EUROCOPTER CLAIMS NEW HELO SPEED RECORD
Eurocopter said on Tuesday its X3 hybrid helicopter reached 255 knots in level flight last week, unofficially breaking the helicopter speed record. Sikorsky's X2 had reached a speed of 253 knots before it retired in 2011. The X3 reached its top speed while flying at an altitude of about 10,000 feet during a 40-minute test flight over southern France. Eurocopter said the X3 is its technology demonstrator for a cost-effective vertical-takeoff-and-landing transportation system that would offer the speed of a turboprop-powered aircraft and the full-flight capabilities of a helicopter. More...

'LAST' DORNIER DO-17 RAISED FROM BRITISH WATERS
A salvage crew Monday recovered the badly corroded but recognizable remains of a Dornier DO-17 that was shot down off England's Kent coast during the Battle of Britain 70 years ago, delivering to the terrestrial world what may be the only example of its kind. The aircraft's propellers were separated and dangling from wreckage, the fuselage was nearly split in two and outboard sections of wing were not attached to the aircraft when it was raised from 50 feet of water. There are plans to put the airframe through a two-year restoration with the goal of placing the aircraft on display at the RAF Museum in Hendon, north London. Museum spokesman Ajay Srivastava told bbc.co.uk, "The aircraft looks great" and that the operation "has been an absolute success." If authorities are correct in the aircraft's identification, 70 years ago, the aircraft's final flight had less successful outcomes for its crew. More...

WACO GREAT LAKES PRODUCTION UNDERWAY
Waco Classic Aircraft Corporation has unveiled the first conforming new-production Great Lakes 2T-1A-2, culminating a project that launched a couple of years ago. The open-cockpit two-seat tandem biplane features a Lycoming AEIO-360 180-HP engine, fuel injection, and a Hartzell propeller. It's fully aerobatic, and sells for about $245,000. The first three aircraft for customers are already in production, the company said. Deliveries are expected to start in the next few months, with an initial production rate of one airplane per month. More...

ECLIPSE JET OK'D FOR LONGER LIFE
When the original Eclipse jet was certified, back in 2005, the FAA approved the airframe for a 10,000-hour lifetime, and last week, the owners of Eclipse Aerospace said the FAA had agreed to double that. "An actual Eclipse jet was subject to the movements, loads, and fatigue that would normally be experienced over more than 60,000 flight operations," said Cary Winter, vice president of manufacturing. "This testing also validated the strength and superiority of our patented friction-stir-welding process." With the new 20,000 hours/20,000 cycles limit and unlimited calendar life, an Eclipse jet that flies 400 hours a year would be approved for a 50-year lifetime. More...

THEY'VE MADE A FLYING BICYCLE? (WITH VIDEO)
A group of Czech engineers and designers have successfully test flown via radio control a proof of concept hybrid bicycle/multi-copter, the FBike, at an exhibition in Prague, Wednesday. The group says they hope to perform a manned flight at a future date. Early design specifications made available last year included lithium-polymer batteries powering six electric motors together capable of producing 50 kW of power. Thrust is delivered by two sets of counter-rotating blades mounted fore and aft, and two stabilizing rotors on the left and right side. The design includes most of the limitations a skeptic might anticipate, including limited flight times (currently estimated at three to five minutes), limited redundancy, and limited real-world usefulness as a bicycle due to its roughly 200 pound weight. ... All of which may be of little concern to the bike's designers. More...

FAA SEEKS NEW GA FUEL PROPOSALS
The FAA on Monday asked the world's fuel producers to submit proposals for new fuels that could replace 100LL in the general aviation fleet by 2018, a move that GA advocacy groups greeted with enthusiasm. The FAA said it will assess each of the candidate fuels, taking into account production and distribution infrastructure, impact on the environment, toxicology, and economic considerations. "General aviation is vital to the U.S. economy," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "We need to work with industry to develop an unleaded fuel that advances aviation safety and improves the environment." The General Aviation Avgas Coalition described the move as a "significant step" in the search for an unleaded aviation gasoline that will perform adequately in all types of general aviation aircraft. More...

A350 FIRST FLIGHT FRIDAY
It's been a few years since there was a first flight of a clean sheet airliner design but it seems likely there will be two by the end of the month. Airbus announced the first flight of its A350 will be June 14 at 10 a.m. in Toulouse, France. Assuming that goes well, the A350 will become the main attraction at the Paris Air Show, which starts June 17. The company rolled out the prototype of the XWB (extra wide body) aircraft a month ago with a full paint job and the aircraft has been undergoing ground tests. The A350 is a direct challenge to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the highly successful Boeing 777, a new model of which will be on display at Paris. Meanwhile, in Canada, Bombardier is planning to fly its new CSeries single-aisle airliner by the end of the month. More...

AVWEBBIZ: AVWEB'S BUSINESS AVIATION NEWSLETTER

Have you signed up yet for AVweb's no-cost weekly business aviation newsletter, AVwebBiz?

Delivered every Wednesday morning, AVwebBiz focuses on the companies, the products and the industry leaders that make headlines in the business aviation industry, making it a must-read.

Add AVwebBiz to your AVweb subscriptions today by clicking here and choosing "Update E-mail Subscriptions."

PODCAST: THE FUTURE OF 100LL
The FAA this week announced its new plan for finding a replacement fuel for 100LL. Doug Macnair, vice president for government relations at EAA, talks with AVweb's Mary Grady about the details of the plan and what it will mean to general aviation pilots and aircraft owners. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: WHEN TABLETS GO BELLY UP -- IT HAPPENS
IPads are fabulous, no? But they have their foibles, especially apps that tank when you need charts or plates the most. On the AVweb Insider blog, Paul Bertorelli points out that this doesn't happen often, but reader reports suggest that it's not rare, either. What's the best way to back up your critical apps? Read more and join the conversation. More...

VIDEO: CIRRUS SR22T G5 FLIGHT REVIEW
The 2013 Generation 5 Cirrus SR22T turbo offers more than a new 3,600-lb. gross weight increase and extra seating. Aviation Consumer's Larry Anglisano flew the new model halfway across the country to sample the compilation of recent improvements that could make the G5 SR22 the best Cirrus yet. More...

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: SHOW PLANS
Air shows will look a little different this year without the U.S. military presence, but they're working hard to get you to come. What air shows are you planning to attend?

Plus: Last week, we asked AVweb readers about their summer flying plans; click through to view the breakdown of their answers. More...

SURVEY: 'AVIATION CONSUMER' WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR PIPER WARRIOR
Our sister publication, Aviation Consumer, is doing a Used Aircraft Guide on the Piper Warrior and is looking for input from Warrior owners and pilots. They want to know what it's like to fly and/or own a Warrior. How does it handle? How much does it cost to operate, maintain, and insure? What suggestions would you give to a person considering buying one? If you'd like your airplane to appear in the magazine, send along any photographs you'd care to share -- as high-res as possible. Comments on mods, support organizations, and anything you feel is pertinent to the Warrior are welcomed. Send your email to consumereditor@hotmail.com by June 15. More...

AVWEB'S REFURBISHED AIRPLANE OF THE MONTH
New airplanes sales may be a little soft, but we're seeing plenty of refurb work -- everything from new panels to fresh paint to full-up interiors. We would like to feature some of these airplanes in the pages of AVweb and spotlight the owners and shops doing the work. If you have photos of your restored aircraft -- single, twin or turbine -- send them along to us, and if we select your airplane as refurb of the month, we'll contact you for more information. 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...

FBO OF THE WEEK: SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT (KRST, ROCHESTER, MN)

"FBO of the Week" readers know the smallest things can make a big difference. AVweb reader Terry L. Martin provides the case study as he tells us about a recent visit to Signature Flight Support at Rochester International Airport (KRST) in Rochester, Minnesota:

Very friendly faces and a desire to help. Prompt service and courtesy. In the little gift shop, they displayed a t-shirt that caught my eye. I asked if they had one in smaller children's sizes (grandchildren sizes). They did not. However, the gentleman behind the counter aksed if he could have my contact information and he would check with the supplier for avilability and let me know. I know it's not much, but sometimes it's the little things that cause someone to notice. I've been to this FBO numerous times over the last few years, and I receive top-notch treatment every time.

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 George Kovacevic of Jamul, CA. Click here for the rest of this week's submissions. More...

MEET THE AVWEBFLASH TEAM

AVwebFlash is a twice-weekly summary of the latest news, articles, products, features, and events featured on AVweb, the world's premier independent aviation news resource.

The AVwebFlash team is:

Publisher
Tom Bliss

Editorial Director, Aviation Publications
Paul Bertorelli

Editor-in-Chief
Russ Niles

Webmaster
Scott Simmons

Contributing Editors
Mary Grady
Glenn Pew

Contributors
Kevin Lane-Cummings

Ad Coordinator
Karen Lund

Avionics Editor
Larry Anglisano

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