Dennis Parks is Curator Emeritus of Seattle’s Museum of Flight. Starting in 1908 and 1909, aviation began to have an impact on the public conscience and imagination, evidenced by its appearance in popular culture of the day, including music, books and films. Tens of thousands of people saw the Wrights fly at Ft. Myer in […]
Opinion
First flight of Lycoming O-233 LSA powerplant
Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft. October brought the first flight of the Lycoming O-233 in a Falcon Light-Sport Aircraft. This adds the famed Lycoming nameplate to a stable of LSA powerplant brands including Rotax, Jabiru, and Continental, plus the CubCrafters CC340 engine. To these, […]
Copperstate 2010 on the horizon
Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft. During my recent appearance on the Powered Sport Flying (Internet) Radio Show, I said I remained amazed that although the western U.S. has a large share of all pilots and airplanes in the country, no airshow seems to have […]
Oil industry expert calls ethanol a ‘gimmick’
The GAfuels Blog is written by two private pilots concerned about the future availability of fuels for piston-engine aircraft: Dean Billing, Sisters, Ore., an expert on autogas and ethanol, and Kent Misegades, Cary, N.C., an aerospace engineer and aviation journalist. In his keynote address on the future of the fuels industry at last week’s annual […]
Here come the big boys
Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft. Perhaps you’ve noticed we have not been reporting market share information as often as we once did. Two reasons: The market has matured, meaning the leaders are distancing themselves from niche producers and the rank positions aren’t moving around […]
Inexpensive aerial fun
Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft. People tried to call it Oh-nex, but the giveaway is the single seat. I get it… One-ex. The clever name is adapted from the company name and one of its models, Sonex, and fits with the Waiex and Xenos. […]
Why you should care about TTF
Public comments are interesting…or can be. Following are but three comments made at the Sept. 22 hearing of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on an FAA proposal to prohibit any new residential through the fence (TTF) agreements at publicly-funded airports that are part of the National System of Airports and therefore eligible for […]
Maverick first to market with LSA “Flying Car”
Dan Johnson, president of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association, is an expert on Light Sport Aircraft. Terrafugia has been getting tons of press and no wonder. The MIT brain trust developing the Transition is breaking new ground in numerous ways. While we await their sophisticated “roadable airplane,” a simpler flying car concept won its SLSA […]
European proposals could severely affect U.S. pilots
Proposals offered two years ago by the European Aviation Safety Agency are about to be acted on and, if adopted, will mean severe aviation regulation changes in all European nations and virtually eliminate the acceptance of pilots and aircraft licensed in the United States. Changes affecting the U.S. are in the section involving third country […]