Special mission Cessna aircraft delivered to Belize Ministry of National Defense

Textron Aviation Inc. announced Thursday it has delivered a special mission Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft to the Belize Ministry of National Defense and Border Security. The Foreign Military Sale (FMS) contract was executed by the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Ala.

The Cessna Grand Caravan EX is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation.

“The Grand Caravan EX delivered to the Belize Ministry of National Defense and Border Security will be used as a multi-mission platform for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, casualty evacuation, search and rescue, air mobility, light airdrop, and other operations as necessary,” said Bob Gibbs, vice president, Special Mission Sales.

This is the first Caravan EX in service with the Belize Ministry of National Defense and Border Security. The aircraft is fitted with an Electro-Optical/Infra-Red sensor, operator mission console, tactical radios, and data link. Textron Aviation will provide pilot, mission operator, and maintenance training, as well as an in-country field service representative.

Certified worldwide

The Cessna Caravan platform has seen more than 3,000 aircraft delivered that are certified in 100 countries.

In May 2020, the Cessna Grand Caravan, fitted with Hellfire missiles, was considered “appropriate technology” for the Afghanistan Air Force.

King Air turbo-props ordered under FMS

Just last month, the U.S. Army announced they intend to award a contract to Textron Aviation for the FMS sale of two Beechcraft King Air 360 aircraft to Peru.

DCNewsroom most popular posts February 2023

1.) NTSB releases preliminary report on plane crash in Rockingham County, Va. – The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report last month that provided details on a single-engine plane crash that killed a pilot after departing Winchester, Va., on Jan. 11 [Full story]

2.) Navy awards contract for up to 64 King Air 260 aircraft – Textron Aviation was awarded the Multi-Engine Training System (METS) contract by Naval Air Systems Command for up to 64 King Air 260 aircraft. [Full story]

3.) Thermal testing for NASA X-57 electric plane before first flight – NASA’s X-57 Maxwell all-electric aircraft reached another milestone recently toward its first flight with the successful thermal testing of its cruise motor controllers. [Full story]

4.) Army sets up sale of the King Air 360 aircraft to Peru – The U.S. Army Contracting Command-Redstone in Huntsville, Ala., plans to award a sole source five-year contract to Textron Aviation, Inc. in Wichita, Kan., for the initial purchase of two King Air aircraft for the country of Peru. [Full story]

5.) Applications to operate skill games in Louisa, Virginia, voted down – Two applications that would have brought skill games to the small town of Louisa, Va., were voted down last month during a joint meeting between the town’s planning commission and council. [Full story]

NTSB investigating Cessna 150 plane crash in Virginia

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash of a Cessna 150G single-engine plane near Hillsville, Va.

According to news reports, the aircraft departed Twin County Airport in Virginia on Monday morning bound for Burlington Alamance Regional Airport in North Carolina.

The Virginia State Police started search efforts to find the small plane after it never reached its destination.

Search operations began around the Carroll County and Patrick County line Monday evening and resumed by air and on the ground Tuesday morning, WFXR reported.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. EST Tuesday, the NTSB announced on Twitter they were investigating “the Feb. 27 crash” of a Cessna 150G near Hillsville, Va.

Two people have been found dead in the wreckage. According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the aircraft (registration N2991J) was manufactured in 1966 and registered to Gregory Campbell of Austinville, Va.

The Cessna 150 is single-engine two-seat general aviation aircraft. The aircraft is one of the most produced aircraft, with over 23,000 manufactured.

This is the third reported fatal plane accident in Virginia under investigation by the NTSB in 2023. Two fatal plane crashes were reported in January near Suffork and Dayton, Va.

Gaming Realms plans release of classic SPACE INVADERS game for real money gambling

Mobile gaming content developer Gaming Realms announced Tuesday that it has signed a licensing agreement with TAITO Corp. to create a real-money Slingo SPACE INVADERS game. TAITO is Japan’s internationally renowned video games and arcade company.

TAITO developed and released SPACE INVADERS in 1978, one of the most influential video games of all time. Gaming Realms will combine Slingo’s unique game format with SPACE INVADERS’ iconic pixelated Invader characters, creating one of its most exciting new launches to date. The game will be available as a social media and real money gambling game.

SPACE INVADERS is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year.

Tsuyoshi Nishiwaki, executive officer of TAITO Corp., commented: “We are overjoyed that it still brings fresh experiences to new audiences and gaming formats. We feel that Slingo and SPACE INVADERS will make a great partnership, and we are excited to see our iconic pixelated Invader characters manifest in this established platform.”

Applications to operate skill games in Louisa, Virginia, voted down

Two applications that would have brought skill games to the small town of Louisa, Va., were voted down on Tuesday during a joint meeting between the town’s planning commission and council.

The Sappington Revocable Living Trust and Central Virginia Property Holdings, LLC, submitted Special Use Permits (SUP) applications to operate skill games at their businesses in the town of 1,555 people. The Sappington Revocable Living Trust operates the Louisa BP gas station in town.

The machines, also known as gray machines, are like standard casino slot machines, but operate in a different way and are known as skill games. The machines have come under fire from the state as being a form of gambling since 2020. A judge in Greenville, Va., stopped the state’s attempt to ban them in July 2021. They still operate in the commonwealth today.

Applications fail

The Louisa BP gas station was already operating skill games. The station changed ownership twice in 2022, once in February, and then in September. Sumata Das, the current operator, had to submit a SUP application when it was discovered the gas station was already operating skill games.

“He was unaware a SUP was required,” one council member explained during the meeting Tuesday.

The second SUP submitted by Central Virginia Property Holdings LLC was for the Court Café and Pub building across from the Louisa post office.

Both SUP applications failed to pass during a joint vote before the Louisa planning commission and town council meeting.

The town is currently in a rebuilding effort to move forward as a vibrant community of small businesses.

“A lot of people enjoy these games,” said Melissa Chisholm with Central Virginia Property Holdings, LLC. “They do it for entertainment and they do it to relax and unwind after a day of work. I’ve had them in my business for three years down in Bumpass. We’re excited about coming to the Town of Louisa. We just didn’t know we had to go over this hurdle.”

Chisholm’s business partner, Mike Rasswallia, told the council, “People come and play $20. Nobody is losing their house. Nobody is losing rent money. It's more of a place where you come and enjoy and have a good time.”

Before voting on the applications, council members opened up the meeting for public comment.

“Once we open those doors, more is gonna happen. We’re just gonna bring in more gambling,” a resident said during public comments. “How do they know that no one has lost rent? Or money for food? Or for child support, or anything like that, by gambling with that $20, that turns into $30, $40, $50, etc…”

The games continue to operate in Virginia in a "gray area" throughout the Commonwealth. A legislative effort to regulate and tax the games failed earlier this month in the Virginia State Capitol.

Meanwhile, thieves have targeted the gaming machines in six 7-Eleven stores in Fairfax County during a four-week period in January. Surveillance cameras show thieves casually carrying the machines out of stores with ease.

International reaction to North Korea missile launches, 'what has to be done is clear'

According to news reports, North Korea launched two more ballistic missiles off its east coast on Monday.

The two ballistic missiles were fired around 5 p.m. EST on Sunday and went into waters off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula. The first missile reached an altitude of 100 kilometers and the second, launched 10 minutes later, reached 50 km.

The launches come just two days after North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the sea off Japan's west coast.

The action met a strong reaction from congressional members in Washington.

“The recent North Korean ICBM test is a stark reminder that Kim Jong Un is an unstable dictator with a growing nuclear arsenal capable of ranging the U.S. homeland,” Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said in a statement.

“Protecting the U.S. homeland must be paramount as we develop our 2024 budget, and this includes fully-funding homeland missile defense assets,” he continued. “What has to be done is clear – we must accelerate our missile defense development to outpace the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) threat. This includes speeding up the Next Generation Interceptor, putting more interceptors in the ground, and looking to space-based missile defenses.”

The German Federal Foreign Office said the launch endangers international security.

“North Korea is obliged to completely, irreversibly, and verifiably end its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles,” said the Federal Foreign Office in a statement on Sunday.

“North Korea’s continued violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions are deeply worrying,” the office continued. “We call on North Korea to fully implement the decisions of the United Nations Security Council and to take up the offers put forward by the United States and South Korea to engage in serious dialogue.

Referring to the ballistic missile test by North Korea, the Foreign Ministers of the G7 on Feb. 18 stated that North Korea’s reckless behavior demands a unified response by the international community, including further significant measures taken by the UN Security Council.

Navy awards contract for up to 64 King Air 260 aircraft

Textron Aviation announced Thursday it has been awarded the Multi-Engine Training System (METS) contract by Naval Air Systems Command.

The contract award is for up to 64 King Air 260 aircraft, which will be known as the T-54A. The initial Lot I award will procure 10 new Beechcraft King Air 260 commercial aircraft and associated support. Lot II and Lot III, if the options are exercised, would each procure up to 27 aircraft. Aircraft deliveries are planned from 2024 to 2026.

The Beechcraft King Air 260 aircraft acquired under the METS contract will replace the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) fleet of T-44C Pegasus aircraft. The T-44C Pegasus aircraft is a variant of the twin-engine and pressurized Beechcraft King Air 90. The T-44 has been in service since 1977.

“METS will modernize multi-engine aircraft training at CNATRA, providing an intermediate and advanced training platform for U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard aviators into the P-8, EP-3, KC-130, E-6, E-2, CMV-22, CV-22, and MV-22 aircraft,” said Bob Gibbs, vice president, Special Missions Sales for Textron Aviation.

“The T-54A will include an updated avionics suite, automation qualities, and virtual reality and augmented reality devices to better prepare students for the advanced aircraft they will fly in the fleet,” said Navy Capt. Holly Shoger, Naval Undergraduate Flight Training Systems Program Office.

The King Air 260 METS aircraft will be delivered in a fully compliant, METS mission-ready configuration from Textron Aviation’s King Air production line in Wichita, Kansas.

More than 7,700 Beechcraft King Air turboprops have been delivered to customers around the world since 1964.

The King Air 260 cockpit features the Innovative Solutions & Support ThrustSense Autothrottle system, which supports pilots in their critical mission of delivering people or cargo by automatically managing engine power from the takeoff roll through the climb, cruise, descent, landing, and go-around phases of flight. This enhancement reduces pilot workload and is designed to prevent over-speed or under-speed, over-temp, and over-torque conditions.

The King Air 260 cockpit also features a digital pressurization controller, which automatically schedules cabin pressurization during both climb and descent, reducing pilot workload and increasing overall passenger comfort. The pressurization gauges have been integrated with the powerful Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion flight deck.

The aircraft includes the Collins Multi-Scan RTA-4112 weather radar, providing pilots with a fully automatic system that is optimized to detect short, mid, and long-range weather.

The King Air 260 was first introduced in December 2020.

King Air 360

The U.S. Army Contracting Command-Redstone in Huntsville, Ala., announced plans earlier this month they plan to award a sole source five-year contract to Textron Aviation for the initial purchase of two King Air 360 aircraft for the country of Peru.

The contract will include one 12-month base period and four 12-month ordering periods for the procurement of King Air Series B200 and B300 and Cessna C208B and C408 to support upcoming Foreign Military Sales cases.