Cessna Aircraft Co. recently broke ground on what will be its third building in Columbus, Ga. The company will invest up to $24 million to expand aircraft subassembly work at Columbus, including construction of an $11 million facility at Muscogee Technology Park. The 100,000-square-foot building is slated to be completed in August 2008. Cessna Columbus […]
First-time author wins award for book on WWII flyers
First-time author wins awardfor book on World War II flyers The National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) has named Jane Gardner Birch recipient of its Fifth Annual Combs Gates Award. The first-time author will be recognized with a $20,000 cash award for her soon-to-be-published book, “They Flew Proud,” inspired by the World War II experiences […]
A LESSON LEARNED
On a bright, Saturday morning not too long ago, my wife Kathy and I drove to our hangar at the Frederick Municipal Airport in Maryland. Since we were pressed for time, we decided just to make several takeoffs and landings in our Mooney Ovation 2000. During my pre-flight, I noticed that I had about two […]
QUIT WHINING ABOUT ETHANOL
There’s the problem with ethanol-based fuel! It may consume more energy in its production that it itself will produce. It may cost more than petroleum-based fuels it replaces. Taxpayers may have to continue subsidizing it until the public comes to its senses. However, until that happens politicians and newspaper editors, particularly here in the Corn […]
the buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
“We’re still wrecking airplanes pretty much the same as we always did, we’re just more creative in the information that we ignore.” — Avemco Insurance Co.’s Jim Lauerman “We’ve watched people drool over new aircraft, then hear a big sigh, followed by ‘If only I could afford it…’” — Andrew DeMond, president of iFly, a […]
Nationwide ADS-B contract awarded: System expected to be operational by 2010
A team led by ITT Corp. is the winner of a contract to develop the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system nationwide. ADS-B, dubbed the future of air traffic control by FAA officials, is expected to enhance safety by using signals from the Global Navigation Satellite System to pinpoint air traffic. “This signals a new era […]
Sport Pilot: By the numbers
It has been three years since the Sport Pilot/Light Sport Aircraft rule was finalized. In that time there has been continual growth in the number of LSA manufacturers and importers, as well as in the number of people earning Sport Pilot certificates. The Experimental Aircraft Association, one of the key organizations that spearheaded the development […]
Around the world in a CT: Indian pilots set new LSA record
A Flight Design CT flown by Rahul Monga and Anil Kumar of the Indian Air Force recently completed a round-the-world flight in 79 days. The epic journey was undertaken as part of a celebration of the Indian Air Force’s 75th anniversary. In all 19 countries Monga and Kumar landed in, they made contact with local […]
Steve Kurtz dies at 86
William Stephen “Steve” Kurtz, an aviation icon in Minnesota, died Aug. 24. He was 86. Kurtz, whose aviation career spanned 50 years, did most of his flying at Aitkin Municipal Airport/Steve Kurtz Field. “He was a living legend here,” said Ron Sieling, a mechanic who took flying lessons from Kurtz, who noted the airport was […]