AVwebFlash News Briefs

• Refurb of the Month: Steve Wathen's P-210
  click for larger imageAlthough considered somewhat high maintenance, Cessna's P210 offered -- and continues to offer -- unique performance at an affordable purchase price. A careful search will find older airframes worth refurbishing, and that's exactly what Steve Wathen of Columbus, Ohio did with his P-210.
  
  
• Virgin Galactic Plans 2013 Space Flight
  The SpaceShipTwo space tourism vehicle operated by Virgin Galactic is expected to fly into space this year during testing with commercial operations to commence "not too long after," the company said Tuesday. Virgin Galactic is finalizing customer options and says there will be different price ranges for different experiences. Some 580 customers ranging in age from 18 to more than 90 years of age have given the company more than $70 million in deposits for future flights. While Virgin Galactic seems to be on pace to become the first enterprise to offer a space tourism service, XCOR may not be far behind and aims to be far more affordable.
  
  
• Question of the Week: What's GA's Fuel of the Future?
  Everyone agrees that 100LL is or should be on the way out, but the way ahead is less clear. What type of fuel do you think you'll be buying in 10 years?Plus: Last week, we asked AVweb readers how they'd handle a solar flare-induced GPS failure; click through to see the breakdown of responses.
  
  
• Airworthy Autogas For General Aviation?
  An Arizona-based company Wednesday said that it plans this year to produce and distribute a 93-octane premium unleaded, ethanol-free fuel as an avgas alternative for aircraft that do not require 100LL. Airworthy AutoGas, LLC, says its "high purity, low vapor pressure" fuel will be available beginning late this year. Bringing the fuel to market will provide, "an alternative for the majority of General Aviation aircraft without compromising airworthiness," according to Mark Ellery, the company's director of business development. The company says its decision to bring to produce and market the fuel was driven by dramatic changes in automotive gasoline in recent years and a goal "to get pilots flying more, for less."
  
  
• Cessna's Jet-A Skylane Flies
  Cessna's first production Turbo Skylane JT-A, running behind a Jet-A fueled diesel engine Tuesday flew for 2.3 hours, the company announced Wednesday. The Safran-made 227-hp SMA engine is expected to use up to 40 percent less fuel than a comparable avgas engine, according to Cessna, burning 11 gallons per hour at 156 knots and delivering an estimated range of 1,025 nautical miles on 87 gallons. Tuesday, it delivered the plane to 152 KTAS at 8,000 feet over Independence, Kan.. The aircraft performed as expected, according to Cessna senior test pilot, Dale Bleakney. Certification and deliveries are expected, soon.
  
  
• AOPA Foundation Offers Grants
  Under a new program called "Giving Back," the AOPA Foundation is providing a chance for nonprofit groups in general aviation and student pilots to apply for grants to support a variety of needs. The grants for nonprofit groups will be available in amounts up to $10,000, Stephanie Kenyon, a vice president of the foundation, told AVweb on Wednesday. "It can be a request for general operating support or it can be program-specific," Kenyon said. The training scholarships will be offered in amounts up to $5,000. The Foundation is also offering free AOPA memberships to teenagers and members of the armed forces.The grant applications for nonprofit groups are due by July 1, Kenyon said, but the scholarships and membership programs are ongoing. This is the first year of the program, and depending on response, the offerings might change in subsequent years, she said. More details about the grant programs and how to apply can be found at the Foundation's website. AVweb's Mary Grady spoke with Kenyon about the program, click here to listen to the podcast.
  
  
• Planemakers Provide Updates At EBACE
  At this week's European Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition, in Geneva, Switzerland, representatives from leading business-jet companies provided updates on their newest airplanes. Honda Aircraft Co. CEO Michimasa Fujino said the HondaJet is nearly ready for the final phase of flight testing, and the production line is ready to build customer aircraft. Construction is underway on a customer-service center in Greensboro, N.C., to provide aftermarket support. "Our team is working very hard to bring the HondaJet to market as quickly as possible," Fujino said. The company said recently it expects certification in 2014. Officials from Embraer and Bombardier also provided updates.
  
  
• Aviation Group Provides Aid To Tornado Victims
  Sky Hope Network, a nonprofit organization, is raising money through June 1 to support members of the aviation community affected by the destructive tornado that hit near Oklahoma City on Monday. "FAA personnel, staffers, escrow agents, and airport and FBO support workers in the OKC region are victim to a range of personal losses," says the Network at their website. "They need immediate assistance from the wider aviation business community." All funds collected will go directly to the victims, the group said. Aerobridge, a nonprofit that coordinates general-aviation relief efforts, told AOPA no pilot volunteers are needed since the affected areas are accessible by road.
  
  
• Video: Pilatus Unveils PC-24 TwinJet
  At the European Business Aircraft Conference & Exhibition in Geneva this week, Pilatus unveiled its design for a new twin-engine jet that can operate from short and unpaved runways.
  
  
• Nextant Upgrades Its Remanufactured Jet
  Nextant Aerospace, which has been producing the 400XT remanufactured business jet since 2011, announced a major upgrade to the airplane this week at the European Business Aviation Conference and Exposition, in Geneva, Switzerland. The 400XTi features a new cabin design with extra headroom and shoulder space, new acoustic insulation for reduced cabin noise, raked winglets, and auto-throttle capability to lessen pilot workload and improve fuel economy. The aircraft is a completely rebuilt Beechjet 400A/XP with Williams FJ44-3AP engines and Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics. The new model is offered at about $5 million.