Braylon Faulkner, 6, fell in love with airplanes on his first flight. Traveling with his mother Michelle Faulkner and grandmother Carol Faulkner-Davis in September 2012 from Orlando to Providence, Rhode Island, his excitement came to the attention of the Southwest Airlines pilot who invited him to the cockpit before the flight. His father, Brian Faulkner, […]
Zen and the art of circumnavigation
What does it take to fly around the world? Pilot Robert DeLaurentis recently took time to share what he learned during his historic 2015 solo circumnavigation of the world. His new book, “Zen Pilot: Flight of Passion and the Journey Within,” details the historic 98-day, 26,000-mile ultimate cross-country. It Takes Courage Flying around the planet is a daunting […]
Triple Tree Aerodrome’s new Learning Center debuts at fly-in
At the 10th Annual Triple Tree Fly-in at the Triple Tree Aerodrome (SC00) in South Carolina, held Sept. 6-10, volunteer instructor Rob Trayntham gave tours of the Robert Shaw Learning Center, a gleaming new building nestled behind the General Store and the Maintenance Shop. The new air-conditioned learning center, named after Robert Shaw, a pilot, RV builder, a […]
Stearman flight raffled at Triple Tree Fly-In
At this year’s Triple Tree Fly-in near Greenville, South Carolina, 80 raffle tickets were offered at $20 each for a one-hour ride in the 1942 PT-17 Stearman (N851WM) owned by the Triple Tree Foundation. If the winner was a pilot, then dual instruction was included. This pristine Stearman won awards at SUN ‘n FUN earlier in the […]
Air Race Classic: Women with attitude
The 40th Annual Air Race Classic buzzed the U.S. from June 21-24 on a demanding 2,716-mile route involving 13 airports from Prescott Municipal Airport (KPRC) in Arizona, to Daytona Beach International Airport (KDAB) in Florida. For this year, the annual all-women cross-country airplane race paid tribute to college and university teams, with race stops at airports near or affiliated […]
Largest high school flying club opens new hangar
The Lakeland Aero Club’s new hangar opened just in time to show it off to the crowds at this year’s SUN ‘n FUN. The 12,500-square-foot facility has office space, restrooms, and will house six aircraft. Mike Zidziunas, president of the Lakeland Aero Club, explained that the 50 members of the club, who range in age from […]
18-year-old wins chance to fly Crazy Horse
On opening day of this year’s SUN ’n FUN, Taylor Avery, 18, had the experience of a lifetime: He got the chance to fly the P-51 “Crazy Horse.” The flight started Tuesday morning at Kissimmee Gateway Airport in Florida, where Crazy Horse is based as part of Stallion 51’s fleet, and ended at 9 a.m. […]
SUN ‘n FUN chairman shows off his T-28
Bob Knight is a patient man. As chairman of the board of SUN ‘n FUN, he’s accustomed to long-term planning and delayed gratification. In his business, Knight Industrial Equipment, he oversees the design and construction of bulk material handling equipment, like conveyor systems for cement plants. And two years ago, Knight bought a 1951 T-28A […]
Sunshine Express 400 racers make their way to Lakeland
The second annual Sunshine Express 400 ran Sunday, April 3. A strong tailwind helped the 17 racers set fast times on the course from Greenwood County Airport (KGRD) in South Carolina, to Multrie (KKGR), Georgia, then to Winter Haven’s Gilbert Field (KGIF). The 400 nautical mile race was organized by 71-year-old Pat Purcell, who was […]