NEW CHINESE FIGHTER PHOTOS "LEAKED"
China has apparently unveiled a second fifth-generation fighter prototype that looks like an F-22 Raptor but may also be designed for carrier operations. Photos appeared online earlier this week that show an aircraft whose lineage seems to be derived from the Raptor with some shirt-tail relationship to the F-35. It's a twin, with the angled vertical stabilizers and big fully articulating horizontal stabs. It's not clear if the aircraft, likely a development project of the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, has flown but the timing of the "leak" appears to suggest a little chest-thumping on the part of the Chinese to coincide with a visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. More...

PILOTS KEPT IN DARK DURING HIJACK SCARE
There was tension in the air and in the cockpit of an American Airlines aircraft at New York's JFK Airport on Monday when the arriving American plane and a Finn Air flight were ordered to a remote area instead of getting instructions for their gates. Authorities had received a threat that armed terrorists were concealed in the wheel wells of both aircraft and the response was predictable. However, for whatever reason, the authorities elected to not tell the American pilot, at least, why there were fire trucks and armed police around his plane. As the accompanying video shows, the American captain was having none of that. More...

LUFTHANSA SIGNS BIOFUEL AGREEMENT
A collaboration agreement announced Wednesday between Lufthansa and Algae.Tec Limited will create a large-scale production facility in Europe for the creation of aviation biofuels from algae. The agreement forms the foundation of a long-term partnership between the carrier and the alternative fuel producer. Lufthansa will fund the project, entirely, and Algae.Tec will manage it, retaining license fees and profits. As part of the deal, Lufthansa has also entered a long-term "offtake agreement" consisting of "at least 50 percent of the crude oil produced at an agreed price." Lufthansa was an early adopter of alternative fuels and has used them on revenue flights. More...

DOCUMENTARY TRACES JET DEVELOPMENT
Arguably the most important invention of the 20th century celebrates a milestone on Oct. 2 and the date will be marked by the U.S. release of a documentary that traces the origins of the jet engine. It's been 70 years since the first jet-powered aircraft flew in the U.S. In 1930, Frank Whittle, a 30-year-old RAF officer, patented the first turbojet design. The movie, Whittle: The Jet Pioneer shows how even with the Nazis building a gigantic war machine Whittle had a hard time convincing military leaders of the value of his invention until they finally sent some skeptical scientists to his lab for a demonstration in June of 1939. Within a year, under intense security, a simple aircraft designed for the propeller-less engine was flown under jet power. A derivative of the test aircraft, the Gloster Meteor, became the first Allied jet powered military aircraft in 1944. The U.K. sent Whittle and his invention to the U.S. in 1941 and the first jet flight on U.S. soil occurred on Oct. 2, 1942. More...

TUSKEGEE AIRMEN RETURN TO HOME FIELD
Last weekend, four of the original Tuskegee Airmen returned for the first time to the field in Alabama where they trained more than 60 years ago. The four were welcomed back to the historic site by officials from the National Park Service and Tuskegee University. The airmen, Homer Hogues, Robert McDaniel, Claude Platte, and Calvin Spann, and their families were granted a private tour of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. They also were given an advance look at Hangar 2, a new addition to the museum that will be revealed next year. Tuskegee University President Gilbert Rochon said he plans to expand the school's aviation programs. More...

REPORT: FAA BEHIND SCHEDULE ON DRONE INTEGRATION
Many obstacles must be overcome before unmanned aircraft systems can be safely integrated into the National Airspace System, the U.S. Government Accountability Office said in a report released last week. Additional work is needed, the report said, to find ways for UAS to sense and avoid other aircraft effectively, to address vulnerabilities in the command and control of UAS operations, and to develop safe and consistent performance standards and regulations. "Concerns about national security, privacy, and the interference in GPS signals have not been resolved and may influence acceptance of routine access for UAS in the national airspace system," the report said. More...

FAA DIRECTIVES AFFECT PIPER FLEET
The FAA published two airworthiness directives this week that affect the Piper general aviation fleet. A final rule published on Monday affects 3,100 Piper Comanches (models PA-24, PA-24-250, and PA-24-260), requiring inspections of the stabilator horn assembly, at a cost of about $1,000 per airplane. If the assembly needs to be replaced, it would cost another $1,600. Failure of the stabilator horn could lead to a loss of pitch control in flight, the FAA said. A proposed rule published on Tuesday affects about 1,000 Piper twins, models PA-31, PA-31-325, and PA-31-350. The rule would supersede an existing AD that requires repetitive inspections of the exhaust system. More...

RENO RACES: ATTENDANCE DOWN, SAFETY PREVAILS
The Reno Air Races have concluded a week of safe racing. Organizers hosted a ceremony on Sunday afternoon to remember the 11 who died in last year's crash of Jimmy Leeward's P-51 Galloping Ghost. "We wanted to have an event that appropriately remembered last year," Mike Draper, spokesman for the Reno Air Races, told the local KOLO news. Balloons were released as each victim's name was read. Attendance was down about 8 percent compared to last year. "It wasn't until mid-August that we were able to say this event is happening with absolute certainty," Draper said. "And I think people held off on making reservations." Ticket prices for attendees also were raised to help cover higher insurance costs, Draper said. The show policy rose from $300,000 last year to $2 million this year. Draper added that robust attendance is expected next year for the event's 50th anniversary. More...

AVWEBBIZ: AVWEB'S BUSINESS AVIATION NEWSLETTER

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK: THE FAA TOO HARD ON DRONES?
The agency insists that for drones to operate in the airspace the rest of us use for anything but hobbies, they have to have onboard sense-and-avoid systems. Is that reasonable?

Plus: Last week, we asked AVweb readers how often they comment on proposed legislation; click through to see the breakdown of answers. More...

AVWEB'S NEWSTIPS ADDRESS ...
Our best stories start with you. If you've heard something 255,000 pilots might want to know about, tell us. Submit news tips via email to newstips@avweb.com. What have you heard? More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: BEFORE THERE WAS NORFOLK ISLAND, THERE WAS ALM980
Jet ditchings of any kind are so rare that we know most of them by name and place. One that's been obscured by the mists of time is the ditching of ALM980 off St. Croix 42 years ago. That accident, in which 23 people lost their lives but 40 survived, has startling similarities to the Norfolk Island Westwind ditching we've been reporting on this week. On the AVweb Insider blog, Paul Bertorelli explains the details. Read more and join the conversation. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: NORFOLK ISLAND DITCHING -- MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS
Dom James, the pilot of that Westwind that ditched off Norfolk Island in 2009, is challenging the findings of the the ATSB's report on the accident. After reading the report, it's easy to see why, says Paul Bertorelli on the AVweb Insider blog. Read more and join the conversation. More...

VIDEO: SUPER LEGEND FLIGHT TRIAL
American Legend gained success with its popular Legend Cub, and now it's followed up with a new Lycoming-powered version of the airplane. If you like the Super Cub, you'll like the Super Legend, too, because its performance is quite similar. AVweb ventured to Legend's Sulphur Spring, Texas homebase to fly the airplane, and here's a video report on the flight. More...

VIDEO: THE LAST FLYING B-24 BOMBER (COLLINGS FOUNDATION)
The B-24 was the most widely produced bomber in world history. This video shows the sole surviving regularly flown example, from roughly 18,000 B-24 Liberator bombers produced. This is the Collings Foundation's B-24, Witchcraft. More...

FBO OF THE WEEK: TWIN COUNTY AIRPORT (KHLX, HILLSVILLE, VA)

Lots of happy pilots in the skies this week. Nominations for an AVweb "FBO of the Week" ribbon soared over the last ten days or so, and picking a stand-out this week was tough. (We cheated and saved a couple of facilities for future installments.)

Amid stiff competition, Twin County Aviation Services at Twin County Airport (KHLX) in Hillsville, Virginia takes home this week's blue ribbon. AVweb reader John A. Jorgensen had that best of all possible experiences of Twin County -- a stopover so pleasant he'd go back just for fun:

Wonderful service and hospitality! I returned yesterday from delivering a DNR aircraft to Sanford, North Carolina for a FLIR installation/integration. On the way, I ran into the remains of Hurricane Isaac, which did not allow me to continue VFR. Scott Thomas, FBO manager, and his crew met me on the ramp, escorted me into their new facility, shared local weather wisdom, entertained me, provided a courtesy car, and simply made me feel welcome. Scott is a banjo player, and he invited me to their Tuesday evening session at the String Bean in Galax! It was a real treat. I stayed in a wonderful cabin along the New River Trail and had a great rest. Next time through, I am sure that I will not hesitate to stop, simply say "hi!" and to enjoy their Virginia hospitality. It provided a real and special treat.

Keep those nominations coming. For complete contest rules, click here.

AVweb is actively seeking out the best FBOs in the country and another one, submitted by you, will be spotlighted here next Monday!

PICTURE OF THE WEEK: AVWEB'S FLYING PHOTOGRAPHY SHOWCASE
Our latest winning photo comes from John T. McDaid of Tucson, AZ. Click here for the rest of this week's submissions. More...

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