When your July 21 issued arrived, I turned immediately to the back page…as I always do…to see the articles by Larry Bledsoe. It’s like having dessert first. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” hit a special chord for me. A few years ago I had the honor of flying with Joe Gentile, son […]
Opinion
A Good Laugh
One of the funniest items in the last edition was the letter from Roger Lockwood of Sarasota, Fla., (No strings attached), in which he got so comically indignant over his little pieces of string and paper being referred to as “toys.” We all, in the aviation community, have our “toys,” whether they are ultralights, GA […]
Aviation Benefits Everyone
The next time you hear someone disparage aviation, point out that everyone depends on it. Don’t believe that? Think about it. The food we eat now comes from all over the world. Delicate fruits and vegetables don’t arrive by slow boat; they are flown in, fresh daily, from places such as Chile, the Netherlands, Israel, […]
Why are some Lycoming engines built without oil filters?
My friend and I were discussing why many Lycoming engines were built without oil filters, just oil screens. He guessed it was because in the beginning they just didn’t have oil filter technology, and once certified, the engine design is hard to change, so they just stayed that way for a long time. My conjecture […]
The FAA scorecard: How’s it going?
WASHINGTON, D.C. — During the dog days of August Congress is away and it’s a good time to take a look at some of the subjects not usually considered for news reports — for instance, the FAA’s scorecard. The FAA rates itself in a “”how are we doing” report matched to the goals it sets. […]
Positive news for a change
Chetek Municipal-Southworth Airport (Y23) in Wisconsin had its first annual fly-in Aug. 6. What my partner Tim Knutson and I wanted to accomplish was to show the residents of the Chetek area how general aviation, flying and airports benefit a community. We also wanted to promote the airport and flying and have some fun, along […]
One rogue pilot could kill VFR flight
I think VFR flight is worth saving and will fight to protect it (To build a fire…to save our airspace, July 21 issue). I am a member of several alphabet organizations that are leading the fight. As much as I want to protect it, however, we must realize that it will take only one rogue […]
How does a lady-or a Scottsman in a kilt-enter a Symphony160?
Meg Godlewski’s piece on the Symphony 160 was an interesting read (Symphony 160: The next generation trainer, July 7 issue) and I noted with interest that the company is one that has at last recognized that many of us Americans are now a little (little?) broader in the beam. An almost mandatory requirement for two […]
How safe are we, really?
One of our most avidly read features is Accident Reports. To put these together for every issue, reporter Meg Godlewski combs the National Transportation Safety Board’s database, choosing a wide variety of accidents to spotlight. We don’t do this to highlight bad news. In fact, we look at these reports as cautionary tales, presenting them […]