A Once Promising Sport Aviation Segment May Yet Rise Again...

It seems like yesterday... standing among the crowd listening to the announcement of what Part 103 was actually go to be all about and how it might transform the once promising ultralight community... before it was all but destroyed by bad media and industry neglect. The 40th anniversary of the ultralight vehicle and Part 103 will be celebrated this summer at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2022. Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 103, which put regulations on ultralight vehicles effective October 4, 1982, marked the beginning of ultralights as we know them today.

Warbirds Adventures Moves to New, S.C. Facility

After twenty-five years in Central Florida, Warbird Adventures, the vintage aircraft flying school, has moved to its own airport (18SC) in the town of Ninety Six, South Carolina. Offering warbird intro-flights, checkouts, and a variety of pilot training services, Warbird Adventures affords both pilots and non-pilots opportunity to fly—or just have fun in—aircraft such as North American’s T-6 Texan, and American Champion’s Citabria and Super Decathlon aerobatic trainers.

Not So Plane English 

Plane English, the Indiana-based producer of aviation communication training software, announced the addition of Primary Flight Displays (PFD) to its ARSim Aviation Radio Simulator. The new feature allows users to view aircraft instrumentation as it would appear in the cockpit of an actual aircraft. PFD is integrated with the ARSim software, and is available to any user and/or subscriber at no additional cost. 

Altitude Angel System Ups Safety and Control

Altitude Angel, the European aviation technology company and provider of UTM (Unified Traffic Management) software, has announced that London Biggin Hill has become the latest airport to deploy its GuardianUTM Enterprise platform. GuardianUTM Enterprise is an airspace management and surveillance system that enables facilities (e.g., airports) or regions (e.g., nude beaches) to manage airspace access in definable zones. The system facilitates increased overview of remotely piloted aerial systems (RPAS) by distinguishing unauthorized RPAS (or UAVs) from approved operations, thereby permitting users to manage ever-increasing degrees of drone traffic.

Joint Boeing-NATO Undertaking Bets Big on AI

Project X is a unique public-private partnership between NATO, Boeing, the Government of the Netherlands, and Dutch industry. In essence, Project X is a technology development program undertaken for purpose of enhancing NATO’s capabilities as both a defensive and an offensive force. Robert Weaver, deputy assistant secretary general for Defense Investment at NATO states, “Project X sets a benchmark for new and creative ways to engage academia and industry and help allies develop and adopt emerging technologies at the speed of relevance,” Weaver highlighted the importance of autonomy and its digital enablers in areas such as data and artificial intelligence.

Student Designed Air-Vehicle Impresses 

A team of Embry-Riddle students has placed second in this year’s Design, Build, Fly aircraft competition hosted by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). The competition, which is sponsored by the AIAA, Cessna Aircraft Company, and Raytheon Missile Systems, challenges undergraduate and graduate students to design and build remote-controlled aircraft capable of performing specified tasks. 

$75-Million Agreement to Advance Hypersonic Propulsion

Purdue University and Rolls Royce have signed a research and testing agreement that will see the Lafayette, IN school receive $75 million [over ten years] from the famed, British multinational aerospace and defense company. The deal is Purdue’s richest and most expansive with an industry partner. The newly signed agreement will fund testing and research with focus in the areas of gas turbines, electrical, and digital technology. Subject research will be undertaken primarily at  Purdue’s Zucrow Laboratories, the largest academic propulsion laboratory in the world. 

Controller Reported That The Gyroplane Appeared To Enter A Spin During The Descent

On May 22, 2022, about 0803 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built M24 Orion Plus gyroplane, N590DM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The private pilot was fatally injured. The gyroplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A witness reported that the pilot was ferrying the gyroplane to his home in South Dakota on a crosscountry flight and had planned a stopover at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport (CGI).

Aero Linx: The Medevac Foundation International (MFI) The Medevac Foundation International (MFI) serves the medical transport industry’s professionals and families through academic research, wellness training, continuing education scholarships, and practical support for families during times of tragedy.

Profile Descent An uninterrupted descent (except where level flight is required for speed adjustment; e.g., 250 knots at 10,000 feet MSL) from cruising altitude/level to interception of a glideslope or to a minimum altitude specified for the initial or intermediate approach segment of a nonprecision instrument approach. The profile descent normally terminates at the approach gate or where the glideslope or other appropriate minimum altitude is intercepted.

“This project is a fantastic example of the great potential within such public-private partnerships and the speed of innovation we can achieve if we inspire young innovators to apply a unique and creative approach to tackling tomorrow’s challenges... We all agree that there is a bright future ahead of all of the PROJECT X participants.” Source: Kim Stollar, Managing Director, EU & NATO Government Affairs at Boeing International, detailing aspects of Project X -- which is a unique public-private partnership between NATO, Boeing, the Government of the Netherlands, and Dutch industry. In essence, Project X is a technology development program undertaken for purpose of enhancing NATO’s capabilities as both