The Winter Doldrums Can't Compare to a January Lakeland Getaway

Those disappointed by the loss of both the Sebring and DeLand sport aviation fly-ins can rest easy now that the Affordable Flying Expo is on the books for January 9th through the 11th of 2025. The new fly-in offers a well-timed wintertime getaway, an excuse to take the family down south to enjoy the cozy Florida sunshine in the same excellent facilities we enjoy at Sun 'n Fun. The Affordable Flying Expo will focus on the love of flight, and all things that bring it into reach of the average, fun-loving pilot. Everyone is invited, from pilots and AMT's to manufacturers and owners. The Expo will give the people what they need, with workshops and education rounding things out inside the hangars. Plenty of aircraft and exhibits will also be on hand, giving everyone in the family a little eye candy to walk by and enjoy.

AirVenture 2024 Will Host Last Two Remaining B-29s

The 71st edition of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, set to take place from July 22-28, 2024, at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, will feature a rare reunion of the world's only two flying Boeing B-29 Superfortresses, 'Doc' and 'FIFI'. This joint appearance, supporting the "Turning the Tide" salute to 1944 and the 80th anniversary of D-Day, marks only the fourth time in 50 years that these two iconic aircraft have been publicly displayed together. Rick Larsen, EAA's vice president of communities and member programs, highlighted the significance of this event, stating, "Bringing these two iconic aircraft together is another of those 'Only at Oshkosh' moments." He emphasized that their presence will make the commemoration even more memorable.

Things Are Looking Good for Reorganization Plan's Acceptance

Van's Aircraft posted a short video recapping the goings-on around their reorganization as they continue to move away from the brink, and by all accounts, things are going great. Clyde Hamstreet indicated that things are going pretty well in the Chapter 11 process, and they expect their reorganization plan to be approved by the court come May. Hammerstreet noted, with pleasure, that few companies in a similar position manage to survive the process, but Van's is sitting pretty. Their plan for reorganization hinges on restructuring nearly all existing contracts between suppliers, contractors, clients, and customers, which can often torpedo any prospective deal in the process.

Also: Flight Club, Jet Shades, MyGoFlight’s FlightFlix Acquisition

FIFTY YEARS! What a milestone for the aviation world’s master aero-education duo! John, Martha, along with their CEO Barry Knutilla have come to Sun ‘n Fuin to celebrate a half-century of keeping us educated while also casting eyes upon the future. Ya want to land and take off REALLY short? Ya want to keep it simple? Ya want it to cost less than your house? Bryce Angell’s newly created Top Rudder aircraft has some affordable, highly capable STOL-ready aero-toys for you! The ultimate cockpit visual aid? Aileronics has introduced the Sentinel, a portable sensor that can be mounted in any cockpit and assist with the chores of seeing and avoiding hazards in your flight path. There is a cool new offering by the name of Flight Club... Flight Club is a double-sided marketplace that connects aircraft owners with pilots looking to rent an aircraft. The idea is not a n

Also: Seaplane Pilots Association, Rotax 916’s First Year, Gene Conrad

After a decade and a half of struggling with the FAA and other aero-politics, G100UL is in production and there are a million gallons currently available. You can NEVER have too many good aids in keeping a flight safe... Holy Micro has an interesting approach to keeping pilots informed. The folks at Plane Tags have collected memorabilia from over 200 aircraft of all makes and categories... And offer mementos of great planes in aviation’s proud history. SPA’s Steve McCaughey updates the Airborne team on the latest and greatest in one of the aviation world’s coolest (sometimes we mean that literally) aviation pursuits. ANN had the honor of helping to introduce the Rotax 915 at last year’s Innovation Preview and we got a chance to review what a year in the field is teaching the aviation biz. Gene Conrad Catches His Breath During Our Morning Brief... an

Also: Bushcat Woes, Hummingbird 300 SL 4-Seat Heli Kit, Carbon Cub UL

The newest Junkers is a faithful recreation that mates a 7-cylinder Verner radial engine to the airframe offered last year with a Rotax 912... but a desire for more historic accuracy led to the A50 Heritage. The Helicycle has gone through a number of owners and iterations but looks to be in good hands with a company that keeps tweaking and improving this unique turbine single-engine, single-seat kit helicopter. The Brazilian Montaer MC-01 is about to be joined by a four-place sibling, the MC-04. The two-seater is holding its own though with a number of impressive fleet sales and growing popularity here in the states. Life throws challenges at you now and then... and the folks got thrown a curveball at the start of SnF24. AeroSport has been the US Distributor for SkyReach and its BushCat light sport aircraft... until the manufacturer announced that they were not going to offering kits

Textron Announces Caravan Fleet Reaches 25 Million Flight Hours

Textron Aviation has announced a significant milestone for its Cessna Caravan turboprop family, which has now surpassed 25 million flight hours. This achievement cements the Caravan's status as the most produced single-engine utility turboprop in history. The Cessna Caravan and Cessna Grand Caravan EX, both part of this distinguished family, are designed and manufactured by Textron. Lannie O’Bannion, Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Flight Operations at Textron Aviation, expressed pride in this accomplishment, highlighting the Caravan's versatility and reliability. "This accomplishment is a testament to the steadfast confidence our customers have in the Caravan to fulfill their missions, deliver solutions, and improve lives around the world," said O'Bannion.

Applications only Accepted from April 19-22, 2024

The Federal Aviation Administration is hiring thousands of air traffic controllers, but the window to apply will only be open for a short time. The FAA has issued a call to action, requesting anyone and everyone meeting the relatively accommodating standards. They will have to bolster their numbers soon, with plans to hire 1,800 more controllers this year, and another 2,000 in 2025. In order to apply, the FAA prefers applicants to be US citizens, English speakers, pass a medical/security exam, pass a pre-employment test, and hold more than 3 years of "general work experience" or a bachelor's degree. Aside from that, be younger than 31 years of age, and the job might be yours.

Also: ForeFlight Upgrades, Cicare USA, Vittorazi Engines, EarthX

We have a number of late-breaking news highlights from the 2024 Innovation Preview... which was PACKED with real news and probably broke more real news in one day than any other aviation event... again! The big announcement of the 2024 Sun n Fun Innovation Preview? Piper is working alongside the Deltahawk diesel folks on what could eventually show up as a Diesel Piper PA-44 Seminole... which would be a VERY fuel-thrifty airplane. Not content to produce a classic aircraft with an inline engine, Junkers has updated... or backdated for that matter the A50 platform with an honest-to-goodness radial engine. And the results? Gorgeous... in both sight and sound. CKD Aerospace has taken over Fisher Flying Products and is making BIG changes to the highly regarded SportPlane line. New products, new services, new engines... CKD had a lot to discuss... In addition to their usual list of a bazilli

Student Pilot will be charged with Interference with a Flight Crew

In a breach of aviation security, a 19-year-old student pilot is now facing federal charges after multiple attempts to enter the cockpit of an Alaska Airlines flight. The incident, which took place on March 3rd during Flight 322 from SAN to IAD. Nathan Jones, the accused, left his seat several times during the flight, making three separate efforts to access the cockpit door. His actions prompted an immediate response from the flight crew, who, with the assistance of off-duty law enforcement officers, restrained Jones using flex cuffs. To further secure the cockpit, flight attendants used a beverage cart to barricade the entry.