I was reading the March 25, 2005 issue (No. 6) Pilot’s Report about the XL-5 Velocity. I have a question about the speeds that were presented in the table. The Vne was at 200 kts IAS and the cruise speed (75% power) was at 205 ktas. Can you clarify why the cruise appears to be […]
Opinion
The outsiders
Alan Klapmeier gets a lot of grief because he’s selling planes. Well, it’s not because he’s selling planes — it’s who he’s selling them to. “Our company gets beat up for trying to sell airplanes to people outside the industry,” says the co-founder and CEO of Cirrus Design Corp., which produces the SR-20 and SR-22. […]
Is it normal to lean the mixture for ground ops, takeoff?
QUESTION: I’m operating a C-172 with a Lycoming O-360 engine at an approximately sea level airport. Is it normal to have to lean the mixture for ground operations and takeoffs? I have to or the engine runs a bit rough. Perhaps the mixture settings on the carb are not adjusted correctly, although some say it […]
Just say no
WASHINGTON, D.C.— A push to privatize the air traffic control system and/or put it on a fee basis is heating up, but two recent hearings in the House of Representatives indicate that members of the aviation subcommittee will have nothing to do with it. The subcommittee is looking into the modernization of ATC and its […]
‘Tailwind vs. Cougar’
By PETER M. BOWERS. Throughout the homebuilt movement many designs have a strong resemblance to others. The all-time toppers in this area are the Wittman “Tailwind” and the Nesmith “Cougar.” The “Tailwind” came on the scene first, back at the very beginning of the present homebuilt era. Steve Wittman of Oshkosh, Wis., was a schoolteacher […]
NRA a poor model for GA
Your editorial in the February 2005 issue shows how far we’ve moved toward having a police state in this country (They don’t know us: Why security agencies fear GA and what we can do about it). If people think it’s reasonable that we need to get permission from the government to do anything, then we […]
Idea met with polite yawns
I was struck by the degree of naiveté you exhibited by suggesting the possibility of a unitary group combining those whose interests are opposed to GA (restricting the meaning of GA to individual ownership of the aircraft). The airlines despise GA. The airlines are run by financiers, not by the pilots. And I am suspicious […]
Rewriting history
Re: “To save the South: We are gradually erasing reminders of our past,” (March issue): You are right, the politically correct are trying to revamp and remove history. Here in Louisville, Ky., there is a move to remove a very large monument that is over 110 years old dedicated to Confederate soldiers from Kentucky who […]
Nice cover, missing info
Saw the recent issue with the Glastar 2+2 amphib on the cover…nice cover (March 11 issue)! Question: Why is there no mention at all that those are Montana Float Co. amphibs under that spectacular airplane? Bob Andrews via email