“When I want something for myself, I make it a project.” That’s how Randall Fishman, a retired jeweler from New Jersey, explains his entry into the world of electric-powered flight. His journey began in the late 1970s when he was flying ultralights and working at a jewelry store. “I wanted to ride my bike to […]
Landing fees increased at Santa Monica Airport
It’s about to get more expensive to land at Santa Monica Airport (SMO) in southern California. On April 30 the Santa Monica City Council approved a landing fee of $5.48 per 1,000 pounds on all aircraft — transient and locally based alike. For the pilot of a Cessna 172, that’s $10.96 for each landing. The […]
Forward momentum
Transitioning from flying a Cessna 152 to an RV-7 is a lot like learning to drive in the family station wagon, then getting a Porsche. You can’t help but envy the guys who get to do it. Scott Sundstrom from Friendswood, Texas, had that very experience just in time for last summer’s AirVenture. Scott, accompanied […]
Learning to fly with laughs
The more enjoyable the learning process, the better a student will retain the material. If you can involve laughter in the process, retention rate soars. This explains why we remember lines from movies such as “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” but have a hard time remembering how to do algebra. There is a lot […]
Solo celebrations
How many people do you know who took flying lessons but never made it to first solo? Probably a great many. Solo is the first major step in what is a often a long journey to becoming a pilot. The folks at Sporty’s Academy, in Batavia, Ohio, recognize this, and go all-out when a client […]
WASPs seek donations for Tournament of Roses Parade float
As SUN ’n FUN celebrates the 70th anniversary of the creation of Women Airforce Service Pilots Thursday, efforts are underway to raise enough money to have a WASP float in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade. “The theme of this year’s parade is ‘making dreams come true,’” noted Kate Landdeck, WASP historian and coordinator for […]
Redbird Skyport experiment takes off
Consider this: If you get a job flying for the airlines, you will have weeks, even months, of training in a simulator before you are allowed to touch an actual airplane. Does that give you an idea of the value of simulator training? In October 2011 Redbird Skyport opened at San Marcos Municipal Airport (HYI) […]
Seaplane helps pilot commune with nature
Austin Watson was enamored with aviation from an early age, but it took a while for him to find the time to get his wings. “I think I built every model plane there was in the local store when I was a kid,” Watson mused. “Dad asked me if I wanted to learn to fly […]
Attempt at low pass ends fatally for three
Aircraft: Piper Malibu. Injuries: 3 Fatal.Location: Monroe, Mich. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot, 58, had a private pilot certificate and an instrument rating. At the time of his last medical certificate application, he reported a total flight time of 1,600 hours. He had no FAA record of previous incidents, accidents, or enforcement […]