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The Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington recently obtained a pair of Sopwith Camel flight simulators, allowing attendees to experience the closest thing to the original today. These simulators will be one of the jewels of the Museum's WWI exhibit, offering visitors an immersive flying experience in the iconic aircraft. Rather than push newbies through the usual flight training curriculum of a flight sim, the Sopwith Camels will give operators a range of scenarios to play with, reinforcing repeat attendance and fresh experiences. The FAA's 5-year reauthorization bill has remained locked in a constant tug-of-war between stakeholders, and Senator John Thune has said he wants to see it all through. Pioneer Aerospace will be bought up by SpaceX thanks to its parent company's bankruptcy (and the many creditors who appear to be getting scre

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Boeing's 737 MAX 10 has been given the go-ahead for type-inspection authorization by the FAA, allowing the regulator to begin its own testing on the aircraft after hundreds of in-house flights. Boeing is understandably antsy to get that type certificate in hand for the MAX 10, given a long line of backorders that numbers somewhere north of 1,000 aircraft. The National Park Service and the FAA have published their now complete air tour management plan for Mount Rushmore. All flights must stay 1/2 sm away from park boundaries, or 5,000 ft AGL. The plan isn't a surprise to local operators, being the stuff of years-long controversy thanks to the park's confluence of indigenous lands, controversial custody, overt politicism, and increasing crowds. SpaceX is releasing a few tentative details about the recent IFT2 Starship test... On November 18, 2023, Starship successfull

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Light plane manufacturer Robin Aircraft has been pushed into liquidation by way of French court order after the judges overseeing the firm’s troubled state declined the bids offered for the classic company. Owners and operators of Robin Aircraft and CAP10 planes won’t find themselves left out in the cold thanks to an arrangement with CEAPR, a local enterprise that has provided parts and support for the company’s work for years already. L3Harris Technologies announced an agreement to sell off its Commercial Aviation Solutions arm for $800M to TJC L.P. The acquisition will be made with a $700 million cash purchase price and $100 million earnout based on the achievement of financial performance goals stretching out through 2024. The deal should close in the first half of 2024. ARC AeroSystems announced the return of the Avia

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Here’s a look into the future... Flyer Indústria Aeronáutica's locally assembled RV-10 LSA received approval from Brazil's ANAC, making it the first such multi-passenger SportPlane in the world. The Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil started in on their own MOSAIC-style regs by granting authorization to a 4-place aircraft, with approval to a type of plane pilots around the world have eagerly awaited. Light plane manufacturer Robin Aircraft has been pushed into liquidation by way of French court order after the judges overseeing the firm’s troubled state declined the bids offered for the classic company. Owners and operators of Robin Aircraft and CAP10 planes won’t find themselves left out in the cold thanks to an arrangement with CEAPR, a local enterprise that has provided parts and support for the company’s work for

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A Piper PA-28R-201 crashed in Conway, South Carolina on September 14, 2022, causing fatal injuries to 2. "Shortly after departure, on the first flight following maintenance, the pilot reported a loss of engine power," reads the NTSB report. "The pilot attempted a forced landing onto a gravel road, but the airplane impacted trees and powerlines on final approach. The airplane came to rest against a berm and a post crash fire ensued." During their investigation, the NTSB found a good deal of engine damage, oil, and heat discoloration. Rolls-Royce's recent strategy release showed a minor pivot in the firm's plans to shore up its cash base over the coming years, even to the point of selling off their electric aviation wing to third parties. "We are creating a high performing, competitive, resilient and growing Rolls-Royce that will have the financial strengt

Helo Manufacturer Empowers In-House Refurb and Repair Capabilities

Schweizer has obtained its FAA Part 145 Repair Station certification, allowing the manufacturer to work on its own aircraft as a post-sale service provider. The brand makes the Schweizer S300, S300CBi, and S333 helicopters. Their repair station cert allows them to now overhaul transmissions and "other labor intensive components" in-house, lowering costs for S-series operators. “We are extremely grateful to our partners at the FAA who helped us earn this additional level of quality assurance and capability as we continue to build back the trusted Schweizer brand,” said David Horton, president and CEO of Schweizer.

Firm Wants More Shareholder Value, Less Scattered Approach to Aviation

Rolls-Royce's recent strategy release showed a minor pivot in the firm's plans to shore up its cash base over the coming years, even to the point of selling off their electric aviation wing to third parties. "We are creating a high performing, competitive, resilient and growing Rolls-Royce that will have the financial strength to control and shape its own destiny," said Chief Exec Tufan Erginbilgic. "We are clear where we will not invest and re-allocate capital to parts of the business where we can generate more value."

Brockton Councillors Vote to Sell Saugeen Municipal to Private Interests

A small-town airport in Canada will soon be up for grabs, after the local council voted to sell off the Saugeen Municipal Airport. A Canadian Owners and Pilots Association report shined a light on the tough life of a small town airport, quoting the council's studies that show each year, despite some activity and business, the taxpayers subsidize Saugeen to the tune of about $15,000 CAD.

Academy Proves Popular Thanks to Full-Motion Bell 429 Sim

Bell Training Academy in Valencia, Spain welcomed around 200 students to training using its nifty facilities, its crown jewel being a fully certified Bell 429 Level D Full Flight Simulator. The sim has been a hot commodity, with more than 1,000 hours logged this year alone. The school offers rotary-wing students a chance to experience 'flight' conditions that would otherwise be untenable in real-world operations, whether instrument weather, disorientation, or equipment failure.

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ARC AeroSystems announced the return of the Avian Pegasus Gyroplane. Avian stemmed from employees of Avro Canada, designing their gyroplanes in Canada and ultimately producing 3 prototype pre-production aircraft to work through the certification process. Ultimately, the firm died out in the early 70s, with its assets put up for sale. One remaining prototype, along with the design's rights and type certification, found their way into ARC AeroSystems' hands in 2023. Stratolaunch LLC has continued its efforts to develop a Mach 5 capable aircraft, helped along by a familiarly Rutanesque design in the form of Scaled Composites' Roc. Stratolaunch had planned to offer satellite launch services by taking advantage of lower costs achieved by mid-air ignition, working with Scaled Composites of Burt Rutan fame to design a twin-fuselage aircraft capable of lifting a small