CATEGORIES

WORLD'S FIRST 11-BLADED PROPELLER FOR TURBINE AIRCRAFT

Installed on a PA31T1 equipped with two P&W PT6A-135A turbines, the World's first 11-bladed propeller took the sky with an impressive noise and sound signature.

HIGH DEMAND FOR THE PC-12 NGX AND PC-24

Exhibiting both the PC-12 NGX and the PC-24 Super Versatile Jet at the world's premier business aviation show, the National Business Aviation Association & Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), Pilatus confirms very high demand for both aircraft.

FLYSAFAIR REFRESHES SA RUNWAYS

On 30 September low-cost carrier FlySafair revealed a refreshed logo and new aircraft paint scheme at the airline's OR Tambo hangars as the airline welcomed its 25th aircraft into the fleet.

PROFLIGHT ZAMBIA

I was extremely fortunate to have the flights for my recent excursion to Zambia sponsored by ProFlight Zambia. Arriving at the check-in counter I had a friendly greeting from the staff on duty and my check-in processed efficiently. After a quick milk shake (hey, I was early and wanted to prevent any potential issues during check-in / immigration) I passed through customs and immigration to the departure hall.

INTERVIEW WITH RODGER FOSTER CEO AIRLINK

This year represents Airlink’s 30 years of being a southern African regional airline and I used the opportunity to interview Rodger Foster who has been at the helm of the company for all of those years.

WHY EMIRATES THINKS AIRBUS SHOULD BUILD BIGGER PLANES

Following its unique relationship with the Airbus A380, Emirates has stated its wish for Airbus to continue to build larger aircraft. Speaking at a media roundtable in Doha, the airline's CEO, Tim Clark, made clear his thoughts on the need for larger aircraft in the future as demand for travel bounces back following the pandemic.

ALSIM WINS BIG

ALSIM, the innovative Nantes (France) based Flight Training Device manufacture, has recently had two big successes in North America.

BREAKING INTO BACKCOUNTRY FLYING: KITPLANE STYLE

Building your own airplane is an adventure in itself, but for backcountry-bound kitplane owners, the journey has just begun.

THE INVISIBLE SNARE

Synopsis SACAA On 18 March 2022, a pilot and a passenger on-board a Bell 206B helicopter with registration mark ZS-HJJ were engaged in an aerial search flight along the Crocodile River in Koedoeskop Farm, North West province. The flight was conducted in visual meteorological conditions (VMC) by day and under the provisions of Part 91 of the Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR) 2011 as amended.

UAVIONIX AV-30-C, STC NOW INCLUDES LIGHT TWINS AND HIGH-SPEED PISTONS

Last month uAvionix announced it has received FAA approval to expand the Approved Model List (AML) for its AV-30-C Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS), by more than 190 light twin and higher performance single-engine models. This expansion significantly extends the availability of AV-30-C in the general aviation market to include a large portion of popular aircraft from Beechcraft, Piper, Tecnam, Air Tractor, Cirrus, Extra, Howard, Taylorcraft, Cessna and many others.

AIRVENTURE 2022 - A RECORD YEAR

The 2022 edition of EAA AirVenture, the first full-scale gathering of the General Aviation world's biggest party post-pandemic, kicked off with strong storms, rocking the wings of many of the planes gathered in Oshkosh. However, the damage was minimal as many of the tens  f thousands of aircraft on the campgrounds and around the airport were tied down to weather the severe weather. Fortunately, this was the only severe weather for the entire week, which was blessed with blue skies painted with fluffy white clouds, ideal for airshow photography. I have tried to recapture the immense size and spectacle of AirVenture in words, pictures and videos, but as I have said before, one needs to visit the Mecca of Aviation at least once in a lifetime in order to appreciate the vastness and excitement of this the 'World's Greatest Aviation Celebration'.

L3HARRIS SKY WARDEN  ATTACK PLANE WINS SOCOM’s ARMED OVERWATCH PROGRAMME

L3 Harris could produce up to 75 AT-802U Sky Warden aircraft to replace US Special Operations Command’s U-28 Draco.

MCC AVIATION'S FIREFIGHTING AIRBUS H125 HELICOPTERS IN ACTION

The assignment was to capture one of three MCC Aviation owned Airbus H125 helicopters fighting a deliberately set grass fire in the southern Highveld area of Mpumalanga on a brisk winter's day.

F/A-18E/F SERVICE LIFE MODIFICATION PROGRAMME UNDERWAY

The F-18 Hornet is a great many wondrous and worthwhile things. The twin-engine, all-weather, fourth-generation fighter is fast, manoeuvrable, tough, battle-proven, eminently upgradable and a symbol of American Naval airpower. However, the Hornet is not young.

B-52H TO BE UPGRADED AGAIN

Boeing’s B-52 Stratofortress is the world’s oldest, in-service, military aircraft. Affectionately referred to as BUFF by the crews who fly it, the B-52 has existed in five iterations, designated A through H. Boeing built a total of 744 B-52s between 1952 and 1962, of which 76 remain in active service with the United States Air Force. With the possible exception of the 707-derivative KC-135, no aircraft in the USAF fleet has been so continuously and extensively modified, upgraded and modernised as the B-52.

US NAVY UNMANNED HELICOPTER IMPRESSES

Northrop Grumman's MQ-8C Fire Scout is an unmanned helicopter based on Bell's 407, itself a derivative of the hugely successful 206L-4 Long Ranger. The autonomous vehicle provides reconnaissance, situational awareness, aerial fire support and precision targeting support for the ground, air and sea forces of its primary user, the US Navy.

CATASTROPHIC STRUCTURAL FAILURE

ACCIDENT REPORT

RUSSIAN AGGRESSION TRIGGERS NEW INTEREST IN KC-46

Boeing expects to sell up to 42 KC-46 tankers in addition to its current backlog, said Mike Hafer, the company’s senior manager for KC-46 business development.

COPING WITH THE FEAR OF FLYING

"Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me and when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."

BEST OF THE BEST - CHARLIE SUNSHINE’S BREEZY

When I visited AERO Friedrichshafen in April this year, I met a most interesting man Carl-Friedrich Schmidt who had built his Breezy aircraft and this is his story.

A CENTURY OF OPERATIONS: THE 10 OLDEST AIRPORTS IN EUROPE

Can you believe that some airports in Europe are significantly older than the grandparents of those who work there? Here is a list of the oldest airports in Europe, all of which are still in operation.

AERO SOUTH AFRICA

Staged at Wonderboom National Airport over three days from Thursday 7 to Saturday 9 July, AERO South Africa was a wonderful opportunity for aviation companies to show off their business to the market.

MULTI-DOMAIN ADVANTAGE: MQ-9B

The first quarter of the 21st century has unfortunately proved one constant from the previous one: The world is not getting any safer.

ROYAL INTERNATIONAL AIR TATTOO

Three years since its last edition, the world's largest military airshow made its triumphant return to RAF Fairford, United Kingdom in July with its most successful show ever.

KOREAN AIR RANKS FIRST IN GLOBAL CUSTOMER SATISFACTION FOR 18TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

Korean Air took first place in the air passenger transportation sector of the 2022 Global Customer Satisfaction Index (GCSI) awards.

METAL MASTER PREPARES TO FLY SECOND FLARIS LAR-1 TEST AIRCRAFT

Metal Master expects to fly the second production-conforming Flaris LAR-1 in the coming weeks, with Polish certification to follow in mid-2023.

KUMBULULUKA KWA BAFANA (FLIGHT FOR THE CHILDREN)

In 2016, Felix Gosher created an initiative to provide an opportunity of flight to under-privileged children from various shelters in Johannesburg. With the support of many within the aviation fraternity, this has been very successful. As he is now Zambia based it was only logical that he has would expand this into the African continent. The first ever Zambia Children's Flight held at the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) base in Lusaka on 23 July 2022.

BOEING SAYS IT CAN MAINTAIN $80M PER UNIT COST FOR THE F-15EX

Boeing's Steve Parker said he expects a contract for F-15EX lot 2 and 3 'will be at the advertised price' when it is finalised in a couple months. The price claim comes after lawmakers bemoaned lack of oversight on unit costs for the fighter.