My friend Tom called the other night and startled me with a question: “Hey, have you ever heard of anyone having an attack of claustrophobia in an Ercoupe?”
Opinion
Human Factors: A tragic celebration
A flight to celebrate a dad earning his private pilot certificate ends tragically. What can we learn from it?
Slow start for legislation that could rein in ADS-B misuse
One of the things I do appreciate about the Pilot and Aircraft Privacy Act, as I understand it, is all of general aviation is treated the same.
So I was wrong about that
We know we’re imperfect. We know we’ve been exposed to reams of contradictory information over the course of our lives. We’re rock-solid positive the population around us is wrong on so many issues it’s virtually impossible to list them all. Yet, we’re equally sure we’re entirely correct regardless what the subject might be. That seems unlikely, don’t you think?
Ask Paul: A picture tells the story
Question for Paul McBride, the General Aviation News Lycoming engines expert: I have a 1960 Piper Comanche. Can you identify the casting number on top of the engine?
Son solos in same Cub as dad, 34 years later
A first solo on his 16th birthday, in the same plane Dad soloed on his 16th birthday. And behind the scenes, four instructors and a little help from Mother Nature.
The lure of lunch is strong
Was tasty food served in uniquely aeronautical settings a major driver of my quest to fly? No, it wasn’t even a consideration when I first got started in this business. But those mom and pop restaurants scattered from central Florida, to South Texas, to New England surely did provide a welcome perk that made all the studying, testing, and medical exams worth the trouble.
Ask Paul: Is this engine a ticking time bomb?
Question for Paul McBride, the General Aviation News engines expert: Checking with you about CHTs on Cylinders 5 and 6 reaching 445° on climb and cooling to about 400° after power reduction in cruise. This is in our PA-24 260B.
According to the FAA, I should be in a nursing home
I’ve spent thousands of dollars out of pocket. I’ve met every demand the FAA has made and still they keep moving the goalposts. At this point, it feels less like a medical process and more like a war of attrition. The FAA, it seems, is simply hoping I’ll give up.