A Bombardier Learjet 45 has set a new transcontinental speed record for its class by flying 2,021nm (1,100km) from San Diego, California, to Washington DC in 4h 18min. The twin engined AliiedSignal TFE 731-20-powered aircraft left San Diego carrying four passengers, two crew and 6,000lb of fuel. It has an average average tail wind of less than 40kt for the journey and had 2,700kg) 1,570lb of fuel left in reserve on completion.
Source: Flight International
US firm Sierra Nevada (SNC) has been awarded a $170 million contract to deliver two Rapcon-X surveillance aircraft to the Finnish Border Guard.
Turkish business jet charter company Air Sapphire has been heavily fined by the US government for flying a Gulfstream GIV to Russia without authorisation.
The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered inspections of the Gulfstream G500 and G600 fleet in response to a “quality escape” involving improperly installed engine-mounting hardware.
