Last November, at AOPA Expo, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta claimed that the FAA’s funding problems wouldn’t be solved by user fees. “The fuel tax is the best way to finance the needs of aviation,” he told a standing-room-only crowd of pilots. But Mineta’s tune has changed. Mineta recently told the Aero Club of Washington, D.C., […]
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Mermaid LSA certified
The FAA has certified the factory-built Mermaid as a special Special-Light Sport Aircraft. The plane is built in the Czech Republic by Czech Aircraft Works of Stare Mesto, and distributed in the United States by Sport Aircraft Works of Palm City, Fla. It is amphibious, so owners can operate from either land or water. The […]
A record breaking year for GA
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) reported a record year in 2005 for general aviation manufacturers. The industry reached an all-time high for billings in 2005 — $15.1 billion, a 27.2% increase over 2004. Year-end, worldwide shipments of GA airplanes totaled 3,580, up 20.8% over the previous year’s total of 2,963 units. All sectors of […]
Tuskegee Airmen receive honorary degrees
At the Sixth Annual Tuskegee Airmen Convocation held Feb. 23 at Tuskegee University, 63 surviving airmen received honorary degrees from the Alabama university. Between 1940 and 1946 approximately 1,000 African-American pilots trained at Tuskegee in segregated units. They earned more than 850 medals during the war, destroyed 260 enemy aircraft — and didn’t lose a […]
It’s now easier to buy a Legend Cub
American Legend Aircraft Co. has launched a new deposit program designed to make it easier to buy a Legend Cub. The Legend Cub is a two-place, single engine piston-powered aircraft designed to meet Light Sport Aircraft category certification requirements. Under the new plan, a customer can secure a production slot for the presently backlogged Legend […]
Do you know? Which B-17 was first to complete 25 missions during World War II
Quick test: Which B-17 was the first to complete 25 missions during World War II? If you answered “Memphis Belle,” you would be incorrect. The first B-17 to hit the magic number was “Hell’s Angels,” a B-17F of the 358th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group. The name of the airplane came from the Howard Hughes […]
User fees inevitable?
Last November, at AOPA Expo, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta claimed that the FAA’s funding problems wouldn’t be solved by user fees. “The fuel tax is the best way to finance the needs of aviation,” he told a standing-room-only crowd of pilots. But Mineta’s tune has changed. Late last month, Mineta told the Aero Club of […]
Down at sea: Personal beacon a vital piece of equipment for all seaplane pilots
Survival equipment is vital to anyone flying over water. Whether in a great ocean or large lake, a person – or even several people – in the water can be nearly impossible for searchers to find. The longer a survivor spends in water, even relatively warm water, the less his chances of survival. Being found […]
Columbia wants you to ‘flip the bird’
Want to buy a Columbia 350 or 400, but don’t know what to do with your current airplane? “Flip the bird.” That’s the new program from Columbia Aircraft, designed to help owners with the resale of their aircraft so they can more easily step up to a new Columbia. The program is called “Flip the […]