Forget a Sweet Sixteen party. Wyatt Angel of Mount Airy, N.C., spent his 16th birthday doing something way more fun — flying 11 airplanes solo at the Mount Airy-Surry County Airport (KMWK), then making his way to the Piedmont Soaring Society in nearby Farmington, where he soloed three gliders. He hopes his birthday celebration will win […]
A type club for backcountry pilots
New to backcountry flying and want a great place to find out how to get started? Or are you a veteran backcountry pilot looking for like-minded souls? Whichever you may be, you are in luck. There’s a meeting place on the web that was created just for you: BackcountryPilot.org. Started in 2004 by software developer and […]
STC in the works for G100UL
While the government begins its testing of four potential 100LL replacements, George Braly and Tim Roehl of General Aviation Modifications Inc. in Oklahoma just finished up yet another test of their unleaded 100-octane avgas — G100UL — at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The fuel underwent flight testing and engine block testing in one of the school’s […]
The state of the state
While there’s no doubt the FAA has a lot of control over general aviation, what’s happening closer to home may be — ultimately — more important. Having a City Council or a state government that’s a fan of general aviation can make all the difference in the world. Just ask Christopher Willenborg, administrator of the aeronautics […]
A type club for type clubs
Need some information about an SX300? Thinking of buying a Sonex or a Sportsman? You can find a wealth of information on all these types — plus a whole lot more — through the Type Club Coalition. The coalition, organized by the Experimental Aircraft Association, was created to increase the level of safety in the […]
The future of fuel
“We have to stop loving the problem and just fix it.” Those words, spoken by Lycoming’s Michael Kraft at the 2010 AirVenture, may sum up best the quest to find an unleaded replacement for 100LL. Ostensibly, the industry has been working since the early 1990s towards finding a solution, but efforts didn’t really get serious until […]
Airworthy AutoGas prepares for takeoff
Mark Ellery doesn’t understand why aircraft owners “want to purchase fuel at a higher cost” than what he pays for the autogas that fuels his Citabria. “What I don’t understand is, given the imminent demise of 100LL, and given that autogas is suitable for use, and has been approved for use for over 30 years […]
Beware the ‘Moose-spiral’
For pilots flying to Alaska for the first time, Mike Kincaid warns about the “Moose-spiral.” “There’s is plenty to see when flying in Alaska, but remember to always fly the airplane instead of focusing on that giant moose or bear on the tundra,” he advises. “The ‘Moose-spiral’ has killed plenty of pilots.” Unfortunately, Kincaid knows […]
Veteran Alaskan pilot shares the lessons he’s learned
For John Davis, his storied career in Alaska as a Big Game Hunting Guide and bush pilot began when he was a sophomore in high school in his hometown of Quincy, Wash. The natural-born storyteller, who just completed a book about his life called “My Memories,” recalls seeing a Piper Cub landing on a narrow […]