Number 18 – 07 March 2024

“I hate this ‘crime does not pay’ nonsense. Crime in South Africa is perhaps one of the biggest businesses in this country today, especially amongst corrupt politicians.” Athol Franz

Bellanca 28-92 Trimotor

(Information from Wikipedia)

The Bellanca 28-92 Trimotor was a racing aircraft built to compete in the Istres-Damascus-Paris Air Race of 1937 and was paid for by popular subscription in Romania. Christened Alba Julia (‘White Julia’, registration YR-AHA) it was piloted by Captain Alexander Papana of the Romanian Air Force. The aircraft was a low-wing cantilever monoplane with a similar fuselage to the Bellanca 28-70 and 28-90, but was fitted with three engines, one in the nose and one in each of two underwing nacelles. The nacelles also housed the main undercarriage units when retracted.

The fuselage was of tubular steel construction and covered by aluminium back to the cockpit. Aft of the cockpit, the fuselage was covered with fabric. The wings and tail were covered with plywood and the control surfaces were covered by fabric. The main undercarriage partially retracted into the rear of the wing engine nacelles, but the tailwheel did not retract.

Installed in each wing of the aircraft was a 250-HP (186 kW) Menasco C6S4 Super Buccaneer engine. The C6S4 was a direct drive, air-cooled, inverted, straight-six aircraft engine. The C6S4 was supercharged and displaced 544 cu. in. (8.9 L). Each C6S4 engine drove a 6-ft. 6 in (0.15 m) diameter, two-blade, adjustable-pitch propeller. A 420-HP (313 kW) Ranger SGV-770 engine was in the nose of the 28–92. The SGV-770 was an air-cooled, inverted, V-12 engine. The engine was supercharged, displaced 773 cu. in. (12.7 L) and had gear reduction for the 8-ft. 3 in (0.076 m) diameter, two-blade, adjustable-pitch propeller.

All the trimotor’s engines were hand cranked to start. The 28-92 had a fuel capacity of around 715 gallons (2,707 L). The aircraft had a span of 46-ft. 4 in (0.10 m), a length of 28 ft 4 in (8.64 m) and weighed 4,700 pounds (2,100 kg) empty. The 28-92 had a top speed of 285 mph (459 km/h) and a 3,000 miles (4,800 km) range at 250 mph (400 km/h) and 4,160 miles (6,690 km) range at 200 mph (320 km/h). Landing speed was 75 mph (121 km/h).

In 1938, Bellanca re-registered the aircraft in the United States as NX2433 and entered it in the Bendix Trophy cross-country race. Frank Cordova was the pilot for the race and the trimotor flew as race number 99. Unfortunately, because of engine trouble, the aircraft did not finish the cross-country race.

The aircraft competed in the 1939 Bendix Trophy race, placing second, piloted by Arthur Bussy. After being sold in South America, the 28-92 ended its days rotting in a small field in Ecuador.

Video: https://planehistoria.com/bellanca-28-92/

Those persons that correctly identified this week’s mystery aircraft:

Ari Levien, Andre Visser, Wouter van der Waal, Clint Futter, Peter Rossouw, Righardt du Plessis, Lance Williams, Chris Hepburn, Andrew Peace, Bruce Prescott, Christiaan Haak, Kevin Farr, Rex Tweedie, Bruce Margolius, T.C. Schultz, Pierre Brittz, Piet Steyn, Jeremy Rorich, Andre Breytenbach, Hilton Carroll, Aiden O’Mahony, Colin Austen, Charlie Hugo, Mike McLaughlin, Selwyn Kimber, Erwin Stam, Karl Jensen, Alex Wagner, Jan Sime, Bary Eatwell, Johan Venter, Ahmed Bassa, Dave Lloyd, Brian Ross, Magiel Esterhuysen, Pierre Brittz, (36).

Vektor Aviation insurance conference

On Wednesday afternoon I attended the Vektor Aviation insurance conference staged at Absolute Aviatorn’s Lanseria south side VIP charter flight operations hanger and lounge. The five in order were Adv Ronald King from PSG, Mike Clarke from Absolute Aviation, Graham Wells from AG Aviation, Attie Nieman from 43 Air School and Scott Smith for Lockton (UK). David Le Roux acted as the master of ceremonies and he provided the introductions to all the speakers. Although hot and windy this was an incredible conference in which I personally learnt a great deal about our country South Africa as well as the various aviation disciplines which the speakers addressed. Besides taking photographs at the conference, I videoed the entire proceedings resulting in nearly two hours of raw footage that I will prepare as future videos to place onto African Pilot’s You Tube channel. Thanks to Absolute Aviation for inviting me to be part of this prestigious gathering where I interacted with many well-known aviation personalities. I will be preparing a full feature on this conference within the April edition of African Pilot. 

SAAF Museum flying day 2 March 2024

By Charlie Hugo

The SAAF Museum based at the Mobility Air Wing Swartkop is tasked with preserving the rich history of the South African Air Force. In addition to a vast collection of various aircraft that the SAAF operated there are numerous airworthy aircraft. These aircraft are maintained and flown by volunteers from the SAAF Reserve force.  In order for the aircrew to retain currency as well as train new SAAF pilots who have a desire to maintain the history of the SAAF the Museum has a flying and training day which is held on the first Saturday of the month (except January and February.)

The first flying day for the year was held on Saturday, 2 March and what a glorious late summers day it was. A huge crowd turned up to enjoy the day watching the various rotor and fixed wing aircraft from the Museum being put through their paces. All the various aviation preservation societies were in attendance and, whilst memorabilia was on sale to gather funds for their projects. These societies rely upon donations for their various restorations that they wish to complete. Chief amongst them is the Spitfire restoration which aims to restore Spitfire 5518 (was flying was AX-K 5553) to museum display.

All the various display hangars were open and one could view the preserved aircraft that were on static display. Congratulations to all the volunteers who keep these aircraft in a clean condition. The SAAF Museum’s flying and training day occurs on the first Saturday of the month except for January and the month of the SAAF Museum’s airshow (this year 4 May 2024). Entrance is free although the museum will welcome a donation.

AviationDirect and Eisenschmidt launched new VFR charts for Johannesburg and Cape Town

AviationDirect, well-known publishers of airfields information and flight planning / inflight navigation software for Southern Africa, are excited to announce the release of the much-anticipated VFR (Visual Flight Rules) charts for Johannesburg and Cape Town’s Special Rules Areas. These charts were developed in collaboration with Germany’s Eisenschmidt GmbH, publishers of aviation charts in Europe and who are also a Pilot Supplies Company offering a wide range of aeronautical publications and training material.

A historic collaboration

The journey began at AERO South Africa 2022, where initial discussions with Eisenschmidt, a subsidiary of the German Flight Safety group (DFS), set the stage for this project. With over 130 years of expertise in chart production, Eisenschmidt’s rich history, dating back to their first aviation chart for airships in 1909, made them the perfect partner for this initiative.

Reviving and innovating

Responding to the discontinuation of VFR Charts by Jeppesen in 2011, the demand for updated and accurate navigation maps was evident. A sample map, unveiled at Aero South Africa in 2024, generated immense interest, and paved the way for the development of this essential chart, in accordance with published information.

Technical excellence meets local expertise

The culmination of this project is the result of uncompromising efforts from Eisenschmidt’s technical team in Germany and working hand-in-hand with South African pilots, flight instructors and air traffic controllers. The final product is not just a chart; it is a testament to international collaboration and technical accuracy.

Chart features and benefits

These new VFR charts for Johannesburg and Cape Town Special Rules Areas are designed at a 1:250 000 scale, offering clear visibility and usability in the cockpit. They detail airspace boundaries, frequencies, reporting points, airfields and published routings, essential for navigating these complex airspaces. The reverse side of the charts includes vital telephone numbers, communication frequencies, descriptions of Special Routes and other crucial information, significantly reducing pilot stress in busy airspaces. The Cape Town chart is the first official map depicting the Special Rules Area North and, additionally also describes the Cape Town CTR Bottelary and Kenilworth Arrivals and Departures.

Availability and pricing

These charts are a game changer for pilots flying in and around Johannesburg and Cape Town. They are available for purchase directly from AviationDirect or from local Pilot Shops and Flying schools. Priced at R349.00 incl. VAT (excluding delivery) the charts are a valuable investment for the aviation community.

ATNS wins ILS contract for SA National Airports

The Air Traffic and Navigation Services SOC Ltd (ATNS) has won a new five-year contract for maintenance of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) at six national airports under the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA). The contract bid victory comes after ATNS participated in a rigorous tender process that tested and proved the company’s unmatched competitive edge in the ILS maintenance market in South Africa.

ATNS Chief Executive Officer, Ms Nozipho Mdawe attributed the company’s latest victory, to its zero compromise on safety in the execution of its business services and product offerings as a globally competitive air navigation service provider and Africa’s preferred industry trainer. The ILS is a precision runway approach aid based on radio-controlled beams that provide pilots with vertical and horizontal guidance during an aircraft approach to land. ATNS has an unmatched footprint of maintaining ILS systems for over three decades with exceptional experience in the field. This has over the years enabled the company to provide ILS and other related air communications, navigation and surveillance-related services and products beyond the South African borders.

8 to 10 March
Aero Club Airweek venue Middleburg airfield
Contact Sandra Strydom E-mail: sandra@aeroclub.org.za Tel: 011 082 1100

8 to 10 March
EAA National Convention Middleburg airfield
Contact Paul Lastrucci E-mail: tailwheel@mweb.co.za

9 March
SAPFA ANR at Middleburg airfield
Contact Iaan Myburgh E-mail: iaanmyburgh@gmail.com Cell: 082 449 2531

Deadly mid-air in Kenya

On Tuesday morning there was a mid-air collision over Nairobi National Park, between a Safarilink Dash 8 and a Cessna 172. The Dash 8 was able to return to Wilson airport, whilst the Cessna 172 from 99 Flying Club crashed into the park and the two occupants were killed.

Witnesses describe wintry weather before deadly helicopter crash that killed six

On 9 February an Airbus helicopter departed the operator’s base at the Bob Hope Airport (BUR) in Burbank, California to reposition for a charter passenger flight. The accident flight left the Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) under visual flight rules, flying a north-westerly heading for about two miles before following US Highway 111 to Interstate 10 at altitudes between 2,500 and 3,000 feet mean sea level. The helicopter continued flying along the I-10, then crossed over the San Bernadino International Airport to follow I-215 to I-15.

The helicopter followed I-15 to its destination at the Boulder City Municipal Airport (BVU) and climbed between 4,000 and 5,500 feet msl, then descended to about 3,500 ft msl near Barstow, California. The NTSB prelim said the helicopter’s ADS-B track data was lost soon after, likely due to terrain interference. The ADS-B data resumed near the Halloran Springs / I-15 exit west of the crash site. The final ADS-B data points tracked east-southeast and gradually descended in altitude while increasing in ground speed. The crash site was located 0.31 miles east-southeast of the final data point at an elevation of about 3,360 feet msl.

Local law enforcement said several witnesses driving on the I-15 called 911 to report observing a fireball to the south. Witnesses said the weather conditions in the area were raining with a snow mix and described them as ‘not good.’ The wreckage was found in high mountainous desert and scrub brush-covered terrain. Debris was scattered about 300 feet along a 120-degree magnetic heading from the initial impact point, about a 1.5 feet deep, 12 feet long and 10 feet wide ground crater. The initial impact point contained portions of the right landing gear skin, right skin step, cockpit wiring and cabin floor structure. The right skin step protruded upward at a 45-degree angle at the eastern edge of the ground crater. To the immediate right of the crater was a ground divot, consistent in the size and shape of the rotor head, with two main rotor blade impact marks extending from the divot.

All of the major helicopter components were found at the crash site. The fuselage was fragmented and the cockpit and cabin were destroyed. Some of the debris and vegetation showed thermal damage. The flight control tubes and linkages leading to the fight control servos were fragmented and the continuity could not be verified. All three of the pitch control links were attached at the swashplate and blade pitch change horns. The main rotor blades were fragmented and broom strawed and the blade sleeves and tips were present. The Fenestron tail section with the tail fin and horizontal stabiliser had separated from the forward part of the tail boom. All of the Fenestron blades remained in their hubs and the blade tips showed chordwise scratches. The engine had rotational damage signatures and metal deposits consistent with powered operations at impact.

At the time of the crash, it was overcast with a lowest ceiling of 5,500 feet AGL. The visibility was ten miles and wind speed was seven knots at 210 degrees. That night the temperature was about 44 degrees. AP News reported that two aviation experts who saw photos and video from the NTSB said the flight likely should have been cancelled due to the poor nighttime weather conditions. Witnesses reported downed power lines and a former NTSB investigator, Al Diehl, told AP News that powerlines would be hard for the pilot to see at night and clipping the lines could have caused the crash.

Killed in the crash were the CEO of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe (57) and his wife Doreen and son Herbert (29). Wigwe was also a board member of the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company and on the Advisory Board for Friends Africa. AP News reported that the former chair of the Nigerian stock exchange, Bamofin Abimbola Ogunbanjo, was also killed. Both pilots, Benjamin Pettingill (25) and Blake Hansen (22), also died in the crash. Both were licensed commercial helicopter pilots and flight instructors. The NTSB has not named a cause for the deadly crash but many witnesses have noted the weather in the area could have been a factor.

American Airlines places an order for 85 additional A321neo aircraft

American Airlines, has signed a firm order for an additional 85 A321neo aircraft, taking its total order for the aircraft type to 219 aircraft. “Over the past decade, we have invested heavily to modernise and simplify our fleet, which is the largest and youngest among US network carriers,” said American’s CEO Robert Isom. “These orders will continue to fuel our fleet with newer, more efficient aircraft so we can continue to deliver the best network and record-setting operational reliability for our customers.”

American Airlines took delivery of its first A321neo in February 2019 and as of 31 January 2024, 70 have been delivered. The airline is the world’s largest operator of A320 Family aircraft, the world’s largest A321 operator (CEO and NEO) and the largest customer for the A321neo in North America.

The A321neo is the largest member of Airbus’ A320neo Family, offering unparalleled range and performance. By incorporating new generation engines and Sharklets, the A321neo brings a 50% noise reduction and more than 20% fuel savings and CO₂ reduction compared to previous generation single-aisle aircraft, while maximising passenger comfort in the widest single-aisle cabin in the sky. To date more than 6,100 A321neos have been ordered by more than 90 customers across the globe.

Boeing receives manufacturing order for 17 P-8A Poseidon aircraft

The US Navy has awarded Boeing a US$3.4 billion contract to begin manufacturing 17 P-8A Poseidon aircraft, 14 for the Royal Canadian Air Force and three additional P-8s for the German Navy. In November 2023, Canada announced its decision to acquire the P-8A Poseidon to replace its current fleet of CP-140 Auroras. The first P-8A for Canada is expected to deliver in 2026. With the P-8 acquisition, Boeing’s economic commitments to Canada have the potential to generate annual benefits of more than 3,000 jobs for Canadian industry and value-chain partners, and at least US$358 million to Canada’s gross domestic product over a ten-year period.

Canada’s Team Poseidon includes CAE, GE Aviation Canada, IMP Aerospace & Defence, KF Aerospace, Honeywell Aerospace Canada, Raytheon Canada and StandardAero. The team builds on 81 Canadian suppliers to the P-8 platform and more than 550 suppliers across all provinces contributing to Boeing’s annual ~CAD$4 billion in economic benefit to Canada, supporting more than 14,000 Canadian jobs.

Following the initial procurement of five P-8 aircraft in June 2021, Germany added three additional aircraft to bring the total number of P-8s for the German Navy to eight. The first aircraft will be delivered in 2025, to replace the country’s fleet of P-3 Orions. In Germany, Boeing has partnered with ESG Elektroniksystem-und Logistik-GmbH and Lufthansa Technik to deliver systems integration, training, support and sustainment work that will bring the highest operational availability to fulfill the German Navy’s missions.

Last year, Boeing and CAE signed teaming agreements to expand multi-mission platform collaboration in Canada, Germany and Norway. These agreements use the complementary capabilities of each company to provide superior management, technical and cost-effective training solutions for the P-8A Poseidon programme.

World’s largest airport scheduled to open in Saudi Arabia by 2030

Saudi Arabia is set to construct one of the world’s biggest airports. Located in Riyadh, King Salman International Airport will boast six massive parallel runways and is expected to see 120 million passengers per year, making it the largest in the world in terms of passenger numbers. While the airport has not been given a designated IATA code yet, it is expected to open by 2030.

According to the Saudi Infrastructure Expo, the airport will help drive annual passenger traffic in Saudi Arabia from the current 29 million to 120 million travellers by 2030 and 185 million by 2050. Aircraft traffic in the kingdom is also seen to increase from 211,000 to more than one million flights per year when the airport opens. The bidding process for construction contractors to secure the 57-kilometre project began in November 2023.

On 29 February 2024, media outlet MEED (Middle East Economic Digest) reported that UK construction firm Mace Group won the role of delivery partner for King Salman International Airport.

Mace has extensive experience in airport construction and maintenance, including a 30-year contract covering London-Heathrow Airport (LHR). Mace’s services for the Saudi airport will include project management, design management, cost consulting and procurement advice. Meanwhile, a bid to design the master plan for King Salman international Airport was won by UK-based architecture firm Foster + Partners. The airport’s buildings will be designed by the British firm, while US-based design firm Jacobs will plot infrastructure. The airport is also expected to generate 150,000 jobs when it operates. The world’s current largest airport in terms of size is also in Saudi Arabia, King Fahd International Airport (DMM), which processes about 10 million passengers per year.

Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems open talks to remerge

Boeing and Spirt AeroSystems have both confirmed that talks have begun to potentially remerge the companies. Boeing believes that reintegrating the companies would ‘strengthen aviation safety’. However, both firms admitted that talks were very much in the early stages and that there was no guarantee an agreement could be reached. In 2005, Boeing decided to outsource some of its manufacturing operations under the belief this would reduce costs and increase production efficiency.

Spirit AeroSystems was formed through the sale of Boeing’s Wichita division with responsibility for building the fuselage of the 737 and 787 passing to the new entity. 

However, the development has raised concerns over Spirit AeroSystems’ Airbus A220 factory in Belfast, as it would seem unlikely Boeing would want to continue wing production for its competitor. According to Reuters, one possibility being put forward is Airbus purchasing the facility. “We have been working closely with Spirit AeroSystems and its leadership to strengthen the quality of the commercial airplanes that we build together. We confirm that our collaboration has resulted in preliminary discussions about making Spirit AeroSystems a part of Boeing again,” Boeing said in a statement on 1 March 2024. Boeing added, “We believe that the reintegration of Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems’ manufacturing operations would further strengthen aviation safety, improve quality and serve the interests of our customers, employees and shareholders.”

Spirit AeroSystems also announced the development on 1 March 2024, confirming discussions had opened over a ‘possible acquisition’. “No assurances can be given that a definitive agreement will be entered into, that any transaction will be consummated, or the timing, terms or conditions of any such transaction,” Spirit AeroSystems said.

The news comes as Boeing still looks to find ways to rebuild trust and improve safety after an Alaska Airlines plug door separated from a 737 MAX 9 shortly after take-off on 5 January 2024. Since the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing customers have demanded the plane maker takes accountability and finds ways to rectify shortfalls in its safety procedures. Further pressure is building on Boeing following the Alaska Airlines plug door blowout, after the US Justice Department (DoJ) confirmed it is looking into the incident and whether it violated its 2021 deferred prosecution agreement with Boeing following the 737 MAX fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.

FAA extends MOSAIC comment period to 11 March, new comments limited

Last month the FAA extended the comment period for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the Modernisation of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC). The extension adds a memo concerning a conversation between an FAA representative and members of the Light Sport committee of ASTM International about a technical error in the NPRM. That exchange did not make it into the original NPRM and the addition of the memo and comment extension to 11 March were done ‘in the interest of transparency.’ Comments during the extension are limited to the issues covered in the memo.

US military to lift ban on V-22 Osprey flights in March 2024

The news was first reported by The Associated Press, citing US officials. The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has developed plans to ensure a safe return to operations, which US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has approved after a meeting on 1 March 2024. The entire fleet of tiltrotor aircraft has been grounded since early December 2023, following two fatal crashes. The first incident happened on 27 August 2023, during an exercise in Northern Australia, killing three US Marine Corps service members. The second crash, which led to the grounding, occurred on 29 November 2023, off the coast of Yakushima Island in southwestern Japan and claimed the lives of eight US Marines. The US Air Force Special Operations Command, the US Navy and the US Marine Corps all operate variants of the Osprey. The Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF), which also operates a small number of MV-22 aircraft and as such will be informed of the NAVAIR plans.

Vietnam Airlines to ground 20% of domestic fleet due to engine issues

The flag carrier of Vietnam, Vietnam Airlines, has decided to ground a dozen passenger aircraft that have experienced engine problems. According to Vietnam Airlines Chief Executive Le Hong Ha, the country’s largest airline will shortly ground a total of twelve Airbus A320neo family aircraft fitted with Pratt & Whitney PW1100 GTF engines. Speaking to the local media outlet VNExpress, the CEO explained that the affected planes will remain inactive for up to 300 days, as ongoing supply chain disruptions have doubled the expected maintenance time.

Vietnam Airlines currently operates a mixed fleet consisting of 107 planes, 20 of which are A321-200N jets, all powered by a troubled engine, as indicated by Planespotters.com. It is estimated that the number of aircraft set to be grounded represents nearly 20% of the carrier’s entire domestic fleet. Pratt & Whitney’s GTF engine problem, which first emerged in July 2023 due to a rare condition in the powder metal used to manufacture certain engine parts, has impacted numerous airlines and aircraft leasing companies globally. Pratt & Whitney warned that a significant portion of the PW1100G fleet will have to be removed and inspected

RTX Corporation, the owner of Pratt & Whitney, estimates that the scheduled engine inspections, potentially spanning up to 60 days each, are slated to occur between 2023 and 2026. This will potentially result in the annual grounding of approximately 350 aircraft throughout this period. However, in a scenario of a surge in aircraft grounding, the number of aircraft affected may reach 650 planes during the first six months of 2024. According to the engine manufacturer, the affected GTFs were manufactured between October 2015 and September 2021. To this date, the number of possibly impacted engines has grown to nearly 3,000 globally, or more than 90% of the GTF engines presently in service.

Bell first purchase agreement for super-medium 525 helicopter

Bell secured its first purchase agreement for its 525 super-medium twin from Norwegian petroleum refiner Equinor for use in North Sea offshore operations. Equinor ordered 10 of the all-new helicopters with deliveries anticipated to begin in 2026. The sale marks a significant milestone for Bell, which is hoping the 525 will carve a new niche in the super-medium class that could compete against large helicopters in the oil and gas and other sectors such as corporate, SAR, troop transport and public safety. The largest civil helicopter that Bell has built, the 525 can fly up to 580 nm, reach a speed of 160 knots and carry 16 passengers with two crew. While it awaits certification, Bell is continuing production on the model at its assembly center in Amarillo, Texas, saying it expects offshore-configured 525s to come off the line this year.

Republic of Slovakia takes delivery of first two F-16 Block 70 jets

In a ceremony held at Lockheed Martin’s Greenville facility, delegates from the Republic of Slovakia have taken delivery of the country’s first two F-16 Block 70 aircraft. The delivery marks a new era in European air defence, underscoring the deepening partnership between the two allied nations. F-16 Block 70 fighter jets will help the Slovak Republic to ensure the protection of its airspace once again with its own capacities. The two aircraft, a single-seat C-model and a two-seat D-model, will remain in Greenville for maintenance training. This training is crucial for Slovak Air Force personnel to ensure the smooth integration and effective operation of the F-16 fleet. More jets are slated for completion by 2025, with the first group of aircraft anticipated to arrive in Slovakia by mid-2024.

The F-16 Block 70 jets are equipped with Northrop Grumman APG-83 AESA radar, advanced avionics, an extended structural service life of 12,000 hours and critical safety features like the automatic ground collision avoidance system (Auto GCAS). Since its integration into the US Air Force in late 2014, the Auto GCAS has been instrumental in saving 13 pilots across 12 F-16 incidents, exemplifying the aircraft’s unparalleled safety and performance standards.  Lockheed Martin has a backlog of 133 F-16 Block 70/72 jets to be produced in Greenville, with seven total jets delivered to-date for international partners.

Piper FURY certified

Piper says deliveries of its new flagship M700 FURY will begin ‘immediately’ after the aircraft earned type certification on 29 February. It also said there will be new aircraft announced shortly. The programme was announced on 6 February and it is not clear how many orders it attracted in those three weeks. The plane is the fastest ever built by Piper with maximum cruise speed of 301 knots behind the 700 horsepower PT6A-52 and includes the updated G3000 panel with autoland. While the rush is now on to get orders filled in the US, Piper is working on certifications worldwide. It expects to be delivering FURYs in Canada, Europe, the UK and Brazil before the end of the year.

Finalists revealed for future home of Reno air races

The Reno Air Racing Association has revealed the top three locations in the running to become the future home of the National Championship Air Races: Casper – Wyoming, Pueblo – Colorado and Roswell – New Mexico. After receiving 38 inquiries from different locations, in April 2023 an official request for proposals from the Reno Air Racing Association was sent out nationwide to find a new home for the National Championship Air Races. Eleven cities attended one of two bidders’ conferences in 2023, expressing further interest to host the event. Of the 11, six cities submitted complete proposals.

“We have been overwhelmed by the amazing, positive feedback we have received from the six bidding communities as a whole, as we search for the future home for the National Championship Air Races,” said Fred Telling, CEO and chairman of the board for the Reno Air Racing Association. “There were many, many elements to consider and we would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the entrants who put in the time and effort to submit their carefully thought-out proposals. Through a rigorous vetting process, we feel confident that one of these three locations will provide the right mix of elements our event needs to continue to race well into the future.”

A series of site visits were conducted at each of the six locations by board members, pilot representatives and other committee participants to assess the viability of hosting the races at their facilities. A myriad of factors were considered, including the ability of venues to host large crowds, handle hundreds of aircraft and support the large race course needed for the event, officials noted.

A final decision on the future home of the National Championship Air Races is expected in April 2024. In the interim, the organisation continues to prepare for its 2024 air show and 60th anniversary celebration in Reno in October ahead of the return of the air races in 2025.

Russia’s replacement airliner programme is already slipping

According to the Moscow Times, Russia’s plan to replace Airbus and Boeing aircraft with homegrown versions of its own designs has been delayed at least a year. Last year President Vladimir Putin ordered the country’s aviation industry to build at least 1,000 domestic route airliners a year by 2030 and that was supposed to start ramping up this year. The aircraft targeted are the Yakovlev MS-21, a 737 / A320-sized single aisle, the Sukhoi Superjet 100, which is like an Embraer 195 and the Il-114 turboprop regional airliner. All three companies now say they cannot begin building the planes until 2025 or 2026 and Sergei Chemezov did not mince words about why trying to rush the project is a bad idea. “Tests are not yet completed. As soon as we complete the tests, we will immediately see the results,” he said. “We are still worried about the safety of all of us, we will fly on these planes.”

The big issue is that all the aircraft were designed to use engines, avionics and other parts made in the West. Sanctions resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine have cut off the supply of those items, along with the parts needed to keep the Airbus and Boeing airliners in the air. So the Russian manufacturers have the daunting task of developing their own versions of those sophisticated components and they are not having much luck.

“Companies are faced with objective limitations, completely new systems, recreating competencies from scratch, the need for full testing and launching mass production under time pressure,” a spokesman for United Aircraft Corporation told the Moscow Times. Even the government seems to be complaining about the ‘unprecedented’ schedule. “All global aircraft manufacturers rely on broad international cooperation, suppliers from several dozen countries. Russia will have to cope on its own,” the Ministry of Industry and Trade spokesperson said.

Even if they manage to get some aircraft off the line in the next couple of years, at least one, the MS-21, might not live up to its original billing. The plane was supposed to have a range of about 3,100 miles and that has slipped to 2,200 miles. However, more troubling is the drastic reduction in the MS-21’s seating capacity from 211 to 135. It would appear the issue is the substitution of Russian-made engines for the PW1400s with which it was originally built.

After delays NASA SpaceX Crew-8 mission launches successfully

Three NASA astronauts and a Roscosmos cosmonaut on board a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft were successfully launched by a Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday evening.

The mission, dubbed Crew-8, lifted off  from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 22h53 EST, marking NASA’s eighth commercial ISS crew rotation. The launch had initially been planned for Friday but was delayed twice due to high winds along the spacecraft’s ascent path.

On board the Dragon Endeavour spacecraft were NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin. “On this eighth crew rotation mission, we are once again showing the strength of our commercial partnerships and American ingenuity that will propel us further in the cosmos,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said Monday. “Aboard the station, the crew will conduct more than 200 science experiments and technology demonstrations to help fuel this new era of space exploration and benefit humanity here on Earth,”

The crew was scheduled to arrive at ISS on Tuesday around 03h00 EST, when the spacecraft will autonomously dock with the forward port of the space station’s Harmony module. NASA said, once Crew-8 arrives, it will overlap with the existing ISS astronauts, Crew-7, until they depart to return to Earth a few days later.

Australia’s AMSL Aero welcomes government support

AlsimAustralian zero emission aircraft designer and manufacturer AMSL Aero said it welcomes the Australian government’s move to back the development of its zero-emission aircraft Vertiia to fight bushfires autonomously in an effective, efficient way that keeps firefighters safer and enables nighttime firefighting. AMSL Aero will use the A$3 million in funding from the Cooperative Research Centres’ Projects programme to develop a remotely piloted version of Vertiia, the world’s most efficient long range zero emissions electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft, that is capable of effectively spraying preventative fire retardant and dropping hundreds of litres of water.

AMSL Aero will work with its partners to develop a method of operating autonomous remotely piloted VTOLs for aerial firefighting, modify a prototype Vertiia for use as zero emissions low-cost firefighting aircraft, meet regulatory requirements and test the aircraft in regional Australia. Its partners on the project are The University of Sydney, leading robotics company Mission Systems and Australian firefighting aviation operator Pay’s Air Service, which conducts firefighting operations in Australia and Europe every year, including in Greece, where it recently fought fires for NATO.

European coalition bids to deliver one million drones to Ukraine

A host of European nations, led by Latvia and the United Kingdom, have joined a coalition committed to producing and supplying Ukraine with one million drones, as the war with Russia approaches its third year. Latvia first announced it would lead the coalition last month but plans advanced when the Baltic nation signed a letter of intent to build out the project with Ukraine, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. No timeline for the delivery of the drones has been issued and it remains unclear if or when that number will be matched. The European Union was forced to admit last month that it would not hit its target of supplying Ukraine with one million 155mm artillery shells by March 2024.

“By signing the letter of intent, countries have agreed to commit resources for manufacturing of drones and will deliver these drones and spare parts to Ukraine, where they will be tested and the Coalition will also train Ukrainian troops on how to use them and integrate with other technologies,” the statement said. The United Kingdom said it will co-lead the drone coalition with Latvia. London alone pledged to supply ‘thousands’ of drones but did not refer to the one million figure specifically. The UK added that it will ‘scale up and streamline the West’s provision’ of First Person View (FPV) drones to Kyiv. London will fund production of the aircraft under a £200 million ($250 million) drone package and plans on setting up a competition to produce them ‘at scale and at an affordable price point.’

Latvia’s investment is much more modest, valued in the region of €10 million ($10.8 million) ‘over the next year,’ but it stressed that Ukraine has already provided ‘information’ relating to drone requirements. Riga has since approached local suppliers and invited them to propose specific aircraft types and detail spare part delivery plans.

Ukraine’s Mykhailo Fedorov, deputy prime minister for innovations, development of education, science & technologies, said in a remote address to the Munich Security Conference that Ukraine produced 300,000 drones last year and its armed forces have also built up an ‘Army of Drones’ comprising of 60 UAV strike units. He claimed the strike force has destroyed 14,270 pieces of Russian land warfare equipment including tanks, trucks, self-propelled artillery, multiple launch rocket systems and ammunition storage houses.

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