Can you imagine walking down a beach and literally stumbling across a World War II airplane? That’s what happened to someone in Wales last summer, when shifting sands exposed a Lockheed P-38 that had been on the beach since it crashed there in 1942. The airplane is largely intact and does not have much corrosion, […]
Spirit of Flight Center lands at EIK: After a three-year search, museum finds an airport home
The problem with having an aviation museum that isn’t at an airport is that you miss a major chunk of your target audience — pilots. The folks at Spirit of Flight Center in Lafayette, Colo., are hoping that their museum’s new location at Erie Municipal Airport (EIK) near Denver will help attract more visitors — […]
Disgruntled neighbor or dangerous pilots?
In the past, when people living near an airport had an issue with airplanes flying over their homes, they complained to the airport manager or wrote letters to the local newspaper. Today they create websites. That’s what David Wells of Tracy, Calif., did. The website went up after he sent a commentary to the local […]
California cities fight over new FBO lease
A plan to have a private company take over the fixed base operation at Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK) in Livermore, Calif., has hit a snag. Officials from the neighboring city of Pleasanton are considering suing, say that their counterparts in Livermore should have conducted an environmental assessment prior to awarding the lease to Livermore Air […]
FAA says proposed Ferris wheel near Teterboro is too high
The construction of an entertainment complex near Teterboro Airport (TEB) in New Jersey has caught the attention of the FAA because of the height of some of the proposed rides. The amusement park’s intended location is just three miles from the airport and under the approach path to the runways. The developer, Colony Capital, has […]
Rent airplanes? Website makes comparison shopping a breeze
Four years ago Chris Archer walked onto the San Carlos Airport (SQL) in northern California with the intent of becoming a pilot. The first step was to find a flight school. It was almost an overwhelming task, he recalled. “I drove up to the airport and there were all these flight schools,” he said. “I […]
Cessna takes next step to acquire Columbia
Cessna has taken the next step toward its acquisition of Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Corp. of Bend, Ore. On Oct. 23, officials at the bankrupt Columbia revealed that shareholders had entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Cessna. The terms of the agreement are consistent with the Sept. 21, 2007, Letter of Intent between the companies, […]
Taylorcraft strut AD creates challenges — and opportunities
On July 28, 2007, the left wing of a Taylorcraft BF12-65 seaplane separated from the aircraft about 25 minutes after takeoff. Both the pilot and passenger were killed in the crash. Although the National Transportation Safety Board has not yet ruled on the cause of the crash, during the preliminary investigation it was discovered that […]
Copperstate Fly-In
The 35th annual Copperstate Fly-in, held at Casa Grande Municipal Airport (CGZ) in Casa Grande, Ariz., Oct. 25 to 28, attracted hundreds of aircraft ranging from ultralights and classic designs to homebuilts, helicopters and warbirds. Those who sought information or were in the market for anything from a new airplane to new flight planning software […]