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 […]
Airplane airbags: A no-brainer?
Adding airbags to your airplane is really a no-brainer. So says Yvonne Tillyer, director of sales for AmSafe Aviation, which produces seat belts and inflatable restraints for GA, commercial and military customers. “The technology is there for our cars, so why wouldn’t you want it in your airplane?” she asks. “It should be standard practice […]
Pre Fun!
After finally deciding on where to build the Fury, the folks at LoPresti Speed Mods have a lot to celebrate — and they can in this prototype, which says it all. The Fury, designed by the late Roy LoPresti, whose motto was “Life is short. Fly fast,” is a high-performance airplane that can carry two […]
What’s in a name?
Some airplanes borrow their names from legendary heroes in Greek mythology, such as Hercules or Titan. The Xenos, a kit manufactured by Sonex Aircraft, is not one of them, although the name makes you wonder. Xenos is the male version of Xena who, at least on television and in the realm of sci-fi and fantasy […]
How safe are we, really?
One of our most avidly read features is Accident Reports. To put these together for every issue, reporter Meg Godlewski combs the National Transportation Safety Board’s database, choosing a wide variety of accidents to spotlight. We don’t do this to highlight bad news. In fact, we look at these reports as cautionary tales, presenting them […]
How about this? “Buy a Plane, Get a Car”
Comp Air Inc. announced Aug. 28 that it would give away new Chevy Aveos to buyers of selected models of its airplanes.The first taker called three days later, according to Ron Lueck, owner of the Merritt Island, Fla.-based company. “He called from Miami and said he wanted to be the first,” Lueck said, “and he […]
User fees: to be or not be be?
Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) says he won’t let user fees be imposed on general aviation by the FAA. “We’re not going to allow that to happen,” Inhofe stated flatly during an interview at Oshkosh. Although other U.S. Senators hold pilot licenses, Inhofe says he’s the only active pilot currently in the Senate, with the emphasis […]
Klein Tools introduces Multi-Pocket Tool Totes
Klein Tools recently expanded its Tool Tote line with two new multi-pocket tote bags – a 17-pocket Tool Tote with a shoulder strap and a seven-pocket Tool Tote. Constructed of rugged, 600 x 300 denier polyester, the new bags are designed to withstand wear and tear. They also are water-resistant to avoid the buildup of […]
LoPresti Fury to be built in New Mexico
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Curt LoPresti, “but we are delighted to announce that a location for the Fury factory has been selected.” The late Roy LoPresti, whose motto was “Life is short. Fly fast,” designed, engineered and built what he thought was the perfect airplane. He called it the Fury. When the […]