By John DeThomas It was Oct. 2, 1965 — my first solo flight in the T-34B Mentor as a young ensign starting flight training in Pensacola, Florida. I just verified that date in my musty old Navy log book. Most of you will know that the roaring, snorting T-34B Mentor was a modified single-engine, piston […]
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2 millionth Young Eagle solos
The Experimental Aircraft Association‘s 2 millionth Young Eagle, Jodie Gawthrop, completed her first solo March 9, less than a year after her flight with former Young Eagles Chairman Harrison Ford. “Soloing was an empowering experience and being in complete control of the aircraft was unlike anything I had ever felt before,” Jodie said. “It featured […]
Career Fair to be held during SUN ‘n FUN
The fourth annual SUN ‘n FUN Career Fair will be held April 5 during this year’s fly-in, which is slated for April 4-9, 2017. The Career Fair, which will be open to pilots, mechanics, avionics technicians, dispatchers, flight attendants and other professionals in the aviation field, will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in […]
Flying the backcountry in a Bonanza
Aviation outposts like Benchmark and Cavanaugh Bay will never be confused with LaGuardia, LAX or even Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport where Eric Davis and a group of his boyhood friends once roamed the terminal imagining themselves as world travelers. A simple airstrip with a simple name like Schafer Meadows contains none of the traffic and congestion […]
SUN ‘n FUN evaluates safety protocol before fly-in
LAKELAND, Florida — Thursday morning, March 9, brought Lakeland’s finest to the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus for the annual Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan meeting ahead of the 43rd annual SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In & Expo, which will be held April 4-9, 2017. Representatives from all of Polk County’s emergency response teams attended […]
Applications now being accepted for AOPA scholarships
FREDERICK, Maryland – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is now accepting applications for two scholarship programs that have helped fund flight training for dozens of recipients from teenagers in high school to adults. The AOPA High School Flight Training Scholarships and the AOPA Flight Training Scholarships are funded by donations to the AOPA Foundation. […]
Companies partner on ADS-B solution
FreeFlight Systems and Becker Avionics have partnered to offer an ADS-B solution for business and commercial class aircraft. Combining the Becker Avionics BXT6513 Mode S transponder with FreeFlight Systems 1203C SBAS/GNSS sensor and RANGR-RX ADS-B Receiver, these remote-mounted solutions provide turboprop and turbojet aircraft a way to equip with ADS-B In and Out for the […]
GA leaders awarded during Bob Hoover Trophy reception
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) recently honored aerobatic pilot Sean D. Tucker, Rep. Todd Rokita (R-Ind.) and 71 other members of Congress, Pat Hartness, and Woody Lesikar for their contributions to general aviation during the second annual Bob Hoover Trophy Reception. “Tonight we honor those who have distinguished themselves for their exemplary work protecting […]
New Asian air sports federation launches
The growth of general aviation in Asia, along with air sports, has led to the formation of the Air Sports Federation in Asia (ASFA). The new federation is the result of the merger of two smaller organizations — The Airsport Federation of Asia (AFA) and the Asian Air Sports Federation (AASF). The AFA and AASF […]









