With the June 14th first flight only nine weeks old, Sierra received its STC for the Stallion. A Cessna Citation 500/501SP with more powerful Williams FJ44-2A engines, the Stallion is the latest in Sierra’s Citation product improvement program. Preceded by innovations such as the Eagle II, the Eagle 400 and Eagle SP, the Stallion enjoys […]
Takeoff
One of the best parts of AirVenture is when seasoned pilots are reunited with their former aircraft. For Roy J. Griesbach of Appleton, Wis., that reunion took the form of a ride in the EAA’s B-17 “Alumnium Overcast.” During World War II Griesbach was a member of the 91st bomb group and flew a B-17 […]
Aviation Benefits Everyone
The next time you hear someone disparage aviation, point out that everyone depends on it. Don’t believe that? Think about it. The food we eat now comes from all over the world. Delicate fruits and vegetables don’t arrive by slow boat; they are flown in, fresh daily, from places such as Chile, the Netherlands, Israel, […]
Oklahoma Senator takes on ADIZ but hearing is behind closed doors
U.S. Senator James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.), a long-time general aviation pilot, said in an interview at EAA AirVenture that the FAA “must justify continuance of the Washington, D.C., ADIZ” before his Environment and Public Works Committee will reauthorize it. Inhofe called a Sept. 12 meeting which top FAA, Defense Department, Department of Homeland Security and […]
Must have books: 10 books to treasure
There are certain books that every pilot should own, read and treasure. Some are fiction, some fact, some seem to be a bit of both, but all are worth reading again and again. Most of us have favorite books on our favorite subjects. This list includes some of mine, along with reasons why I like […]
Air Georgia takes off
Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue has launched AirGeorgia, an airport infrastructure improvement program aimed at rural GA airports across the Peach State. Perdue, a pilot who owns a Bellanca, is a staunch supporter of aviation. His latest effort is a financing program aimed at completing critical infrastruture improvements necessary to upgrade many of Georgia’s rural GA […]
Can your airplane save your life?
Could your airplane save your life? Long-time test pilot Jim Stewart is convinced the design of the prototype Sport-Jet, a composite and aluminum four-place single-engine jet, saved his life. The prototype crashed June 22 on takeoff from Colorado Springs Airport. Preliminary reports from the NTSB point to wake turbulence as the cause of the accident. […]
Has saving lives become old hat?
Have deployments of whole-airplane parachutes become old hat? That’s what Larry Williams, president of Ballistic Recovery Systems (BRS), a leader in the industry, is wondering. The company just learned about saves 189 and 190 a few months ago. Good news to report, right? Except company officials were a little puzzled about how to report the […]
Is your life worth $500?
Back in 1996, Ash Vij was a student pilot on a solo flight, heading his Cessna 172 to the practice area. But something just didn’t feel right. “I started feeling uncomfortable,” he remembers. “So I turned around and headed back to the airport.”After landing, he took the plane to the mechanic. “It was due for […]