We had so much material from this year’s EAA AirVenture Oshkosh (OK, ‘Oshkosh’ for short) that we decided to cover the left-out bits in the show. There’s some really good stuff here, honest:
- ICON A5 + Safety Sense
- Tecnam Rivale
- Vashon Ranger Grand Teton
- Jabiru Twin 
- Cirrus TRAC10 
- Pipistrel Voyager (and what about the Panthera?) 
- Van’s RV12is
- Zenair CH750 Super Cruzer
- Lycoming engine TBO raised
- Continental’s engine STC swap for Piper Archer

NEWS
Two ace GA people remembered: Geoff Weighell, microlighting champion and former BMAA boss, and David Roberts of Europe Airsports who quietly got on with promoting GA at government levels.

Horten Flying Wing project for sale. Perfect for someone with a large fortune looking to downsize.

CAA webinar coming up on the subject of mandatory Electronic Conspicuity.

FLYER Fly-in on 11 August at Aces High, Steventon (PPR and Briefing essential).

Four new free landings for August.


What Caught My Eye 

Dave: Shuttleworth’s simple gorgeous Blackburn B.2 at Breighton.
Ian: Over 153,000 commercial flights in one day - that's almost two takeoffs & landings per second. No accidents - amazing!
Ed: Pedal Venture sets a record!

Plus, SkyDemonTip, Weekend Weather Forecast and Events coming up.

Links
Join the Flyer Club - https://flyer.co.uk/membership/ 
Best of Oshkosh video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyhV3JR-qy4
Oshkosh Preview Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ6V_vBs7NQ

#oshkosh #generalaviation #aviationnews #aviationtech #airshows

EAA Airventure Oshkosh starts next week and there’s lots to see. The FLYER works through the highlights that we know about: aircraft launches, product updates, new propulsion units - combustion and electric - visiting aircraft and much more! 

Plus there’s ton of news:
Mandatory electronic conspicuity is coming: CAA launches a consultation. This one’s important!
Sleapkosh was a huge success last weekend, with great weather, lots of aircraft, music, parties, food and much more.
Kirkbridge Airfield is for sale: fancy it?
Flying to Iceland in a flex-wing microlight: Trev Lee and Dave Bromley made it and we catch up with them in a video call
Sad news: Metal Seagulls is to close. The Pembrokeshire-based engineering workshop (and Zenair agent) calls it a day.
Blackbushe Airport is on the up!
Lightspeed launches a new version of its DeltaZulu headset with an anti-noise profile specific to a Rotax engine.
FLYER’s Ian Seager wins an award! A proper one!

In What Caught My Eye
Ian spots an aeroplane with a Bluebird connection.
Dave raves about the line-up for this year’s Roswell Air Races.
Ed meets a rare British 1930s survivor: the Foster Wikner Wicko

Plus:
SkyDemon tip
Weekend weather forecast
Club news
Events coming up

Links
Donate to Trev and Dave’s fundraising microlight mission here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/iceland-flying-expo-2026
Mandatory EC consultation https://consultations.caa.co.uk/safety-and-airspace-regulation-group/ec-mandate/
Kirkbirde Airfiled Sale - https://www.hopesauction.co.uk/propertyhopes/kirkbride-airfield-kirkbride/
Join The Flyer Club https://www.flyer.co.uk/membership

#oshkosh #generalaviation #aviationnews #aviationtech #airshows

Blimey, this has to be one of the biggest news weeks we’ve ever seen (and Dave’s on holiday!) Big news from Garmin with a new integrated and configurable avionics ecosystem. Cub Crafters has added a turbine to its Carbon Cub, Cirrus has launched an all new training aircraft, the TRAC10 and Dynon has announced an IFR GPS to go with its HDX screen.

Plus, your weekly SkyDemon tip - weather from Dr Simon Keeling (spoiler, it’s going to be hot), Events and What Caught our Eye.

Links: 
flyer.co.uk/membership
Garmin Axis - https://flyer.co.uk/garmin-unveils-axis-a-new-generation-of-highly-integrated-flight-displays/
Ian's flight test of Garmin Axis - https://flyer.co.uk/feature/flying-behind-garmins-new-axis-avionics/
CubCrafters - https://flyer.co.uk/new-ult-sees-carbon-cub-get-a-turbine/
Just Plane Silly Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@UCo2pHK7VPS0_0Tza4ll0SAw
Dave vs Bryan Livestream - https://www.youtube.com/live/GNa0Z1uG92A 

#aviationnews #garmin #cirrus #generalaviation #aviationtech

It ain’t half hot, Mum! With weather like this week’s, what we need is a nice, simple aircraft for a cool bimble in the evening air. The team chose three aircraft that are perfect for an enjoyable, stress-free flight but the kicker is: they have to be on sale now, either from the classified ads or from a broker or dealer! Do you agree with their choices? What would you choose?

PLUS

In the news
Follow up on the cardiovascular rule changes: we ask 5 questions of the CAA
Thruxton, Popham and Solent are three of Hampshire’s airfields. Coming up is an event linking all three
Sywell Aerodrome is closed to visiting aircraft during the week
EGNOS, no, not Gran’s favourite Christmas tipple, but Europe’s satellite system for improving GPS accuracy and usefulness, is back on the Govt’s agenda
The Raduno is happening this week with a fantastic itinerary!

Club News
Four new free landing fees for FLYER Club members coming up in July

In What Caught My Eye
Annabel is stunned by a Solstive Eveing Flight on video
Dave spots the Short Take-Off and Landing competition at Breighton
Ed embraces his inner Elon Musk celebrating the 35th anniversary of the movie The Rocketeer

There’s more: SkyDemon tip of the week (user waypoints), Simon’s weekend weather forecast, Events coming up.

#GeneralAviation #aviationnews #pilots #airfield #summerflying #aircraft

“Why do people get all misty-eyed about an old oily piston single with only two seats?” But this isn’t any old piston single, this is the de Havilland Chipmunk! Yes, on this week’s show we talk to Ben Griffiths, journalist, pilot and author of a book celebrating 80 years since the Chippie’s first flight. All sorts of fascinating facts and awesome stories are revealed… the Chipmunk Cold War Spy Plane, for one!

News
There’s news about the reopening of Old Sarum Airfield to visiting aircraft, the record number of gyrocopters turning up at Old Warden Airfield, and tickets on sale for the Aviator’s Ball.

In What Caught My Eye:

Annabel is thrilled by the appearance of a North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco at the RAF Cosford Air Show - and it will be sticking around for some more air shows this summer.

Dave spots the first signs of this year’s EAA AirVenture Oshkosh with the start of SimVenture, a virtual fly-in based on Oshkosh. Fly at the iconic Fisk Approach and hear the unusual instructions from the Oshkosh air traffic controllers.

Ed remembers the unusual McDonnell 220, a four-engine business jet that sadly failed to find a market leaving the one and only 220 ever built languishing at El Paso Airport. Now there’s a campaign to save the survivor.

Plus:
SkyDemon tip of the week
Simon Keeling’s weekend weather forecast
FLYER Club latest
Events for the busiest weekend of the year

Links: 
Aviator’s Ball tickets https://www.aerobility.com/aviators-ball-2026
SimVenture https://pilotedge.net/pages/simventure
Pre-order Chipmunk at 80 book https://chipmunkat80.carrd.co/

#GeneralAviation #aviationnews #pilots #airfield #aviationhistory #chipmunk

We call it YADS (Yet Another Drone Story), but last week the CAA launched YAC (Yet Another Consultation), publishing three hefty documents capable of curing insomnia even after five double espressos. Despite the eye-wateringly dull and confusing content they offer a fascinating glimpse into how the regulator sees the future of UK Beyond Visual Line of Sight drone ops. We took one for the team and read them so you don’t have to. Watch the segment to find out why we think Electronic Conspicuity is set to play an increasingly significant role in everyday flying.

In the News:

Continental Aerospace Technologies, which was acquired by AVIC, the Chinese state-owned aerospace giant in 2011, is back in US ownership following its purchase by Arcline Investment Management. Meanwhile, Cirrus Aircraft, also owned by AVIC, has been designated a Chinese Military Company by the US Department of Defense (we know).

Closer to home, the UK CAA issued infringement avoidance advice for Coventry just days before the airspace was withdrawn, then followed it up with some positively dangerous guidance for pilots using the North West Transit Corridor.

In What Caught My Eye:

Ian spotted a classic Cessna 185 in a starring role in The Dog Stars, a major film due for release later this year and Ed’s attention was captured by a beautifully restored DC-3 that managed to escape Coventry before the closure.

Join the FLYER Club today: flyer.co.uk/membership
London Flying Club Event: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lfc-evening-with-ian-seager-tickets-1987319557293?aff=oddtdtcreator

#GeneralAviation #aviationnews #pilots #airfield #aviationhistory #DC3 #Cessna185

Few of us can afford a genuine warbird but there’s a world of replica aircraft out there, many built from kits, some from plans and others – the really dedicated – from studying museum pieces and or photos. Some are full-scale, others scaled down. Many use modern components such as engines although a few hardy, brave souls with deeper pockets go for the real thing. 

We picked three replicas available right away in the aviation classifieds:

Nieuport 11: chosen by Dave who was really looking for a Nieuport 17 because its was the favourite fighter of British WWI ace Albert Ball. However, this 11 is a stunning choice with its New Zealand builder spending time studying an original at Le Bourget’s famous aviation museum.
Sopwith Scout: chosen by Ed. It’s a factory- accurate replica and powered by an original Le Rhone engine and original instruments. 
Airdrome Sopwith Baby: chosen by Ian. Airdrome Aeroplanes offers kit versions of many early aircraft and this one was ready to fly from its current home in Serbia. Beautifully finished, it had somehow gained an extra seat!

In the News:
Bye, bye Bicester: Bicester Motion is doing great things with the former wartime airfield but for the classic car industry not to preserve the site’s aviation heritage.
Save Nottingham Airport: Campaigners refuse to give up! Now they’re asking for a Judicial Review of the decision to build houses on the site.
Ireland’s Newcastle Aerodrome, just 30 miles south of Dublin and right on the coast, is up for sale.
Tuning up: CubCrafters has come up with a way of enhancing the performance of the Rotax 916 engine simply by tuning the software.
Farnborough fling: There’s a very unusual aviation related building up for sale close to the airport: the Farnborough Centrifuge.

In What Caught My Eye:
Dave falls for flying in New Zealand with a video of a de Havilland Beaver swooping across the countryside flown by a handy cropsprayer.
Ian spots a chateau in France with its own air force: more than 100 ex-military jets parked on its lawn.
Ed finds an impressive way to supply remote communities in North America with essentials: beer! Yes, it’s the keg drop!

#aviationnews #replica #aviationhistory #pilots #airfield

For some, including Ian, it’s a bucket list item. For others, ferry pilots, it’s a job. Whatever, it’s not a flight to be taken lightly because of weather, distance, weather, over water, weather, over ice, weather, fuel availability, weather… and did we mention, weather?

We examine the difficulties and how they can be tackled or at least minimised. What aircraft to choose? Potential mods. Intelligent safety aids to carry. What’s the paperwork required? What’s the best routing, both VFR and IFR.

In the News
Why is squawking a monitoring code a good idea around Oxford Airport? 
The Flying Reporter’s transatlantic adventure takes off… with an emergency
RIAT cancelled
Paraglider’s Great Escape after mid-air collision
Glenforsa stages its 54th Annual Mull Fly-in

FLYER Club news
June free landing: Easter, Kingsmuir, Eshott and Yatesbury
New safety webinar: Gliding and Shared Airspace
Send your flying photos and videos to us!

In What Caught My Eye
Dave marvels at the action at Wolverhampton Halfpeny Green Airport over last weekend: Chippies galore plus a totally gorgeous and rare Douglas C41A makes the airport its new base
Ian falls in love again for a French beauty: this time it’s the Renault-Caudron C.460 replica which made an appearance at La Ferte-Alais air show at the weekend
Ed heads straight for the burgers at the first Popham BBQ of the summer season and has nothing but praise for the chefs, the marshals, airfield managers and all the other pilots who also flew in. Flying at its best!

Links
FAA North Atlantic Flight Planning document: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/media/NAT%20IGA%202004.pdf

Flying Reporter: https://www.flyingreporter.co.uk/

Gliding and Shared Airspace webinar: https://youtube.com/live/Xtnc_TVrrFg

#aviationnews #atlanticcrossing #aviationadventures #pilots #aviationcrash

So what’s a warbird? Any aircraft with a military purpose at some point in its life, is what we’ve gone for. But not the £MultiMillion exotica like Spitfires and Hurricanes, but something an ordinary pilot could own outright or have a share. 
So what have we chosen?
Ian has plumped for the Chipmunk, of course, because the subject is inspired by this week’s International Gathering of Chipminks at Halfpenny Green (Wolverhampton) which will celebrate the aircraft’s first flight 80 years ago.
Take one Piper Cub J34, paint it drab green rather than bright yellow and you have the L4, an aerial reconnaissance aircraft used across the European theatre during WW11. Ed loves a Cub, so that’s his choice.
Dave found an absolutely gorgeous Boeing Stearman PT-17 dating from 1941. The big biplane was a primary trainer and almost all US pilots and 10,000 British pilots learnt the basics. It’s big, brash and very, very tough.

In this week’s News:
British company announces a composite kitplane Spitfire
World Airsports Day has been decreed: it’s 14 October
Flown west: aviation writer Rod Simpson and Sportys founder Hal Shrevers
Pilot Careers Live North gets a new venue after outgrowing the old one. Tickets are available now for the event on 11 July

FLYER Club News
Next webinar: Gliding activity in shared skies with Pete Stratten of the Britosh Gliding Association. It’s at 7pm, Wednesday 27 May  and open to all. Find it here, on FLYER’s YouTube channel

In What Caught My Eye:
Floatplane flying in the Italian lakes: Dave splashes down at Aero Club Como where it’s possible to not only complete a Seaplane Rating but also train for a complete PPL(A)
Ian gets fired up about a strange press release from a drone company fitting machine guns (yes, really)
Ed remembers Sheila Scott, who became the first British pilot to fly solo around the world in 1966

Links:
Historic & Classic (Stearman and L4) https://historicandclassicaircraftsales.com/
Pilot Careers Live North https://www.pilotcareernews.com/live/uk-manchester-11-july-2026/

#warbirds #aviationnews #aviation #pilots #ww2history #historicalaircraft