There is something about a red airplane. It can be sitting perfectly motionless but it will catch your eye. Randy Pflanzer, from Indianapolis, agrees. He says he gets a lot of attention when people see his candy apple red F-1 Rocket. “It took me about two years to build and I have been flying it […]
News
FAA reauthorization stalled
Congress is expected to pass yet another extension of the FAA Reauthorization bill, which expired Sept. 30. A second extension expires Dec. 14 and Washington insiders say there is no way a bill will be ready by then. Some estimate it could be at least a year before the reauthorization is complete, because lawmakers cannot […]
P-38 found on the beach: Recovery efforts expected next year at secret site
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, […]
Grandfather sets Boeing milestone
A grandfather from Kirkland, Wash., helped the Boeing Company hit a milestone Nov. 12 when he was the 3 millionth visitor to the Boeing Tour Center. Al Varness, 71, a U.S. Navy veteran and high school teacher, was accompanied by his grandchildren, Michael Petter, 11, and Adam Petter, 7. Varness and his grandchildren were given […]
New columnist comes to GAN
With this issue, we introduce readers of General Aviation News to Deborah McFarland, who was for many years a columnist for The Southern Aviator, where some GAN readers may have seen her “Short Final” column. Continuing that earlier tradition, Deb’s column appears on the “final” page, where it will be found in the last issue […]
ECI ‘refocuses’ with split into four business units
Engine Components, Inc. is dividing into four business units. Engineering, production, repair station activity and administration all had been the responsibility of Ed Salmeron, who resigned as president of ECi in October “to pursue a personal opportunity with the State Farm organization,” according to company officials. Salmeron’s job has been split into four new jobs, […]
Do you live with your plane? We’d like to feature you next year
General Aviation News is kicking off a new feature in 2008, with a story in every issue about Living With Your Plane. We’ll tap the expertise of our former publisher, Dave Sclair, a well-known expert on airpark living and a co-founder of Living With Your Plane. This on-line publication is a vast resource, including a […]
Enola Gay pilot dies
Paul Tibbets, pilot of the aircraft that dropped the first atomic bomb, died Nov. 1 at the age of 92 at his home in Columbus, Ohio. He had been in failing health in recent months. Paul Warfield Tibbets was born on Feb. 23, 1915, at Quincy, Illinois. He planned to have a career in medicine, […]
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 […]