Flying VFR in New York City’s Hudson River Corridor, you’re now required to report abeam “Alpine Tower,” a longtime FAA visual reporting point. I was recently reminded of the radio pioneer behind that tower. Don’t know Edwin H. Armstrong? Know why there is no Channel 1 on your TV set? Know why you can listen […]
History’s mysteries, from above
This year marks the 150th anniversary of a momentous year in American history. Events in and around 1863 changed us forever and left their traces on the land. We pilots have a “box seat” over such visible history in places we fly. The Civil War’s 1863 Gettysburg battlefield, for instance, is in extreme southern Pennsylvania, […]
Dumb mistakes and dumb luck
The other week, we Florida east coast residents enjoyed a strong, refreshing breeze — welcome tonic after a long summer. The weatherman said it was out of the north, but flags on the beach weren’t parallel to the surf. Reminds me of a grim story from my flying career. Stay tuned. I’m fessing up! For […]
Canceling the Big Show
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s decision to cancel its annual convention and trade show made news this month. It certainly shows movement instead of “business as usual” under new president Mark Baker. I have some perspective to offer and a modest suggestion. Care to listen? When I showed up at AOPA in July 1991, […]
A Pink Aeronca? Not your imagination…Hers!
This is a tough one to write. But let’s take it from the fun part and get to bad news later. It’s about Elaine Huf, a lady who contacted me years ago about buying and restoring an Army/Air Force L-16. How it ended up pink is the fun part. Back when I was hunting L-16s, […]
A new life for this old veteran?
Its nose is seemingly tucked up to the Chevy dealership across the street in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. But this piston-era behemoth is in for more than an oil change. The Perna family wants to complete a DC-7-based restaurant for their northeast Florida airport. Globe-circling DC-7Cs, the ultimate in Douglas’ legendary piston airliner line, were […]
GA in the military
There are warbirds at every airshow. Oshkosh, of course, is a feast. But what always grabs me are the veteran GA aircraft adapted for military use. They say to me that “our airplanes” are not toys, but capable, useful flying machines. Some military pilots believed differently, but I’m sticking to my story! In World War […]
Overwater lessons for Oshkosh and other summer fun
Some of us will be flying the Great Lakes soon to reach AirVenture or otherwise cruising some lake, bay, sound or shoreline towards cooler weather. I thought I’d call up last January’s ditching in the Hudson River Corridor to ponder cautionary tales. We can all celebrate that impossibly good ditching of a fixed-gear PA-32 Cherokee […]
Still a mighty interesting way to run an airport
It’s still going great guns — one of America’s most unusual airports. Complete with Western theme buildings, 28-room on-airport motel and airplane-shaped swimming pool, it’s the recreational center of its community. And this one-time “aeronautical dude ranch” lives on in…wait for it…New Jersey! Noted for its concept and marketing, Flying W Ranch is now the […]