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 […]
Learning to ‘wear’ the airplane
After 10 years as a CFI in Alaska, Drew Haag of Above Alaska Aviation has this advice for pilots looking to take that trip of a lifetime: Get some training while you are visiting “The Last Frontier.” “Training in Alaska will establish a solid foundation for flying anywhere else in the world,” he said. “Pilots […]
Alaskan Bushwheel: Helping GA pilots get to where they need to go
It’s an iconic brand: Alaskan Bushwheel tundra tires. The tires are sold around the globe, but retain a special connection to Alaska, with Alaskan pilots making up about a third of the company’s customer base. But when Bill Duncan bought the company in 2000 from Alaska Tire and Rubber Co., he moved it Joseph, Oregon. […]
Take off with X-Plane
As a college student, Austin Meyer was finding it difficult to keep up his instrument currency. Like so many pilots at the time, he was using Microsoft Flight Sim, but “I wasn’t happy with its flexibility,” he recalled. “I was having a heck of a time passing my currency check.” That’s when he turned his […]