The FAA has issued five special airworthiness information bulletins (SAIBs) to address potential corrosion problems on a variety of Piper aircraft, according to a report at AOPA.org, which notes that each SAIB highlighted specific problem areas on the Pipers, but all the bulletins urged owners to “increase their focus on inspections.” Read the full report […]
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Stratos advances to wind tunnel tests
Stratos Aircraft officials say the Bend, Oregon-based company will conduct wind tunnel testing of the Stratos 714 in April or May of this year. Design and construction of the wind tunnel model has begun and tests will be conducted over a five- to 10-day period. The purpose of the wind tunnel testing is to verify […]
GI flight training bill signed into law
President Barack Obama last week signed into law a bill that expands educational funding opportunities for active duty servicemen and women, for the first time including flight training in eligible programs. Both Houses of Congress passed the “Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010” during the busy lame duck session of the 111th Congress. […]
Long-time Sun ‘n Fun volunteer dies in boating accident
Long-time Sun ‘n Fun volunteer Robert Romanelli was killed Jan. 3 when an explosion occurred on a boat he was on board in Del Ray, Florida. Romanelli, who volunteered at Sun ‘n Fun for 26 years, served as a Classic judge in the Aircraft Judging area and most recently in the Rotorcraft area. “He could […]
Book review: Heart of a Lion
The setting: It’s the Golden Age of aviation, and one man decides to explore it with his wife and two little girls. He envisions flying to all 48 states to promote aviation, then flying all over the world in a Sikorsky Amphibian. Accompanying the family is a pet lion cub. While it sounds like the […]
The runway behind, the sky ahead
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association President Craig Fuller recently sent out a review of 2010, as well as a look ahead to the opportunities and challenges for 2011, unveiling the organization’s theme for 2011: Rally GA. “It’s meant to energize those who fly and dream of flying to slip those surly bonds of earth and […]
Blame Continental sale on 1994 law
The sale of Continental Motors to a Chinese company controlled by the government has caused enormous concern, and no shortage of blaming greedy corporations for selling off American iconic companies to make a quick buck, states J. Mac McClellan in his EAA Sport Aviation blog, noting that while “those are heartfelt sentiments… they miss the […]
A different kind of flying machine
The flying abilities of even the most prosaic bird put airplane maneuvers to shame, experts at the University of Montana Flight Laboratory say in a New York Times story called “Flying machines, amazing at any angle.” The story quotes Dr. Kenneth Dial, who founded the lab in 1988: “Birds can do some pretty spectacular things. […]
Oshkosh slates top air show performers
Many of the world’s top air show performers have already given early confirmations to participate at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2011, July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport (OSH). Among the highlights for the afternoon air show lineup in 2011 is a dual act featuring Chuck Aaron’s Red Bull aerobatic helicopter and Kirby Chambliss’ Edge, the AeroShell […]