Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Icon Aircraft’s 100th A5 amphibious light sport aircraft recently left its Vacaville, California production facility for delivery to the buyer in Key West, Florida. The company achieved the milestone after ramping up production beginning in early 2018.&nbsp;

 


The A5’s spin-resistant design is unique in the light aircraft industry, the “world’s first production aircraft” so designed, according to Icon. Powered by a fuel-injected Rotax 912 iS Sport, the A5 can fly 427 nm with a 45-minute reserve, carry a useful load of up to 550 pounds, and offers a maximum cruise speed of 95 knots. Other safety features include an angle-of-attack indicator and ballistic airframe parachute system. The folding wings allow for compact storage or transport on an optional trailer. The A5’s side windows are removable.

 


The buyer of the 100th A5 is a private pilot who has been licensed for more than 10 years. “I’ve been following the Icon A5 for years,” he said, “and I was hooked as soon as I took my first flight. There’s no other airplane like it. It doesn’t matter what you’ve flown. I can’t wait to fly with my family and soak in the beauty of this world with the windows out.”&nbsp;

 


Composite airframe components are manufactured at Icon’s facility in Tijuana, Mexico, then shipped to Vacaville for final assembly. Production ramp-up took "longer than anticipated to get here, but this is just the beginning," said Icon president and COO Thomas Wieners. “The best reward is seeing owners flying their planes and having their own adventures across the country, and then connecting with our growing community.”

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

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News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

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News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

The two NATO allies will purchase seven of the tanker/transport aircraft

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News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

GE Aerospace has tested the GE9X, Leap 1A, Leap 1B, and more with the 747.

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News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

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