Before there was Global Positioning Systems, Wide Area Augmentation Systems and Instrument Landing Systems, pilots depended on Ground Control Approaches (GCA) to find their way to the runway in poor weather. The mobile GCA unit was developed during World War II by the Gilfillan Co. Before the war the company built radios, entering the aviation […]
Spiritual adventures at the ends of the Earth
When it comes to adventure and human fulfillment, few aviation careers stack up to missionary flying. The pilots who opt for this route have to have both skill and passion, along with a great deal of resourcefulness as they are literally practicing their craft in the remotest of places. The stories these pilots tell are […]
Flight Ops Cam: Your own black box
Have you or someone you know attempted to record a flying lesson with a hand-held video camera? Although cameras are much smaller than they used to be, no matter how you do it, invariably the video is motion-sickness-inducing shaky and the audio is pretty much worthless because you can’t hear the instructor or the student […]
Book review: ‘DC-3: A Legend in her Time’
Can you believe the DC-3 has been around for 75 years? As celebrations for the anniversary take off this year, you can learn all about the history of the airplane through the pages of “DC-3: A Legend in Her Time” by Bruce McAllister. McAllister, the author of several pictorial aviation history books, brings forth their […]
Sunshine and good times at Arlington
You know it is July in Washington state when vintage and experimental aircraft migrate north for the annual Arlington Fly-In and Sport Aviation Convention. The fly-in, held July 7-11 at Arlington Municipal Airport (AWO) north of Seattle, attracted aircraft ranging from helicopters and warbirds to experimental, vintage and light sport designs. The newly constructed Antique […]
‘The Aviators’: Must-see TV
One of the major complaints pilots have about television shows depicting aviation is that they often get it wrong. In Hollywood, airplane engines suddenly quit with alarming frequency and pilots attempt to fix the problem by holding the stick full aft until impact. Don’t you wish for a TV show made for aviators by aviators? […]
California CFIs may get break from contentious law
Flight instructors in California are wondering how they are going comply with a new law that requires them to pay a fee to offer flight instruction. The law, Assembly Bill 48, takes effect Aug. 1. But CFIs may get an extension, as well as a chance to argue against the new law. The lawmaker who […]
Fly that Tiger!
All pilots have a favorite airplane. Randy Sill from Indianapolis has a passion for Titan Tornados and he’s proven it many times over.”I have built six of these,” he said when General Aviation News caught up with him at Sun ‘n Fun. The aircraft is a Titan Tornado S. “The S stands for stretch,” he […]
Flying the Kitfox LSA
One of the benefits of the Light Sport Aircraft movement is that it has paved the way for manufacturers of kit aircraft to enter the world of ready-to-fly designs. One of the more recent entries into the fly-away models is the Kitfox S-LSA from Kitfox Aircraft LCC of Homedale, Idaho. It’s designed to appeal to […]