Can you imagine riding a ribbon into space like it is an elevator? “It’s possible if the ribbon is made from carbon nano tubing,” says Michael Laine, president of the LiftPort Group, which is developing a Space Elevator using the technology. “Carbon nano tubing is an ultra-strong, lightweight material. It is at least 20 times […]
News
Grass roots effort thwarts fuel bill
When pilots in Washington State learned of legislation to require all automobile gas sold in the Evergreen State to contain ethanol, they went off like a stall warning horn. The problem is that many aircraft have been modified through a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to run on auto gas. Operating an airplane engine with auto […]
GA accident statistics improve
Is general aviation getting safer? What is the biggest killer of pilots? These questions and more are answered in the AOPA Safety Foundation’s 2005 Nall Report. According to the latest report, which compiles accident trends in 2004, GA safety continued to improve that year. The number of total fixed wing accidents was 1,413, down from […]
Parks Service protects B-29 in Lake Mead
Are you a diver? How would you like to dive on a B-29 that has sat undisturbed below the surface of Lake Mead near Boulder City, Nev., for the better part of the last century? The National Parks Service, in charge of protecting the site, is pondering ways to allow access to the plane while […]
Cub convoy to Sun ‘n Fun
A 70th anniversary Cub convoy is planned to this year’s Sun ‘n Fun. The first convoy, sponsored by William T. Piper, Sr., to the Miami Air Maneuvers in 1936, included 82 Cubs. This year’s convoy will convene at Plant City Municipal Airport (PCM), where it will take off for a mass flight to the fly-in […]
Are you a survivor?
The better you plan, the better your day will be at a fly-in. Follow these simple guidelines to enhance your air show experience: ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT A good pair of walking shoes is a must. You will spend a lot of time walking on asphalt, so make sure your insoles are in good condition. Socks should […]
Thielery buys Superior
Thielert AG just bought Superior Air Parts, a PMA manufacturer that recently launched its own piston engine, the Vantage Engine, the first to be certified in the U.S. in 50 years. “With its outstanding products and established brand name, Superior Air Parts is the ideal acquisition to help us enhance our market position,” said Frank […]
Protect your plane at a fly-in
You put in hundreds of hours getting your plane from “project” status to showpiece and now you’re ready to take it to a fly-in for exhibition. From your arrival to departure, there are many steps you can take to ensure your plane’s safety at a fly-in. Let’s start at the beginning: Be aware of the […]
Eclipse begins first customer jet
Eclipse Aviation has begun production on the first Eclipse 500 jet to be delivered to a customer. That customer, David Crowe, was there at the beginning, engaging the friction stir welding of one of the jet’s cockpit side panels and drilling window attachment holes in the cockpit frame. The jet will be delivered this summer. […]