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

Piper is the first aircraft manufacturer to certify Garmin’s digital GWX 8000 StormOptix weather radar in a piston-engine or turboprop airplane, the company announced at EAA AirVenture.
Garmin unveiled the lightweight GWX 8000 in April, and features of the new radar include a 16-color palette with “greater color contouring” that helps pilots interpret weather storm cell severity. The radar’s 3D volumetric scanning with automatic tilt adjustment scans and depicts hazardous weather and provides hail and lightning prediction, turbulence detection, advanced ground clutter suppression, and predictive wind-shear detection (an optional add-on). To help pilots avoid large storms, Garmin’s Weather Attenuated Color Highlight (Watch) technology can mitigate attenuation effects.
The M-series Pipers are selling at a fast clip, according to president and CEO John Calcagno, with sales up 20 percent year-to-date. M500 turboprops are sold out through the second quarter of 2022, he added, and only a few M350 piston single and M600 turboprop slots are open. At the Oshkosh show, the M600 on display sold before the show even opened.&nbsp;
On the trainer front, the Archer piston-single and Seminole piston twin are sold out through 2022, and the Pilot 100/100i trainer is sold out through the second quarter of next year.
“We continue to focus on product development,” he said. “We’re optimistic about the overall market.” Piper dealers have the lowest inventory in 10 years, he added.

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<div style="margin-bottom:5px;"><img alt="Charles McGee" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7e85805a-2c86-4a00-a5a4-f87be0e8d124" src="/sites/default/files/charles-mcgee-web.jpg" width="2000" height="1333" loading="lazy"></div>
<figcaption style="font-size:1.5rem;line-height:1.2;font-style:italic;">Brigadier General Charles McGee came to EAA AirVenture to encourage youth to pursue aviation careers. (Photo: Matt Thurber/AIN)</figcaption>
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At AirVenture, Piper delivered a Pilot 100i to the RedTail Flight Academy, one of an order of two funded by the private donation of a Sikorsky helicopter that was sold to raise funds for the trainers. Brigadier General Charles McGee, one of the original Tuskegee Airman, was on hand at the delivery ceremony, having arrived from Virginia’s Dulles International Airport on a Falcon 900LX flight donated by Dassault Falcon Jet.

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.

Piper Certifies GWX 8000 Radar in M-class Singles

Buyers of Piper's M-series single-engine aircraft can now add the optional Garmin GWX 8000 digital radar.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

Two captains held the prototype 33 feet above the water for 30 seconds

Regent Flies Electric Seaglider with Crew for First Time

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.

Icing approval would open year-round service to northern communities

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Kerry Lynch

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.

Deal to close this year

Bombardier To Grow Manufacturing Capacity with MHICA Buy

David Donald

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

Spain and Poland Agree to Buy A330MRTT Tanker Transports

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.

GE Aerospace Flies Boeing 747 To Test New Engine Tech

Charles Alcock

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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