PZL-104 Wilga Revived as Next-Gen Turbine-Powered Draco

Draco Aircraft is aiming to raise $4.5 million to fund the development of its hyper short takeoff and landing (STOL) device, the Draco. This aircraft is a reinvention of the out-of-production PZL-104 Wilga. Airbus Poland ceased production of the Wilga STOL utility aircraft in 2006, and signed over rights in September.

The Testing Is Taking Place At Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Facility In Palmdale, California

An interesting new NASA program is coming to life... NASA’s Quesst mission marked a major milestone with the start of tests on the engine that will power the 'quiet' supersonic X-59 experimental aircraft. These engine-run tests, which began Oct. 30, allow the X-59 team to verify the aircraft’s systems are working together while powered by its own engine. In previous tests, the X-59 used external sources for power. The engine-run tests set the stage for the next phase of the experimental aircraft’s progress toward flight.

Future Ships, Starting With The Vehicle Planned For Seventh Flight Test, Will Fly With Significant Upgrades

Despite the usual delays associated in dealing with the FAA and other impediments such as the ECO-lobby, SpaceX is ready to take its next step on the way to Mars. The sixth flight test of Starship is targeted to launch as early as Monday, November 18 -- one week from now. Starship’s fifth flight test was reportedly 'a seminal moment' in iterating towards SpaceX's aggressive target of building a fully and rapidly reusable launch system. On the first attempt, the Super Heavy booster successfully returned to the launch site and was caught by the chopstick arms of the launch and catch tower at Starbase.

Agency Cites Limited Resources and a Lack of Safety Concern

The FAA recently and inexplicably rejected a request from the Parachute Industry Association (PIA) Rigging Committee aimed at changing the rules for foreign skydivers visiting the United States with their own gear. This would have simplified the unnecessarily strict regulations for repacking chutes.  The petition targeted 14 CFR 105.49, which allows foreign parachutists to jump under their home country’s regulations.

Rebrands The Whole Works As 'Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch'

Signia Aerospace has completed the acquisition of the Goodrich Hoist & Winch business, a manufacturer of helicopter rescue hoists and aircraft cargo winches, from Collins Aerospace. The company will be rebranded as Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch and will operate within Signia’s Mission Systems business unit alongside brand namesake Onboard Systems International, Lifesaving Systems, and Meeker Aviation.

KC-46 Production Remains Paused as Strike Recovery Begins

As the due date moves closer, the US Air Force has yet to receive any of the 15 Boeing KC-46 Pegasus tankers it was promised. Production of the aircraft has been delayed due to the recent seven-week strike. The Air Force’s tanker program is set to include a total of 179 KC-46s, and Boeing has delivered around 80 so far.

Pilot’s Improper Landing Flare, Which Resulted In A Nose Down Attitude And Subsequent Porpoised Landing

Analysis: The pilot reported that the airplane likely touched down on the nose landing gear first. The pilot stated that the airplane pitched upward immediately after touchdown, followed by episodes of increasing variation in pitch, then a sudden downward pitch, and the collapse of the nose landing gear. The airplane came to rest on the runway and sustained substantial damage to the engine mount and firewall.

From 2023 (YouTube Edition): Blazing Trails Through the Regulatory Jungle

The dawning age of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) is a metaphorical wilderness contemporaneously abundant in reward and risk. The business of moving through any wilderness, metaphorical or actual, is a complex and delicate one, requiring temperance, circumspection, and courage in equal measure. Of the technological trail-blazers arrayed upon Advanced Air Mobility’s vanguard, few are as consistently forward-thinking and successful as uAvionix, the Montana-based aerospace technology concern founded in 2015 for purpose of advancing the integration of Un

Aero Linx: Associated Body of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) JAA Training Organisation (JAA TO) is the European Training Centre of Excellence (TCE) recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) facilitating aviation-related knowledge solutions and training consultancy. Through innovative virtual training JAA TO capacitates aviation professionals globally. Focusing on the fast recovery of the aviation sector and supporting businesses their restart of operations, JAA TO offers your organisation its own exclusive, customised virtual and/or classroom training course. Guaranteed flexibility to suit your needs and help jumpstart business in times where internat

Indicated Airspeed The speed shown on the aircraft airspeed indicator. This is the speed used in pilot/controller communications under the general term “airspeed.”

“The first phase of the engine tests was really a warmup to make sure that everything looked good prior to running the engine. Then we moved to the actual first engine start. That took the engine out of the preservation mode that it had been in since installation on the aircraft. It was the first check to see that it was operating properly and that all the systems it impacted – hydraulics, electrical system, environmental control systems, etc. – seemed to be working.” Source: Jay Brandon, NASA’s X-59 chief engineer, commenting on the start of a new phase of testing for the NASA Quesst mission

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