FACT FILE - THE UNCONVENTIONAL, BIZARRE BELL AIRACUDA

Larry Bell, founder of the Bell Aircraft Corp., now known as Bell Helicopter, entered the aircraft manufacturing industry with a unique bang. After dropping out of high school in 1912, Bell worked for various aircraft companies, including Martin and Consolidated, before starting his own company in 1935.

BEST OF THE BEST - THE DE HAVILLAND MUSEUM

Situated just outside the centre of London the de Havilland Museum is to be found and although small and compact it is an absolute joy, celebrating as it does the exploits of one of Britain's foremost aviation pioneers, Sir Geoffrey de Havilland an aircraft designer of some repute who left an incredible legacy, and made a massive impact on aircraft design and production in the early part of the 20th century.

PILATUS PC-24

The Pilatus PC-24 is a light business jet produced by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. Following the PC-12 single turboprop success, work on the jet project started in 2007 for greater range and speed.

HONDAJET

Founded in 2006, Honda Aircraft Company is the latest venture in Honda's drive to enhance the freedom of mobility.

Absolute Service Centre AMO 173

As the only Textron Aviation authorised service facility on the African Continent and the oldest Cessna authorised service facility outside the USA since 1964, Absolute’s Service Centre has also been awarded representation for the Beechcraft and Textron eAviation Pipistrel portfolio. Absolute Service Centre (ASC) is the African regional representatives of the worldwide Textron 1CALL hotline support network. The management team at the Absolute Service Centre is proud of its heritage and long-standing support and representation of Textron Aviation products.

Spatial distortion

On Wednesday, 20 December 2023, a pilot and two transmission line workers on-board a Bell 407 helicopter with registration ZS-RXO took off from Majuba Venus Power Station landing zone (LZ) in KwaZulu-Natal province to conduct aerial work on the T299 mast (a section of Majuba Venus Power Station). The pilot intended to land back at the departure landing zone.

Dinosaur Derby at the Bill Harrop's Balloon field

When we arrived at the Dinosaur Derby late on Saturday afternoon 27 April there were already around two hundred invited guests that had set up their chairs and picnic tables on the lush green slopes of the lawns outside the beautiful clubhouse overlooking the very large balloon launch field with the majestic Magaliesberg Mountains as the backdrop.

EAA Young Aviators - April 2024 Wonderboom meeting

On Saturday, 13 April 2024 the EAA Young Aviators event was kindly hosted by Loutzavia Flight School at Wonderboom National Airport.

AIRBUS - ACJ Executive Jets

This mindset combined with curating the finest flying experience is why ACJ was born.

Five of the most expensive private jets in the world

When modern jetliners came into existence, only a few privileged wealthy people would get onboard an aircraft. But half a century later, more people have access to air travel than we might have imagined.

Business Aviation Trends in 2024

From the relentless quest for greener aviation, to revolutionary technological advances, regulatory challenges and postpandemic health safety imperatives, the business aviation landscape is in a state of flux.

Japan Coast Guard boosts fleet with additional H225 order

The Japan Coast Guard (JCG) has placed an additional order for three H225 helicopters, increasing its total H225 fleet to 18. As the largest Super Puma operator in Japan, the Coast Guard received three H225s in December 2023 and one in February 2024 to bolster its expanding fleet. These new helicopters will support territorial coastal activities, maritime law enforcement and disaster relief missions across the country.

Piasecki steps up development of HYDROGENPOWERED PA-890 HELICOPTER

Piasecki Aircraft Corp is stepping up its plans to bring a hydrogen-powered helicopter to market by the end of the decade. Development work that has been significantly boosted by support from the US Air Force now involves the evolution of a 660-kilowatt test rig for the propulsion system into an iron bird unit that will pave the way for a full-scale prototype the company aims to start flying in 2028.

30th edition of AERO Friedrichshafen attracts more than 31,000 visitors

The 30th AERO will not only be remembered as an anniversary edition, but also as a trade fair with a particularly large number of innovations and premieres. With 31,500 visitors from 81 nations, the numbers were significantly higher than the previous year’s edition and the proportion of pilots among visitors increased once again. The AERO Drones, the AERO Gliding Expo and the AERO Career Days proved their worth.

Sun 'n Fun airshow 50th anniversary

The opening day of the 50th annual Sun 'n Fun began with amazing airshow performances, exhibits, a career fair, workshops, forums, good food a concert and movies. This year's event took place between 9 and 14 April at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Florida.

SACAA's National Aviation Conference 2024

I spent Thursday 18 and Friday 19 April attending National Aviation Conference hosted by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) staged at the CSIR Conference Centre in Pretoria. As you can see from the attached pictures the conference was very well attended and I was impressed by the programme and the quality of the various speakers including the four discussion panels.

The design and implementation of glass cockpit avionics upgrades for Cessna 425s

For more than 45 years, Century Avionics have been helping pilots safely navigate the skies by upgrading, installing, maintaining and supporting aircraft avionics to enhance functionality and experience a,deep passion for the wonders of flight.

DART Aeronautical Cessna 182 panel upgrade

This relatively new Cessna 182 underwent a complete panel upgrade from its original equipment analogue instruments to a complete digital ‘glass cockpit’ over the space of six weeks.

Building an autonomous business jet

A vision of an artificial intelligence piloted business jet was presented to the world last October by Embraer, while in recent years autonomous piloting in specific circumstances has become a reality. Two companies, Cirrus and HondaJet now offer an autonomous flight feature for emergencies. For several years before these recent developments, the aviation industry had been debating reduced or no pilot operations.

End of an era: Final four Air India Boeing 747s leave the carrier's fleet

After over a quarter of a century, the last four Boeing 747400s have finally left Air India's fleet.According to the carrier, the four-remaining aircraft, the oldest of which dates back to 1993, have been sold to a US company that specialises in the sale of used aircraft, spare parts and jet engines. One of the aircraft was acquired by the airline in 1993, one in 1994 and the remaining two in 1996.

ENSTROM Helicopter Corporation

With crisp handling, well-appointed features, incredibly smooth ride, beautiful style and roomy interior, Enstrom’s line of helicopters offers the attributes of the ultimate luxury sports car and for an unexpectedly affordable price.

CABRI G2

Helicopteres Guimbal was founded late-2000, with the purpose of developing and certifying the two-seat helicopter Cabri G2.

A-10 demonstration team announces its final season

After more than four decades of performing around the world, the US Air Force A-10C demonstration team announced that 2024 will be its final season. The 355th Wing located at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona said the decision was a part of the Air Force’s divestment of the A-10 Thunderbolt Il, affectionately known as the Warthog.

LOCKHEED MARTIN 35A officially certified to carry nuclear bomb

The designation marks the first time that a stealth fighter can carry a nuclear weapon, in this case the B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bomb.

POLIKARPOV I-16

Rare POLIKARPOV I-16 flies again in SPAIN

KERMIT WEEKS

Kermit Weeks acquires unique Boeing Stratoliner houseboat

GNSS JAMMING AND SPOOFING EVENTS PRESENT A GROWING DANGER

Last year, reports that fake signals were jeopardising aircraft navigation systems spiked in the area over the Black Sea. First reported by security intelligence organisation OpsGroup, the reports cited false or jammed global navigation satellite system GNSS) signals, affecting the US global positioning system GPS) civil signals, causing aircraft navigation systems to show missing or inaccurate position information.

HILL HELICOPTER HX50

The arrival of Hill Helicopter’s HX50 is set to shake up the world of general aviation, with some of the most interesting technological developments seen in decades.

AVIC'S AC332 LIGHT TWIN HELICOPTER MAKES FIRST FLIGHT

China’s state-owned aircraft manufacturer Avic announced the first flight of its light-twin AC332 helicopter in Tianjin.

PC-12 SILENT 7 PROPELLER Now with improv ved certified take off performance

Due to the smaller diameter the seven-bladed MT-Propeller for the Pilatus PC-12 has more ground clearance for less blade tip erosion and FODs.