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In his first air show appearance as CEO of Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Corp., Wan Abd Majid turned over the keys of “The New Spirit of St. Louis,” the Columbia 300 Erik Lindbergh used to recreate his grandfather’s historic flight, to the St. Louis Science Center, at this year’s Sun ‘n Fun. “We’re so happy that […]

Texas Sport Aircraft Co. introduced the Texas Sport at this year’s Sun ‘n Fun. The factory-new aircraft kit intended for amateur builders is from the same people behind American Legend Cub. The Texas Sport is similar in appearance to the Piper Cub utilizing a J-3 wing design, PA-11 struts, and outboard wing attachments like the […]

Priorities are shifting at Flight Design, the company that dominates the Light Sport Aircraft market in the U.S. “In the beginning, it’s easy to sell airplanes,” says Matthias Betsch, CEO of the Germany-based company. “Later, you have to make the customers happy.” Making those customers happy is the main component behind the company’s new service […]

The new president of Mooney came to his first Sun ‘n Fun with one message: He’s committed to making sure the company’s bottom line remains strong. “A strong company financially is going to stay around a long time,” said Dennis Ferguson. Expected to bolster Mooney’s bottom line is the Acclaim, which was introduced at Sun […]

Cadets in the Royal Air Force Air Training Corps can solo in gliders before they can drive and many do, according to their leader at Sun ‘n Fun, Flight Lieutenant Richard Turner. The cadets have been an integral part of Sun ‘n Fun for the past 10 years. This year a record 42 cadets and […]

A random purchase off the Internet has sparked interest in another search for Amelia Earhart. Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared over the South Pacific during a round-the-world flight in 1937. On the morning of July 3 they were en route to Howland Island, a specially created refueling stop, but never arrived. The Coast Guard […]

During World War II, Southern California was a prime location for the production of military aircraft. Lockheed, Convair, North American, Douglas, Hughes, Northrop and Vultee all had factories there. Today one of the largest collections of airworthy specimens of aircraft produced during this era resides in Chino at the Planes of Fame Museum. The museum […]

You may never have been to the Heritage Flight Museum in Bellingham, Wash., but you have probably seen some of its aircraft. The mission of the museum, located at Bellingham International Airport (BLI) in Bellingham, Wash., north of Seattle, is the preservation of flying military aircraft, so during the spring and summer months the machines […]

Can it really be 30 years since the first gathering of the Western Association of Mooney Mites? That’s what the calendar shows. On May 18, members of WAMM and their friends will flock to Porterville Municipal Airport (KPTV) north of Bakersfield for the annual fly-in. The Mooney M-18 Mite is a low-wing, single-place monoplane. It […]