On one end of the general aviation spectrum, we have the business jet. A multi-million dollar piece of equipment that represents years of research and design work, many thousands of man hours dedicated to construction, and perhaps an equivalent amount in maintenance over the life of the aircraft. And during that lifetime these sleek machines […]
Opinion
Packing it in
With deference to Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, who seems to be built of sterner stuff than the average human being, the rest of us will have to one day face the grim reality of packing it in. The greatest pitchers, hitters, passers, and receivers will all have to walk off the field of […]
ADS-B validation report data shows amazing detail
For aircraft owners taking advantage of the FAA’s $500 ADS-B Rebate, there is a five-step process you must follow. Each of the five steps are rather logical: Decide: Select equipment for purchase and schedule installation; Reserve: Reserve your rebate, which requires a Reservation Code; Install: Install your ADS-B equipment; Fly and Validate: Fly in ADS-B airspace to validate […]
Cell phones and airplanes: A deadly combination
A cell phone fire onboard a Southwest Airlines jet parked at the jetway made news recently. Apparently, the phone was off and in the passenger’s pocket when it ignited. He managed to yank it from his pocket and throw it to the floor. The phone promptly set the carpet on fire before both were extinguished. […]
On a scale of 1 to 10…
General aviation airports are my happy place. There’s no denying that. Often I stop into my hangar just to sit peacefully in the usually quiet confines of the non-towered airport environment I call home. Sometimes a friend drops by to pass the time of day, or share an interesting tidbit of information, or ask for […]
An excellent depiction of when the everyman went to war
Today, as has been the case since the birth of aviation, there are a fair number of celebrity pilots. It’s only natural I suppose. At their core, celebrities are ordinary people, driven by many of the same dreams as anyone else. For actors, they make it their profession to represent the rest of us in […]
The easiest certificate ever
It has been a LONG time since I’ve added a rating or certificate to my pilot qualifications. But I’ve just added the easiest certificate ever. If I understand it correctly — and that’s a big if — I’ve just earned a Remote Pilot Certificate with a Small Unmanned Aircraft System Rating. How easy was it to add […]
Ask Paul: Cylinders and safety
Q: I have come across your name looking for answers to the following: We had to rebuild a Lycoming 0-540-J3C5D with normal wide deck cylinders instead of the thin wide deck cylinders nine years ago and 800 flying hours. This engine just came in for a cam shaft change. Our question is can we continue the rest of the engine’s life […]
Getting the word out in a big way
This past week my Sunday paper included a story you would have enjoyed. The photos were of three young women, each standing proudly beside an airplane. Two were beside a Piper Cub, while the third leaned casually against a Cessna 150. One is a CFI, the other two are high school students who just happen […]