On Sept. 2, 2017, Steven Hinton flew “Voodoo” – a highly modified P-51 Mustang – over a 3-kilometer course in Central Idaho at an average speed of 531.272 mph. That speed is the fastest ever achieved for a piston engine propeller-powered airplane. Voodoo’s record attempt was made as an “Aeroplane” in Class C-1 (Landplanes), in […]
Advanced Aero Components buys Glasair II and III assets
REDDING, Calif. – Advanced Aero Components (AAC) has bought the assets of both the Glasair II and III from Glasair Aviation. The acquisition includes all tooling, parts inventory, and intellectual property related to both models. “Customer support to more than 2,000 existing builders and owners will continue into the future for all existing aircraft,” said […]
Do you know where your wing spars come from?
I don’t know about you, but I don’t often think about where my food comes from. Sad, really, but truthful. I suppose I don’t really think about where most of the “stuff” I consume comes from — including parts and pieces of aircraft. For Ron Piercy, a fishing trip to southeastern Alaska five years ago […]
Aviation Exploring Scholarships increase to $65,000 in 2018
Starting in 2018 the Aviation Exploring Scholarships awards will increase in value from $47,000 to $65,000 annually. The scholarships will be awarded as follows: One $20,000 scholarship for professional pilot training ($10,000 a year for two years). Nine $5,000 (formerly $3,000) awards across the categories of pilot, avionics technician, maintenance technician and aviation management. “This […]
8 things you might not know about a remote tower system
Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport (FNL) is the busiest non-towered airport in Colorado. Air traffic is a busy mix of commercial air service, military operations and a wide variety of private aircraft. FNL will also set the standard for remote tower systems in the United States. In late July, the Federal Aviation Administration selected Ottawa, Canada-based […]
Hood River Fly-In challenged by forest fires
HOOD RIVER, Ore. – Since 2007, the Hood River Fly-In has earned a smokin’ hot reputation as a premier antique aircraft fly-in. In 2017, “smokin’” turned literal as nearby forest fires enveloped the area around Ken Jernstedt Airfield (4S2) in smoke and a trio of TFRs. In 2016, several hundred aircraft from all over descended […]
Cajun Air Force stands up to support Hurricane Harvey relief
Grant Ancelet just wanted to help Operation Airdrop “transport supplies to victims of Hurricane Harvey.” And as he prepared for his flight, he posted a message to Facebook asking if anyone wanted to donate money or supplies. A few hours later he had a kitchen full of stuff and $3,000 in his PayPal account. It […]
12 miles away, a world apart
As the crow — or drone flies – Santa Monica (SMO) and Van Nuys (VNY) airports are just 12 nautical miles apart. But they might as well be on different planets. While Santa Monica seeks to give their airport a 1,500-foot haircut, Van Nuys is crowing – rightly so – about a number of achievements […]
Full circle in just 29 years
Twenty-nine years ago last month, my mom, dad, sister and I loaded all my belongings into our 1973 Beechcraft Baron and flew me to Grand Forks, N.D., to move me into McVey Hall at the University of North Dakota. Fast forward 29 years and the roles had reversed. My wife and I drove to the […]