A 1961 British book on the development of air transportation includes a chart on early scheduled air services, which includes the operations of the U.S. Air Mail Service from 1918 till 1927. It may seem unusual to see the Air Mail Service listed here, but as it operated more than 200 aircraft, you realize it […]
Opinion
Hard science needed in avgas issue, not politics and fads
LETTER TO THE EDITOR from TOM MULLER, Poland Spring, Maine I was impressed with Michael Kraft’s thoughtful article on the replacement for 100LL (Guest Editorial: Beware the “sound bite solution: There are no easy answers to the complex avgas issue). Several aviation writers seem to be assuming that because 94UL is already on the market […]
Sebring LSA Expo kicks off a new year
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON OK, aviation fans, it’s time for a new year that will hopefully be a great turnaround from 2009. No one expects a quick return to the halcyon days of 2006, but aviation has been picking itself up off the floor for a few months. Many are starting to see signs of […]
Good riddance 2009!
Happy New Year! I’ve been waiting to say that for about six months now. While there is no guarantee 2010 will be any better than 2009, it always feels good to flip the calendar to a clean sheet, full of possibilities. That said, looking forward I find loads of challenges (or opportunities if you prefer […]
Will my engine benefit from new technology?
Q: The O233 LSA engine uses the new E-mag electronic ignition that they say advances the timing to 38° BTDC, much like other systems. Does this much spark advance also have Lycoming’s blessing for the O320 and O360? I realize that the spark advance is rpm and manifold pressure controlled. LYLE FORSGREN, via e-mail A: […]
FAA reauthorization hits another snag
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The FAA has had its problems getting reauthorization on track. To keep the agency in business, Congress has passed yet another temporary extension, something that has been going on for more than two years. Even some Senators are getting fed up with the delay, with 35 of them signing a letter to […]
Zenith & AMD 601XL under intense scrutiny
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON Bad as in-flight break-up accidents are, many opinions blur the big picture. Last spring NTSB recommended FAA “ground the fleet,” so to say, of Zenith Air and AMD’s CH-601 aircraft. FAA chose further study. When additional CH-601s became involved, media outlets and other organizations jumped on the bandwagon. Let’s review: The […]
RANS S-6ELS: Bargain Extraordinaire
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON Much lamenting has been heard regarding the price of LSAs. It isn’t hard to understand given prices that now exceed $140,000. Was such inflation supposed to happen? I’ve explained how this occurred, and the biggest culprit, by far, is the exchange rate difference between dollars and euros. (Other factors include the […]
Legendary ‘Van’ flies his own RV-12 to work
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON Cessna‘s LSA entry helps to validate the concept of industry consensus standards in lieu of government certification. SkyCatchers will populate airports as shipments ramp up in 2010. Other big companies also are looking at LSA — as most LSA enthusiasts know, Cirrus offered an entry, though work has stalled, and late […]