Mike Kincaid submitted the following photo and note: “Restored 1957 Super Cub on a brand new pair of Wipare amphibious floats over Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho.”
[Read more…]Outdated aircraft oils
This summer I had an interesting conversation with Durward Balgrave from Texas. He operates a ranch and has a significant fleet of vehicles, from farm machinery to competitive tractor pullers.
Most of the fleet is used for a short time and then sits idle for the rest of the year. Even in the high humidity, he has let many of them sit for up to — and sometimes well over — a year without any rust or corrosion problems.
This summer he and his boys justified the purchase of a 2016 Cirrus SR22T for use in their operations. After the purchase, the seller gave him a list of do’s and don’ts for the aircraft — and he was shocked at the recommendations.
[Read more…]EAA Sport Pilot Academy gets people flying in three weeks
EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — The benefits of immersive, small group flight instruction are coming to Oshkosh again in 2020, as the Experimental Aircraft Association is hosting five Sport Pilot Academy sessions this year, beginning in May.
The EAA Sport Pilot Academy offers a direct path to sport pilot certification through a three-week training program that eliminates obstacles such as scheduling conflicts and instructor availability. The program takes participants from the first flight through their sport pilot checkride at EAA facilities in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
[Read more…]Free admission for pilots who fly their Pitts to SUN ‘n FUN
The 2020 SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo will commemorate the 75th anniversary of one of the most exciting aerobatic aircraft ever made — the iconic Pitts Special.
SUN ‘n FUN invites Pitts owners to showcase their planes in a specially designated parking area in SUN ‘n FUN’s new Aerobatic HQ. The aircraft will be displayed in the center of SUN ‘n FUN’s airside attractions, with a full range of forums and seminars for members and aerobatic enthusiasts onsite throughout the week. In celebration of Curtis Pitt’s legacy, those who bring their Pitts aircraft will be awarded free weekly admission for up to two.
[Read more…]The Advanced Pilot’s Flight Manual updated
Just released is the newest edition of The Advanced Pilot’s Flight Manual, which helps pilots transition to advanced airplane models and types and prepare for their Commercial Pilot certificate.
In the ninth edition, author Bill Kershner bridges the gap between theory and practical application, covering the fundamentals of airplane aerodynamics and aircraft performance, according to officials with ASA.
[Read more…]Pilot loses control after landing on wet runway
The pilot reported that, during landing at the airport in Mount Sterling, Kentucky, after it had just rained, the Cessna 402 touched down on the first third of the wet runway on the centerline.
During the landing roll, he let the airplane roll to the end of the runway so that he did not have to use excessive brake inputs.
[Read more…]Picture of the Day: Tranquility
Joe McMurray submitted the following photo and note: “Dr. Joe McMurray
in his Carbon Cub on floats on Lake New Melones in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.”
Passing the commercial check ride
A few days ago a designated pilot examiner punched a hole through my private pilot’s certificate, invalidating one of my most prized possessions.
Seconds later he handed me a completed FAA Form 8060-4, a temporary airman’s certificate. And for a minute or two, until someone else completed a check ride, I was, at age 73, the nation’s newest commercial pilot.
[Read more…]Original North American Aviation engineering drawings shown to the public for first time
AirCorps Aviation has acquired a collection of original North American Aviation engineering drawings, which it plans to make available to the vintage and legacy aviation community for the first time.
The drawings, part of the newly named “Ken Jungeberg Collection,” were stored in the archives of North American’s Columbus, Ohio, factory until 1988. Each drawing is hand-drawn in pencil on tracing vellum, and was used to develop and build the iconic World War II aircraft we know and love today, company officials say.
Ken Jungeberg was the head of the Master Dimensions department at Columbus in 1988 when the factory closed its doors. When he heard that the company was planning to burn all the World War II era drawings in the archive, he decided that he had to do something, and began writing letters and making calls.
Through a twist of fate involving a burst pipe in the archives, Ken was able to take ownership of approximately 15,000 of these drawings, including information on the P-51, B-25, T-6, P-82, and more, and stored them in his basement and hangar for the next 30 years.
[Read more…]Changes to FAA call sign requirements affect charitable flying
Changes to FAA and ICAO call sign requirements has required a revamp of the way volunteer pilots use the COMPASSION call sign.
The original filing process, which used a portion of the aircraft’s tail number, is no longer valid, according to officials with the Air Care Alliance (ACA).
ACA now assigns discrete COMPASSION call signs to verified pilots of authorized organizations through its website.
[Read more…]