Dassault Falcon 2000S Amassing Test Hours

After a year the plane has accomplished 100+ flights and about 300 hours.  A very brief rundown is provided at the link below.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dassaults-new-falcon-2000s-reaches-flight-test-milestone-2012-04-05

Tecnam Completes P-2010 First Flight

This small company appears to be on the rise with a growing line of general-aviation aircraft.  Their high-wing twin was recently featured in several aviation magazines, now they have completed a first flight on a nice-looking single reminiscant of the Cessna Centurion.

http://www.eaa.org/news/2012/2012-04-13_tecnam.asp

Dutch PAL-V Roadable Gyrocopter Enters Developmental Tests

Looks like this Dutch project has the potential to enter the flying car market as well.  Another company, Samson Motorworks in California, was recently working on a fixed wing flying three-wheeler, but they have been very quiet lately.  With recent advances in materials and propulsion, things could get crowded.

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2012/04/pal-v-flying-car-makes-successful-maiden-flight.html

Terrafugia's Transition Roadable Aircraft Production Representative Model Flies

After a lot of dickering with the FAA, it looks as though Terrafugia (if you're into Latin, the name means "flee the ground") is getting closer to having a real product for the flying car enthusiast.  The video at the link below is basically a marketing video, with no data or dialogue, but if you watch carefully you can learn a bit about the plane.  Pretty close-coupled, with serious dihedral, you can see a what looks like a fairly extended dutch roll on takeoff leg at about 0.7 Hz.  No sign of it in the "up and away" footage.  It also seems to have a bit of a pitch bobble on landing, although it seemed to be quite happy to touch down in a flat "four point" attitude, and the ground-rated shocks had no problem.  At a price estimated to be around that of a new 172, it may truly have a market.  Guess we'll see.

http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2012/04/02/latest-flying-car-makes-first-test-flight/?mod=google_news_blog

Airbus A-400M Test Team Fills Corners of TOLD Charts

Oftentimes takeoff and landing data charts are based on projected data, or they simply stop at the points where testers had to stop their testing, leaving the operator to guess what kind of performance the plane might deliver.  The fact is that data for takeoffs, particularly rejected takeoffs or engine-out tests of minimum control speeds, can be very risky.  Landing tests that involve maximum performance braking are also high pucker-factor work.  I suspect that some of these tests were part of the A-400M deployment to Bolivia.

http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=493396&Itemid=1

NASA's General Atomics UAV Flies with ADS-B

This is one of those articles that initially seems like a yawner.  No new technology was involved, and no hazardous maneuvers were being flown, but the combination of UAV and ADS-B is very much akin to backup cameras on large vehicles or high-end cars.  It may enable UAVs to do things safely that they could not do before.  There are a lot of issues with flying UAVs in the National Airspace, but the primary concern is their ability to sense and avoid other aircraft.  ADS-B is another arrow in that quivver.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120326103341.htm

Diamond Makes First Flight on DA52

This is an upgraded version of the original DA50.  The article at the link below even gives some rare "first flight" performance data.  It almost appears to have swept wings, but I think that's just an illusion due to a fairly pronounced dihedral.

http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=7bda34a9-f608-43a0-83bd-7764a0294ca9