CATEGORIES

An aviation photographer's experience at the Presidential inauguration

Witnessing the helicopter formation for the Presidential Inauguration in Pretoria on 18 June 2024 was an incredibly unique and exhilarating experience, an opportunity that does not come around very often.

Jabiru South Africa

Ask the aviation industry about Jabiru aircraft and you will find that they have an excellent reputation.

EAA Chapter 322 Young Eagles 2024

The Experimental Aviation association (EAA) has a long history of engendering the passion for flying amongst its members as well as the youth of the world. EAA is a worldwide organisation with its most well-known event being the annual gathering in Oshkosh for a week of aviation as the largest aviation event in the world at the end of July each year.

Bat Hawk Aircraft

Based in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, Micro Aviation SA (SACAA M-628) is the manufacturer of the most affordable Rotax 912 ULS powered light sport aircraft in the world.

FK 9 Mk vi - RAPTOR

The FK9 Mk VI has just landed in South Africa.

Sun City plans for sustainable solar energy

Sun City is going to great heights in its bid to one day take the resort completely off the grid. With all available space on the roof of Sun Central now covered by solar panels, the resort lifted its sights to the roof at The Palace and the Sun City hotel.

Belgium chposes Airbus H145M for Armed Forces and Federal Police

The Kingdom of Belgium will procure 15 multi-role H145M helicopters for the army and two helicopters plus three options for the Federal Police. The contract was signed between the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), on behalf of Belgium and Airbus Helicopters.

Maputo airshow 2024 What a treat!

On Sunday 16 June Christine and I returned from attending the Maputo airshow and what a fantastic experience this was not only for estimated 15 000 spectators, but also the members of the media present. As always Brian Emmenis and his team were on top form with a great selection of music. The grand finale with the Puma Energy Flying Lions T6 Harvards was simply beautiful and I saw several spectators with tears in their eyes as they expressed their happiness for the airshow.

Single-pilot operations and lemon juice

Psychology researchers have found that some of the dumbest criminals and the cockiest pilots may have something in common: a hazardous cognitive bias, the Dunning–Kruger effect that hinders self-perception, clouds judgment and leads individuals to overestimate their ability. However, new psychological discoveries may provide a cure.

ExecuJet MRO Services! South Africa Set to Achieve New Record for Airframe Heavy Checks

JOHANNESBURG - ExecuJet MRO Services South Africa, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dassault Aviation, is poised to set a new record this year for airframe heavy maintenance checks. The company's previous annual record was seven, but this year it will complete at least 11 thanks to additional work on Dassault Falcon aircraft.

Continental Aerospace Technologies Avgas engine workshop

Over a period of two weeks Tim Owen from Continental provided engine technical training within the Cirrus South Africa's Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO) at Lanseria International Airport for a selected group of individuals working within piston engine aircraft overhaul shops.

Textron's Cessna 408 SkyCourier

The Cessna 408 SkyCourier is an American utility aircraft designed and built by the Cessna division of Textron Aviation. It was launched on 28 November 2017, with an order for 50 aircraft from FedEx Express, with the aircraft designed for the needs of its FedEx Feeder service. It made its first flight on 17 May 2020 and was type certified on 11 March 2022, whilst FedEx took delivery of the first production model on 9 May 2022.

Tech designed to prevent runway collisions tested in Washington

One Friday morning, the pilot of a Boeing 757 airliner approached Yakima Airport in Central Washington and lined up to land. On the threshold of the runway below, a Falcon 900 business jet was set for take-off, directly in the path of the Boeing 757.

Aviation industry improves baggage handling

SITA announced an improvement in the air transport industry's rate of mishandled baggage. The newly launched SITA Baggage IT Insights 2024 reports the number of bags mishandled by the industry falling from 7.6 to 6.9 per 1,000 passengers in 2023.

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.