Well, we made it through another year. It was not a great year for general aviation, but not a real bad one either — it was just OK.
On the down side, we continue to lose many of our great aviators and heroes.
For example, the loss of Bob Hoover was sad for the whole country, but especially for the aviation community.
I met Mr. Hoover several years ago working on a training video. I have told the story before of going to dinner with him during the Reno Air Races and having him tell war stories. Before long the whole restaurant and the wait staff was listening.
What a great man. His life made all of us humble in comparison.
The thing that saddens me was that none of the major media even mentioned his passing. For comparison, whenever an entertainment, sports or political “hero” passes, we hear all about it. But when a real life hero like Mr. Hoover passes, nothing.
My take on this is America is still great; it is Americans that need improving.
Americans no longer read or study anything, they just Google it. In the past, the broadcast media and the print media were in competition to supply people with news information.
But now people don’t read, so the competition for supplying news information is between the broadcast media and the Internet. Therefore, the broadcast media has switched from reporting facts to making news entertaining. Consequently, a lot of people do not know what World War II was about, let alone who served in it.
Another problem is that Internet reports may or may not be true. We are living in a post-truth world. And the marketers and politicians have definitely picked up on this.
In this year’s presidential election we suffered from electile dysfunction. Both parties decided there is no future in telling the truth, that the general public will not know the difference. It is now to the point that the way to tell if a politician is lying is to see if his or her lips are moving.
In general aviation, we are seeing the effects on the technical side, as well. I cannot tell you the number of times people ask me a question and start out with “I read on the Internet…”
I am not against the Internet; I find it a great tool. The problem is that if a person knows what they are doing, then the Internet can be a great source for additional information and the user can determine what is true and what are opinions.
The problem comes in when people depend on the Internet as their sole source for information. They are not equipped to sort out the useful information from someone’s opinion. And many opinions are favorable to whatever the “expert” is selling.
As an example, in the past I have written about the problem of exhaust valve recession in aircraft engines that are only operated on unleaded fuel starting from overhaul. I almost always get comments such as “this is just an old wives tale” to “it can’t happen.”
Last year I was giving a talk and mentioned this problem. This started a discussion on the subject. Darrell Bolduc of Bolduc Aviation out of Minnesota was the next presenter and he joined the conversation, showing an actual exhaust valve and seat that had recessed in a very short time.
During the next break, I talked to one of the men who still was not sure, because he had seen on the Internet that this was not a problem and, as he said, “if it is on the Internet it must be true.”
I hope this finds you all well and ready for another year. We here at General Aviation News will continue to try to give you factual information. We will also continue to honor those great people like Mr. Hoover who have done so much for this country and aviation.
We will let the broadcast media handle the job of keeping people informed as to what the Kardashians are doing and who they are dating now.
The author will definitely open a can of worms from the pro-this and anti-whatever crowd. I still see a challenging year ahead for aviation with fund cutting and more pork spending. But what will resonate is that Americans can and should improve to keep this already great country great regardless as to where you sit on the aisle. My plan is to fly while I still can, read as much about aviation, and be an ambassador for GA wherever I go.
If someone writes or says something that isn’t true or that I disagree with, I’ll respond with ‘Happy Flying!’
Happy new year everyone!
Back before the internet became the INTERNET!!! I was using in my work and
people started using it for personal purposes.
It was then that I stated that I put as much credence in what I read on the internet as I do to what is written on the men’s room wall at the Amoco station.
Here in the UK one of the biggest threats to General Aviation is the loss of small airfields to housing.
There are too many greedy developers who look upon the old World War II airfields now used for GA as sites for industrial parks and housing. For them it’s all about profit and sometimes the owners can’t refuse to the sums involved, but every time an airfield is lost to housing it’s gone for good and another important amenity and training ground for future airline pilots is lost.
The comment about politicians are interesting considering the new president wants to improve our airports as a major part of his infrastructure bill. Why would you not get behind him? And what has Trump said that has not been true. He is working hard for the American people even before he takes office.
Happy flying!
Why are shops still overhauling engines that only work with lead? Hardened seats isn’t rocket science
That is a case of FAA approval, as the replacement parts must be the same as were originally approved by the FAA. The valve and seat material would be part of the original type design of the engine. A replacement part could be provided by STC, but, why bother with the certification cost when the common avgas,100LL, is leaded? The other FAA approved avgas is mogas, (since 1982), and very rare at an airport. Swift fuel 94UL is also “available” now but good luck finding it so the economics of getting an approval for new valve material is just not there,yet.