In a victory for general aviation, a U.S. District Court judge has dismissed a federal lawsuit brought by the City of Santa Monica against the FAA to close Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) in southern California. Santa Monica’s claim, filed in federal court in October 2013, asserted that when the city’s 1984 agreement with the […]
Google to manage Moffett Airfield
A Google subsidiary, Planetary Ventures, has been tapped to take over management of the 1,000-acre Moffett Federal Airfield (NUQ) a former U.S. Navy base located four miles from Google’s Mountain View, Calif., headquarters. The airport is the home of Hangar One, built in the 1930s to house the Navy’s 784-foot dirigible U.S.S. Macon. The airport […]
SAM LS takes off
“Wow! What….is…that?” That was the most common reaction when people first set eyes on the SAM LS at AirVenture 2013. The round-cowl Light-Sport Aircraft made its American debut at the annual event. The combination of a round cowl, tear-drop shaped wheel-pants and a side-hinged folding canopy give the airplane a decidedly classic look. To many people, the […]
Savoring the Swift
Pilots often have two dreams: One is to find a derelict airplane in a barn and restore it to an airworthy showpiece; the other is to find someone who shares their passion for aviation. Paul and Sandy Mercandetti from Knoxville, Tenn., are lucky enough to have had both dreams come true. The couple flies around the […]
Polar Vortex impacts general aviation
You would have had to be living in an ice cave to miss all the media hype about the unusual cold weather gripping the United States in the first week of January. The weather phenomenon known as the “Polar Vortex” provided great fodder for dramatic images of frozen and barren highways, giving the impression that […]
Challenge Air: Putting special kids in the air
There are few aviation activities more rewarding than taking a child for an airplane ride. Their eyes light up as they break the surly bonds of Earth and their smiles grow exponentially as the flight continues. The flight is even more poignant when the child has special needs. Those children are the focus of Challenge […]
Book Review: Red Redmond and the Great Plane Adventure
Is there an airplane trip with a young child in your future? You may want to get a copy of “Red Redmond and the Great Plane Adventure,” a picture book written by private pilot Earl M. Furfine. The self-published 23-page book tells the story of 5-year-old Red Redmond, a young boy already enamored with flying. […]
The toy RV
Military aircraft, flags, fierce mythical creatures, comely young women — these are often the inspiration for aircraft paint schemes. You can get exceedingly elaborate with a design that stands out and attracts crowds, or go the other direction and keep it simple with a white base coat and a stripe. The Bruch family from Sturgis, […]
Backcountry beauty
There are airplanes that are built for show, airplanes built for backcountry camping, and airplanes built for IFR cross-country flying. One of the best things about building your own airplane is that you can create a machine that fits all these categories. Gordon Anderson, from Silverthorn, Colo., has achieved this with his 2012 Sportsman 2+2. […]