THIS is the new look panel to be fitted to the Eclipse 500 VLJ later this year. Eclipse calls it the Avio NG (Next Generation). Avio NG is a completely integrated aircraft system - avionics, engines and instrumentation, flaps, landing gear, and other systems. It was to have been supplied by Avidyne but that partnership ended recently. The new developer is Innovative Solutions and Support, a supplier to the airline and military markets with ... more

GOING GREENBBGA launches carbon offset schemeA CARBON offset scheme has been launched for British business aviation based on the amount of fuel used.The scheme was announced by the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA) at its annual meeting at the end of February. It's a voluntary scheme but the BBGA estimates that if all business GA flights were included, it would cost the industry £3 million."Why should we do this ... more

Air cadet flies in a Hawk fast jetTHESE amazing shots were taken by an 18-year-old air cadet during his flight in a Hawk last month.James Tye, a cadet sergeant with 134 Bedford Air Training Corps and trainee helicopter technician with Patriot Aviation at Cranfield Airport, was awarded the flight after receiving 'Cadet of the Year' last December.James flew with the Fleet Requirement Air Direction Unit (FRADU) based in Cornwall where the Hawk ... more

A WHIRLWIND TOURAviation tourism continues to grow in New ZealandTAKE a helicopter, breathtaking New Zealand scenery, fine wine and what have you got? One of the most memorable flying experiences you can get.Adventure tourism is taking off globally and one of the latest companies to offer a flight of a lifetime is Windhawk Helicopters based in Marlborough, New Zealand.Lifting-off from Windhawk's own base set within vineyards, you will fly o ... more

Only when you fly to the Channel IslandsYOU might not be aware that the Channel Islands (CI) is the only place in Europe where you can you get duty and tax free fuel without an Air Operators Certificate. "You don't even have to fill in forms to say you are commercial," says Charles Strasser, proactive chairman of the Channel Island region of AOPA UK.Added to this saving, AOPA members can now claim an additional 5% discount in Jers ... more

DA42'S IR EFFECTSTUDENT pilots flying Diamond DA42 aircraft are having unprecedented success rates in instrument rating tests (IRT).Commercial pilot schools Cabair and Stapleford have have seen the number of first time passes rocket since introducing the DA42 and Alsim simulators.Since the middle of January this year, every one of the eleven student pilots at Cabair has passed first time. 100% of students have gained 'first series' passes. Ed ... more

VIC Norman's team of classic Boeing Stearman biplanes and wingwalkers takes to the skies this season in new colours - Team Guinot. The former Utterly Butterlys are now sponsored by a skincare company. The team will perform a routine of loops, rolls and turns while wingwalkers wave and perform handstands. "I am delighted to be launching the only four-ship wingwalking sponsorship in the world " said Vic. "Airshows attract the s ... more

Reinvented as 'Fusion Man' and planning to cross the Grand CanyonREMEMBER Jet Man? [LOOP, Feb07] Well he's back with a new name and in the colour black.Yves Rossy, the daredevil who has trained himself to jump from an aircraft, spread his wings, ignite jet engines attached to the wings and fly like a bird until his fuel runs out, is now calling himself 'Fusion Man'.Fusion Man was due to make his unveiling flight to the world's press in Gene ... more

A TURBODIESEL conversion for the best-selling Cirrus SR22 has been certified in Europe.The news slipped out in a press release from Thielert about a delay in its annual results. The company says: "The Centurion 4.0 was certified by the EASA for the installation in the Cirrus SR 22 on February 12, 2007 already. The certification of the 4.0 for the Cessna 206 is expected in the next days. These two certifications will open the market for ... more

TESTS of a manned light aircraft powered by a British designed and built hydrogen fuel cell will begin in Europe later this year.The aircraft is a highly modified two-seat Diamond Dimona motor-glider. The long wing-span plane is expected to cruise at 100km/h - about 62mph - and possibly pave the way to a new generation of zero-polluting light aircraft.The Fuel Cell Demonstrator Airplane research project is based at Madrid-based Boeing Resea ... more

DIAMOND'S brand new DA50 Super Star has had its first flight.On 4 April, the single-engine aircraft DA50 Super Star with an MTOW of 1660kg (3670lb) flew for the very first time in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. Christian Dries, CEO and owner of Diamond Aircraft flew the aircraft as pilot in command. Also on board was Soeren Pedersen, Director of Sales, as chief test pilot. The Diamond DA50 Super Star is equipped with a Teledyne Continental TSI ... more