I’ve been going to Sun ’n Fun every year since 2002, which has caused me a lot of grief in the past. That’s because my son’s birthday is April 8, which fell right in the middle of the festivities many years. But this year, no grief from that quarter. That’s because, for the first time, […]
Opinion
Sport aviation events and autogas
The GAfuels Blog is written by two private pilots: Dean Billing, Sisters, Ore., an expert on autogas and ethanol, and Kent Misegades, Cary, N.C., an aerospace engineer, aviation sales rep for U-Fuel, and president of EAA1114. With the recent spike in fuel prices, and general economic malaise, pilots are watching their costs more than ever. […]
Flying is expensive, but does it have to be?
Lately I have been seeing a lot of angst in the marketplace. Much of it aimed at the unconscionably high cost of flying, and the unattainably high cost of training to earn a pilot’s license. Let me be honest here. I have all the same economic problems the average aviation nut has. I am not […]
DOT move would allow anyone to follow flight plans
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The decision by the Department of Transportation to change the rules and let anyone in the world follow any general aviation aircraft on an instrument flight plan — departure point, route and destination — may be challenged in court by three of GA’s alphabet groups. The National Business Aviation Association, Aircraft Owners […]
Electricity in the air
Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft. On the national scene, electric automobiles are generating lots of media attention, while the government has been subsidizing and using persuasion and incentives to whip up more interest and development activity for electric-powered vehicles. So, should it be any […]
Could Pipistrel win again?
Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft. Question: What looks like two motorgliders flying in really tight formation sharing an engine… er, a motor, literally between them? Can this Burt Rutan-looking aircraft (pictured) win the big dough? And I mean seriously big money with a purse […]
Can autogas cause ‘varnish’ in carburetors?
The GAfuels Blog is written by two private pilots: Dean Billing, Sisters, Ore., an expert on autogas and ethanol, and Kent Misegades, Cary, N.C., an aerospace engineer, aviation sales rep for U-Fuel, and president of EAA1114. Recently, the owner of a 1936 Boeing Stearman PT-13 with a 300-hp Lycoming radial engine contacted us regarding the […]
What’s behind jump in controller errors?
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Air traffic controller errors are on the increase, but whether there are really more incidents or better reporting is not determined, according to experts testifying at a recent hearing by a Senate aviation subcommittee. Operational errors increased a whopping 53% between 2009 and 2010, according to FAA statistics. But FAA Administrator Randy […]
Baumann Floats closes doors
Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft. Pilots interested in a floatplane LSA and airplane sellers seeking floats lost a good supplier recently when Baumann Floats, based at the South St. Paul, Minnesota, airport closed its doors. In an email, General Manager Joe Birkemeyer wrote, “Due […]