On Sunday, July 7, an Asiana Airlines flight from Seoul crashed on the runway at San Francisco International Airport. The airplane impacted just short of the threshold, causing substantial damage to the airframe. The tail departed the fuselage before the airplane came to rest. A fire ensued. These are facts. I point this out because […]
Opinion
Still a mighty interesting way to run an airport
It’s still going great guns — one of America’s most unusual airports. Complete with Western theme buildings, 28-room on-airport motel and airplane-shaped swimming pool, it’s the recreational center of its community. And this one-time “aeronautical dude ranch” lives on in…wait for it…New Jersey! Noted for its concept and marketing, Flying W Ranch is now the […]
Confused in Texas
Recently we heard from an exasperated reader from a major general aviation airport in southeastern Texas. Like many of his fellow recreational pilots in the Lone Star state, he had asked his new airport manager for help getting mogas onto the airfield as a means to lower the cost of flying. He had even gone […]
Piper testing Airworthy Autogas
Piper Aircraft announced today that they are working with Airworthy Autogas to test the company’s new aviation-grade mogas in its latest Lycoming-powered aircraft. As described in this press release issued today, “Piper Aircraft Inc. has completed flight tests of a Piper Archer powered by 93 octane premium unleaded automotive gasoline. Piper worked with Airworthy AutoGas […]
Ask Paul: Upgrading to a wide deck engine
Q: I read your article from the Oct .7, 2009, issue of General Aviation News on Wide Deck vs. Narrow Deck Lycomings with great interest. I am trying to figure out one detail that I think your article answers, but I just want to make sure. I have a 1960 PA-22 Tripacer that originally came […]
Declare your independence: Fly cheap
There are two kinds of GA pilots in the world. The first group is the experienced pilot who wants to continue flying as often and for as many years as possible. A major deterrent to meeting that goal is cost. Renting an airplane at $100 an hour or more is difficult for many of us. […]
EAA: ‘You’re absolutely right – it’s complicated’
By Dick Knapinski, EAA Communications I had the opportunity to read your column regarding the AirVenture ATC fees being assessed by the FAA. You’re absolutely right – it’s complicated. There are some significant differences in your comparison between the FAA and the Oshkosh Police Department, and other points to consider as well, however: As some commenters […]
Fly conservatively this July 4 holiday
This holiday weekend, give an extra thought to flying safely. I have a special reason to ask. And that experience still gives me pause each July 4 weekend since 2002 when I had a “box seat” for a base-to-final stall. Few of us know what a stall looks like outside the aircraft and up close. […]
Independence Day and the Freedom to Fly
By DAVE HOOK. “We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home.” Edward R. Murrow I want to thank the hundreds of flyers who took me up on my offer for the DO NOT CONSENT TO SEARCHES stickers. There are now thousands of those stickers affixed to their new homes, plying the national air […]