Part Flight-Test/Part Media Carnival/Part Ego-Centric Celebration Takes Place

Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity successfully reached space, Sunday, completing the Company's fourth rocket-powered spaceflight. With a number of in-flight streaming problems, some overt and clumsy celebrity posturing, and an over-reliance on gushing hero worship of VG Boss Branson; a fully crewed 'test' flight came off well before previously postulated schedules thought it might occur. Thankfully; despite the rush seemingly created when Blue Origin announced their flight schedule, all seemed to go well. The weather-delayed flight was the 22nd test flight of VSS Unity and the first test flight with a full crew in the cabin, including the Company's founder, Sir Richa

Also: Strong/ASR OSH Specials, Pilatus PC-24 Update, DG Flugzeugbau Acquired, Oshkosh Rides

Able Flight’s “Class of 2021” will be honored at a pilot wings pinning ceremony at EAA AirVenture on Tuesday, July 27th at 10:00 AM at Theater In The Woods. Six scholarship recipients earned their pilot certificates in the program this year, and all will be on stage to receive their pilot wings. This year’s pilots are T’angelo Magee, Michael Price, Peyton Wolter, David Snypes, Jr. and Sheila Xu. They include a veteran wounded in combat, two veterans who became disabled through accidents, a woman who is deaf, and two new pilots who us

Smaller Form-Factor Provides Attractive and Useful Weather Interface

METARmaps.com has added a completely new product line to their existing portfolio of distinctive maps. METARmaps-Minis have now been added to their list of amazing functional aviation wall art. Blending the latest in miniaturized electronics and state of the art printing processes, MINIs are based on 28 terminal area charts (TAC) and display current weather in 12" x 12" format. The result is stunning. ANN has one in our office and we are pretty impressed with the functionality and look of this device. And, setup was a breeze.

Built And Demonstrated An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle With Towing Sensor

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University students scored big at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics’ (AIAA) Design, Build, Fly competition, which pits university students from across the world against each other in challenges meant to test their skills in fabricating and demonstrating electric-powered, radio-controlled UAVs. Comprised of 25 Aerospace Engineering students, the Eagle team’s design featured a towed sensor — a torpedo-like tube with tail fins for stability that is stowed inside the aircraft then can be deployed in flight — and won third place overall, second in the United States, marking the best finish ever for an Embry-Riddle

KidVenture At EAA Airventure Oshkosh 2021 Will Look A Little Different

Due to travel restrictions and COVID precautions, the folks at EAA tells us that KidVenture 2021 will look a little different than normal. To prepare for KidVenture, regular operations for Pioneer Airport will halt on July 21 and resume on August 4. During AirVenture, Pioneer Airport gets transformed into heaven-on-Earth for aviation-loving kids. With free admission to AirVenture for kids 18 and under, EAA has prepared a wide variety of activities and learning experiences for KidVenture.

As GA and SportAv Struggle with Post-Pandemic Recovery, A New Player Would Be Most Welcome

There MAY be a new player coming to the sport and GA scene. Maybe. Yamaha Motor Co and ShinMaywa Industries have been circulating news of an agreement they have signed for the joint research of a next-generation small aircraft. According to this agreement, Yamaha will explore avenues for adapting its small-engine technologies to the aviation industry, while ShinMaywa will offer its aircraft engineering technologies and expertise—garnered through the development of flying boats and various other aircraft, to designing concepts, constructing prototypes, conducting tests, verify autonomous technology and more for small aircraft.

Technicians Will Soon Power The Atlas V To Test Flight Controls

United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Atlas V rocket has been assembled in preparation for Boeing’s much-delayed Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) launch to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Engineers in ULA’s Vertical Integration Facility (VIF) used large cranes to assemble the stages of the rocket in an upright position on its mobile launch platform, which will carry the Atlas V and Starliner from the VIF to the pad for launch.

From 2014 (YouTube Version): The S-20 Represents An Amalgam Of All The Best RANS Birds

At the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo 2014, ANN CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell had a chance to talk about and fly the new RANS S-20 Raven. The Raven was on display at the Expo and it’s an airplane you just couldn’t walk by without stopping to look. Randy Schlitter, the owner of RANS Designs, explains the rationale behind an airplane that looks like a classic but has the modern features you would want in a new light sport aircraft. Schlitter said the design started by combining the best of the RANS Coyote and the RANS Courier, but they ended up with a des

Pilot... Initiated A 180° Turn Toward The Airport When The Engine Lost All Power

On June 14, 2021, at 0852 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 180K, N13159, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Columbus, Ohio. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that she took off uneventfully and executed a climbing right turn before leveling off at 1,000 ft above ground level. Shortly thereafter, the airplane’s engine sputtered briefly. The pilot contacted air traffic control and initiated a 180° turn toward the airport when the engine lost all power.

Aero Linx: The United States Army Parachute Team The United States Army Parachute Team, nicknamed the Golden Knights, is a demonstration and competition parachute team of the United States Army. In 1959, nineteen Airborne Soldiers from various military units formed the Strategic Army Command Parachute Team (STRAC). Brigadier General Joseph Stilwell Jr. gathered the Soldiers with the intent of competing in the relatively new sport of skydiving, which at that time was dominated by the Soviet Union. That year, the U.S. Army team began representing the United States on the international competition circuit, and performed their first demonstration in Danville, Virginia...

Instrument Approach Procedure A series of predetermined maneuvers for the orderly transfer of an aircraft under instrument flight conditions from the beginning of the initial approach to a landing or to a point from which a landing may be made visually. It is prescribed and approved for a specific airport by competent authority.

"Today is a landmark achievement for the Company and a historic moment for the new commercial space industry. With each successful mission we are paving the way for the next generation of astronauts. I want to thank our talented team, including our pilots and crew, whose dedication and commitment made today possible. They are helping open the door for greater access to space - so it can be for the many and not just for the few." Source: Michael Colglazier, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Galactic, noting the impact of a successful, if not massively over-hyped, test flight of VSS Unity, with a full crew compliment.