Thousands of U.S. Air Force pilots earned their wings at Hondo Field in Texas when it was a major training base in the 1940s and 1950s. Any graduate of the rigorous program will tell you that the year spent learning to fly “the Air Force way” was a special time in their lives. Paul Kalisch […]
The promise of things to come… Engine makers report progress and innovation
In his delightful, often bitingly witty novel, “Tom Sawyer,” Mark Twain used the term “news of no news” to describe the kind of reporting that says, in effect, there’s nothing new to tell you but I’m compelled to tell you something. Although little of real substance has turned up among engine manufacturers so far this […]
Look Sharpe! Tackling Sun ‘n fun with triplets
If you think it is challenging to attend a fly-in with one toddler in a stroller, then you will appreciate the courage of Robbie Sharpe from Greensboro, N.C., who made the scene at Sun ‘n Fun with triplets Cole, Connor and Collin. The boys were 19 months old when they attended the show and, according […]
Frustrations abound with FSS: Lockheed Martin working to fix problems, but pilots say transition glitches compromise safety
It started out as frustration for Dave Davidson, a veteran GA pilot from Texas. Now he’s angry — like so many other pilots who have tried, and failed, to contact a Flight Service Station run by Lockheed Martin. “This is a big mess,” said Davidson who, at 86, has been flying for more than 64 […]
A new way to reach kids: Todd Trainor hopes Aircraft Trading Cards will inspire dreams of flight
Like many good ideas, Aircraft Trading Cards was born because of a young child’s dreams. Todd Trainor’s 6-year-old nephew was bitten by the flying bug after a Young Eagles flight. And, like most kids these days, he also was fascinated by the Pokemon cards that are all the rage today. Unfortunately, his mother said no […]
How can you help when disaster strikes?
June is the start of hurricane season and, in the southern part of the country, residents are bracing for the worst. The latest prediction from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center projects 13 to 17 named storms. Seven to 10 are expected to become hurricanes, with three to five possible “major” […]
“The Greatest Airplane Ever”: It’s a matter of opinion, but three stand out
When we asked our readers to name The Greatest Airplane Ever, we expected – and got – a wide variety of opinions. What fascinated us, though, was the consistency more than the variety. The DC-3 and its C-47 military variant won, but not by much, followed very closely by the Piper Cub and the Wright […]
South Carolina installs state-wide AWOS
The Aeronautics Division of South Carolina’s Department of Commerce recently inked a contract with Vaisala to install Automated Weather Observing Systems (AWOS) at nine airports across the state, as well as update existing systems. The contract is worth more than $1 million. There’s no doubt the investment will pay off, says Michael O’Donnell, executive director […]
The man who started it all: EAA founder Paul Poberezny shares tales from the old days
Experimental Aircraft Association founder Paul Poberezny likes to tell people that he and his wife, Audrey, are millionaires, then sit back and watch the reactions. Many people are taken aback, until Poberezny finishes his thought: “We have a million friends and you can’t buy that with money.” Poberezny says that he uses that thought as […]