James R. Gannett, a retired Boeing test pilot who helped launch the jet age, died of a brain aneurism June 17 at his home in Redmond, Wash. He was 83. Gannett’s interest in aviation was sparked as a boy when his father gave him $1 to take an airplane ride. That ride led to a […]
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Guess who else is against user fees?
Most GA pilots are against them, as well as the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association and a host of other alphabet groups. But did you know that air traffic controllers also are against user fees? The controllers’ union, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), even went so far as to […]
History organizations collaborate to catalog aviation archives
Volunteers from four aviation history organizations are collaborating to produce an on-line catalog of U.S. Air Force Engineering Division records now held at the U.S. National Archives II in College Park, Maryland. This gigantic collection of records chronicles the development and procurement of practically everything acquired by the USAF between 1917 and 1947. It contains […]
Symphony files for protection from creditors
Symphony Aircraft Industries, which produces the Symphony 160 two-seat trainer, has entered into the Canadian version of bankruptcy. Filing under C-36 of the Creditors Arrangement Act protects the company from its creditors while it continues to operate, officials with the Quebec-based company said. “We were put in this position by our suppliers, who are primarily […]
golden West attracts record number of planes
Airplane count at the annual Golden West EAA Regional Fly-In, held June 9-11 at Yuba County Airport, Marysville, Calif., was at an all-time high, with more than 1,000 planes flying in for the event. One of the planes attracting a lot of attention was Cory Bird’s experimental. The builder, from Mojave, Calif., powers his plane […]
Two pilots, one day, 104 airports… and more than $10,000 for charity
It’s one of those feats that many a pilot dreams of tackling: Land at all public-use airports in their state in one day. For Wisconsin pilots Matthew McDaniel and Bruce Kaufman, their record-setting journey had an added element: Their flight raised more than $10,000 for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. The flight, which took […]
Ohio teacher wins contest to name newest blimp
The latest blimp from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., launched earlier this spring, finally has a name, thanks to an Ohio schoolteacher. Matthew Harrelson of Uniontown, Ohio, submitted the winning name, Spirit of Innovation, in the company’s Name the Blimp contest. His reward: Use of a blimp for a day. “I can’t believe I won […]
AFSS.com goes live
Lockheed Martin, which took over operation of all Flight Service Stations last October, has launched a new website, AFSS.com, that provides a feedback mechanism for GA pilots who use Automated Flight Service Station services. The site also includes contact information, general aviation information and other features useful to fliers. The website will be online until […]
First Mustang demonstration plane takes flight
Cessna Aircraft Co.’s first production Citation Mustang took flight June 15, two weeks ahead of schedule. Serial number 0003 will enter service this December as Cessna’s first Mustang demonstrator aircraft. It is the fourth Mustang produced, and the first one that will not be used for FAA flight testing. Mustangs 0004 through 0015 are currently […]