Organisers of the iconic aviation event have confirmed that the Reno Air Race will go ahead this year after the future of the event came under intense scrutiny following that major tragedy at last year’s staging of the event in September that killed 11 people. Organisers have not yet said whether there will be changes to the format of the Nevada event in light of the tragedy, but they have appointed a panel of aviation safety experts to help ensure its safety. The 2012 event will be held at Reno-Stead Airport from September 12-16.
The Illawarra Mercury reports that the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) has made one of those fancy New Year’s resolution things to complete its restoration of the Southern Cross II and have the replica flying within a year to honour the 80th anniversary of Charles Kingsford Smith’s historic flight from Seven Mile Beach to New Plymouth, New Zealand in 1933. You can read the full story by visiting the Illawarra Mercury website.
Tecnam has announced that the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a Major Change Approval confirming a 50kg increase of the Maximum Take Off Weight of its P2006T light twin. The P2006T’s MTOW has now been bumped up from 1180kg to 1230kg. With EASA approval in the bag, Tecnam says it’s now working to ensure that other certification authorities, including CASA, as well as those in the US, Canada, Russia and Brazil, also validate the increase in MTOW. And while we’re on the subject, Tecnam says it’s currently delivering one P2006T every five days and is closing in on the 100th delivery for the model – impressive stuff.
Wings Over Illawarra, the family airshow at Illawarra Regional Airport at Albion Park near Wollongong in NSW, is on again this year on Sunday May 6. In 2012 this major annual airshow will include the return of the fabulous De Havilland Caribou from the HARS collection, together with the Connie, Catalina and Neptune bomber, and Australian military aircraft including the Roulettes aerobatic team, visiting warbirds and civil aircraft. Visit the event’s website for more info.
Next month, Washington-based light aircraft designer and manufacturer CubCrafters will deliver its milestone 200th LSA. CubCrafters offers two LSA models – the 100hp Sport Cub S2 and the 180hp Carbon Cub SS, with the latter said to possess particularly impressive Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) capabilities. Click here for more info from the local distributor.
The P2006T production line at Tecnam's facility in Capua, southern Italy. (Tecnam)
