Manufacturer Uses Flight Test Info to Improve and Streamline Final Kit

Almost exactly one year after its first flight, Samson Sky’s flying car is gearing up for production with a new and improved body design. The engineering team used information collected throughout flight testing to enhance performance and streamline construction of the Switchblade kit. Though the latest model has several updates, it retains key features from the original Switchblade prototype. The manufacturer’s signature folding wings, which disappear into the vehicle when in drive mode, will still be used. The aircraft is intended to support two side-by-side occupants plus baggage and fly for up to 500 miles on one tank of autogas.

Follows Toyota’s $500 Million Investment into Joby Aircraft Development

Joby, in partnership with mega automotive manufacturer Toyota, recently completed its first air taxi flight in Japan. This trails behind Toyota’s confirmation of a new $500 million investment for the certification and production of the Joby electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The international debut flight occurred at Toyota’s Higashi-Fuji Technical Center in Shizuoka, Japan. Joby demonstrated the capabilities of its quiet and emission-free electric air taxi and celebrated almost seven years of partnership with Toyota Motor Corporation.

GAMA Says Areas Critical For Resiliency Identified

As requested by Congress, the Aerospace Supply Chain Resiliency Task Force has issued its report to identify and assess risks to the U.S. aerospace supply chains and provide recommendations and best practices to mitigate those risks. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) was one of the participants in the task force and Paul Feldman, GAMA’s Vice President of Government Affairs, issued a statement...

Bell Nabs Four Agreements At European Rotors 2024

Bell Textron announced it has a signed agreement by a private operator to purchase the 100th Bell 505 sold in Europe. The deal was one of four, all with private operators, garnered by Bell at the European Rotors 2024 VTOL show and safety conference. Robin Wendling, managing director, Europe, Commercial Business said, “We’re proud to reach our 100th sale of the Bell 505 in Europe and thrilled to celebrate this milestone here at European Rotors. This achievement serves as a testament to the regional demand for the aircraft’s technology, versatility and performance. The Bell 505 has been instrumental to Bell’s growth in Europe.”

Updates Aim to Improve Customer Experience and Shorten Downtime

Hartzell Propeller recently announced several new investments in its service offerings that aim to improve and simplify customer experience. These include a new propellor exchange program, an expanded service facility network, and updates to its website. The Hartzell propeller exchange program allows customers to limit downtime on their aircraft without breaking the bank. The manufacturer uses its inventory of new and overhauled parts to assemble a propeller and ship it directly to a customer. Then, the client ships or gets their old prop picked up and taken back to Hartzell. The Time-Since-New information is collected to grant financial credit for the customer’s returned p

31st CRS Mission Aboard As Dragon Autonomously Docked With Station

On Monday November 4, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launched the Dragon vehicle on its way to the International Space Station (ISS) with its 31st Commercial Resupply Services mission (CRS-31) carrying a payload of science experiments and cargo for the station crew.

Also: Wheels Up Acquires GrandView, Purdue Grant, iFly EFB/SayWeather, ‘Me & My TBM’ App

In a move that seemed to come out of left field, Lilium announced it is on the verge of insolvency and has ceased operations. On October 24, Lilium N.V. submitted a Form 6-K filing to the SEC stating that the managing directors of its two operating subsidiaries, Lilium GmbH and Lilium eAircraft GmbH, determined that they are overindebted and will be unable to pay existing liabilities within the next few days. The four astronauts from NASA’s SpaceX-based Crew-8 mission successfully returned to earth at around 3:30 am on October 25. Their stay on

Passes FAA DO-160 Requirements, On Track For STC

Gogo Business Aviation announced that its Galileo HDX electronically steerable antenna has successfully passed the FAA-mandated DO-160 qualification testing. DO-160 testing is done to validate that the HDX antenna can withstand the harsh conditions of flight and is safe for use. Such conditions encountered in flight include intense vibration, extreme temperature fluctuations, radio wave penetration, lightning strikes, moisture penetration, and more.

Also: Wheels Up Acquires GrandView, Purdue Grant, iFly EFB/SayWeather, ‘Me & My TBM’ App

In a move that seemed to come out of left field, Lilium announced it is on the verge of insolvency and has ceased operations. On October 24, Lilium N.V. submitted a Form 6-K filing to the SEC stating that the managing directors of its two operating subsidiaries, Lilium GmbH and Lilium eAircraft GmbH, determined that they are overindebted and will be unable to pay existing liabilities within the next few days. The four astronauts from NASA’s SpaceX-based Crew-8 mission successfully returned to earth at around 3:30 am on October 25. Their stay on the I

From 2023 (YouTube Edition): Vive la France!

Founded in 2015, LaRochelle France-based Elixir Aircraft has set itself the goal of designing and producing “safer, more economical, more environmentally-friendly, and more versatile aircraft.” Elixir’s management posits the high operating costs and ostensible technical and human liabilities of legacy general aviation aircraft are attributable primarily to complexity: complexity of design, complexity of manufacture, complexity of operation, and complexity of maintenance. Ergo, Elixir’s design and production ethe are predicated upon simplicity.

(Pilot) Identified A Potential Landing Area And Pulled The Cirrus Airframe Parachute System, But The Parachute Did Not Deploy

On October 2, 2024, about 1347 Pacific daylight time, a Cirrus SR22, N752B, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Bakersfield, California. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he refueled the airplane and departed Tulare, California, with about 75 gallons of 100 low lead aviation grade gasoline onboard and the low boost pump on. After departure, he climbed to 13,000 ft mean sea level (msl).

Aero Linx: European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) Founded in 1955 as an intergovernmental organisation, the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) seeks to harmonise civil aviation policies and practices amongst its Member States and, at the same time, promote understanding on policy matters between its Member States and other parts of the world. ECAC's mission is the promotion of the continued development of a safe, efficient and sustainable European air transport system.

Conflict Alert A function of certain air traffic control automated systems designed to alert radar controllers to existing or pending situations between tracked targets (known IFR or VFR aircraft) that require his/her immediate attention/action. 

“The aerospace supply chain supports industry growth and opportunities. It involves tens of thousands of suppliers from all over the globe which provide parts, platforms and systems that require regulatory approval for use and installation, all of which may not be easily replaced or substituted. It is essential that both government and industry work together to ensure the stability of the supply chain, which was the reasoning behind the assembly of the Aerospace Supply Chain Resiliency Task Force..." Source: From a reaction to a task force report by General Aviation Manufacturers Association Vice President of Government Affairs, Paul Feldman.