The television reality show “The Aviators,” which follows the adventures of a group of pilots and aviation experts, has launched its third season. The debut episode of Season 3 became available to PBS stations across the U.S. Sept. 17, with each of the season’s 13 additional installments becoming available every proceeding Monday. Viewers can purchase […]
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Air Zoo to celebrate WASPs
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The Air Zoo is celebrating the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) with a special reunion and presentation on Saturday, Sept. 22, at 1 p.m. The public is welcome to attend this program in honor of the first female pilots to fly U.S. military aircraft. Guests will learn all about the WASP, their […]
Boy Scouts can earn American Heritage badge with help of real aviation experts
POLK CITY, Fla. — Boy Scouts of all ages, both troops and individuals, are once again invited to share in the excitement of earning their American Heritage badge with the help of aviation experts at Fantasy of Flight during the fourth annual Boy Scout Aviation Camporee, Friday, Oct. 5 ,through Sunday, Oct. 7. Throughout the […]
Aging aircraft researcher identifies optimal teardown process
WICHITA — Unlike most researchers at the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), Melinda Laubach-Hock doesn’t focus on new high-tech aircraft materials. That’s because she is the director of the Aging Aircraft Laboratory, where disassembling, inspecting and documenting the condition of out-of-service aircraft is the norm. Laubach-Hock’s recent doctoral dissertation, “Structural Teardown and Analysis: Evolution […]
Get home-itis proves fatal
This September 2010 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: Cessna 150. Injuries: 1 Fatal. Location: Sweetwater, Tenn. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The private pilot had logged 329.6 hours, of which 24 […]
FAA issues two Piper ADs
The FAA published two airworthiness directives this week that affect the Piper general aviation fleet. According to a report at AVweb.com, a final rule published on Monday affects 3,100 Piper Comanches, requiring inspections of the stabilator horn assembly, at a cost of about $1,000 per airplane. If the assembly needs to be replaced, it would […]
Family’s legacy: Training, education center opens in Kansas
The Spencer Flight and Education Center opened its doors Sept. 14 at Scott City Municipal Airport in Scott City, Kan. The nonprofit organization was created in response to a tragic aircraft accident that took the lives of the Spencer family, according to a report at AOPA.org. On April 22, 2011, Dylan Spencer was flying his […]
HondaJet wins aircraft design award
HondaJet designer Michimasa Fujino was recently presented the 2012 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Aircraft Design Award. Fujino is president and CEO of Honda Aircraft Co., Greensboro, N.C. The AIAA Aircraft Design Award is considered the most prestigious recognition for aircraft designers in the world, according to HondaJet officials. The AIAA Aircraft Design […]
Charlotte FBO posts record week during Democratic convention
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Wilson Air Center–Charlotte (CLT) reports it posted a record week of aircraft operations during the Democratic National Convention earlier this month. Aircraft began rolling into Wilson Air Center the Friday before the convention, Aug. 31, with chartered aircraft for all the major news networks and government entities arriving. During the course of […]