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July 07, 2021

Airborne-Unmanned 07.07.21: Opensky, ANAFI Ai, Virgin Orbit’s 'Tubular Bells'

Also: Airborne's 'Telly' Award!, Volatus Acquires ConnexiCore, Navy AWO, USAF Selects Electra

Wing, an FAA approved UAS Service Supplier of the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC), made its drone flyer app, OpenSky, available in the US for the first time. Available for free in the Google Play and Apple’s App Store, the OpenSky app makes it easy for drone flyers to abide by FAA airspace rules and regulations and request authorization to fly in controlled airspace in near real-time. Parrot has unveiled the ANAFI Ai. ANAFI Ai is reportedly the first drone to use 4G as the main data link between the drone and the operator. Users may no longer experience transmission limitations thanks to this level of connectivity. For Beyond Visual Line of Sight fli

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Airborne-Unmanned 06.29.21: More Archer v Wisk, Safety Tests, Walmart Invests

Also: Rewriting Aviation Lexicon, Hubble Space Telescope, Emergency Response Drones, magniX

And the drama continues between Archer and Wisk! In court papers filed over the weekend by Archer Aviation, in opposition to Wisk’s motion for a preliminary injunction; Archer, citing Wisk employees’ testimony and documents produced by Wisk in discovery, states that Wisk filed its aircraft design patent application -- which as Wisk points out in its lawsuit appears nearly identical to Archer’s -- weeks after learning of Archer’s aircraft design. Sixteen organizations have been selected by the FAA to initially administer the Recreational Un

Lou Mancuso Extols The Virtues of Cramming a Rotax 915iS Into The Bristell LSA

Back in the early days of aviation, it became evident that there was rarely an airframe that wouldn’t benefit from more power... and the two-seat, side by side, Bristell LSA is no exception. After building a heck of a rep with the smaller Rotaxes, Bristell’s design team not only fitted a 915iS to the best... but they did so while still keeping it eligible for flight as a Light-Sport Aircraft.

Aviation's Most Comprehensive Video News Program Scores A Telly!

The ANN gig is a tireless one and is also one that doesn't have a whole lot of glory attached to it -- there's simply too much work to do, to notice such things. Still; there are a few moments when we get a chance to see and know that we're on the right track. Recently; ANN's Airborne video news program, hosted by Kimberly Kay, supervised by Nathan Cremisino, and Executive Produced by Jim and Masako Campbell, won an international media award. For the first time in the Aero-News Network's quarter century history (though this is the first year we were under consideration), the network brought home a Bronze People's Telly award for our Airborne Unlimited news program. The show was short

Pilatus And Honeywell Have Continued To Develop And Refine The Advanced Cockpit Environment

Based on customer feedback from over 50,000 hours of fleet operations, Pilatus has incorporated numerous new features into PC-24s which come off the production line from this year onward. The cabin features new executive seats which provide more comfort, more intuitive controls, and lighter weight. They fully recline to a flat position. The seats are attached to the cabin's flat floor with quick-release mechanisms to facilitate rapid seating configuration changes on the ground. In lieu of the standard forward left-hand coat closet, operators may now choose to install a galley with options for a microwave oven, a coffee or espresso maker, a generous work surface, dedicated ice stor

Much Of DG Flugzeugbau Is Being Transitioned Into The Newly Founded DG Aviation

Volocopter reports that it has secured Production Organisation Approval (POA) in compliance with EASA Part 21G. The company is acquiring DG Flugzeugbau. Through this acquisition, Volocopter believes itself to be the only eVTOL company holding both the required design and production organization approvals (DOA and POA) to advance its aircraft toward commercial launch. UAM is an emerging part of the aviation industry focused on connectivity in and around cities. Notably, in 2019, Volocopter attained DOA from EASA (EASA Part 21J). Through its compliance with both EASA Part 21G and Part 21 J, Volocopter hopes to have the first commercial aircraft to market once

Bell Announces FVL Systems Integration Lab Facility

Will Support Testing And Verification For Both The FLRAA and FARA Programs

Bell has disclosed new plans for a Systems Integration Lab (SIL) facility at the Bell Flight Research Center (FRC) in Arlington, TX. This state-of-the-art facility will support testing and verification for both the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) and Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) programs, each with their own dedicated footprint. Bell anticipates starting construction in the coming weeks. This new facility is being built to perform risk reduction, integration, verification and validation testing on air vehicle and mission systems and the software needed to meet requirements for Future Vertical Lift (FVL) complete weapon system development programs.

New Props Designed To Maximize Performance For Backcountry Operations

Hartzell Propeller's agreement with the Recreational Aviation Foundation, that provides special $1,000 discounts on all new Hartzell backcountry propellers sold to RAF members, will be available at EAA AirVenture 2021. RAF is a national organization headquartered in Bozeman, Mont. and dedicated to preserving, improving and creating airstrips for recreational access. "Highlighting this exclusive offer to RAF members is a great way for Hartzell Propeller to return to participating in public aviation venues following the hiatus brought about by the pandemic," said JJ Frigge, company president.

Flights In A B-17, B-25, Ford Tri-Motor, or Bell 47 Available This Year

If you arrive at AirVenture via ground vehicle, you're missing the chance to see an amazing plethora of aviation treasures in their glory by missing out on an overflight. Seriously; as incredible as the sights and sounds may be while touring the grounds of the hallowed land of Oshkosh, it takes on extraordinary level of greatness when seen from the air. That said; EAA AirVenture Oshkosh wouldn’t be The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration without the opportunity to enjoy flights in rare and historic aircraft during the week -- and see Wittman Field from the air.

Also: Robert Sumwalt Retires, Piper Readies For Oshkosh, Massive United Buy, Citation Excel Eagle

The gang here at ANN could not be more thrilled... the amazing Wally Funk will finally be heading to space in less than three weeks -- after waiting some 60 years for the chance. Fulfilling a lifelong mission to become an astronaut, Wally Funk will fly to space on New Shepard’s first human flight on July 20 as an honored guest. She will join Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark Bezos, and the auction winner on the flight. AirCar has reportedly fulfilled a key development milestone in a 35-minute flight from the international airport in Nitra to the inte

Airplane Was Located About 550 Ft. South Of The Approach End Of Runway

On June 13, 2021, at 2355 central daylight time, a Piper PA-32-260 airplane, N3258W, was involved in an accident near Madisonville, Texas. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot was fatally injured, and five passengers received serious injuries. The airplane was operated by the pilot under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The airplane impacted trees that were about 50 ft. in height and about 680 ft. south of the approach end of runway 36 at Madisonville Municipal Airport (51R), Madisonville, Texas. The airplane was located about 550 ft. south of the approach end of runway.

AD 2021-14-15 Required Removing Certain Main Rotor Head Torsion Tie Bars From Service

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2002-08-16 for certain Eurocopter France SA341G, SA342J, and SA-360C helicopters. AD 2002-08-16 required removing certain main rotor head torsion tie bars (tie bars) from service and revising the limitations section of the existing maintenance manual for your helicopter by adding life limits for certain other tie bars. This AD was prompted by the determination that another part-numbered tie bar is affected by the same unsafe condition. This AD continues to require removing certain tie bars from service and establishing a life limit for certain other tie bars. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe cond

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (07.07.21)

Aero Linx: The Lawyer Pilots Bar Association The Lawyer Pilots Bar Association is an international, non-profit Bar Association. While most of the Association's members are attorneys and pilots (or former pilots), these are not requirements for membership. Eligibility for membership varies from persons who are licensed attorneys who possess or have held airman's certificates to persons who simply have an interest in Aviation Law or Aviation Safety. The organization holds two main seminar-conventions each year for which a separate registration fee is collected. The goals of the conventions are to provide the membership with an opportunity to hear from legal and aviation experts on a wide variety of int

Mountain Wave Mountain waves occur when air is being blown over a mountain range or even the ridge of a sharp bluff area. As the air hits the upwind side of the range, it starts to climb, thus creating what is generally a smooth updraft which turns into a turbulent downdraft as the air passes the crest of the ridge. Mountain waves can cause significant fluctuations in airspeed and altitude with or without associated turbulence.

"At DG Flugzeugbau, we have always continued to strive for perfection through unique innovation with gliders, vast aerodynamic improvements, and, for the past ten years, with Volocopter's eVTOLs. We see the future in these aircraft and are excited to combine a section of our company with Volocopter to invest in the future of sustainable aviation while continuing our tradition of building gliders and maintaining aircraft." Source: Holger Back, CEO of DG Aviation, commenting on the acquisition of DG Flugzeugbau by Volocopter.