Eclipse continued its now-traditional flurry of news announcements this year at Oshkosh. Not least of them concerned a service called Jet Complete, which takes care of everything but fuel and tires for a basic $115 per flight hour fee, which covers all scheduled maintenance. For an additional $94 an hour, unscheduled maintenance can be included. […]
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New Lycoming leadership making changes
“We want to be the premier aviation engine company,” Lycoming’s new CEO, Ian Walsh, told a gathering at the company’s Oshkosh display July 26. Walsh announced an advanced research and development program with its own, dedicated space, which is working on a number of long-range projects. Closer to fruition are 11 models in a kit […]
An appreciation of an extraordinary man
Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale was a Naval aviator, a prisoner of war who earned the Medal of Honor for his heroism, an outstanding leader and teacher, and a reluctant vice presidential candidate. He died July 5 at the age of 81, after an unsuccessful battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Jim Stockdale was both a warrior […]
Ninety-Nines museum pays tribute to women pilots
Although women have been involved in aviation nearly since its beginning, some museums give the impression that Amelia Earhart was the only woman to fly, ignoring the thousands of women who came after her or even those who flew before her. That’s not to say Earhart was not important. In addition to being a record […]
Ohio aircraft owners to get tax relief
Ohio aircraft owners are finally getting tax relief. Gov. Bob Taft recently signed the state budget, which includes a reduction of the annual aircraft license tax from a flat $100 per aircraft to a $15-per-seat fee. The state first raised the tax from $6 to $100 in 2003.
New private airport approved in Houston
The FAA has given the nod to the construction of a private airport in Waller County near Houston. Ron Henriksen, a private developer, plans to build what will be known as Air Rice Airport on 1,980 acres. No public money will be used for construction. Several residents oppose the project, saying the airport’s proximity to […]
215 NDB approach shut down
Earlier this month, 215 NDB approaches ceased to exist. The FAA decommissioned them July 7, which means they will no longer spend money to flight-check the approaches, maintain equipment and update charts. However, the FAA has not turned off any NDBs. A total of 479 approaches will be decommissioned, with the remaining 288 procedures going […]
Another camshaft recall for Lycoming
In what some may see as “déjà vu all over again,” Lycoming has issued a mandatory service bulletin recalling what appears to be 1,227 crankshafts, some installed, some shipped as spares. Engines that have complied with Service Bulletins 552 or 553 are not affected. The affected engines are O-540, IO-540, AEIO-540 and TIO-540s rated at […]
Vimy replica recreates first Atlantic flight
If you think the first flight across the Atlantic was Charles Lindbergh’s, think again. His was the first solo flight. Two British aviators, Capt. John Alcock of the Royal Flying Corps and his navigator, Lt. Arthur Whitten Brown, did it in June of 1919. This month, pilot Steve Fossett and navigator Mark Rebholz did it […]