Part 103 aircraft are the heart of affordable aviation. And now LSA expert Dan Johnson has created a list of all the Part 103 aircraft available to make finding the right one for you just a bit easier.
Opinion
Questions from the Cockpit: CarFax for airplanes
When a plane is damaged in a crash, there must be a record of it somewhere, right? Not according to a deep dive into the regulations by Questions From The Cockpit columnist William E. Dubois.
I am not a volunteer, but maybe you should be
The AOPA Foundation Ambassadors aren’t volunteers, but all three recognize the importance of volunteers to the success of general aviation, whether it’s in a flying club or at EAA AirVenture, the biggest airshow in the world.
Are aviation lubricants compatible?
The non-aviation world is fairly forgiving on compatibility. In the aviation world you will be OK if you use a qualified engine oil. But for grease, the only safe bet is to use the grease that is recommended for each lubrication point.
A time capsule of American aviation
A 1924 issue of the magazine “Aviation” is a microcosm of the post-World War I aviation scene in America. The air-minded segment of the population was impatient for aeronautical advancements, yet in some ways those advances were held back by a glut of war surplus Jennies and OX-5 engines that were offered to civilians on the cheap.
Glass panel’s warnings worry aircraft owner
The old panel never yelled at me or gave me warnings, so to see the CHT hit 400 and then go yellow is unsettling.
Affordable aviation: Can you find an aircraft that meets your budget?
Can you really find an affordable aircraft? And where’s the best place to find one? Our LSA expert Dan Johnson says the answers to both of those questions are “yes,” and he gives you several examples of affordable flying machines to check out.
Saturday Morning Live
Prior to Covid and the restrictions it has introduced into our lives, I used to lead a Rusty Pilot seminar or two every month. Since March 14, 2020, my peers and I have been doing our best to continue to share a substantially similar presentation, albeit via a webinar format. But I’ve missed the face-to-face experience of presenting good educational material to a live audience.
Questions from the Cockpit: Can someone give me a lift?
Truth be told, the four-letter word LIFT is a lot more complex than we are taught in flight training. This, perhaps, is what prompted a retired Naval aircraft hydraulic and pneumatic mechanic to write a two-page letter saying that all the current theories of lift are wrong. Having worked professionally with both fluids and air, he felt that outside of closed environments they “do not behave alike.” He advocates that airflow is irrelevant, and it’s all about pressure.