As a tribute to the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders during their 68th reunion, the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, and Grimes Field in Urbana, Ohio, will host one of the largest gatherings of B-25 Mitchell bombers since World War II. Approximately 20 aircraft from around the nation are scheduled to […]
Five questions before you buy your first plane
All it takes is money, writes David Wyndham, VP and co-owner of Conklin & de Decker, a GA consulting firm, in his monthly newsletter “AIReport.” He notes: “There are some great aircraft out there and great bargains. Now is the time to buy. But, if this is your first foray into acquisition of an aircraft, […]
Gulf Coast Avionics celebrates 25th anniversary
Gulf Coast Avionics, headquartered at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport (LAL) in Florida, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The company, which opened as a two-man office in Tampa, Florida, has gone through a “remarkable 25-year period of continuous growth, expansion and recognition as a true one-stop shop for avionics, instruments, and pilot supplies,” according to company […]
Sport SX debuts
GRT Avionics is debuting the Sport SX, the company’s latest development in Electronic Flight Information Systems (EFIS) for light sport and experimental aircraft. Choose from basic EFIS features, including AHRS derived angle-of-attack to state-of-the-art synthetic vision and color map. Company officials note “there are options for every budget.” The Sport SX is shipping from stock […]
First flight of Stinson Model O replica
The first flight of a full-scale replica of a 1933 Stinson Model O, or Senior Trainer, was made Wednesday, March 24, at the Scappoose Airport (SPB), just outside of Portland Ore. The plane is the result of 28 months of work by the craftsman of Evergreen Aviation Services and Restoration, a part of Overall Aircraft […]
Flight for the Human Spirit takeoff delayed
Forecasted high winds, along with rain showers and gusty winds in Missouri, prompted the decision by the Flight for the Human Spirit mission control team to cancel the takeoff planned for Monday morning from the America Jet hangar at the Salina Municipal Airport (SLN). “I had set this date almost two years ago, but had […]
More on glass cockpits
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Re: Glass cockpits haven’t boosted GA safety: The FAA is right on. So-called glass cockpit pilots need more training, but more than that, other issues remain which the article did not mention. First, they present an enormous amount of pilot distraction. Look at a typical layout with its scores of buttons […]
Hawker Beechcraft partners with university
As an expansion to a strategic partnership, Hawker Beechcraft Corp. will transfer the equipment and operations of its electromagnetic compatibility, mechanical and environmental test laboratories to the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) at Wichita State University (WSU). This is the second collaboration between NIAR and the company, signifying a unique university/industry relationship. NIAR currently […]
Distressing news about distress calls
The FAA hears distress calls from pilots facing emergencies. How well it responds is a different matter, according to an Associated Press story in the New York Times. The story begins with the tale of Sam Smiley, who crashed in Georgia after his plane failed to clear a mountain ridge. The 78-year-old survived the crash, […]