Because I often deal with the non-flying public in venues where my affection for aviation becomes a topic of conversation, I’ve become fascinated by the limits people put on themselves. I often talk to people who profess to want to fly. They wish they could. They dream they can. They imagine the wonder of it […]
Opinion
Ask Paul: SI creates confusion about exhaust valve
Q: I recently purchased a high hour O-320-A1A in an RV-3. The rocker arms were out of limits and I had them rebushed and sized. The description for the exhaust valve is confusing on Lycoming Service Instruction No. 1451A. Under the cautionary note, the exhaust valve is “identified by the oil drain hole located under the valve […]
Whiplash in Salem
True cooperation is the key. On May 1, 2015, the FAA posted a notice of proposed rule making (NPRM) in the Federal Register to expand Class D and E airspace around Salem, Oregon’s McNary Field (KSLE). The summary of the NRPM states, “After a biennial review, the FAA found it necessary to amend the airspace […]
Birds do it, but they have a learning curve, too
By JEB BURNSIDE. A variety of sources detailing the Wright brothers’ research methods and conclusions prior to the successful first powered flight note their study of birds. From that study, they observed and identified the ways soaring birds changed their wings’ shape to control the flight path. That data led to conceiving and implementing wing […]
Tips to restart an idle airplane
Q: Because of medical problems, my IO-720 has not run in six months. While always hangared, the hangar is sometimes damp. The question is what to do in re-starting? Do we open it up and clean, or change the oil often? Larry Smith A: Larry, first of all, we certainly hope all of your medical issues are […]
I searched for excellence — and I found it
In many ways I’m a creature of habit. Of course, some habits are more obvious than others. For instance, I eat every day. More than I need to, in fact. That’s a habit. Not a particularly good one, and not one that I am proud of, but it is a habit, so I include it […]
Debates without (much) politics
The nation appears almost hypnotized by the ongoing spectacle of this year’s presidential debates. Sometimes these highly watched broadcasts have real substance to them, but many describe them as political theater, an apt term when a clash of personalities drives ratings as much as discussion of important current events. At the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, […]
The great equalizer in the sky
In this political season, like every political season, we see divisions forming. In many cases those cracks in the American facade happen between people who would be better served by a united force. Each candidate has their followers. Every point of view has an advocate. Parties square off for battle, often over problems that will […]
Stoking the fire within
Deep within the hearts and souls of those who fly is a desire to repeat the experience. Whether our last flight was three days ago, three years ago, or three decades ago, the flame still burns. We want to fly. We occasionally dream of flying. And we plan to one day, someday, fly again. That’s […]