, Oklahoma. The pilot was not injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was conducting an autorotation during a proficiency flight. As he reduced engine speed to idle, the engine experienced an uncommanded total loss of power.

From 2014 (YouTube Version): This Is How A Great Life Gets Its Start... Enjoy!

While at EAA AirVenture 2014, Special Aero-News Correspondent, Michael Maya Charles, got a little off the beaten track and visited the Kermit Weeks hangar located on the north side of Wittman Regional Airport. While not actually part of the AirVenture exposition, Charles found a story that bodes well for the future of general aviation. Charles was lucky enough to be there at a time when he could meet a young man by the name of Eric Fatla. Eric is the kind of guy that works behind the scenes, but without him the scenes couldn’t take place. At only 24 years old, Eric is

Aero Linx: Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus) Formerly known as the Australian Ultralight Federation, Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus) is the peak body in Australia responsible for administering ultralight, recreational and Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) operations. We train and certify pilots, flying instructors and maintainers (almost 10,000 members), register a fleet of over 3,200 aircraft, oversee the operations of 174 Flight Training Schools around the country and support almost 50 Aero Clubs.

"The HondaJet Echelon was born to create a new category that transcends the travel experience on conventional light jets. Expanding mobility skyward has been Honda's long-lasting dream, and the HondaJet Echelon marks the exciting next chapter while showcasing a classic Honda story of a product that creates new value for people."   Source: From a statement by Honda Aircraft Company president & CEO Hideto Yamasaki following the announcment of the Echelon program.