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.
Engines
PW307A on target for Falcon 7X, says P&WC
Pratt & Whitney Canada is striving to keep fuel burn on target for its PW307A engine, which will power the Dassault Falcon 7X.
Aircraft
Citation Mustang emerges from its stable
The first Citation Mustang test aircraft was towed from Cessna’s Pawnee facility in Wichita late last month for initial engine runs.
Aircraft
Canada signs off on Hawker 800 winglets
Aviation Partners said last month it received Transport Canada certification of its Hawker 800 blended winglet modification.
Aircraft
Hawker 800XP Winglets FAA Certified
Three months after receiving certification for its winglets on the Hawker 800, Aviation Partners has received FAA approval for installing winglets on the H
Aircraft
Embraer Legacy soon to be cleared to FL410
Embraer this spring expects to complete certification that will increase the service ceiling of the Legacy business jet from FL370 to FL410.
Aircraft
In The Works: Adam Aircraft A500/700
Englewood, Colo.-based Adam Aircraft expects FAA certification of its centerline-thrust A500 piston twin in the first quarter of this year and first delive
Aircraft
In The Works: Maverick Jets Leader
At the Dubai Air Show last month, Tbilisi Aerospace Manufacturing (TAM) of Tbilisi, Georgia (the former Soviet Republic, not the Peachtree State), featured
Aircraft
In The Works: Safire Aircraft Safire Jet
Safire Aircraft of Opa-Locka, Fla., announced last month that wind-tunnel testing at the University of Washington Aeronautical Laboratory’s subsonic Kirsti
Aircraft
One pilot, one jet engine, one load of fuel
After a few weather-related postponements, Steve Fossett took off in the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer at 6:47 p.m.
Aircraft
Saras spreads its wings at Indian airshow
On display at Aero India 2005 earlier this year (see facing page) was the Saras, a low-wing aircraft with an mtow of 13,450 pounds and powered by two 850-s
Aircraft
FlightSafety Teterboro fields Falcon 900EX EASy simulator
In late 1995, around the time of the highly publicized crash of an American Airlines Boeing 757 on approach to Cali, Colombia, Dassault launched a research
Aircraft
2006: The year of the very light jet
Call them what you want–very light jets (VLJs), compact jets, minijets, microjets, personal jets or even Barbie jets–they’re no longer “paper” airplanes.
Aircraft
Avionics confusion had hand in Crossair Saab 340 accident
Nearly four years after the accident, the Swiss Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (BFU) published its final report on the Jan.
Aircraft
In The Works: Cessna Citation Mustang
As the Eclipse 500 was being rolled out last month, the Citation Mustang very light jet was fast taking form at Cessna’s Pawnee facility in Wichita.
Aircraft
In The Works: Utilicraft FF-1080-300
American Utilicraft last month said it will spin off Utilicraft Aerospace Industries, a newly formed Nevada corporation, as part of an agreement with The N
Aircraft
In The Works: Aviation Technology Group Javelin
According to Aviation Technology Group, the assembly of its Javelin demonstrator prototype is progressing rapidly at Soloy’s facilities in Olympia, Wash.
Aircraft
Dassault engineers reach fly-by-wire milestone
Dassault reports that its engineers in France have completed bench testing and software loads of the fly-by-wire flight control system in the Falcon 7X.
Aircraft
Despite New Orders, Bombardier makes more cuts
Bombardier announced plans to cut this year’s CRJ200 production by another 20 percent just days after Standard & Poor’s lowered the company’s credit rating
Aircraft
Biggest Embraer takes flight
The largest member of Embraer’s 170/190 family of single-aisle commercial jets–the 108-seat Embraer 195–took to the air for the first time on December 7 fr
Aircraft
Last Avro RJ to the Finnish line
BAE Systems Regional Aircraft has delivered the final Avro RJ to Finnish carrier Blue 1, bringing to an end 22 years of BAe 146/Avro RJ production.
Aircraft
Crisis in Kiev can’t ground An-148
Although the political crisis in Ukraine kept Antonov engineers guessing about the timing of the first flight of the 52-seat An-148, the airplane took to t
Aircraft
ARJ21 structural design nearly done
China’s AVIC I Commercial Aircraft (ACAC) continues its march toward a 2008 introduction of the 85-seat ARJ21-700, finishing more or less on schedule some
Aircraft
Stage III gets GIISP hush kit approval
Stage III Technologies, which has been developing a Stage 3 hush kit for Gulfstream IIs and IIIs for more than five years, has received an STC for the Gulf
Aircraft
US Airways wins RJ reprieve
US Airways may resume taking deliveries of Embraer and Bombardier regional jets if the airline’s employee unions accept more cost-cutting measures, thanks
Aircraft
Hong Kong start-up to take 170s
A newly formed regional airline division of Hong Kong commuter helicopter operator Helicopters Hong Kong has signed a deal with GE Capital Aviation Service
Aircraft
Gulfstream 500 receives FAA type certification
The Gulfstream 500 received FAA type certification last month, and customer deliveries of the business jet are scheduled to start early this year.
Aircraft
Airworthiness Alerts Issued for TBM 700
The FAA last month issued three separate airworthiness alerts on the TBM 700 turboprop single.
Charter & Fractional
Flight Options Puts First Legacy Into Operation
Four Embraer Legacy Executive twinjets have joined Cleveland-based fractional operator Flight Options to provide owners with a large-cabin aircraft to supp
Aircraft
GIISP Sets Speed Record from L.A. to Kitty Hawk
A Gulfstream IISP (for Special Performance–GIIs equipped with Aviation Partners’ winglets) set a world speed record December 15 on its way from Los Angeles
