Dave Cohen submitted this photo and note: “Sugar cane is a major agricultural product of Palm Beach County, Florida. Once it’s harvested, the remaining stalks are burned to clear the field. From 2,500 feet in my 1967 Cessna 172, “Lily,” near Lake Okeechobee, the smoke almost resembled lenticular clouds over mountains.”
The past and future of avgas
Today’s search for an unleaded avgas is so different from similar searches in the past, which was a very large cooperative effort to find an answer — and they were looking for one fuel that could be produced by any oil company.
Pilot uses flight path to propose
General aviation pilot Terry Williamson of Pratt, Kansas, took a creative approach to propose to his girlfriend of two years, plotting a fight path that read, “Will you marry me Taylor?” When his girlfriend checked on his flight on FlightRadar24, she saw the message…and immediately answered yes.
National Aeronca Convention lands in Ohio in June
The National Aeronca Association, dedicated to supporting and preserving the history of Aeronca aircraft, was founded by Jim Thompson in the 1990s and holds its convention biennially in Middletown, the location of the Aeronautical Corporation of America, which manufactured Aeronca airplanes from 1928 to 1951.
New manager appointed at KMDH
Alyssa Connell takes over the helm at Southern Illinois Airport, replacing Gary Shafer, who retired after 46 years with the airport.
Wrong fuel during test flight fatal for pilot
Probable Cause: The airplane owner/builder’s inappropriate use of a lower grade fuel than that required by the airplane and engine operations manual, which resulted in engine detonation and the degradation and eventual obliteration of the Nos. 1 and 2 cylinder spark plug electrode tips.
Picture of the Day: The quiet before the crowds
Ron Cox submitted this photo and note: “Two days before the 2025 SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo takes off, all is quiet as we watch the sunset by our Cessna 182N.”
Questions from the Cockpit: Got you covered — maybe
James, a private pilot and airplane owner in South Carolina, writes: What happens if someone wrecks your plane while they are considering buying it?
More than 5,000 pilots take part in safety campaign
In the wake of recent high-profile general aviation accidents in New York and Florida, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Air Safety Institute reports that more than 5,000 pilots have already participated in the National Pause for General Aviation Safety.