RARE but terrific news: a new aircraft factory opened last month. Quest Aircraft is developing the Kodiak, a ten-place single engine turboprop utility aircraft for use in bush and outback terrain. The new factory at Sandpoint, Idaho will build the Kodiak which can operate on fl oats as well as wheels. The aircraft has just celebrated the anniversary of its first flight and during the past year, the Kodiak has logged more than 250 hours ... more

 INDIAN businessman Vijaypat Singhania has set a new world record for the highest flight in a hot air balloon. The official height being claimed is 69,852 feet set after a flight of five hours in temperatures down to -93ºC. It beats the previous record of 64,997 feet set by Per Lindstrand in 1988. The 160ft tall balloon had a pressurized aluminium capsule, 18 burners and a parachute that would have been released automatically in a ... more

FEEL like you haven’t a say in the current Strategic Review of the CAA? If you’re not a member of one of the participating organisations, then you haven’t – until now. The General Aviation Awareness Council (GAAC) is there to represent GA associations and individuals not otherwise included. So if you have a point to make, or some evidence to present, let the GAAC know. Email the GAAC chairman, Charles Henry, with your points: ... more

THE world watched on live TV – and the replays! – as a Beech King Air made a gear-up landing at a small airport near Atlanta, Georgia last month. The pilot, whose name has not been released, had circled Charlie Brown Airport, Fulton Country, after radioing that the landing gear wouldn’t extend properly.He made an attempt to ‘bounce’ the gear down but eventually had to retract all the undercarriage and make a belly landing – wh ... more

THESE are the first photos released by Columbia Aircraft of the new cockpit of the 350/400 single-engine four-seaters. The panel is now fitted with Garmin’s G1000 which integrates all flight and navigation instruments into two 10.4in screens separated by a slim audio panel.It eliminates the traditional radio rack and incorporates the GPS/ NAV/COMM, autopilot, transponder and Flight Director on the instrument panel. The Columbia’s new ... more

HISTORIC airfields and buildings linked to both World Wars, the Battle of Britain and the Dambusters raid have been listed by the Government. They include a 1938 underground bunker in Uxbridge vital to the command of the Battle of Britain, and 1910 hangars at Larkhill at the heart of Britain’s early pioneering flight testing. The listings are fantastic news for our aviation heritage, and also for campaigners seeking to keep old airfield ... more

BELGIAN company Lambert Aircraft is to offer two diesel engines as options for its Mission M212 four-seat kitplane. The two engines, 180hp and 200hp, have been developed by American company Deltahawk. They are both liquid cooled and turbocharged two-stroke V4s of 3.3 litres capacity, and installed inverted. The engines should transform the performance of the M212. Filip Lambert, designer and builder of the aircraft, says that at a ... more

Twin Thielert Centurion 4.0 diesel engines have been fitted to a Beech B60 Duke. The converted aircraft had its maiden flight last month. The Centurion 4.0 is a turbocharged V8 producing 350hp and already type certificated under EASA. The conversion was carried out by the company Gomolzig for Martin Hagensieker, a noted Beech B60 Duke specialist based in Germany. The Centurion engines replace twin Lycoming IO-541- E1C4s which are no lo ... more

IRISH pilots had a chance to experience the Diamond DA42 Twin Star and DA40 TDI first-hand when the UK distributor went on a five-day tour of Ireland recently. After setting off from their base at Gamston, the two Diamonds tracked to Weston, Dublin, the hub of Irish GA, followed by Cork, then Galway, Enniskillen and Newtownards. During the 745nm round trip the DA42 used 235 litres of Jet-A and the DA40 TDI 130 litres of Jet-A, at a co ... more