News

The 2007 hurricane season will be one of “above-average” activity, according to Dr. William Gray of Colorado State University, one of the best-known and most accurate forecasters. Gray’s “early season forecast,” issued Dec. 8, predicts 14 named storms, seven of which will become hurricanes. Three of those will be major hurricanes, meaning category 3, 4 […]

The Tuskegee Airmen never lost to enemy fighters a bomber they were escorting. That has been accepted as fact for 61 years, since the end of World War II. On Dec. 10, however, Tuskegee Airmen Historian William F. Holton told the Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser that Air Force records show at least a few bombers escorted […]

Making a list, checking it twice… The Practical Test Standards used for Santa’s check ride 1) Flight at various airspeeds 2) Chimney avoidance 3) Rooftop takeoffs and landings using low and high drag configurations. 4) Navigation using pilotage and dead reckoning 5) Use of checklists 6) Application of Naughty and Nice list 7) In-flight refueling […]

“Who wouldn’t want a personal fighter?” asked Rj Siegel, vice president for operations at LoPresti Aviation. Everyone wants one, it would seem. The day the company started taking orders for the Roy LoPresti-designed Fury, with absolutely no fanfare and little publicity, it took 16 firm orders for the long-awaited plane. “We’ve been selling one aircraft […]

Lighting the way? Many years ago an aviation savvy dad with a sense of humor informed his child that the Christmas lights he put on the house every year were there because each roof was, in essence, a landing pad. This explanation satisfied the child until she learned the significance of colors in aviation. Once […]

As the first Eclipse 500 customer delivery drew near, the company issued three Customer Technical Communications revealing several problems and their solutions. Typically of Eclipse, the issues were presented in a straightforward manner. They are not expected to hamper initial deliveries by much, if at all, said Eclipse CEO Vern Raburn. Eclipse still expected to […]

“They’ve taken everything out of me that can go wrong. I ought to live forever.” — Legendary pilot Johnny Miller, who is still flying at 101. “We have to rethink the culture of training. Instead of how quickly can a person solo, it should be how safe are they when they solo.” — Cirrus Design […]

If you think the United States of America never considered a preemptive strike until the current fights in Afghanistan and Iraq, “Preemptive Strike” is for you. Author Alan Armstrong practices aviation law in Atlanta. If he researches his cases as deeply as he researched this book, you want him on your side. Five appendices, extensive […]

Van’s Aircraft has officially entered the Light Sport market with the flight of its RV-12. During AirVenture 2006, the staff of Van’s informed the crowd that the LSA, to be known as the RV-12, was in the works. They predicted first flight in the fall of 2006. On Nov. 9 Van’s CEO Richard “Van” VanGrunsven […]