Aircraft
News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.
Aircraft
Sikorsky writes off commercial market
When it comes to selling helicopters for one of the leading helo makers, it’s difficult to find a job that Jeff Pino hasn’t done.
Aircraft
AIN Special Report: New Business Aircraft
Last year’s dot-com nosedive has taken its toll on the startup companies planning to build new business aircraft and seeking ever more elusive investor fun
Aircraft
Adam enters its horse into very light jet race
The lightest end of the business jet market gained another player last month as Adam Aircraft Industries of Englewood, Colo., unveiled a mockup of a twin-e
Aircraft
Eclipse 500: Still just one flight logged
At press time Eclipse Aircraft had flown the first Eclipse 500 very light jet just once–on August 26–pending the return of both engines from manufacturer W
Aircraft
Hawker 800 winglets STC set for next spring
Aviation Partners now expects to receive certification of its winglets for the Hawker 800 next May, nearly a year later than originally planned.
Engines
Another Walter Beech mod gets STC'd
LoneStar Propjets of Waco, Texas, has received an STC to replace the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 turboprops on the King Air 90 through C90 series with P
Aircraft
New Learjet 40 to replace Learjet 31A
Bombardier Aerospace will end production of its 11-year-old Learjet 31A following two years of declining sales, and the new Learjet 40, scheduled to enter
Aircraft
Cessna breaks with established policy to allow brokers to market its pre-owned aircraft
In a break with long-established practice, Cessna Aircraft has reached an agreement with five independent aircraft brokers for the sale of five used Citati
Aircraft
‘Dual relevant’ concept could lead to an SSBJ
A supersonic business jet (SSBJ), which many in the industry see as inevitable but just not in the near future, may have taken another step forward when Ra
Aircraft
In The Works: CMC Leopard Six
CMC is “still soldiering on,” in the words of founder and CEO Ian Chichester-Miles, but his long search for funding has yet to bear fruit.
Aircraft
In The Works: Maverick Jets Maverick Leader
Jim McCotter, president and CEO of Maverick Jets of Melbourne, Fla.
Aircraft
In The Works: VisionAire Vantage VA-10
VisionAire, now operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy, is focusing its efforts on obtaining additional funding.
Aircraft
In The Works: Ibis Aerospace AE270
The dearth of orders (only five) for the lower-powered Ae270P turboprop single compared with the higher-powered Ae270HP and the difficulties inherent in ru
Aircraft
Dornier eyes cold comfort in Siberia
Insolvent German airframe builder Fairchild Dornier has turned to one of Russia’s most powerful oligarchs in an attempt to save the foundering 728 and 928
Aircraft
In The Works: Sukhoi SSBJ
At the end of June, Sukhoi announced the creation of the “new” Sukhoi Aviation Corporation, with the consolidation of a number of design and manufacturing
Aircraft
AvCraft receives bizjet interior STC for 328JET
On June 6, AvCraft Aviation of Tyler, Texas, received the first STC cabin interior approval for the Fairchild Dornier 328JET, and the aircraft–known as the
Aircraft
Embraer Lands New 170 Commitment
Brazil’s Embraer said it expects to complete negotiations on a firm order for six of its 70-seat 170 jets “in the coming weeks” with Italian flag carrier A
Aircraft
Entry-level Mustang newest in Cessna stall
Cessna unveiled a new entry-level jet at the NBAA Convention last month.
Aircraft
Cessna’s new CJ3 proves to be a red-hot seller
Cessna Aircraft racked up orders for 156 Citation CJ3s (of which 100 are for NetJets and 25 for CitationShares) in the two days following its launch on the
Aircraft
Cessna Mustang Will Not Prompt Piper Jet
Will Cessna’s newly announced Mustang light jet spur Piper to action? Though the company has contemplated introducing a jet for years, the official answer
Aircraft
Watch For Falcon 10 RVSM Early Next Year
Group RVSM approval for Falcon 10/100s equipped with the original Collins autopilot is expected to be completed early next year.
Aircraft
T-prop single starts life as P Navajo piston twin
Converting a piston twin into a turboprop single may seem like a bizarre idea, but an international team of technicians and engineers in Russia and Switzer
Aircraft
Largest of the super-midsize jets' gets FAA nod
The Embraer Legacy factory demonstrator is shown here over Florida’s intracoastal waterway on its way to Orlando, Fla., last month for display at the NBAA
Aircraft
Dassault ‘Reopens Question’ of a Smaller Jet
Since production ended nearly 20 years ago of the small, sleek Falcon 10, Dassault has concentrated on building larger business jets.
Charter & Fractional
Piaggio Avanti picked for fractional startup
The final day of the NBAA convention in Orlando, Fla., last month opened to gray clouds and gathering rain.
Aircraft
Operator Report: Pilatus PC-12
A big mission for a big company usually means a big airplane with a cavernous interior and enough fuel to carry a large load over thousands of miles.
Aircraft
Operator Report: Pilatus PC-12
PC-12 flight planning seems to work out best at 260 kt, which means a 1,200-nm trip with IFR reserves will keep you in the cabin for 4.5 hr.
Aircraft
CJ4, Cessna’s Largest CitationJet, Makes First Flight
The Cessna Citation CJ4 prototype successfully achieved a two-hour 22-minute maiden flight yesterday morning, taking off from McConnell AFB in Wichita and
