Although it’s not a normal component of my nature, I spent the bulk of last week procrastinating on an industrial scale. I did almost nothing — nothing productive at least. I ate, as I tend to do. I visited a bar or two and sampled the local wares. I ate again. And I’ll say it here […]
Opinion
A few last minute gift ideas
Tick tock…Every passing moment finds us closer to Christmas 2016. And if you’re on the hunt for gift ideas for the aviator in your life (even if that’s yourself), following is a handful of the aviation-themed books that have crossed my desk in recent weeks that will make a nice gift. Like aviation itself, these titles […]
How to haggle for the holidays, and beyond
At the coffee shop this morning my friend John raised a few eyebrows with this comment: “I don’t know of a single high school or college that offers a course in negotiation.” John’s a very successful businessman who knows a thing or two about negotiation. His concern is well placed. Let that hang there for […]
Should different CHTs be a concern?
Q: I have a Mattituck TMX O-360 in my Glastar. During a longer climb phase, my CHTs differ up to 100°F between Cylinder No. 1 and No. 4. Leveling off and reducing to cruise power (65%) at top of climb, CHTs stabilize all within max 30°F. What could be the reason for this difference (airstream entering […]
I quit
Here’s an unsettling statistic. Of the thousands upon thousands of prospective pilots who begin flight training each year, approximately 80% give up before reaching their goal. Yep, eight in 10 flight students throw in the towel, give up on their dream, and settle for living something less than the life they’d dreamed. Now imagine that you run […]
Electrical failure
One of the pilots had a handheld radio in his flight bag, in the back of the airplane. He spent a good amount of time fighting with his seatbelt, and then crawling over seats to retrieve it.
The torch will be passed…Who will pick it up?
Tom Davis is a force of nature. If you are fortunate enough to ever wander through the doors of the FBO at Crystal River Airport-Tom Davis Field (yes, the airport is named for the man who runs it), you’ll see a bright, clean, well appointed facility that’s festooned with model airplanes. They are everywhere. Plastic […]
Slings for two or four
In the beginning the aviation world had Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft, and a handful of other recognized names. We still have many of them, but most famous brands have trained their focus on larger aircraft, while the more affordable space is increasingly occupied by Light-Sport Aircraft manufacturers and a broad array of kit-built aircraft. “No comparison,” […]
Crop Duster
By JEB BURNSIDE. We can always learn things from other pilots, even if the lessons aren’t obvious. For me, one of the most interesting and rewarding aspects of flying is the people I’ve met along the way. So it was with a pilot I’ll simply call Crop Duster. I remember him from my student pilot days, […]