Years ago I read a passage written by Richard Bach that has stuck with me. While I can’t quote it, and frankly I can’t even remember which book it comes from, Richard left the impression that flight instruction was a noble calling. He wrote about the satisfaction that comes from passing on to a new […]
Opinion
How airplanes became aerial ambulances
If World War I showed the nations of the world how the airplane could vault over ground emplacements to strike at an enemy, the combatants also came to appreciate the efficacy of using aircraft as ambulances to surmount obstacles and save precious time flying away from the fray. During that war, U.S. Army aviation devised […]
Consideration — or the lack of it
We were on an out and back — Dulles to Newark, Newark to Dulles. Our assigned aircraft had just come out of maintenance. The captain flew the Newark leg. No issues. I flew us back to Dulles. We landed uneventfully on Runway 19R. I applied the reverse thrusters, and then I applied the brakes. That’s […]
Downwind is not a state of mind
Every pilot owes their safety and security in some part to the predictable actions of their fellow pilots in flight. If only for reasons of self-preservation, it is entirely reasonable to conduct yourself as expected. Certainly, the FAA would like to believe your behavior is a reflection of your respect for its authority and wisdom. […]
Pilot Perspectives: Rich Stowell
By DEREK ROBERTS. Visualize for a moment that you’re high above the ground, nose pointed skyward, throttle in one hand, control stick pulled into your lap with the other. As the aircraft slows you peer over the engine cowl while working to maintain a steady altitude. In tandem a muted horn bleats with a blinking […]
Wielding the power to heal by air and sea
Historically, adversity brings out the best and the worst in humans. That’s certainly been true throughout America’s history. Lately, we’ve had plenty of adversity on our plate, a sad reality that presents the opportunity for individuals to show grace and generosity — which they did. It started with a storm named Harvey that blasted into […]
What is fueling high engine temps?
Q: I bought a 1972 Cessna 177B with an O-360 a few months ago. It had 900 hours on the engine. My first 20 hours I would use 23 squared and pull the mixture back to 10 gph or less, then watch the cylinder head temperatures, monitoring to keep the hottest (#2) around 385°. When […]
A best guess does not equal a good plan
Hurricane Irma came to visit the other day. Unbidden and unwelcome, she stomped up from the south through 200 miles of the sandbar I call home, came right up to our door, knocked with great vigor, and moved on to north. As of this writing I have no electricity, no Internet connection, very spotty cell […]
8 things you might not know about a remote tower system
Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport (FNL) is the busiest non-towered airport in Colorado. Air traffic is a busy mix of commercial air service, military operations and a wide variety of private aircraft. FNL will also set the standard for remote tower systems in the United States. In late July, the Federal Aviation Administration selected Ottawa, Canada-based […]