Steady Progress Toward Mach 1 Continues

Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 demonstrator aircraft successfully carried out Flight Six on October 24, 2024, achieving the primary objective of testing the Flutter Excitation System (FES). The company said the flight made significant progress toward validating a fully functional FES, as it was successfully tested at Mach 0.65, a higher airspeed than the previous flutter test point. In addition, the XB-1’s flight envelope was expanded to an altitude of 20,000 feet and achieved a higher overall airspeed of Mach 0.67 during the 39-minute flight.

Good News For Customers Awaiting Deliveries

Piper Aircraft announced that its M700 FURY has received type certifications from the European Union Aviation Safety Association (EASA), the Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil in Brazil, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in Australia. This is good news for customers in these regions who have been waiting months to take delivery of their aircraft, which are due to begin very shortly. The certifications cover flight into known icing (FIKI) and unpaved surfaces.

Alan Eustace’s Three FAI Records Remain Unbroken

On October 24, 2014, 57-year-old Alan Eustace wore a specially designed suit to protect him from temperature and pressure changes as he ascended beneath a 120 meter tall helium balloon on his way to setting three World Air Sports Federation (FAI) records that still remain intact.

Long-Endurance Development Testbed Returns To The Skies

Scaled Composites announced that its Model 355 Old School is returning to the air to once again serve as a developmental testbed. After several years in storage, Scaled Composites is bringing the Old School back into its test fleet as a developmental testbed with proven extended endurance, up to 11 hours, and its payload flexibility. The Old School was originally built as the Firebird Demonstrator for Northrop Grumman.

Efforts Were Two Months In The Making

When Jessica Kettlewood was jumping in a friendly speedstar competition in May 2024, she realized that most of the people on the winning team were female and began to wonder about the existing Pennsylvania state skydiving records for women. She knew there were a number of other skilled women in the area and after doing some research, she found that it would be fairly easy to break the record for the single point large formation. She also thought it would be possible to establish two more records for sequential jumps.

106th Rescue Wing Takes Delivery Of HH-60W Jolly Green II

The New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing marked the arrival on October 25 of its new HH-60W Jolly Green II fleet. The new helicopters will replace the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters formerly flown by the Wing. The Wing relied on the HH-60Gs when it provided search and rescue during major storms and hurricanes in Florida, Texas, and North and South Carolina. Members of the Wing said the Pave Hawk was also a great aircraft that played a vital role in the Persian Gulf War, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Clinic Aimed to Promote Safe Aircraft Control

The EAA Pilot Proficiency Center hosted an angle of attack (AOA) training clinic during the 2024 Oshkosh Airventure. The event aimed to teach attendees about what AOA indicators are and how they can be used to improve flight safety. AOA indicators have been around from the beginning. Even the Wright brothers had their own makeshift version: a piece of yarn fastened to the leading edge of the wing. As flight has grown more advanced, aviators realized how crucial AOA indicators are and began to install them in modern aircraft. However, many existing pilots are unaware of how these instruments t

Also: PS Engineering, Securaplane SD Upgrades, DJI Import Troubles, Satcom Direct

The speedy Global 8000 is on track to enter service in 2015... and Bombardier KNOWS they have a winner with this one... While the Global 8000 is readying for prime time, the Global 7500 is NO SLACKER and now holds over 60 records as confirmed by the NAA. We heard rumors but Textron has taken the wraps off numerous grades for several of the Citation line... with the CJ4 now getting a ‘Gen3” makeover with similar treatment for the M2 and others... and, by the way, the CJ4 Gen 3 is already in flight test. On October 15 the FAA placed on hold its legal interp

Also: PS Engineering, Securaplane SD Upgrades, DJI Import Troubles, Satcom Direct

The speedy Global 8000 is on track to enter service in 2015... and Bombardier KNOWS they have a winner with this one... While the Global 8000 is readying for prime time, the Global 7500 is NO SLACKER and now holds over 60 records as confirmed by the NAA. We heard rumors but Textron has taken the wraps off numerous grades for several of the Citation line... with the CJ4 now getting a ‘Gen3” makeover with similar treatment for the M2 and others... and, by the way, the CJ4 Gen 3 is already in flight test. On October 15 the FAA placed on hold its legal interpretatio

Modernizes Capabilities To Extend Lifespan Of Aging Aircraft

Universal Avionics (UA) announced new upgrades to its InSight Flight Display and its ClearVision Enhanced Flight Vision systems intended to enhance flight safety by improving situational awareness as well as extending the lifespan of aging aircraft. The InSight display system replaces obsolete legacy cathode ray displays with modern glass cockpit capabilities and is certified in more than eight business aircraft models. 

Pilot Felt A Shift In The Basket And Realized That The Passenger Had Jumped From The Ballon

On May 3, 2024, about 1830 Pacific daylight time, an Ultramagic SA Z-90 balloon, N290UM, was involved in an accident near Del Mar, California. The pilot was not injured; however, the passenger was fatally injured. The ballon was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. In a written statement, the pilot reported he launched the balloon with the sole passenger at 1815 for a proposed sunset “celebration of life” flight. At an altitude of about 1,300 ft msl, the passenger asked for privacy for ceremonial reasons, and the pilot turned his back.

Aero Linx: International Scientific and Technical Soaring Organisation

An early realization of the attractive possibility for meteorologists to learn more about the structure and behaviour of the atmosphere when using sailplanes, combined with the interest of aerodynamicists, aircraft- and instrument designers, constructors and pilots for improving sailplane performance and characteristics, lead in 1930 to the forming of the first international soaring organization ISTUS (Internationale Studienkommission für den motorlosen Flug).

Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) A frequency designed for the purpose of carrying out airport advisory practices while operating to or from an airport without an operating control tower. The CTAF may be a UNICOM, Multicom, FSS, or tower frequency and is identified in appropriate aeronautical publications. 

“You can see the darkness of space, the curvature of the Earth, the fragile planet below... “I had zero sensation of speed... It felt like I was falling in a void. I had no sense of gravity." Source: A little over a decade ago, 57-year-old Alan Eustace wore a specially designed suit to protect him from temperature and pressure changes as he ascended beneath a 120 meter tall helium balloon on his way to setting three World Air Sports Federation (FAI) records that still remain intact. It took Eustace a little over two hours to reach the altitude where the balloon stabilized at nearly the outer edge of the stratosphere. He and his Mission Control team began the countdown to release him.