Before Sebring, Florida, was known for auto racing and the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo, thousands of young men swarmed to the airport at the bequest of Uncle Sam. From 1942 to 1946, the Army Air Corps used the field we know as Sebring Regional Airport (SEF) as a training facility for multi-engine bomber crews. At […]
Washington tax hike down to the wire
Pilots in Washington State are making a final push to persuade lawmakers not to enact a proposed aircraft excise tax. The proposed tax, which is part of Senate Bill 6143, would levy an annual excise tax of 0.5% based on the value of aircraft manufactured after Dec. 31, 1970. Aircraft manufactured before that date will […]
Jungle Flight: Missionary flying at its best
Book review: “Jungle Flight, Spiritual Adventures At The Ends Of The Earth” By Dane Skelton. 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 […]
Congratulations! It’s an airport
“Congratulations! It’s an airport!” With these words Marjy Leggett, AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer for Vista Field Airport (S98) in Kennewick, Wash., let pilots know that their efforts to keep the airport open worked. On Monday, March 8, commissioners for the Port of Kennewick, the airport sponsor, voted unanimously to keep the airport open. The […]
Reaching the next generation
A career in aviation isn’t limited to being a pilot, flight attendant or mechanic. Dozens of girls ranging in age from 13 to 19 learned what their options are during the annual Women Fly event at the Museum of Flight in Seattle March 5. The event, part career fair, part college fair, is designed to […]
AmphibCub takes off
The economic slowdown had at least one bright spot for the aviation industry: New products. Case in point is the AmphibCub, a collaboration between the folks at Baumann Floats and American Legend Aircraft Co., which manufactures the Legend Cub, one of the most popular Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) on the market. Amphibious aircraft are nothing […]
Aventura lives up to its name
“Once you get out onto the water, you won’t want to come back,” warned Bob Boswell, chief pilot and manager of Aero Adventure, Inc. He gives this good-natured warning to all who are considering becoming owners of the Aventura II, a boat-hulled amphibious Light Sport Aircraft. The name means “adventure” in Spanish. The “two” monicker […]
Northwest Aviation Conference attracts crowds, optimism
The Northwest Aviation Conference and Trade Show, held Feb. 20-21 at the fairgrounds in Puyallup, Washington, south of Seattle, is traditionally an educational smorgasbord with attendees able to get information about everything from organizations that promote flying to weather to how to protect their airports. While the exact number of attendees was not known as […]
Looks like a flying motorcycle
Catching lots of looks at this year’s U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, Florida, was the Revo — that’s short for “Revolution” — a flying trike. The weight-shift control aircraft is built by Evolution Trikes of Grand Rapids, Mich., in the same factory that builds powered parachutes. For more information: EvolutionTrikes.com.