This November 2007 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others. Aircraft: Aeronca 7AC. Location: Fort Worth, Texas. Injuries: None. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The private pilot was attempting to do a full-stop landing […]
The Crimson Cub
What do you do when you want an airplane, but it’s outside your price range? If you are mechanically inclined, you build it yourself. That’s what Charles Aaron, from Chatsworth, Ga., did. He’s the proud owner of a PA-18 Piper Super Cub replica known as the “Crimson Cub.” “I had a J-3 Cub before and […]
Texas Raiders returns to the air
Completing the restoration of a vintage aircraft to airworthy status is always a cause for celebration, especially when the plane is one of only a handful of B-17s in the world. No one knows this better than the members of the Gulf Coast Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, who have been laboring on the […]
The Gilmore Red Lion
There is something about the Golden Age of aviation that makes homebuilders want to pay homage to those times. That’s certainly true of Mark Gilmore of Muncie, Ind., whose Marquart Charger MA-5 is done up in livery inspired by famed race pilot Roscoe Turner. Turner set several speed records and won air races in the […]
Maid of the Seas: An ocean-inspired RV
You probably wouldn’t think of a Van’s RV as a seaplane, unless you saw the one owned by Mike Rossum of Longwood, Fla. Rossum, a retired Pan American World Airways pilot, describes his RV-7A as part flying aquarium, part history lesson. “I wanted a fun airplane after I retired,” he explains. The airplane made its […]
Book review: Flying Above the Glass Ceiling
Do you know a young woman who has an interest in aviation but doesn’t know where to start? Maybe she doesn’t want to be a pilot. Perhaps she’d rather be an aeronautical engineer, but is concerned about being “the only girl.” You can tell her she is not alone and then prove it by giving […]
Cessna cuts regional pilot center managers
The economic downturn has hit the Cessna Pilot Centers. On Friday, Oct. 9, all four Cessna Pilot Center regional managers were informed that their positions were being eliminated for financial reasons. Cessna Pilot Centers are flight training affiliates that use Cessna’s proprietary training curriculum and Cessna aircraft. The centers offer a variety of services ranging […]
Temporary airport closures challenge Washington pilots
October has turned out to be a challenging one for pilots in western Washington. Three airports within 20 miles of each other were systematically closed for runway rehabilitation. On Oct. 9, Tacoma Narrows Airport (KTIW), south of Seattle, was closed so that its runway could be repainted. The runway, which measures 5,002 feet, is aligned […]
Iowa Children’s Museum opens new exhibit
How do you get children interested in aviation? You make it fun. Given that premise, a new crop of aviators should be coming out of Iowa in a few years thanks to a new exhibit at the Iowa Children’s Museum in Iowa City. The Take Flight exhibit opened Sept. 23 to rave reviews from hundreds […]