CATEGORIES

FLYING BOATS

The motor launch ferried us across the tranquil waters of Lake Naivasha in Kenya. Giraffe browsed from flat topped thorn trees, while hippopotami occasionally broke the lake surface with characteristic snorts, before subsiding again, to leave their ears and inquisitive eyes visible to our passage

V-TAILS AND SAFETY

THE V-TAIL BONANZA HAS A REPUTATION for being more dangerous than its straight tailed siblings

THE V35 BONNIE - ONE OF THE BEST BUYS EVER?

When the Bonanza first emerged, it set a new standard for light aircraft design and now, 77 years later, it is still regarded by many as the most desirable piston single

GLIDE, SAIL, SOAR

A northeast wind is picking up. Two redtail hawks are circling above this ridge, rising higher and higher, sliding fast when they turn southward but seeming to hover in place when they face north. Each surge and billow lifts them higher. They must soar for pleasure; they're so far up now, no likely prey would hold still long enough for them to stoop to seize it

SOUTH AFRICA'S ON-OFF-ON RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA.

The ongoing controversy around thea suspicious late night docking and cargo handling of the Russian ship Lady R in Simon's Town Naval Base in December shows no sign of going away. Especially not after the explosive allegation, made by the US Ambassador Reuben Brigety in April, that claimed South Africa had shipped military equipment to Russia on board it

LOWVELD AIRSHOW 2023 - A WELCOME RETURN

Nelspruit airshows, is known for hosting above average and this year was no exception

PTAR 2023 - BATTLE OF THE BEASTS

Spanning an impressive 86 years, the Presidents Trophy Air Race (PTAR) remains one of the most prestigious annual events in Southern Africa

APRIL 2023

The register amendments this month are very interesting, especially when we see that the Type Certified (TCA) additions include four aircraft for our various airlines

POL

Leopoldo was a machinery operator for a very large oil field service company of French origin. I was their pilot and we were all working in Libya, for our sins, before the bottom fell out of the oil market

THE BONANZA'S HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT

IN 1944, DURING WORLD WAR 2, the Beechcraft Model 26, known as the AT-10 Wichita, was the first Beech Aircraft design to fly with a V-tail empennage

GRAND CENTRAL AIRPORT

Grand Central, as the name suggests, benefits from having an ideal location in the heart of Gauteng. It’s a quick hop from the apron to the highway to Johannesburg or Pretoria and the nearest Gautrain station is just 5 minutes away

Single - or no - Pilot Airliners

The pilot shortage has finally arrived. To attract and retain pilots, airlines are having to pay more for pilots with less experience. This will hasten the move, which many see as inevitable, to single pilot cockpits. And single pilot flightdecks require much the same technology as no-pilot flight decks

US AIR FORCE AWARDS XWING AUTONOMOUS FLIGHT SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT

Based on the Cessna 208 Caravan, Xwing and the US Air Force have begun autonomous flight trials of the firm's 'Superpilot' flight control system.

SPIRIT OF INNOVATION' STAKES CLAIM TO BE THE WORLD'S FASTEST ALL-ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT

Rolls-Royce believes its all-electric 'Spirit of Innovation' is the world's fastest all-electric aircraft, setting three new world records. We have submitted data to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) that control and certify world aeronautical and astronautical records.

STARSHIP GROUNDED UNTIL DESTRUCTION AFTER ITS LAUNCH HAS BEEN PROBED

The FAA has grounded SpaceX's Starship programme while it investigates last month's explosive test launch of the full system. However, this time the agency appears to be at least as interested in the scorched mess left behind by the booster as it is the explosion that was triggered a few minutes later when the second stage failed to separate from the main booster. The agency told CNBC that SpaceX will not be allowed to try again until it is satisfied 'any system, process, or procedure related to the mishap does not affect public safety.'

BOOM SUPERSONIC CONTINUES XB-1 ENGINE TEST RUNS

Once again Boom Supersonic has been spotted conducting test runs on the XB-1 supersonic demonstrator at Mojave Air and Space Port at Rutan Field (MHV).

SKYPORTS DRONE SERVICES COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL DRONE DELIVERY PROOF OF CONCEPT

Skyports Drone Services has successfully completed a drone delivery proof of concept (PoC) in partnership with Kaga City (Japan) and Kanematsu Corporation. Kanematsu Corporation has partnered with Kaga City since 2021 for the promotion of regional revitalisation through the use of drones and aerial vehicles.

AEROVIRONMENT AWARDED $64.6 MILLION CONTRACT FOR SWITCHBLADE 300 LOITERING MISSILE SYSTEMS

On 24 March AeroVironment, Inc. received additional funding of US$64,565,126 from the US Army Tactical Aviation and Ground Munitions (TAGM) project office for the procurement of Switchblade Ⓡ 300 loitering missile systems.

JEKTA SIGNS MOU WITH HONEYWELL

Jekta, the Switzerland-based manufacturer of the electrically powered Passenger Hydro Aircraft Zero Emission 100 (PHA-ZE 100) amphibious flying boat, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Honeywell. The accord signifies the first step in exploring, identifying and confirming a suite of Honeywell systems to integrate with the world's first 19-seat, electrically powered, regional, amphibious aircraft.

THE 'TOP GUN' PILOTS SELECTED TO FLY THE FIRST COMMERCIAL EVTOL FLIGHTS IN 2025

INTERVIEW WITH STELL A HUGHES FROM CAE

LATEST 'FLYING-CAR' OFFERING: LOOKS LIKE A FERRARI, FLIES LIKE A CITATION MUSTANG

Go for a long drive, or flight- or both, with the Firenze Lanciare, or Fusion JC7, jet-engine car. With more power and torque than both the Ferrari 488 Pista and Lamborghini Aventador, the Firenze is a force on the road or in the air. The future is here and the future is flying cars.

MARS HELICOPTER COMPLETES 50TH FLIGHT

On 13 April, nearly two years after beginning its mission, NASA's Mars helicopter, Ingenuity, successfully completed its 50th flight with a 145.7-second hop.

DJI ANNOUNCES MINI 2 SE DRONE

Shenzhen DJI Sciences and Ltd, more widely Technologies known as Da Jiang Innovations, or simply DJI is a Chinese state-backed designer and manufacturer of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

MASSIVE ENERGY GROWTH REQUIRED BY FUTURE AVIATION

As the increased use of low carbon aviation fuels, their production and necessary energy input will become a major infrastructure consideration. With sustainability a key area of focus for the aviation industry, design and engineering consultancy Atkins has released a white paper examining the energy requirements needed to meet future aviation demand.

SKY POWER INTERNATIONAL TO EXHIBIT TOGETHER WITH UAS GLOBAL SERVICES AT XPONENTIAL 2023

Sky Power International and UAS manufacturer UAS Global Services are exhibiting together at Xponential 2023 in Denver, Colorado. The Texas-based company is using engines from the German two-stroke and Wankel engine specialist.

JETSON SELECTS PARAZERO TO DEVELOP RECOVERY SAFETY SYSTEM FOR THE JETSON ONE EVTOL

Jetson, a leading manufacturer of personal eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-off and Landing) vehicles, has partnered with ParaZero, a global leader in safety systems for manned eVTOLS and commercial UAS, to develop parachute safety systems for Jetson's personal electric aerial vehicle, the Jetson ONE.

US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE PURCHASE 21 BRITISH TACTICAL RESUPPLY UNMANNED AIR CRAFT SYSTEMS

On 29 March, senior Marine Corps leaders and logisticians attending the ILB observed the TRUAS, a large, drone-like aircraft, carry a payload over a short distance, drop it at a specified location and return to the starting point. According to Master Sgt. Chris Genualdi, an airborne and air delivery specialist with Combat Development and Integration the concept of using a drone to transport supplies may sound simple, but the implications could have a significant impact on combat supply transportation.

AVIC'S AC332

LIGHT TWIN HELICOPTER MAKES FIRST FLIGHT

ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY

Founded in 1973 by Frank Robinson, Robinson Helicopter is located in Torrance, California

HOW WAS THE F-22 RAPTOR OVERSHADOWED BY THE F-35 LIGHTNING II?

In early 2023 the venerable Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor appeared to be given a new lease of life after shooting down a Chinese spy balloon, scoring the first kill of its career and briefly becoming the star of the headlines