Q: I just bought a Piper Mojave. It has 1,200 hours on both engines. Pre-buy, including oil analysis, was good. During a maiden flight, the left prop feathered on prop check. We checked the dome pressure, it was low. We topped it to 41 psi. Took off for an hour flight. Landed and left prop […]
Airplane shipments up, but billings down so far this year
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The latest numbers from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association show that airplane shipments increased by 1.7% through the third quarter of 2017, but billings declined 2.8%. The news was better for rotorcraft, which saw a 7.7% increase in shipments through the third quarter, with an 8.8% jump in billings. Airplane billings totaled $13.2 […]
NBAA files final brief over SMO closing
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has filed its final brief before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit challenging the legality of the settlement agreement reached earlier this year between the FAA and the city of Santa Monica, California, over the future of Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO.) The Nov. […]
On this day in history: The first helicopter flight
On Nov. 13, 1907, French engineer and bicycle maker Paul Cornu made history by becoming the first man to fly in a rotary wing aircraft. The primitive helicopter — a twin-rotor craft powered by a 24-horsepower engine — only lifted Cornu about 1.5 meters off the ground, holding him there for 20 seconds at Coquainvilliers, […]
Sebring’s DroneZone to feature one of largest drone races in the world
The U.S. Sport Aviation Expo‘s DroneZone 2018 will feature one of the largest drone races in the world with participants from all major continents. This is the second year for the DroneZone at the expo, held at the Sebring Regional Airport (KSEF) in Florida. The event is slated for Jan. 24-27, 2018. Highlighting the excitement will […]
Survival in the Skies
Every day, pilots and astronauts face life-or-death situations when they risk their lives to test the capabilities of physics and science. With limited time, harsh conditions and the pressure of survival, they must do everything they can to make it back on the ground safely. A new television series, “Survival in the Skies,” tells the […]
Loss of control for unknown reasons kills two
At the conclusion of a cross-country flight, the instrument-rated pilot was cleared for an instrument approach in actual instrument meteorological conditions. About two minutes later, the Beech F33A entered a right descending turn away from the airport. The controller attempted to contact the pilot, but received no response. The airplane hit a reservoir about eight […]
Picture of the day: The secret to staying young
Lee Beery sent in this photo of him flying upside down in his Corby Starlet. He says: “I think this is an interesting photo of a very old man, 86, having fun flying his Corby Starlet over Clear Lake in California. You will find him out over the lake having fun several times a week. […]
Flying through time
Ryan Lihs of Sioux City, Iowa, is an enthusiastic-yet-humble sort of aviator. When he flew his handsome black-and-gold biplane to Antique Airfield for the 2017 Antique Airplane Association Fly-In in Blakesburg, Iowa, this past Labor Day, numerous admirers were irresistibly drawn to it. He happily shared the history of his 1929 Pitcairn PA-6. In fact, […]