Helicopter Began Flying Presidents in Ford Administration

A de-militarized, restored, and retired Sikorsky VH-3D Marine One helicopter was inducted into the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, in June 2024. The library and museum held a grand opening for the new pavilion that houses the helicopter. Bush family members, donors, supporters, and members of the Presidential Helicopters Program Office attended the event. Helicopters began flying U.S. presidents in 1957 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower needed to quickly reach his summer home just outside of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. After all, Air Force One was unable to land at the White House or the summer home.

Former Army Helicopter Pilot Gives Way to Academy Grad

In an in-flight change of command ceremony, U.S. Naval Academy graduate Cmdr. Travis Hartman took over command of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School from Lt. Col. Aaron Kia at Naval Air Station Patuxent River on June 27. During the airborne exchange, Kia initially led the formation flight in a C-12 Huron with Hartman on his wing flying an F/A-18 Super Hornet. The change of command occurred when Hartman’s Super Hornet took over the lead ahead of Kia’s C-12 signifying the change in leadership before landing.

Static Display, Ground Tours, and Flight Experience Rides

The Wings & Wheels event at Decatur Airport (KDEC) in Decatur, Illinois, was recently added to the B-29 Doc’s History Restored Tour schedule. The event will be held August 3-4, 2024. Doc will arrive at the airport on August 1 and will be available for rides on August 2-4. The historic aircraft will also be available for guests to tour the interior and cockpit by climbing inside through the forward bomb bay doors. There they’ll get to look around the inside of one of the only two B-29 Superfortresses still flying today.

Allegedly Violated Terms of Their Exemption

On July 5, the FAA rescinded the exemption held by a drone seller for 55-pound and heavier drone operations and denied a petition to amend the exemption. This action was taken for alleged violations of the conditions and limitations (C&L) of the exemption. The drone seller has the option to challenge the cancelation in court. The drone seller had a training-for-hire session advertised on their website which the FAA saw and in response, visited the training session to observe it. The FAA safety inspectors witnessed the pilot in command presenting training-for-hire activities for non-employees. When the PIC spoke with the inspectors he said the activit

Scholarships Assist Young Women in Flying Careers

Four young women became the latest group of aspiring aviators to receive a helping hand with their flight training expenses from the I Hart Flying Foundation (IHFF). This is the third cycle of scholarship awards in IHFF’s ongoing campaign it calls Hart Aviation Nation Delivers, or H.A.N.D. for short. The current campaign cycle began in Spring 2023 and has presented over $75,000 in flight training awards and packages since then and plans are in progress for the fourth themed campaign.   

Let The REAL Fireworks Begin, Klyde

FMI: www.klydemorris.com

GKN Aerospace Completes Sale of Spin-Forming Location to Boeing

Boeing has completed its purchase of a GKN Aerospace facility in Orangeburg, South Carolina, bringing on all the employees there and taking over all operations. GKN Aerospace was happy to get rid of the spin-forming factory, since its full output has been heading to Boeing anyways. The Orangeburg factory was built in 2012, and later expanded as they garnered additional business from Boeing, but overall its output primarily consisted of engine lip skins for the 737 MAX and 777X. GKN said that "its niche spin-forming technology is not core to GKN Aerospace’s focused product portfolio and, with Boeing as the site’s only customer, the strategic sale benefits all parties."

Also: MD Heli Changes, Falcon 9 Record, NAFI HoF Inductees, iFly EFB - Autopilot

The B-29 Doc’s History Restored Tour will be in Columbia, Missouri, for a brief four-day stop and will be available for flight experience rides Tuesday and Wednesday, July 16 and 17. In a symbolic representation of their World War II history, Doc will be joined by the P-51D Gunfighter, one of the aircraft that provided long-range escort and top-cover for the bombers in the Pacific Theater. Oshkosh 2024 attendees can experience one of the more accessible sides of aviation by visiting the Fun Fly Zone located south of the Vintage area along Wittman Ro

Also: MD Heli Changes, Falcon 9 Record, NAFI HoF Inductees, iFly EFB - Autopilot

The B-29 Doc’s History Restored Tour will be in Columbia, Missouri, for a brief four-day stop and will be available for flight experience rides Tuesday and Wednesday, July 16 and 17. In a symbolic representation of their World War II history, Doc will be joined by the P-51D Gunfighter, one of the aircraft that provided long-range escort and top-cover for the bombers in the Pacific Theater. Oshkosh 2024 attendees can experience one of the more accessible sides of aviation by visiting the Fun Fly Zone located south of the Vintage area along Wit

The NTSB has put out a preliminary report regarding a recent incident involving a Columbia 350 that incurred substantial damage following an engine failure. Luckily, the pilot in command was on the ball, and managed to shepherd the ailing aircraft through instrument conditions and back to the field in relative safety. "As the airplane climbed through 2,300 ft, the pilot established communications with Seattle Air Route Traffic Control Center. About one minute later he noticed a change in engine noise, with an accompanying vibration. The engine monitor indicated the cylinder head temperature for cylinder no. 6 was rising, and a short time later the engine lost all power and appeared to seize.

Expands Capabilities in Gulfstream and Bombardier Airframes

Clay Lacy Aviation Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities at its Waterbury-Oxford Airport (KOXC) and Van Nuys Airport (KVNY) repair stations have completed the first five installations of Starlink. The company’s maintenance technicians installed the equipment in three Gulfstream G550s, a G650ER, and a Bombardier Global 6000. The satellite-based internet solution provides pilots and passengers in-flight high-speed connectivity for 4K video, online gaming, streaming, and virtual private networks as well as voice communication. Clay Lacy became one of the first authorized dealers and installers of Starlink just months ago.

From 2023 (YouTube version): First Kits to Ship October 2023

Having formerly resurrected the storied shape of the Ryan ST—in effigy, anyway—Montrose, Colorado-based Timber Tiger Aircraft has plied its considerable expertise and experience to the revival of the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company’s JN-4—a World War I-era biplane known colloquially by generations of pilots and aviation enthusiasts as the Curtiss Jenny, or simply, Jenny. In point of fact, Timber Tiger has purchased the rights to sell Dennis Wiley’s Early Bird Jenny design as a kit. It should be noted, however, that while Wiley’s Earl

Aero Linx: The Collings Foundation The Collings Foundation is a non-profit, Educational Foundation (501(c)3), founded in 1979. The purpose of the Foundation is to preserve and exhibit rare historical artifacts and to organize and support “living history” events that enable Americans to learn more about their heritage through direct participation.

Climb To VFR ATC authorization for an aircraft to climb to VFR conditions within Class B, C, D, and E surface areas when the only weather limitation is restricted visibility. The aircraft must remain clear of clouds while climbing to VFR.

“If a drone gets shot down, we can replace a drone. But if an officer gets shot, then that’s a whole different story.”  Source: Lieutenant Michael Foster with the Spring Hill Police Department, commenting on the LEO implementation of UAV technology.