CATEGORIES
Hybrid-Electric ‘Hawaii Bird' Makes First Flight
Electric aviation company Ampaire flew its second technology demonstrator on 10 September. The aircraft is a refined version of its Cessna 337 ‘Electric EEL’ hybrid-electric power conversion.
Rare Rearwin
Made in tiny numbers by Piper and Aeronca standards, the beautifully-engineered Rearwin Skyranger proves to be a delight waiting to be discovered
Dr Hill's new helicopter
You’ve seen pictures of concept helicopters before, and most of them never rose from the paper… but this one has a better chance than most of flying in the real world. It’s the Hill HX50, and the designer describes it as a ‘disruptive’ entry into the small helicopter market, offering a step-change for the better in safety, performance, comfort and elegance.
Make mine a turbine!
To say aviation and turbines is a happy marriage is true−albeit mainly in the airline, business aircraft and helicopter world. Light aviation, especially the ultralight segment, remains essentially a turbine free field−apart from noble exceptions, in the form of single-engine jets and ‘experimentals’.
Industry experts say...
Representatives from a selection of Approved Training Organisations look forward to the future of Commercial Air Travel and prospects for professional pilots after the pandemic
Flight training
News from the clubs, schools & ATOs
First airline job
... won and lost after just eighteen months in the right-hand seat. Reflections on the rewards of the hardest work in a lifetime
Safety Matters
Safety Matters and Safety Briefs are based on the AAIB Bulletin and UK Airprox Board reports, with additional material from the US National Transportation Safety Board.
Donegal wins ‘most beautiful airport' - again!
Donegal in Ireland has been named as the ‘world’s most beautiful airport 2020’ – for the third successive year – in a major vote by more than six thousand ‘flying fans’. The award is given as part of the annual Scenic Airports poll conducted by private jet booking service PrivateFly.
Come to Sweden!
A French pilot retires to Sweden, where he enjoys great weather, blissful flights and barbecues – and invites British flyers visit this GA-friendly country
Microsoft's Eagerly Awaited Flight Simulator
Microsoft FS 2020 Xbox & PC flight simulator www.microsoft.com £59.99
Virgin Galactic And Rolls-Royce Aiming For Mach 3
Virgin Galactic and its subsidiary The Spaceship Company announced last month that they plan to build a high-speed aircraft design, and have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Rolls-Royce to collaborate in developing engine propulsion technology for high speed commercial aircraft.
US or EASA – which ‘biennial' is best?
Under the FAA BFR scheme, US pilots must pass a test every other year. Over here, you can stay current simply by flying the minumum number of hours, one with an instructor. As the CAA prepares to leave EASA, can it learn something from the FAA?
The youngest Dragon Lady
At nine she was a U2 and stratosphere expert, at sixteen she went solo and at seventeen she got her PPL. Ellie Carter shares her inspiring story with us, and offers some suggestions on how we can attract more young people to GA
Piper's '60s workhorse
It’s dependable, robust, and can take full fuel with all six seats occupied. A landmark of the golden era of GA, the Aztec is a surprisingly pleasant and easy aircraft to fly
SEP over London
Why we should not be doing it! The CAA has a gentle word in our shell-like ear
Latest Microsoft Flight Simulator launched with large GA fleet
After a lengthy wait, Microsoft launched in August its latest Flight Simulator (also known as FS2020), which features up to thirty different types of general aviation aircraft. The simulator, whose first version was released in 1982 (with the extremely simplified graphics available at the time) has been praised by game experts for the extremely high, photorealistic level of graphic rendering.
Flight training
News from the clubs, schools & ATOs
Celera 500L ‘most fuel-efficient aircraft in the world'
Otto Aviation announced at the end of August that the prototype of its Celera 500L has now logged more than thirty successful test flights. The company claims that the Celera is the most fuel-efficient, commercially viable passenger aircraft in the world. Other claims, such as a maximum cruise speed of 390kt, a range of over four thousand miles, and a fuel economy of twenty-five miles per gallon are equally impressive.
Airfields
What's happening at our airfields, aerodromes & airports
Pipistrel And Green Motion To Create Electric Aircraft Charging Network
Green Motion, a Swiss company which specialises in electric vehicle charging, is joining forces with Pipistrel Aircraft to create a charging network for airfields.
Why ADS-B is the way forward
The well-known earthrounder pilot and avionics engineer makes the case for following the US lead and standardising on a single technology for reliable Electronic Conspicuity
Super STOL +speed!
Combining the takeoff and load-carrying performance of the Pilatus PC-6 Porter with hot-ship cruising speed, this new utility aircraft from Germany lives up to its claim to be the ‘ultimate STOL aircraft’
Rotorheads
The latest news from the world of rotary - wing aviation
New Regs
New Regs
Ivan bounces back
Having won fame with the Europa then enjoyed less success with the Liberty XL2, the great aircraft designer has a new project under way
Flight training
News from the clubs, schools & ATOs
CLASSIC JET OR 21ST CENTURY TURBOPROP?
Gnat, Hawk or PC-21? Three generations of military trainer compared. Although we have a clear winner in 2020, all of them are fun to fly
Airflow launches eSTOL aircraft
California-based Airflow is developing the first electric Short Take-Off and Landing (eSTOL) aircraft designed for middle-mile logistics.
Airfields
What's happening at our airfields, aerodromes & airports