Someone Must Have Screwed Up Somewhere, Because These Talkin'-To's are Rare!

The Young Eagles Program has been one of the Experimental Aviation Association's best tools in their repertoire when it comes to fostering a continued culture of aviation, but it doesn't come for cheap. The EAA has only been able to keep it running with the blessing of its insurers, which brings about all the usual restrictions underwriters require. While flying Young Eagles, pilots must complete their flights in daytime VFR conditions, retain full control over the aircraft throughout the flight, and refrain from any aerobatics, a rule that extends to even unusual attitudes and formation flights. 

Endurance Format Highlights Airmanship, Skill, Planning, and Navigation

The FAI has announced the first event in a brand-new series of championship races geared towards paramotor pilots who want to stay aloft and take the long way home, with the first big event coming next August. The FAI World Endurance Paramotor Championships have their roots in Estonian pilot Papa Kolar's concept in 2010, where he envisioned a competition focused on extended airtime and strategic power management over strict speed.

With Testing Soon Complete, Launch Preparations Begin in Earnest

Sierra Space's Dream Chaser has been put through the wringer at NASA's Glenn Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio, but with testing passed, it will soon head down to its launch site in Florida. The Dream Chaser has been put through just about everything NASA can test it on, checking out its survivability and robustness to ensure it's ready for duty in the harsh environs of space. A 5-week campaign of shock testing helped to ensure the Dream Chaser and its connected cargo module, the Shooting Star, could remain connected even in the worst conditions. 

Unusual Offering Comes Across the Public Auction Block

The University of Wisconsin-Madison listed a surprising bit of public surplus in the form of an Aeromarine Electrolyte, a converted Zigolo ultralight that runs on pure battery power. The aircraft has evidently never been flown while in the University's care, despite some indication that the Zigolo type had been pressed into service with their Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. Back in 2018, the school had issued a short press release about a similar ultralight Zigolo MG12, expecting to press it into use with low-level atmospheric data gathering.

There Are Approximately 4,600 PW500 Series Engines In Service 

Pratt & Whitney Canada's PW545D engine is one step closer to entry into service with type certification granted May 9 by Transport Canada Civil Aviation. In May 2023, Textron Aviation announced its new Cessna Citation Ascend business jet would be powered by twin PW545D engines. "As the latest derivative in the PW500 engine family, we look forward to the Ascend's entry into service," said Cedric Gauthier, vice president, Sales and Marketing, General Aviation, Pratt & Whitney Canada.

Also: SkyReach Parts Support, Piper Service Ctr, Airliner Near-Miss, Airshow London

The Judge overseeing Icon's convoluted Chapter 11 process has approved $9 million in Chapter 11 financing and set a June asset auction for the Icon A5 Program -- and said that objections had apparently been resolved (for the moment) by shareholders who claimed (not surprisingly) that Icon was being sold to an 'insider.' Judge Craig T. Goldblatt gave final approval to Icon's (DIP) debtor-in-possession financing and approved the sales schedule... but has yet to approve that previously disclosed stalking horse bidder. On April 12, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky sentenced Morgan J. Wiljanen, former helicopter pilot for Air Evac EMS, Inc., to 8 months of incarceration, 18 months of supervised release, 4 months of home detention, and a $100 special assessment. In December 2023, Wiljanen pleaded guilty to operating an air common carrier while

Also: 'Space Weather', USAF Rescue, Atlanta Warbirds, WestJet Encore Pilots Vote NO

The Perris SkyDive DC-9 is ALIVE! Following initial test flighta and practice landings that were flown by a flight crew that had to be brought in all the way from Florida, the California DZ put the DC9 back in service and made at least three jump runs on Saturday, taking about 60 jumpers each to about 15K'. An interesting surprise occurred this week as Wag-Aero customers logged on to their site in order to order a few things...no Wag-Aero. Instead, the site was redirected to Aircraft Spruce, which has apparently bought out the once popular Wag-Aero operations shortly after the same operation divested itself of its interest in Leading Edge Air Foils. The AAIB has disclosed its findings after an accident befell an unmanned, remotely pilots test vehicle which suffered a forced landing following power unit failure, at the Cotswold Airport (Kemble), Gloucestershir

Massive Aviation News Event Started 2024 Off With a Plethora of Exciting Info

Last year, we introduced the SnF Innovation Preview in which 25 companies introduced over 30 new planes, products, engines, accessories, and more… in other words… a LOT of news. Rotax previewed the powerful 916iS, CubCrafters showcased the Carbon Cub UL, Bose introduced the A30, Aerox revealed the Boomula… and so much more. This year, we went beyond that... way beyond all that, with a larger selection of news announcements that covered ALL aspects of sport, general and commercial aviation... all at the start of the 50th Annual SUN n FUN Aerospace Expo... the undisputed start to the aviation year. This year was also a major news-breaker... especially with the announcement that the DeltaHawk Diesel engine folks were working with Piper Aircraft on an STC for the PA44 Seminole. It also hosted the first forma

Can Fly 6,600 Nautical Miles At Mach 0.85 Or 5,600 NM At Mach 0.90

Gulfstream has announced that the G600 has been certified for steep approach to landing by the FAA, opening access to more airports around the world. The G600 has successfully demonstrated its steep-approach capabilities with low-speed handling and short-field landings at London City Airport in England and Lugano Airport in Switzerland. These challenging airports require steep-approach operations, as London City has a short runway and Lugano is located in the mouth of a valley.

Also: Skydio Chief, Uncle Sam Sues, Dash 7 magniX, OR UAS Accelerator

US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall was given a turn around the patch in the 'X-62A Variable In-flight Simulation Test Aircraft, or VISTA, to illustrate just how far autonomous aircraft have come. The aircraft sounds much snazzier than it is in reality, being a 30-year old, 2-seat F-16D with a nifty paint job and an R2-D2 in one of the seats. The aircraft has long been in the US Air Force Test Pilot School, where it received modifications for multi-axis thrust vectoring and aerodynamics. AgEagle Aerial Systems will ship 40 of its eBee VISION systems, along with 9 more eBees, with all the parts, support, connections, control stations, and miscellany required to keep the fleet operational in French army service. Maxar Intelligence has confirmed that the first two WorldView Legion satellites are performing well after being launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket last wee