Jacksonville's Cecil Field Becomes Nation’s 8th Commercial Spaceport
The Navy's former Master Jet Base in Jacksonville, Florida, has received a Launch Site Operators License from the FAA, making it the nation's 8th designated horizontal launch commercial spaceport. As part of receiving a license to operate a spaceport, the JAA and FAA conducted an extensive environmental study and a comprehensive application process.
The Jacksonville Airport Authority has been working for four years on the spaceport designation for Cecil Field. It is the first license for horizontal space operations granted in the state of Florida. Cecil was closed by the Navy during the 1993 BRAC round, and was officially handed back to the City of Jacksonville in 1999.
With a 12,500-foot main runway, the third longest in Florida, Cecil Field (KVQQ) can readily accommodate the horizontal launches specified in the license. "Cecil Field has come a long way in the past ten years. This property which was once a Naval Air Station continues to be reused and redeveloped in innovative ways," said JAA Board Chairman Deborah Pass-Durham. "We're hopeful this commercial spaceport license will help take Cecil Field to the next level in attracting new business, especially within the space industry."
Commercial spaceports can be used for suborbital space tourism, travel and cargo operations and other commercial launch activities. The best-known player in the commercial space industry is Virgin Galactic, Sir Richard Branson's company. Virgin Galactic is based at New Mexico's Spaceport America. Another is Oklahoma City-based Rocketplane Global Inc. That company's CEO, George French, has visited Cecil Field.
"With Cecil Field being named one of only eight licensed commercial spaceports in the country, Jacksonville is breaking into yet another aviation industry with commercial space transport," said JAA Executive Director and CEO Steve Grossman. "Cecil Commerce Center offers Jacksonville and our region an industrial complex unlike any other in the state, and the addition of commercial space transport will greatly contribute to economic development and job growth in Jacksonville."
Copyright 2010, Aero-News Network, Inc., All Rights Reserved.
Aero-TV: Jepp Approach Plates Meet The iPad -- Extending Jepp Power To The Tablet Revolution
Our Favorite Mobile Device Gets Jepp Power
The staff at ANN knows better than to try to get between Jim Campbell and his iPad... and when he sees a new App for his treasured computer side-kick, he usually makes a bee-line to upload it and give it a test flight. And when mighty Jepp joins the iPad revolution, that's a big deal indeed. The first of Jepp's forays into the Tablet biz looks like a winner from the get-go.
Aero-TV: Building A Better Aero-Future -- Sullenberger Spearheads 'Young Eagles'
Sully Speaks Up For The Young Eagles Program
You never know who you're going to run into at Oshkosh... and no matter who, its often interesting to spend a few minutes chatting with the folks who make the yearly pilgrimage to Wittman Field. In this case, the person we ran into was more interesting that most... that person being none other than Airbus Seaplane Pilot Captain Chesley Sullenberger.
Aero-TV: Take a Flight Into History -- FAA Approves Collings' F-4 and A-4 Rides
Take Our Word For It... These Are SERIOUS Rides...
As someone who has been fortunate enough to log time in both the F-4 (with the US Marine Corps) and in a number of A-4s (civilian-owned and military), I was excited to learn that the FAA has shown some foresight in agreeing to a carefully monitored program whereby a civilian organization (mind you, one with extraordinary warbird experience) will be allowed to sell rides in two of the most pivotal fighters in US history.
Aero-TV: Having It Your Way -- Ron Tarrson's Aspen-Equipped Navion
A Classic Flying Machine Gets A Taste Of The Future
While companies like Avidyne and Garmin have introduced a new generation of GA aircraft owners to the glass panel revolution with every new airplane built these days (or so it seems), a quiet little company in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has made that same revolution available to many thousands of other pilots and airplanes with one of the most divinely inspired glass panel upgrades seen so far. Aspen Avionics' Evolution system, available in everything form a simple but truly affordable single screen installation to a deluxe (and still surprisingly cost-effective) three tube installation with ALL the bells and whistles. NEVER in the history of GA, have we had better choices and greater capabilities... and Aspen is a large part of the reason that this is so.
Aero-TV: TCM's Diesel Ambitions -- Ready To Power the Future
TCM Has Several Development Programs Looking To The Future of GA Propulsion
While aviation seems to have more than its share of trials and tribulations at the moment, it boasts one particularly solid resource... that there are great people and solid companies ready to take on the challenges of tomorrow. TCM's aero-diesel development program is one such example of what gives us great hope for the future of our industry... though we'll (no doubt) still have to deal with bumps and bruises along the way.
Aero-TV: All Things Old May Be New Again -- The Ultimate 'Classic' Kitfox
Coolest Kitfox EVER Gets Serious Attention At Oshkosh 2010
There's something about the Kitfox... an aircraft series that was a true pioneer in the sport aviation arena for quite a number of years... and through good times and bad. It was the aircraft that brought thousands of pilots to aircraft ownership and inspired many thousands more to pursue flight. As uniquely identified with the early sport kit revolution as the Piper Cub was to early GA, the Kitfox has not only weathered the last few decades fairly well, but may yet see some of its finest days... in its future.
Aero-TV: 'Tico Belle' C-47 -- The Grand Ol' Gal Lives On
Legendary Bird Keeps Flying After Being A Part of 65 Years of Aviation History
Every historic aircraft has a story to tell... and the 'Tico Belle" has seen 65 years of aviation history, which means that it has a LOT of stories in its background.... if only this airplane could talk. From the Normandy invasion to Cherbourg, to Arnhem, to Bastogne, to the Berlin Airlift and much more, this aircraft was there -- over 65 years ago. Today the "Tico Belle" is a flying extension of the Valiant Air Command museum with an important mission to educate the public about military history and what it meant to not only serve in World War II, but to have been present when so many sacrificed so much in the service of this Country.
Aero-TV: The Compact SolidFX8 -- An Updated Paperless Cockpit Solution
The Most Readable Electronic Chart Solution We've Seen Yet
There seems to be no end to the new 'electronic charting" solutions that are coming our way... but few (if any) boast the level of clear readability that we've seen from t he SolidFX FX8. SolidFX introduced the FX8 and FX8-3G, the newest additions to the FX Series of Aviation Information Managers, last Spring. Using the SolidFX FXView application, the FX8 and FX8-3G Aviation Information Managers serves as a chart reader, notepad, cockpit organizer, electronic briefcase and library.
Aero-TV: Ya Gotta Know When To Fold 'Em -- Sonex 'Onex' Single-Seater
Monnett's Thriftiest Flyer Yet... With Folding Wings!
Drawings of John Monnett's Onex concept aircraft were first shown at AirVenture 2009, while the real thing, nearly ready for flight test, made its debut at this year’s Oshkosh event. The Onex is a simple and economical single-place all metal aircraft design that promises to continue the lineage of outstanding Sonex Aircraft sport pilot performance. In addition to being a single-place aircraft, the Onex stands-out as a unique design with its folding wing mechanism, which allows the aircraft to meet standard trailer widths while fitting into a standard 7’ garage door, and the wing panels can easily be removed for trailering at highway speeds.
Aero-TV: Sikorsky Innovations' Project Firefly -- Electrifying The Future Of Rotorcraft
Sikorsky Remains One of Aviation's Most Aggressively Innovative Companies
Oshkosh 2010 was no stranger to innovation... though we must note that this year was a bumper crop in terms of the breadth of excitement we saw within the confines of Wittman Field... sport aviation, GA, BizAv, Military, Aerospace, you name it... there was no shortage of exciting innovations to feast your eyes on... especially where Sikorsky was concerned.
Aero-TV: TCM's Rhett Ross -- There's A New Turbo In Town
TCM's Alternative Turbo For The SR22 Has The Industry Talking
A few weeks back, at the 2010 Cirrus Owner's and Pilot's Association annual convention, ANN had thew chance to get some additional details on the TCM alternative for the Turbo-charged SR22 series. While the Tornado Alley STC has gotten high marks from owners, TCM felt that it was time to offer an all Continental solution to a segment of the industry that has proven to be hard-flying and demanding aircraft operators.
Aero-TV: Something Old, Something New -- The Launch of Kestrel Aircraft
Alan Klapmeier Fills In More Details On The Kestrel Development Program
One of the best pieces of news to come out of Oshkosh 2010 (outside of the fact that the floods had abated) was the announcement and details surrounding two amazing 'Re-Introductions' -- the rebirth of the speedy and rugged Kestrel turbo-prop program and re-emergence of Cirrus Founder Alan Klapmeier to lead yet another innovative aircraft development program.
Aero-TV: Lawrence Bell's 47H -- The Original Businessman's Helicopter
An Attempt To Redefine The Business Rotorcraft
Preserving history is a tough gig... especially bits and pieces of it that comprise a fairly small part of it all. Such is the ultra-dedicated mission of the Lawrence D. Bell Aircraft Museum, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, dedicated to preserving the legacy of the man that created one of the iconic helicopter companies of the century.
Aero-TV: John Snider's Mosquito: An Affordable Single-Seat Helicopter
The Mosquito XE/XEL is powered by a 60HP Compact Radial Engines MZ202, a 2 cylinder, 2 stroke powerplant that has been used for a number of years on various iterations of the Mosquito design. The XE is equippd with skids while the XEL configuration is equipped with floats and reportedly requires 250-300 to build. It may also be bought fully assembled and operated as an 'ultralight' rotorcraft. The 312 pound Mosquito XEL has a gross weight of 610 pounds and a fuel burn of 4.5 gph and a fuel capacity of 5 gallons (due to ultralight regs, though the Experimental version can carry 12 gallons). 'Ultralight' range is 60 miles and HIGE is 8000 feet and HOGE is 6500' with a top speed (Exp) of 80 mph.
Join Paul and John as they take a close look at the intriguing single place, experimental Mosquito XE...
Copyright 2010, Aero-News Network, Inc., All Rights Reserved.
Aero-TV: Commemorative Air Force -- 'Texas Raiders' B-17 At Oshkosh 2010
Expertly Restored Bomber Is An Inspiration To Flyers The World Over
There are few sights and sounds as inspiring as a B-17 in flight... and as rare as they have become it is a tragedy that every citizen does not have the chance to get close to the history that these airplanes represent. Still; there are some patriots in this nation who are bound and determined to make sure that the iconic presence of these airplanes remains a reality for as long as they live... and beyond.
