Today’s Top Pick is a 2018 EDRA Aeronautica Super Petrel LS.

The EDRA Aeronautica Super Petrel serves as a reminder that there are amphibian light sport aircraft (LSA) in the air that are not ICON A5s. Indeed, this unusual biplane design has been on the market for more than 20 years and evolved from kitbuilt amphibians as far back as the early 1980s.

The Super Petrel is known for its combination of high lift, thanks to its two wings, and maneuverability, due in part to its relatively short wingspan. Built in Brazil, the composite aircraft is also renowned for its build quality.

Owners, however, are likely to love the Super Petrel for all of the truly out-of-the way destinations it can reach with relative ease.

The aircraft’s retractable landing gear allow pilots to kick off adventurous itineraries from their local airport and wind up moored in a scenic remote cove an hour or two later. How many times have you been at a waterfront restaurant, watching diners arrive by boat, and pictured yourself pulling up in a seaplane?

Perhaps your time has come.

This Super Petrel has 50 hours on the airframe and on its Rotax 912iS engine. Pilots who want an amphibian LSA with unique design features that enhance handling while also turning heads should consider this 2018 EDRA Aeronautica Super Petrel LS, which is available for $68,000 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use its airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.

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The post This 2018 EDRA Aeronautica Super Petrel LS Is a High-Lift ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The aircraft is owned by the Coulson Group in Port Alberni, British Columbia, and spent decades fighting wildfires up and down the west coast of North America. An earlier deal to send the aircraft to the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida, fell through but the airplane was painted in navy blue in anticipation of that move.

“We are pleased to have the Philippine Mars join our museum where we will preserve this World War II-era aircraft for decades to come,” said Scott Marchand, CEO of Pima Air and Space Museum.

• READ MORE: Inside the ‘Spruce Goose’

A sister ship, Hawaii Mars, which fought fires up until 2015, will be sent to the B.C. Aviation Museum in Sidney, B.C., near Victoria.

“As a fitting tribute to their years of service and years of hard work by many people in B.C. and the U.S., we are pleased to see both Mars aircraft landing to rest at world class institutions in 2024,” said Coulson Group CEO Wayne Coulson.

What’s not clear is how the massive flying boat will get to Tucson. It has no landing gear and operates only from water. It needs a relatively big body of water to take off and land, and there is no such open water in the immediate area of the museum.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

The post WWII-Era ‘Philippine Mars’ Transport Seaplane Headed to Arizona Museum appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Gayo, which has offices in Sweden and Dubai, is an international aviation services provider. The company said it plans to optimize the aircraft to suit a number of market segments, both established and emerging.

The aircraft are to be delivered in a 19-passenger configuration, and the transaction includes ground support equipment for servicing the aircraft’s batteries. The deal also includes tools and components for the first year of operation; training for two pilots and two technicians; and a three-year warranty of the airframes.

Gayo said it expects the aircraft to be used by tourism and charter operators seeking “to bolster their sustainable transport options.” The company also said it will offer the aircraft on lease for transport services in underserved markets.

“We are delighted to be the first customer to sign an LOI with Jekta for this impressive, versatile and comfortable airframe. We want to be among the first to provide our customers with a truly sustainable option to transport their passengers. With the potential to reduce per-passenger-per-hour costs by more than 70% compared to current seaplanes we can satisfy that need,” said Gisle Dueland, CEO of Gayo Aviation.

Selling points for the PHA-ZE 100 include its ability to operate on routes serving coastal and island communities, and routes that are limited by operating costs or a lack of support infrastructure. It can also be configured for specialized vacation operators who need to carry kayaks, scuba equipment, and other adventure-sports equipment.

The post Jetka Agrees to Build 10 Electric Seaplanes for Gayo Aviation appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The designs are meant in part to evoke the innovation, adventure, and glamor that Pan American World Airways represented. The company’s trans-pacific Clipper flying boats, built by Martin, Boeing (NYSE: BA), and Sikorsky (NYSE: LMT), drove air travel to new heights before the network of land-based airports had evolved to handle heavy transport.

By the 1960s, the “Jet Age” was booming and Pan Am became known for its advanced fleet of jet airliners, including the Boeing 707 and 727, and the Douglas DC-8. The airline was also regarded often as the unofficial flag-carrier of the United States, and set standards for service and prestige.

The lineup of Pan Am-themed watches features the 42-millimeter stainless-steel case used for Timex’s Waterbury series of traditional watches and an easy-to-read face with clear arabic numerals on a navy blue dial that pioneering pilots conducting dangerous flights could have appreciated.

The new watches also come with either a day and date function or a chronograph, and a brown leather band decorated with Pan Am’s classic globe logo. They are water-resistant to 50 meters and cost $179 for the day/date model and $219 for the chronograph version.

For more, click here.

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