Imagine this: A woman who moved to Oklahoma in a covered wagon has a son who grows up to fly to the moon. It’s not the beginning of an epic movie, but the real life of one of the state’s shining stars, Lt. General Thomas P. Stafford. Now 87, Stafford finds time every day to […]
Feature
Researcher explores lost Tuskegee Airmen’s aircraft
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida — Finding an aircraft wing, machine guns, cannon balls, shackles, a cock pit door and other artifacts from a crashed Tuskegee Airmen’s aircraft in the cold waters of Lake Huron may not sound as glamorous as treasure hunting for gold or silver. But Erik Denson said the treasures he finds while diving […]
Video: Avoiding a close call in the air
Have you ever had a mid-air close call in what seemed like wide-open skies? Even the most seasoned pilots have occasionally been surprised by unseen aircraft. In a new video from the FAA posted on YouTube, several pilots talk about the advantages of having ADS-B in their airplanes, noting that having a near-miss turned them […]
Video: From first rivet to first flight
Smitty Smith, the force behind FunPlacesToFly.com, recently posted this video of Pat Long’s Hatz Classic experimental aircraft, built in his garage. The video shows the aircraft from the beginning of construction to first flight.
The magic of making dreams come true
This story was updated in 2023 to reflect the new name of the organization from Ageless Aviation Dreams to Dream Flights. Back in 2011, Darryl Fisher took a flight that changed his life — and the lives of thousands of veterans and senior citizens. On a cross-country trip in a Stearman with his father, Darryl […]
A Guide to Speaking Pilot
Pilots have their own way of speaking, which can be confusing for those new to general aviation community. The folks at US Sport Aircraft/Thrust Flight recently posted a video on YouTube, “Your Guide to Speaking Pilot,” which helps those new to our community figure out what everyone’s talking about. Check it out below:
Love is in the air — and on the water
As Valentine’s Day approaches, men around the globe are preparing to ask the most important question of their lives: Will you marry me? And many who want to make the proposal unforgettable turn to the skies — and the seas. Seaplane tour operations around the country report an uptick in proposal flights around this time […]
Memphis Belle restoration continues, with unveiling set for May
DAYTON, Ohio — Restoration on the B-17F Memphis Belle – the first U.S. Army Air Forces heavy bomber to return to the United States after completing 25 missions over Europe – continues to move forward at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Since the aircraft first arrived at the museum in 2005, museum […]
Retiring airline pilot returns to his roots
An email from John Wade recently plopped into my inbox. It begins, “I recall enjoying an article you did about taking airline and military pilots flying in General Aviation aircraft and it resonated with me.” John has a good memory because that article was from August 2016 after I took a friend of mine, both […]