While shipments of piston airplanes dropped in the third quarter, total shipments still posted a slight increase of 1.7%. According to recently released figures from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), shipments of piston engine powered airplanes manufactured worldwide decreased to 1,857 units in the first three quarters of 2007, down from 1,975 airplanes last […]
Vickie Cruse wins 2007 U.S. National Aerobatic Championship
Vicki Cruse of Santa Paula, California, was named the 2007 U.S. Unlimited National Aerobatic Champion at the National Championship competition recently held in Sherman-Denison, Texas. Cruse, who has competed in aerobatics since 1998, has earned several titles, including 1998 Sportsman Champion, 2000 Intermediate IAC Champion and 2005 Women’s National Champion. She competed in the World […]
Grandfather sets Boeing milestone
A grandfather from Kirkland, Wash., helped the Boeing Company hit a milestone Nov. 12 when he was the 3 millionth visitor to the Boeing Tour Center. Al Varness, 71, a U.S. Navy veteran and high school teacher, was accompanied by his grandchildren, Michael Petter, 11, and Adam Petter, 7. Varness and his grandchildren were given […]
New columnist comes to GAN
With this issue, we introduce readers of General Aviation News to Deborah McFarland, who was for many years a columnist for The Southern Aviator, where some GAN readers may have seen her “Short Final” column. Continuing that earlier tradition, Deb’s column appears on the “final” page, where it will be found in the last issue […]
ECI ‘refocuses’ with split into four business units
Engine Components, Inc. is dividing into four business units. Engineering, production, repair station activity and administration all had been the responsibility of Ed Salmeron, who resigned as president of ECi in October “to pursue a personal opportunity with the State Farm organization,” according to company officials. Salmeron’s job has been split into four new jobs, […]
Do you live with your plane? We’d like to feature you next year
General Aviation News is kicking off a new feature in 2008, with a story in every issue about Living With Your Plane. We’ll tap the expertise of our former publisher, Dave Sclair, a well-known expert on airpark living and a co-founder of Living With Your Plane. This on-line publication is a vast resource, including a […]
Enola Gay pilot dies
Paul Tibbets, pilot of the aircraft that dropped the first atomic bomb, died Nov. 1 at the age of 92 at his home in Columbus, Ohio. He had been in failing health in recent months. Paul Warfield Tibbets was born on Feb. 23, 1915, at Quincy, Illinois. He planned to have a career in medicine, […]
A new way to add lift?
You’ve likely already been inundated with comments pertaining to “What the well-dressed airplane wears?” photo caption in the Oct. 5, 2007, edition of General Aviation News. It seems obvious to me that the red brassiere was placed, not as a way of protecting the cowling, but rather to add “lift.” JOHN BURTON via email
Let’s keep common sense in aviation
I just read the letter about the guy who thought it would be a great idea to place the prop in a horizontal position after every shutdown to prevent engine damage in the event of nosewheel collapse (A lesson learned, Sept. 21 issue). Phil Boyer was all for it. Huh? I have taught my students always […]