By buying carefully, adding his own labors, and selling to someone glad to have a fully-finished experimental airplane, Wes has been able to keep his cost of acquisition surprisingly low. Based on figures we discussed, I’d guess Wes is in for about the value of a deluxe new SUV — and I’d call that achievement both inventive and economic.
Opinion
Ask Paul: Adding insult to injury
If an engine conversion to 8.5:1 compression ratio pistons was not approved by Lycoming, the conversion to 9.5:1 in your engine is adding insult to injury.
Great vistas of green
There is an almost universally accepted belief that our world is over-developed. It’s excessively crowded. Steel and glass and concrete surround us everywhere we go. We’re hemmed in by our own construction projects. Cramped and confined to areas with heavy traffic, ceaseless noise, and crowds of strangers. Asphalt pathways lead us deeper into the chasm of our communities, yet make it nearly impossible for us to find our way out. Balderdash. Absolute rubbish. If perception is reality, then a realignment of our perceptions is in order.
What happens when the wrong fuel is added to a storage tank?
What happens to a fuel’s octane rating when two fuels are accidentally mixed in a storage tank?
Questions from the Cockpit: The numbers game
How do N-Numbers get assigned? Why are they so wildly different? Who has N-1? And what about other countries? These questions — and more — are answered by our Questions From the Cockpit columnist William E. Dubois.
Video: Flying the Hudson River Corridor
Personally, I’ve never flown as pilot-in-command on the east coast north of Florida. So the idea of flying around New York City is pretty daunting.
The quiet interval
This quiet interval takes me back to memories of my old friend, now gone, Hiram Mann. It makes me think of a place where he faced significant hardship, but came to experience profound pride.
Headwinds in the forecast
When actual winds aloft are stronger than forecast, it’s great if the wind is on your tail, not so much when it’s on the nose.
High speed wheels
There is a place for high speed rail in this world. But in a nation the size of the US, with a population as affluent and mobile as ours is, air travel is a far, far more productive bet. Whether commercially or personally, it’s just a better deal all around. Let’s support it and believe in it, accordingly.