News

A bounced rent check prompted the city of Brownsville, Texas, to put a lock and chains on the fence around the headquarters of Taylorcraft Aviation LLC, effectively closing down the business. According to Brownsville City Manager Charlie Cabler, Harry Ingram, president and owner of Taylorcraft, which rents a city-owned hangar at Brownsville/South Padre Island International […]

When Mike Ciochetti does something, he does it big. So when he decided to develop an airpark, he didn’t just shoot for the stars. He’s shooting for heaven. Ciochetti is the man behind Heaven’s Landing, an upscale airpark in the mountains of Georgia, about 90 miles northeast of Atlanta. A race car driver and pilot, […]

Do you still have your 1980s-era Walkman? It looks pretty big compared to an iPod, doesn’t it? While personal stereo technology has gotten smaller over the years, owners manuals for aircraft have grown — some have even tripled in size. For example, a 1971 owners manual for a Cessna 172 Skyhawk measures less than a […]

Every now and again it is a good idea to reread an old book, and if you’re interested in the history of aviation and how it grew, I strongly recommend finding a copy of Grover Loening’s “Takeoff Into Greatness.” Loening was born in 1888. Shortly after receiving America’s first master’s degree in aeronautics, from Columbia […]

Toward the end of the 19th century the United States Patent Office was inundated with designs for so-called flying machines. The Patent Office accepted the designs, and issued patents without questioning whether the designs worked. Most of the designs were never built and those that did make it off the drawing board very rarely got […]

Cessna Caravan pilots now have a detailed cold-weather training program they can use to enhance their understanding of how the airplane handles winter weather. The new program is a direct result of a months-long joint effort involving the Cessna Aircraft Co., the FAA and the Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association (RACCA). In response to operating […]

Ten years ago, the number of U.S. pilots totaled 639,184. By the end of last year, the figure had dropped to 609,737, according to figures from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Though those numbers are declining, a higher percentage of pilots is seeking commercial flying careers. The number of Airline Transport Pilot licenses grew from […]

“I wouldn’t be surprised if that other Meigs Field was named after some kin.” — Houston pilot Doug Meigs, who is developing a new airpark in Texas called Meigs Field Airport. “Aviation is a great motivational hook to teach kids all kinds of things.” — Lyn Freeman, founder, Build A Plane, which gives donated planes […]

The end of January was not a good one for two GA manufacturers. The companies, Tiger Aircraft and Symphony Aircraft Industries, entered bankruptcy. Both companies have been shut down and their assets will be liquidated to pay off creditors. Tiger Aircraft, based in Martinsburg, W.Va., filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy Jan. 16. The company listed […]