According to the pilot, during the takeoff roll, a vehicle entered the runway at the airport in The Dalles, Oregon, and he immediately pulled back on the yoke in his Aero Commander 500B to climb and avoid the vehicle. As the airplane began to rotate, he simultaneously retracted the landing gear, and he felt a […]
Flying in the B-17
At AirVenture 2017, Glenn Brasch of AirportCourtesyCars.com got the chance to fly in the B-17, Aluminum Overcast. Here are a few photos he captured during the flight:
Pilot Perspectives: Lori MacNichol
By DEREK ROBERTS. With miles of unmanned wilderness, the backcountry of Idaho is an untamed expanse that begs to be explored. A mix of jagged and rolling alpine peaks, vast glacial lakes and canyons as grand as any that claim to be, it’s an aviators paradise, open to all those brave enough to explore it. […]
New report says ATC privatization bill swells deficit by $100 billion
A new report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) says the latest Congressional proposal to privatize air traffic control would add to America’s budget deficit by nearly $100 billion. “$100 billion. Really?” asks Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association President Mark Baker. “So here’s how it shapes up: The legislation would hand over the air traffic […]
475,000 hours of flight training
When Mike Jones, Chief Flight Instructor, and his student Kristine Beard taxied onto the runway Aug. 16, 2017, at the Central Flying Service Flight School, they made Arkansas aviation history. That flying lesson marked 475,000 hours of flight training at Arkansas’ oldest and one of the nation’s longest continually operated flight schools. When Claud Holbert, 29, […]
Rotorcraft deliveries take off
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) reports that the rotorcraft industry delivered 465 aircraft in the first six months of 2017, up 16.8% compared to last year. The value of the deliveries was $1.9 billion compared to $1.5 billion in 2016. “The second quarter shipment and billing numbers provide a positive marker for the rotorcraft […]
Belite Chipper posts performance gains
The performance numbers for Chipper, the experimental two-place airplane kit from Belite Aircraft, have been updated, providing gains in airspeed, climb rate, and range over previously released figures. Chipper is also benefiting from a gross weight increase, according to company officials. “We worked hard to make aerodynamic improvements in Chipper, and they have paid off […]
STC approved for Twin Commander with MT-Propeller
MT-Propeller has received an FAA STC for the Quiet Fan Jet 5-blade scimitar composite propeller on the Twin Commander 690/695 Series with the Honeywell engines. According to MT-Propeller President Gerd Muehlbauer, the installation features: Reduced takeoff distance by approximately 10%; Enhanced cruise performance by 3 to 4 kts; (MTOW, ISA); Cooler ITTs during engine start […]
Hard landing bends Cessna 177
The pilot reported that the Cessna 177 porpoised three times on the second landing, and bounced once on the third and final landing. He reported that while taxing to the fuel pump at the airport in Los Angeles, he noticed he had a “flat tire” on the nose wheel. During a post-accident examination of the […]