Interiors

California-based Ampaire reports that it flew its electric hybrid aircraft this week and plans an aggressive test program towards commercialization in 2021. The hybrid drive is installed in a Cessna 337 airframe.

A young Canadian inventor has come up with what he says is a low-cost flight data recorder for light aircraft that requires no special installation. Instead, it uses 4K video cameras to record gauges on the panel.

This week's letters brought comments from readers about angle of attack indicators and the U.S. ADS-B system.

AVwebs weekly news roundup found reports on an aviation upgrades shop expanding its autopilot offerings, a convention appearance for Click Aviation Network and a new training management system for Pobeda Airlines.

AVwebs weekly news roundup found reports on an STC for a King Air autothrottle, FAA-PMA approval for Nicrocraft Cirrus SR22 heat exchanger and muffler, discounts for certain FlightSimExpo attendees and a simulator sponsorship for US Aviation Academy. It also uncovered announcements of a new owner for Ft. Langley Air, a sales director appointment at DAES, a partnership to build sustainable landing spots and new flight playback software at Ryanair.

Garmin has announced that it has received FAA Supplemental Type Certification for its GFC 500 autopilot for several Mooney M20 and 36/A36 Bonanza models. Specific aircraft approved include Mooney M20 J, K, M, R and S models and Bonanza models 36, A36 and A36TC.

Metal straws are just a green-washing nod to environmentalism. Are electric airplanes the aviation equivalent? Not quite.

This week's letters brought comments from readers about uAvionix SkyBeacon ADS-B installations, turning back to the runway after an engine failure, upset recovery training and reporting fires from the air.

Blackhawk Modifications has announced that it will be celebrating its twentieth year in business with a facility expansion and by pulling together four of its aviation-based companies under the new brand name of Blackhawk Aerospace. Blackhawk Aerospace will include Blackhawk Modifications, Blackhawk Composites, Blackhawk Aerospace Solutions (formerly Vector-Hawk Aerospace) and Blackhawk Aircraft Sales.

Cirrus recently announced the second generation of its SF50 VisionJet. In this video shot at Aero in Friedrichshafen, Germany, Adam Hahn gave AVweb a tour of the new cabin improvements.