NEWS OF THE WEEK
Business
Aviation, General Aviation, Helicopter,
Ultralight, Gliding
You also can read the news of the preceding weeks: Business
Aviation, General Aviation, Helicopter, Ultralight, Gliding
BUSINESS AVIATION
Berlin Tempelhof closure
in October 2007?
Renewed efforts are being made to close Tempelhof
airport. The Berlin aviation authorities have issued a closure notice
for the inner city airport. According to the notice the airport could
be shut down after the summer flights stop around 31st
October 2007.
First Challenger 605 delivered
Bombardier announced that the avionics and
windows of the Challenger 605 have been certified by the American FAA
and the EASA. Challenger 605 is fitted with the Pro-Line-21 avionics
from Rockwell Collins.
Cirrus jet flies with
Williams' turbofan
Many were hoping that the Cirrus minijet would to
be exhibited at the NBAA in October. But instead Cirrus just announced
that they were going to use the FJ33-4A-19 engine from Williams
International, which produces 1,900 lbs (8,45 kN) thrust. On the other
hand Cirrus is already accepting 'intent of purchase' declarations
from customers, which have to be
accompanied by a 100,000 Dollar payment.
500th
King Air 350 delivered
Raytheon Aircraft has delivered the 500th
King Air 350 to it's new owner, a US chemical company, which already
owns 3 King Air's. The 350 model is the largest aircraft in the King
Air family. The ancestor of all King Airs, the King Air 90, made its
maiden flight in 1963. Since then more than 6,000 King Air have been
built.
Spectrum Independence to
fly next summer
The prototype Spectrum Independence should begin
flight testing in August next year.
The specification of the prototype will be close to that of
series production models. Certification of the twin-engine jet is
targeted for 2009. A year after that the Spectrum Freedom could
follow. While the Independence will compete against Citation CJ1 and
CJ2, and against the Adam A700, the Freedom will be pitted against the
Citation CJ3, Cessna XLS and Embraer Phenom 300.
Top of Page
GENERAL AVIATION
Taylor Sport for LSA class
Taylorcraft from Texas is once again
manufacturing aircraft, including the Taylor Sport, an LSA two-seater.
The engine for this shoulder wing aircraft is a 100 HP Conti O-200-A.
The fixed twin-blade prop is from McCauley. The Taylor Sport is
available from 79,995 Dollars.
Maiden flight: VUT100-13li SuperCobra
It was party-time at the Czech aircraft
manufacturer Evektor. On 24th
October the four- to five seater VUT100-13li SuperCobra completed its
30 minute maiden flight in Kunovice. Factory pilot Josef Charvat is
very enthusiastic about the performance of the all-metal low-winger
with retractable undercarriage. Under the cowling a fuel-injected
Lycoming IO-580 provides 315 HP (231 kW). The cruising speed of 175
kts, 1000 ft/min climb rate and range
of 1,000 NM, combined with a cargo capacity of 570 kg, make this a
powerful machine.
Katana to re-enter
production
Following a long pause the Katana will now be
built again. The aircraft cell of the new production series is based
on the Eclipse C-1. This means that the cockpit is fitted with
rearward side panels. The engine is still the reliable Rotax
carburated four-cylinder 912S with 100 HP.
A well equipped DV20E will cost around 124,000 Euro.
Polar research with BT-67
Basle
The new “Polar 5” Basle BT-67 research
aircraft will succeed the “Polar 4” in autumn 2007 at the Alfred
Wegener Institute for Polar and Oceanography Research. Like its
predecessor the Polar 5 will be used for transport and research
flights. The BT-67 Basle, which is based on a modified DC-3 fuselage,
is manufactured in America by Basler Turbo Conversions in Oshkosh and
is powered by two Pratt & Whitney turbines.
More power for DA40-180
A tuned exhaust system for the Diamond DA40-180
is now available from Power Flow Systems. FAA certification is in the
pipeline. The exhaust system releases a full 23 HP more from the
Lycoming O-360, which is nominally rated at 180 HP.
Diamond DA50: Single with room
for five
The DA50 is the latest development from Diamond.
It is a very spacious five-seater with fixed undercarriage. Six
cylinder engines will provide the power.
200th
Eurofox flies in USA
The 200th
LSA certified Eurofox goes to the USA. The aircraft from the
Slovakian manufacturer Aeropro was recently handed over to its owner.
The Eurofox has been certified as a UL in Germany since 1995.
Life-saving investors for Marl
Marl-Loemühle airfield is saved. After
acceptance by Marl and the creditors Recklinghausen has now also
approved the plans of a new investor to take over the airfield and to
extend the runway.
Rotax Six-cylinder project
halted
Engine manufacturer BRP-Rotax has put the
marketing of its proposed six-cylinder engines on ice. The Bombardier
subsidiary wants to conclude testing at the end of December so that it
can concentrate its aviation efforts on the 912 and 914 engine series.
Fog on the planned flight route?
Pilots can now access data on early morning fog
from www.wetter-jetzt.de. This is made possible by the latest
generation satellites, which can create a picture of night time fog
conditions over Europe.
Cartoons for 2007
25 years after publishing his first book “Say
Again”, the aerokurier cartoonist Ton van Andel has published a
calender for 2007. The cartoon collection costs 10 Euro. More
information at:
www.aviation-humor.com.
New diesel engine
A new diesel aviation
engine
is being developed in Karlsruhe. Involved in the TSDAE (Two Stroke
Diesel Aircraft Engine) project are the Institute for Manufacturing
Technology and Production at the Karlsruhe college and a partner from
industry. The two-stroke engine family include four, six, eight or
twelve cylinder engines.
Accident investigator rebukes flight control
In its published report the Swiss Office of
Flight Investigation were highly critical of Swiss flight control over
its role in an accident that happened two years ago in Geneva air
space. Four people died in the accident. The Cessna was not adequately
supported during an emergency situation, and there significant
shortcomings in the team work between flight control services.
The confusing representation of the Geneva southern transit
route on the ICAO map was also criticised.
Automatic airport announcements
The msFIS announcement system is currently being
trialled at the Dahlemer Binz and Meinerzhagen airfields. In off-peak
periods the “intelligent” computer informs in-bound pilots about
the local weather conditions and the active landing direction.
Holiday island rip-off
The provincial government of Sardinia is levying
an extra 150 Euro “Luxury” tax for all general aviation pilots.
Everyone flying to a state operated airfield must pay up.
Top of Page
HELICOPTER
“Air Quad” to support
emergencies
The University of Karlsruhe is drawing attention
with its diminutive 90 cm craft, the Air Quad.
The mini-camera helicopter weighs just 1,000 gm (cargo weight
200 gm) and is equipped with four electric-powered rotors. Fitted with
GPS, Initial-Navigation, magnetic field sensor and a barometric
altimeter, it is capable of flying pre-defined routes fully
autonomously and hovering over fixed coordinates.
Dr Lutz Bertling is head of Eurocopter
The helicopter manufacturer Eurocopter once again
has a German manager at its helm. Dr Lutz Bertling (44) is the
successor of Fabrice Brégier, who has moved to Airbus as a director.
Top of Page
ULTRALIGHT
Smaragd grounded
After an accident with two fatalities the Smaragd
ultralight fleet must remain grounded for the time being. The LTA will
remain in force until the cause of the accident has been identified.
According to the BFU eye witnesses reports indicate that the aircraft
entered a spin.
German premiere for Skylark
The UL type certification for the Skylark is
expected very soon. The all metal low-winger has its origins in a
Canadian-Czech cooperation under the leadership of Dova Aircraft. The
data sheet promises a 215 km/h cruising speed. The basic price is
60,000 Euro.
Rainer Hüls retires
Rainer Hüls will retire at the end of the 2006
after serving almost ten years as the leader of the DAeC Aviation
Sport Equipment Office . The 63 year old from Reinbek has been leading
the office since 1st
May, 1998.
More charm for Savage
With a more appealing shape and detail changes
the latest variation of the Savage, the “Cruiser”, is also being
launched in Germany (aerokurier 6/2006).
TL 96 Sting tows glider
The TL 96 Sting is now certified to tow gliders
up to 720 kg take-off weight. The aerotow version of the composite
low-winger is equipped with a Rotax 912 S (74 kW/100 HP), and can be optionally fitted with the Alisport AIV-2 HS
hydraulically operated variable-pitch propeller.
Sunny uprated to 450 kg MTOW
The Sunny has received supplementary type certification for a MTOW of 450
kg from the DAeC Aviation Sport
Equipment Office. Until now the fabric covered tubular framed UL had a
MTOW of 400 kg.
Twister production restarts
The Twister is being manufactured again. The
agile single-seater, which was constructed for a time under the
direction of DG Flugzeugbau
in Bruchsal, is now being built again by Silence Aircraft in Verl.
Certification could be possible as a UL or an experimental.
Top of Page
GLIDING
“Hexentreffen” in
Magdeburg
For the 32nd
gathering of Germany's aviation sports women, on the last January
weekend of 2007, the organisers have put together an interesting
series of lectures. The
programme includes “Re-living the flights of Otto Lilienthal”,
“Motorised aerobatics: past and present”,
“High altitude flying in Harz”, “Gliding with electric
sustainer engines”, “Training
the national team and the German Women's Gliding Championship
pilots”, “The
gyrocopter as an ultra-light aircraft”, and “ Agrarian flights in
the former German Democratic Republic”. The entertainment programme
includes the cabaret “Denkzettel” and a tour of the city. The
event begins on Saturday, 27th
January at the “Innovations-
und Gründerzentrum“ in north Magdeburg. Additional information can
be found at: www.flinke-hexen.de.
Gliding photo calendar 2007
Claus-Dieter
Zink has once again brilliantly captured with his camera themes that
will no doubt keep alive during the winter months the nostalgic summer
memories of every visitor to southern France. The photographs are in the new gliding photo calendar
2007. The calendar can be obtained in the familiar large format direct from
Claus-Dieter Zink (www.fotokalender.de).
Price: €24.95
plus postage and packing.
New calender: Orchids 2007
Last year the lady glider pilots from Tarmsted
allowed themselves be photographed with their gliders. A tasteful
calender was made and nearly 500 copies were sold. Photographer Elvira
Homfeld-Wichels has now made a second calender on the same theme with
the lady pilots from Boberg airfield.
More gliding news you will find under airSPORT
Top of Page |
