Also: Universal Avionics, Japanese Moon Lander Fails, Canada Transportation Act, Flt Education Access Act

The 66th annual AEA International Convention & Trade Show saw the presentation of the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award to Ric Peri, AEA VP of government and industry affairs. The FAA granted the award in honor of Charles Taylor, the first aviation mechanic in powered flight. Sonex has a new dual-stick option for the company’s Sonex, Waiex, and Xenos B models. The dual-stick configuration will be available as both a forward fit option for new aircraft and a retrofit package. The dual-stick architecture includes a new universal seat pan instal

Aero Linx: The Brodhead Pietenpol Association The Brodhead Pietenpol Association is a newly reorganized (in 2017) non-profit educational corporation that grew and developed from an earlier type club for owners, pilots, builders, and aficionados of the Pietenpol Aircamper and Sky Scout. The original BPA was started in 1975 (then called the National Pietenpol Association) as a social and builder support group. It has evolved over the years and now, after four decades, has blossomed into a newly re-organized Pietenpol-focused educational organization with part of its mission now including among other activities, promoting aviation safety related to antique amateur-built aircraft, disseminating safe amateu

“Accomplishing the impossible has been AeroVironment’s mission for more than fifty-years and we are excited to be working with the NASA/JPL team again to conquer the next challenge. Ingenuity’s flights on Mars are a giant leap for robotic technology. Now we’re advancing this science further by helping to build helicopters that not only will continue flight on Mars, but also will include apparatus to collect samples to bring back to Earth for this historic mission.” Source: AeroVironment’s vice-president and chief technology officer Scott Newbern, doing a little boasting after Aerovironment was tapped to help build the next Mars helicopters.