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Thielert Founder Jailed As Trial Proceeds (Updated)

Frank Thielert, founder of Thielert Aircraft Engines, which produces Centurion diesel engines for the aviation market, last week was jailed by a judge in a German bankruptcy court who reportedly considered him a "flight risk." According to the Google translation of a story in the Hamburg Abendblatt newspaper, the judge said Thielert faces several years in prison if convicted on charges that investors in his company were "systematically deceived." The Thielert AG company went public in 2005 and declared insolvency in 2008, but continues to operate. Sebastian Wentzler, a company spokesman, told AVweb in an email, "Frank Thielert is out of the company since summer 2008. …The trials against Frank Thielert do not affect the business of the company in any way."

New Fuel: Who Picks It?

The FAA says it will pick a 100LL replacement, after years of testing. But it hasn't determined the selection criteria and, in any case, why doesn't the free market have a role?

Video: Music of the Merlins

An extraordinary assembly of Merlin-powered warbirds took to the skies over Hamilton, Ontario on Father's Day weekend, providing sights and sounds not experienced in decades. The star of the show was Jerry Yagen's recently rebuilt de Havilland Mosquito (the only one of its type flying), and it flew in formation with the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum's Lancaster, alongside two Spitfires and two Hurricanes. AVweb's Russ Niles spoke with Mosquito pilot Mike Spalding of the Military Aviation Museum.

Flying Bicycle, Version Two

Last week, a group of Czech engineers flew a hybrid bicycle/multi-copter by remote control, but this week, another take on the flying-bicycle concept -- one that's already flown with live human pilots -- turned up in the news. This one is basically a lightweight powered-parachute with a bicycle attached as a means of traveling from your garage to your launch site. For a powered parachute, the launch site doesn't have to be much more than an open field. The folding bicycle tows a two-wheeled trailer that holds the fan. An optional tent creates an all-in-one door-to-campsite recreational vehicle. Its British creators have spent two years developing and test-flying a prototype, and now have launched a Kickstarter campaign with the hope of developing a production line.

Bell Unveils New Light Helicopter

Bell Helicopter introduced a new five-seat, entry-level helicopter at the Paris Air Show this week. The aircraft was developed to meet performance targets set by an advisory council of customers who will operate the aircraft for utility, training, private use, and law enforcement. "The SLS [short light single] class is both extremely competitive and price sensitive, so we collaborated with customers to incorporate their mission needs in a high-performance, high-value helicopter at a very competitive price," said John Garrison, Bell CEO. The helicopter will feature a high-visibility cabin with large cabin doors, a flat floor, and five forward-facing seats. It will cruise at 125 knots for up to about 360 nm and carry a useful load up to 1,500 pounds, the company said.

Polish VLJ Debuts In Paris

click for photosFlaris, a Polish company, introduced its prototype single-engine personal jet at the Paris Air Show this week. The all-composite airplane reportedly has begun taxi tests and first flight is expected soon. It weighs about 1,430 pounds and can carry five people. Top speed is over 375 knots, according to the company website, and the range is 1,350 nm. It can fly from grass strips as short as 820 feet. It glides well, the company says, and comes with a ballistic parachute that's packed in the nose. Also, the wings can be removed for easier storage. The cockpit features Garmin avionics. The engine is by Pratt & Whitney, but the company told a French news site they are still considering other options. Flaris said it plans to start production next year and has set a price of about $1.5 million.

First Flight For Jetman No. 2

Until this week, Yves Rossy was the only human to have flown the jet-pack that he designed, but now there's a second flyer, after two years of training. Vince Reffet on Monday became the second person to fly the Jetman wing, and Rossy's Facebook page promised that soon there will be news of a Jetman Team. Reffet, 28, is an experienced skydiver, BASE jumper, and instructor from France. Rossy is scheduled to make his first public flight in the U.S. at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh next month. Also, on Tuesday, Rossy posted a short video titled "Close Encounters," showing a jet-powered flyer in the air with at least two parachutists.

Electric Taxiing Unveiled

Safran and Honeywell have unveiled an electric taxiing system for airliners that is expected to save millions of gallons of fuel and make airports much nicer places. According to France 24 the companies collaborated on the system, which puts electric motors on the main wheels to allow pilots to maneuver on the ground without using the main engines. The system is virtually silent and the weight penalty is more than compensated for by the smaller fuel load it allows aircraft to carry. It's estimated that about 5 percent of jet fuel is burned before takeoff and after landing and taxi times are on the increase at airports all over the world. The companies are demonstrating the system on an A320, which is actually at the upper end of the target market.

Diamond Plans Small Passenger Plane

Diamond Aircraft Industries is partnering with Russia's Rostec to develop a low-cost, 19-seat, diesel-powered, composite utility aircraft designed to service communities in vast reaches of the country that have no road or rail links. The aircraft will be designed to replace the ancient An-2 biplanes and L-410 turboprops that ply these obscure routes now. "An-2 and L-410 [aircraft] currently in service have low fuel efficiency and high operating costs," said Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov. "Creating a principally new aircraft will fulfill this niche and allow us to replace the obsolete fleet." Russia doesn't currently build any aircraft in that range and those built in other countries are updates of old designs, he said.

Another Event Lost To Sequester

While EAA and Sun 'n Fun weren't happy about paying for their own controller staff for their airshow events, at least they had the resources to do it, which isn't true for many smaller events around the country. At Columbia Airport in Tuolumne County, Calif., the 47th annual Father's Day Fly-in never happened last weekend, due to the cost for the FAA to staff a temporary tower. "We don't have the money," airport supervisor Jim Thomas told the local Union Democrat news. An "airport appreciation day" was held instead, with airplane rides, a pancake breakfast, and a barbecue. In addition, many local airshows have been cancelled due to the unavailability of military aircraft, especially the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds.