A Commemorative Air Force World War II trainer, a Fairchild PT-26 Cornell, struck a tree and crashed at Peach State Airport near Williamson, Ga., June 16. The crash killed the pilot, James Ford of Marietta, Ga., and passenger Robert Lang, also of Marietta. Ford and Lang both were CAF members. Ford was a retired Delta […]
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Curtis Pitts dies
If the Pitts Special was the standard by which aerobatic biplanes were judged for more than half a century, Curtis Pitts was the inspiration behind much of today’s sport aviation. Tom Poberezny, president of the Experimental Aircraft Association, has given Pitts a lot of the credit for inspiring him, his father, Paul, and the very […]
A gathering of bombers at Oshkosh
Commemorating the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, a unique reunion of World War II bombers will gather for this year’s AirVenture, July 25 through 31. Five B-17s and several B-25s will be featured, joined by the only airworthy B-24 and B-29 in the world. Neither has been at Oshkosh within the […]
Ten fat years a’coming?
Forecast International issued an optimistic prediction about general aviation, particularly its business jet segment, last month. The Newtown, Conn., market analysis firm believes that 10,900 business jets, worth some $141 billion, will be built — and sold — in the decade between now and 2014. Specifically named in its report are Cessna, Bombardier and Eclipse, […]
Legend Mama Bird Johnson honored
“To Mama Bird, With Love” was the title of a tribute to Evelyn Bryan Johnson when more than 400 people got together in May to honor the 95-year-old aviatrix. Johnson became “Mama Bird” early in her career as a flight instructor. Her students — now more than 9,000 and counting — called her that because […]
Legend Cub to go on tour
The latest company to take its product to the people is American Legend Aircraft Co., which plans a tour of its new Legend Cub. The demonstration tour begins at Missouri’s St. Charles County Airport, Smart Field, June 10-11, which coincides with the EAA’s Sport Pilot tour. Next stop is June 17-18 at Venago Regional Airport […]
When the glass goes dark
What happens when the lights go out? Phrased one way or another, that is among the first questions to cross the minds of people unfamiliar with glass cockpits, but all too familiar with Microsoft’s notorious Blue Screen of Death. It’s a good question. Backup instruments are required by the FAA. How they are provided is […]
135+ Cirrus attend “Minnesota Migration”
More than 135 Cirrus airplanes returned to the roost for the third annual “Minnesota Migration” earlier this month. The annual migration to Cirrus Design Corp.’s factory, sponsored by the Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association, boasted more than 300 registrants. In fact, the event has grown so much that many of the activities were held in […]
Four Winds adds airbags
Four Winds Aircraft has become the latest company to add airbags to its airplanes. The company just signed a deal with AmSafe Aviation of Phoenix to provide inflatable restraints as options on its FX-210 and FX-250T models. Certification of the AmSafe Aviation Inflatable Restraints is expected later this year. The restraints, which are built into […]