With Japanese and German fighter pilots making head-on attacks with closing speeds exceeding 500 mph, B-24s were modified with a manned nose turret.
Opinion
Questions from the Cockpit: Complicated Characteristics
Trey, a student pilot in Colorado, writes: “I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around the difference between maneuverability and controllability, I don’t think I’m stupid, but…”
Social Media’s Gift to Aviation
Social media posts and YouTube videos that capture the art and science of aviation are beneficial for pilots, but also intriguing to non-pilots. And the more people who see aviation in a positive light, the better.
Deep Pockets
A number of issues remain affecting general aviation’s transition to unleaded avgas. Perhaps the most important is the three companies working on the solution lack “deep pockets” in a very litigious society.
50 Hours or Three Years
Should aircraft inspections move to a “50 hours or three years” schedule? Explore the potential benefits, economic impacts, and FAA hurdles of this proposed maintenance shift.
Be Prepared For The Bad Thing
Being prepared to handle the bad thing requires forethought. The only way I know how to do it is to sit down in a quiet place, let the imagination wander, and consider every negative possibility that comes to mind. This isn’t dark work. It’s liberating. The scenarios unfold to provide confidence.
Free A&P Classes Coming for High Schoolers in Michigan
Jackson County Airport (KJXN) plans to launch a non-profit in 2027 offering free aviation maintenance training to high schoolers, funded by an accelerated adult program.
Another Set Of Eyes
You likely have a regular mechanic. Do you ever let another perform your annual inspection?
Human Factors: When Over and Above Isn’t Enough
A March 2024 accident where the engine failed “without warning” raises the question of whether an “old school” technique might be able to catch problems newer tools miss.