Trade-A-Plane Blog – Aviation News & Information Piston, Helicopters, Jets & Turbines

"Are you ready?" they asked. "Oh, yeah!" I said, quasi-confidently as I tried to keep my voice from crackling while the crew outfitted me with a parachute and strapped me into the seat. "Don't touch this lever, that button or that strap," they said. "Unless the pilot tells you to bail -- then pull this, [...]

You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to be able to figure out, or at least, have a go at assembling a jet engine thanks to General Electric’s (GE) partnership with BBDO New York to develop Throttle Up, which is an immersive, holographic sensory experience that will run throughout the entire Creative Week in [...]

Connectors Deliver More Data to iPads The growing popularity of Apple’s iPad as a Class 1 electronic flight bag (EFB) has captured the interest of avionics manufacturers, and at last month’s Aircraft Electronics Association show two new devices that connect iPads to aircraft data were unveiled. DAC International, a subsidiary of Greenwich AeroGroup, introduced the [...]

Seven thousand feet over Central Illinois, a chocolate lab puppy rests its head on the shoulder of pilot Pete Tobin, seemingly lulled to sleep by the hum of the plane’s engine. “On every rescue there’s about one dog that stands out,” Pete says through the headset, “one that makes it special and makes it all [...]

With about 80 days remaining until opening day on July 23, this year's AirVenture preview video ought to whet your appetite for the World's Greatest Aviation Celebration. This year we celebrate the "Greatest Generation in the Air" with tributes to the Doolittle Raiders and Tuskegee Airmen, the Piper Cub's 75th anniversary, and Van's RV 40th [...]

With the ever-changing medical rules in our profession, the Federal Aviation Administration is trying to close down yet another accident avenue before it gets a chance to rear its ugly head.  They know, and so do we, that pilots in general do not eat good, nutritious food and are not necessarily prone to exercise.  Consequently, [...]

MD Helicopters Inc. (MDHI) released details today of its new scout helicopter—the MD 540-F, the newest addition to MD’s fleet of single engine turbine helicopters. The 540F is an upgrade to the popular MD 530F, boasting a 6 bladed, fully articulated rotor blade system made up entirely of composite material and a more rugged landing [...]

Aircraft manufacturer Embraer S.A. in São José Dos Campos, Brazil, needed rugged data acquisition and flight data recorder technology for the Legacy 500 business jet. They found their solution from Curtiss-Wright Controls Avionics & Electronics in City of Industry, Calif. Curtiss-Wright has completed delivery of the company's Acra KAM-500, Acra multi-role recorder, and Acra network [...]

For Tennessee Wesleyan College graduate Evelyn Bryan Johnson, a hobby to battle boredom has become a lifelong career taking her to new heights that no woman or living person has been before. Johnson, a 1929 graduate of TWC, holds a Guinness Book of World Records title for having the most flying hours of any woman [...]

Microsoft Corp. and Aspen Avionics Inc. have signed a patent licensing agreement that gives Aspen broad access to the latest Extended File Allocation Table (exFAT). exFAT is a modern file system from Microsoft that facilitates large files for audiovisual media and enables seamless data portability and an easy interchange between desktop PCs and other electronic [...]

Maine Governor Paul LePage recently declared April “General Aviation Appreciation Month.” Maine becomes the 38th state to officially recognize the importance of general aviation and its economic impact, both locally and nationally. Across the state, general aviation airports have an annual economic output of $521 million. “The Alliance would like to thank Governor LePage for [...]

Heading overseas this summer? When it comes to flying private jet charter for larger groups or longer distances, you'll find extra comfort and capabilities in large-cabin aircraft. Typically, these jets can seat up to 18 passengers and have a range of 3,550 to 6,400 nautical miles (6,575 to 11,853 kilometers), which will carry you from [...]

The U.S. Air Force Edwards Air Force Base issued the following news release: Team Edwards and the C-17 Integrated Test Team at the 418th Flight Test Squadron recently bid the U.S. Air Force's first C-17 Globemaster III (S/N 87-0025) a final farewell as it departed Edwards April 23 to make its final ferry flight to [...]

In 2050, flying commercial may still mean crammed overhead bins and crummy food, but the engine could be powered by liquefied natural gas or electricity, according to an ongoing study on the future of flight. Such planes might also be constructed with lighter materials, sport high-span truss-based wings, and be routed with improved air-traffic control [...]

The International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations (IAOPA) recently held its biennial World Assembly in Stellenbosch, South Africa, to discuss current and emerging challenges confronting the world’s general aviation community. Attendees included leaders of IAOPA’s 70 worldwide affiliates, comprising 450,000 general aviation aircraft owners and pilots. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Secretary General [...]

Flight tests of the PW1200G geared turbofan for Mitsubishi’s Regional Jet (MRJ) got under way at Mirabel, Canada, on April 30. The engine was flown on Pratt’s second Boeing 747SP flying testbed, which is modified with an upper fuselage-mounted stub wing to test smaller turbofans and turboprops. Pratt & Whitney expects to run through the [...]

Cessna Aircraft’s new Citation M2 will share a production line with the Cessna Citation Mustang in Independence, Kan. “We have capacity there,” said Brian Rohloff, Cessna business leader for the Mustang and M2 programs. Rohloff also confirmed that Cessna will offer its Clairity wireless cabin management and entertainment system on the M2 as an extra [...]

Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, today urged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to significantly revise its proposed requirements for pilot certification and provide a system that builds on the industry's strong safety record, is recommended by safety experts and that recognizes the quality of a pilot's training [...]

The Pacific Coast Air Museum had just two aircraft on display when the Navy called in early 1993. An old war plane needed to be moved, and the military wanted the fledgling Santa Rosa museum to pick it up. "I remember saying to somebody, 'I hope it's not that old airplane on 19th Avenue,' " [...]

On a sunny afternoon at Compton Airport, 9-year-old Jose Pineda runs across the tarmac and makes a beeline for a single-engine Cessna Aircraft. He's completely at ease –- clearly in his element –- laughing and joking about a special celebration coming up. A birthday. He runs his hand along the side of the plane and [...]