The Racy ECJ Gets A 'Go" For Production! As part of Aero-TV's attendance at Eclipse Aviation's annual 'E-rrival' (profiled in our recent E-rrival Overview story), we were privileged to cover some good news in the form of Eclipse Aviation's announcement and comittment to future certification and production of the single-engine ECJ/Eclipse 400. Raburn told ANN that he was "thrilled" to have the opportunity to introduce a new aircraft to the Eclipse Aviation family – the Eclipse 400 single-engine jet, the production version of the Eclipse Concept Jet (ECJ), which was first revealed at EAA AirVenture 2007 and profiled exclusively by Aero-TV. After completing 10 months of extensive research on the ECJ, Eclipse claimed that they were "confident this is the perfect aircraft for the emerging single-engine jet market. As many of you have experienced firsthand, this jet inspires people. It immediately captures their imaginations, and when they look a little closer and begin to grasp the level of ...
The G1000 And PW's Finest Make This An Exceptional Way To Travel It would be hard to improve on a such an impressive performer as the TBM 850 single-engine turboprop... but that said, if there was one area the previous generation aircraft came up lacking, it was in cockpit integration. That concern has been nicely addressed by EADS Socata for 2008, with a simple one-word explanation: Garmin. After working our way on a warm day at 308-310 kts at FL260, with th best of Garmin keeping things VERY manageable, we have to tell you that the TBM 850 has it RIGHT. Upgrades to the latest TBM 850 variant includes its Integrated All-Glass Flight Deck, based on the last-generation Garmin G1000 system -- which replaces traditional instruments with large liquid crystal display (LCD) screens. It integrates primary flight, navigation, weather, traffic, ground proximity and technical information on the aircraft, fully associated with a digital autopilot. This reduces pilot workload and eases maintenance, and ...
Upgraded Workhorse Includes More Powerful PT-6, Stylish Interior Part of ANN and Aero-TV's spring-time rites included covering one of the first public outings of the new Pilatus Aircraft PC-12 NG. Announced at NBAA 2006, Pilatus says the Next Generation program is the latest progression of the popular PC-12 turboprop. Receipt of joint EASA and FAA certification will allow deliveries of the PC-12 NG to begin immediately. Featuring a number of significant improvements -- including a fully integrated Honeywell Primus Apex avionics system, a completely new cockpit designed by BMW Group DesignworksUSA, and a more powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67P engine -- the PC-12 NG sets the tone for the market sector, and is expected to broaden the appeal of the stylish workhorse turbine single. "Since original certification was achieved, the PC-12 has proven itself as a thoroughly reliable and robust aircraft," said Thomas Bosshard, CEO of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. "With the arrival of the PC-12 NG we are ...
Faster Than Any Rotorcraft In It's Class... And Possibly Faster One of the true "reveals" of the 2008 HAI Trade Show was Sikorsky's surprising (but delightful) decision to pull their X2 research aircraft off the line (where it is preparing for first flight) and bring it to the show. This was the first major public venue in which the on-again, off-again development project that could change the nature of rotorcraft design had seen the light of day. The X2 Technology Demonstrator is designed to demonstrate how a helicopter can cruise comfortably at 250 knots, while retaining desirable helicopter attributes, including excellent low speed handling, efficient hovering and autorotation safety, and a seamless and simple transition to high speed. "The X2 Technology Demonstrator is an integrated suite of technologies intended to advance the state-of-the-art, counter-rotating coaxial rotor helicopter. As we continue to work to prove out and mature the technologies that will allow the X2 Technology ...
Aspen Avionics' Evolution EFIS Now Approved In Nearly 400 Aircraft Models It's been a whirlwind year for the folks of Aspen Avionics. Just a few weeks ago, Aspen received its Approved Model List Supplemental Type Certificate (AML-STC) for the EFD1000 Primary Flight Display (PFD), from the almighty FAA. This certification -- combined with the TSO (Technical Standard Order) certification granted to the company two weeks ago, as ANN reported -- authorizes installation of Aspen’s Evolution PFD in almost 400 airplane makes and models. Coming before the end of March 2008, the AML-STC enabled Aspen Avionics to start shipping, and its dealers to start installing, Evolution Flight Display systems... on track with the schedule Aspen promised to its customers. Announced last year at Oshkosh, Aspen bills its Evolution Flight Display system is an affordable glass cockpit solution for general aviation aircraft. With prices starting under $6,000, the modular and upgradeable Evolution system breaks the price ...
08:06
Aero-TV Heads Back To The Lighter Side of Aviation With AMA's 'Park Flyers'
Lighter, Quieter, Smaller RC Models May Be Future Of Model Industry If you think your local airport has problems with the neighbors... try being a radio-controlled model airplane hobbyist in search of a flying field. The AMA is encouraging the development of new, officially recognized AMA Park Pilot sites in metro areas throughout the US for a new generation of smaller RC models known as "Park Flyers." Park Flyer models will weigh two pounds or less and be incapable of reaching speeds greater than 60 mph. They must be electric or rubber powered, or of any similar quiet means of propulsion. Models should be remotely controlled or flown with a control line, remain within the pilot’s line of sight at all times, and always be flown safely by the operator. A Park Flyer site can be either an outdoor or an indoor venue. When flying at sites specifically designed for Park Flyers, the pilot will keep the model within the established flight boundaries of the field. Members need to take into ...
Quite A Spectacle... For What May Turn Out To Be A Spectacular Helo If there's one company that made a spectacular impression on attendees of last month's Heli-Expo 2008 in Houston , TX , it would have to be Eurocopter. In addition to featuring an increasingly diverse -- and popular -- product line, the company also unveiled a full-size mockup of its upcoming seven-ton-class, 16-passenger EC175. The splashy ceremony had teeth to it, too... as the EC175 is highly anticipated by a number of customers, particularly those in the oil and gas industry. Indeed, Eurocopter used the unveiling to introduce the first two customers for the helo -- US-based Bristow Group, and Canada 's VIH -- but the helomaker reportedly left the show with a slew of new orders that pushed to-date orders and commitments to 111 units. Those orders come from across the globe, including Europe: UTair (Russia), Bond (UK), Dancopter (Denmark), Heli-Union (France), NHV (Belgium); USA (ERA and Halvorson Group); Mexico (Pegaso); ...
MIT May Have The Answer To The Question About What Tomorrow's Space Travelers May Be Wearing During the 2007 World Space Expo, ANN's Aero-TV teams came upon something that would have looked like a space suit... if only there had been more of it -- or so we thought. Upon close examination, though, we found out that this suit -- the Bio-Suit, was indeed a space suit and that in years hence (and not so many as one might imagine), this will be "unform of the day" for spacefarers. FMI: http://mvl.mit.edu/EVA/index.html
Rotax's Basic Four-Stroke Is A Solid Performer In The Sport Aviation World At the US Sport Aviation Expo, Aero-TV caught up with an old friend, Eric Tucker... a guy who is known worldwide as "Mr. Rotax." The most well-known (and easily the hardest working) expert on the Rotax 900 series sport and certified engines, Eric took a few minutes to help us profile each of the amazingly compact, powerful and fuel-efficient 900 series engines, this time concentrating on the 81 HP Rotax 912 UL. With a dry weight of 121.2 pounds, the Rotax 912 UL DCDI 81HP engine is a 4-stroke engine specially developed for recreational aircraft. It also exists in a certified version as the Rotax 912 A and Rotax 912 F. Additional features include: 4 horizontally opposed cylinders, "boxer" configuration Free air cooled cylinders, liquid cooled cylinder heads with integrated pump and expansion tank Dry sump forced lubrication with integrated pump and separate oil tank 8 valves, automatic adjustment by hydraulic ...
08:27
Aero-TV: US Sport Aviation Expo's Robert Woods Talks LSA (Part Two)
The 4th Annual Sebring FL-based US Sport Aviation Expo is now history. The growing (occasionally struggling) LSA movement shows signs that it may mature into a solid industry, providing a new entry-level option for those who want to become pilots and aircraft owners. While there are still too many manufacturers barely keeping the doors open, the entry of industry heavyweights Cirrus design and Cessna Aircraft was a signal to one and all that the LSA market had to be taken seriously. Among the more significant news we heard from the 2008 USSAE, was Cirrus Design's decision to start taking orders for their speedy little SRS, the naming of US SkyCatcher completion centers by Cessna, the unveiling of the new Flight Design CTLS, the introduction of the TECNAM P92 Eaglet, the unveiling of the Gobosh 800XP, the chance to look over the updated Indus Aviation Thorpedo, new options form American legend, a chance to look over the Teledyne Continental O-200D (the engine that will power the SkyCatcher), as well ...
5,000 People Witness First Public Flight Of Unique Vertical Lift Device The Martin JetPack caused quite a stir at Oshkosh 2008... though to be accurate, the device was anything BUT a 'Jetpack.' Still... it proved to be a huge draw in an arena where there are no small number of things to attract one's attention. EAA officials report as many as 5,000 eager spectators were on hand for the Tuesday morning demo in AeroShell Square where the first public flight of the much-anticipated Martin Jetpack took place... and having been among that crowd ourselves, we think that number might even be slightly low. In fact, organizers seemed a bit surprised with the large turnout, as the assembled throngs were slowly moved out of the way to make room for the demo flight at show center, forcing some against the barriers placed around AeroShell's other "big" attraction Tuesday, the Boeing Dreamlifter. Any crowd discomfort was assuaged, however, when Harrison Martin took the "stage" wearing the somewhat bulky ...
The Surprise Unveiling of 2007: The ECJ Concept What a year! 2007 was an amazing combination of so many good and bad things... but for sure, there was NO end of excitement. If there was a "reveal" of the year, it HAS to have been the first sight of the super-secret Eclipse Concept Jet program... which only Eclipse, ANN and a few others knew ANYTHING about until the opening morning of Oshkosh 2007. Eclipse Aviation -- and company CEO Vern Raburn, in particular -- certainly have a flair for the dramatic. At a kickoff press event early Monday morning, before the gates opened at AirVenture 2007, the planemaker took the wraps off a concept model of its Eclipse Concept Jet: a single engine, four-passenger, slightly futuristic-in-appearance V-tailed aircraft intended to test the waters in the emerging Personal Jet category. But the planemaker didn't stop there. A line in Chief Operating Officer Peg Billson's speech describing the concept model -- an offhand remark about "flight testing" -- was drowned ...
Entegra FMS900W Designed To Reduce Workload In Single-Pilot IFR Avidyne recently strutted its stuff before the Aero-TV crews with a demo of their upcoming FMS900W FMS system. In the works for some time, the new Entegra FMS900W WAAS-enabled GPS/NAV/COM Flight Management System (FMS) is designed to reduce workload for single-pilot IFR operations. The FMS900W provides a fully-redundant, state-of-the art VHF and TSO C146b Gamma 3-compliant turbine-class FMS capability for all GA aircraft. Utilizing a fully-modular architecture, the FMS900W Flight Management System is an enhancement to Avidyne's Entegra Integrated Flight Deck platform and is designed specifically to take advantage of Entegra's large-format displays and Byteflight peer-to-peer databus architecture. FMS900W system components include single or dual remote-mount LRUs, each with Avidyne's GPS723 WAAS/RNP GPS Sensor and a DVX740 VHF NAV/COM module and optional ACD215 Control/Display Units. Avidyne's GPS723 sensor is a fully compliant RTCA ...
Are The Hard Times Behind Them? To all appearances, things would seem to be looking up at Liberty Aerospace. With the recently announced availability of the Aspen EFIS system, and the announcement of a new advanced XL2 Vanguard Edition, Liberty hopes to be one of the survivors in an increasingly problematic GA market. The latest model of the FADEC-equipped two seat touring and training aircraft offers a Gross Weight increase to 1,750 pounds, and toe-brakes, WAAS enabled Garmin GPS avionics, Jeppesen Terrain Database, and entry steps, as standard equipment. New optional avionics include the all-digital Aspen Evolution Pro Primary Flight Display (PFD) system, Garmin GTX 330 Transponder with Traffic Avoidance, and GPS-coupled S-TEC 30 Dual Axis Autopilot. An Insight True Flow 500 Fuel Flow Computer, coupled directly to the GPS for live in-flight fuel management, is also available. "After recently celebrating the delivery of Serial Number 100 of the Liberty XL2, we are excited to now launch ...
07:11
Aero-TV Gets Educated At Delta Connection Academy (Part 1 of 2)
A Major Airline Training Program Talks About Its Successes Aero-TV crews visited the Delta Connection Academy as it unveiled its new 27,000-square foot hangar at Sanford International Airport in Florida, during a grand opening held to celebrate a capstone event in the Academy’s extensive renovation and expansion. The all-new hangar is central to Delta Connection Academy’s reputation as one of the premier professional flight training facilities in the world. The opening underscores a multi-year plan to take Delta Connection Academy to a new level of professionalism and competence. Delta Connection Academy is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, operating a fleet of more than 115 aircraft, including a new fleet of 50 new Cirrus SR20 G2 aircraft and seven Level 6 AeroSim Technologies Flight Training Devices. The Academy has trained students from 90 different countries and has placed pilots with 30 airlines including (but not limited to) all Delta Connection carriers, American Eagle ...
One Of The World's Most Recognizable Aircraft Plays In The Skies Above Oshkosh At the recently concluded Oshkosh 2008 aerial extravaganza, ANN and Aero-TV, yet again, got to play with the Goodyear Blimp. We admit it... we love the big monster gas bag and we thought an update and additional look at this amazing and gentle flyer was worth a second look from Aero-TV. For 80 years, Goodyear tells ANN that their 'blimps have adorned the skies as very visible corporate symbols of the tire and rubber company that began operations in 1898.' Today, these graceful giants travel more than 100,000 miles across the United States per year as Goodyear's "Aerial Ambassadors." The blimp tradition began in 1925 when Goodyear built its first helium-filled public relations airship, the Pilgrim. The tire company painted its name on the side and began barnstorming the United States. Humble beginnings to an illustrious history. Over the years, Goodyear built more than 300 airships, more than any other ...
Diamond's aggressive new D-Jet program has been aimed primarily at the burgeoning owner-pilot market -- with the hopes that a simple and capable single-engine jet might be more palatable to the upgrading piston and light turbine pilot than the supposedly more complex Eclipse 500 and the Cessna Citation Mustang. With an altitude limit of 25,000 feet, it is Diamond's hope that the aircraft will prove to be safer if the pressurization goes tango-uniform -- and of course, being a single, they expect that in jet-terms, the D-Jet will be a bargain to operate. In November of 2006, Diamond announced that Airline Transport Professionals (ATP) placed the first serious fleet order for 20 D-Jets, with the aim that they will become a major provider of training to D-Jet owners next year. Just a few months ago, Diamond confirmed that the single-engine Williams powered hot-rod will be built near the main plant in London, Ontario -- no doubt encouraged by the Canadian government's investment of nearly 20 million ...
08:10
Aero-TV: RANS S-19 Looks Like A Solid Contender In LSA Market (Part One, of Two)
Randy Schlitter Talks About His All-Metal LSA The RANS S-19 achieved SLSA certification, just a few months ago and is already getting solid attention from the sport aviation buying public. The aircraft is destined to enter series production as the S-19LS. Certification was granted December 21, and delivery of the first S-19LS planes should begin by the end of 2008. The company notes the S-19LS is the first all-new aircraft -- made and designed in the USA, and specifically intended for the light sport category -- to receive SLSA status since the ruling went into effect. "As the first all-new US design and manufactured light sport to be offered RANS has achieved something unique as the plane itself," said Randy Schlitter, CEO of RANS Aircraft. The S-19LS is an all-metal, low wing aircraft, relying heavily on CAD/CAM methods. "In fact we never built a prototype, the first aircraft was production tooled and proof of tooling and process," Schlitter noted. The S-19LS features the Rotax 912ULS ...
09:53
The KC-10 Extender Shows Aero-TV It's Multi-Mission Tanker Role (Part 1)
This Advanced Tanker/Cargo Aircraft Is An Unsung Hero... One of the highlights of the 2008 Oshkosh Fly-In was the chance to get up close and personal with all manner of military aircraft -- the same birds that can be called upon at a moment's notice to serve and protect this nation... While the fighters get most of the glory and the bombers get some notice here and there, rarely do we here about the tankers. Take the KC-10 for instance... According to the US Air Force, the KC-10 'Extender' is an Air Mobility Command advanced tanker and cargo aircraft designed to provide increased global mobility for US armed forces. Although the KC-10's primary mission is aerial refueling, it can combine the tasks of a tanker and cargo aircraft by refueling fighters and simultaneously carry the fighter support personnel and equipment on overseas deployments. The KC-10 is also capable of transporting litter and ambulatory patients using patient support pallets during aeromedical evacuations. The KC-10 can ...
11:16
Aero-TV: Higher, Faster and Farther With The Rocket Racing League (Part One)
God Help Us All... Jim's Getting A Shot At TWO New Rocket Racers! The three big announcements at the recent Rocket Racing League Press Conference were music to the ears of ANN's Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell... as one of the four founding pilots named to this out-of-this world program, he now finds himself with the opportunity to take the helm of not just ONE, but TWO new rocket racers, with the revelation that Armadillo Aerospace will be powering another airframe -- and they may BOTH be flying at Oshkosh!!! First announced two-and-half years ago, the Rocket Racing League announced Monday morning it is rapidly approaching blast-off. At an event in New York covered by Aero-TV, the RRL announced its first exhibition race will take place on August 1-2 at EAA AirVenture 2008 in Oshkosh, WI. In addition to announcing the dates of the first exhibition races, the Rocket Racing League also announced the remaining series of exhibition races for the rest of 2008, the acquisition of Velocity Aircraft by ...
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