Latest from Mark Huber
Aircraft
Blackhawk Announces New Caravan, King Air Programs
Program provides a 'reset' for Caravans. Certification of XP67A engine upgrade imminent.
Engines
EPS Diesel Engine Nears Certification
The engine configuration fits many legacy single- or twin-engine general aviation piston aircraft.
Rotorcraft
Dynali Helicopter H3 To Begin Shipping to U.S.
Version being imported into the U.S. by Dynali's authorized distributor Hangar 36 will retail for $129,700 and feature the turbocharged Rotax 914 engine.
Rotorcraft
Bandy To Lead Columbia Helicopters
Columbia is the leading civil operator of tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopters.
Regulations and Government
UK, Norway Regulators Ready To Lift Super Puma Ban
Conditions for return to flight focus around a second-stage planet gear in the epicyclic module of the main rotor gearbox.
Rotorcraft
Summit Building Thriving Helo-support Business
The company has found markets in both the civil and military sectors.
Regulations and Government
Airbus X6 Cleared for $430M in Government Subsidies
Twin-engine X6 is the long-awaited successor to Airbus Helicopters' Super Puma.
Rotorcraft
Last Bell LongRanger Rolls Off Production Line
Bell has manufactured more than 3,800 LongRangers since production of the helicopter started in 1975.
Rotorcraft
Bell 525 Resumes Flight Testing
The Bell 525 Relentless has resumed flight testing and is on track to certification in 2018.
Rotorcraft
Waypoint Leasing Extends Credit Facilities
The company will use the funds to support aircraft and continue customer financing.
Rotorcraft
Bell Inks $300M China Deal for 100 407GXPs
407GXP was selected in part on its multi-role capabilities in “a broad range of segments, including EMS, parapublic, tourism and firefighting.”
Regulations and Government
NASA Completes Prelim Design of Low-boom Demonstrator
Testing of low-boom technologies is viewed as critical to repeal of the current prohibition of supersonic flight over land.
Rotorcraft
Helicopteres Guimbal Delivers 200th Cabri G2
milestone 200th G2 was the first to be equipped with the 160-hp engine upgrade.
Charter & Fractional
Bristow Teams With Blade on NYC S-76 Helo Service
Blade Ultra is available on a charter, crowdsourced and scheduled basis, and can be booked directly on via Blade's app or website.
Rotorcraft
Bell Helicopter Announces Product Upgrades, New Sales
Upgrades include Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) approval for a weight increase on the Bell 407 cargo hook to 3,100 pounds from 2,646 pounds.
Rotorcraft
Airbus Starts Autonomous Flights of VSR700 Helo
VSR700 is based on the Helicopteres Guimbal Cabri G2 and is intended to be a light military rotary-wing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle.
Rotorcraft
Third Airbus H160 Gets Ready To Fly
Aircraft PT1 and PT2 are currently flying and collectively have accumulated 450 flight hours through last week.
Aircraft
XTI Pushing TriFan 600 at Paris Airshow
The Tri-Fan 600 is a six-place design that features three ducted fans driven by a pair of 2,600-shp Honeywell HTS900 turboshaft engines.
Aircraft
SureFly Solves eVTOL Battery Capacity Problem
Workhorse Group's SureFly aims to fly two passengers up to 70 miles at up to 70 mph.
Rotorcraft
Bell Eyes Future While Wrestling With the Present
Bell is seeing stabilization of the commercial market and preparing to return the 525 to flight test status.
Rotorcraft
Leonardo Opens AW101 Training Center in Norway
Norway has ordered 16 AW101s for search and rescue missions.
Accidents
AW609 Final Accident Report Issued
The pilot's control inputs exacerbated extreme aerodynamic forces.
Rotorcraft
Bell Plans To Soon Resume 525 Flight Testing
The company anticipates type certification next year.
Rotorcraft
Kaman Delivering First New-production K-Max
The first aircraft is scheduled to be handed over in July.
Rotorcraft
Bell 505 Gains FAA Certification
The helicopter now holds approvals from three agencies and expects a fourth shortly.
Rotorcraft
Two Enstrom TH-180s Now in Flight-test Program
One helicopter is in flight test while the other is currently engaged in a 100-hour ground-test run of the drive system and controls.
Rotorcraft
Russian Helicopter Ka-62 Makes First Flight
The Ka-62 is expected to cost in the $10 million range, seat 12 to 15 and be aimed primarily at the offshore energy and search and rescue markets.
