The Aeronautics Division of South Carolina’s Department of Commerce recently inked a contract with Vaisala to install Automated Weather Observing Systems (AWOS) at nine airports across the state, as well as update existing systems. The contract is worth more than $1 million. There’s no doubt the investment will pay off, says Michael O’Donnell, executive director […]
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The man who started it all: EAA founder Paul Poberezny shares tales from the old days
Experimental Aircraft Association founder Paul Poberezny likes to tell people that he and his wife, Audrey, are millionaires, then sit back and watch the reactions. Many people are taken aback, until Poberezny finishes his thought: “We have a million friends and you can’t buy that with money.” Poberezny says that he uses that thought as […]
Sun ‘n Fun dedicates Scott Crossfield Way
Ribbon cuttings are, by their very nature, pretty boring affairs. A bunch of officials line up, some speeches are made and then the top-ranking official — usually the mayor — uses a giant pair of scissors to cut a ribbon and declare a building or a business officially open. At this year’s Sun ‘n Fun, […]
The games stays the same: “Compromise” FAA reauthorization bill still features fees
What has been touted by some as a “compromise” FAA budget reauthorization bill has turned out merely to shift proposed general aviation user fees onto owners of small turbine aircraft. The wording chosen by Senators Trent Lott and Jay Rockefeller of the Senate Commerce Committee does nothing to stop the FAA from imposing user fees […]
the buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
“As I understand the English language, light is not necessarily a good adjective one could say about anything. Light beer is not real beer and a light cigarette is not a real cigarette. The impression could be that a light airplane may not be a real airplane.” — Michael Meirer, co-CEO of Remos Aircraft “We […]
The little Mermaid: A Light Sport amphibiant hat’s pretty as a picture
The Mermaid amphibian had a problem. The problem was that it’s a Light Sport amphibian. Light Sport rules didn’t allow pilots to “reposition” landing gear in flight. Of course, the whole point of an amphibian is to allow a takeoff from land or water and a landing on the other, and that requires moving the […]
‘Top Gun’ takes top honors: But is it really thegreatest aviation movie of all time?
What’s the greatest aviation movie of all time? “Top Gun,” according to a poll conducted by the Experimental Aircraft Association. The 1986 blockbuster, which starred EAA member Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Tom Skerritt, Val Kilmer and Anthony Edwards, is a drama loosely based on the U.S. Navy’s “Top Gun” fighter training school. The movie, which […]
Xenon takes gyroplanes to a new level
If you’ve ever hankered for rotary wings but couldn’t see yourself flying the typical birdcage gyroplane – or affording a helicopter – take a look at the handsome Xenon. Looking as though a multi-million dollar Agusta helicopter had given birth to a pup, the Xenon is the inspired design of Raphael Celier, whose idea was […]
FAQ: Fly-in folks have lots of questions
As usual, the front-line folks at the General Aviation News booth at Sun ‘n Fun spent a lot of time handing out copies of our publication. But Mary Lou and Dave Sclair, retired co-publishers, also spent a lot of time answering questions from fly-in attendees. A lot of the questions were the standard “how can […]