BELGRADE, Montana — The sky literally was the limit during the week of July 10-14, 2017, for four recent cancer survivors who were part of the fourth annual Big Sky Kids Cancer Survivor Flight Camp. Launched in 2014, the camp is co-sponsored by Summit Aviation, a full-service aircraft management, brokerage and general aviation flight training provider, […]
Tuskegee Airman to make special appearance at KidVenture
Tuskegee Airman pilot Harry Stewart will make a special appearance at the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Red Tail Squadron‘s RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit inside KidVenture at EAA Airventure, which is slated for July 24-30, 2017. All ages are welcome to meet Stewart and get his autograph. He will be at the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit inside KidVenture […]
Sonex introduces Rotax Engine Mount Attach Bars
Sonex Aircraft has introduced a new product from AeroConversions: Rotax Engine Mount Attach Bars. Developed for Sonex/Rotax 912-series engine mounts, AeroConversions Rotax Attach Bars can also be used for custom Rotax 912 engine mounts on any experimental aircraft. AeroConversions Rotax Attach Bars eliminate the need for expensive and complex Rotax ring mounts and Rotax mount rubbers, according to company officials. As […]
Garmin unveils retrofit autopilots for general aviation aircraft
Garmin has introduced the GFC 600 and GFC 500, solid state attitude-based (AHRS-derived) autopilots for fixed-wing general aviation aircraft. The GFC 600 and GFC 500 incorporate a number of safety-enhancing technologies, including Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP), underspeed protection, overspeed protection, Level Mode, Flight Director (FD) and more, according to company officials. The GFC 600 autopilot […]
Trig Avionics adds to radio line
Trig Avionics has introduced the latest additions to its line of radios: The TY96A and TY97A. Both are slimline 760 channel VHF radios with 25kHz spacing. They include the same pilot friendly features as the TY96 and TY97 and are designed for pilots flying outside 8.33kHz mandated airspace, according to company officials. The TY96A is a 10-watt radio, the TY97A […]
Bear sighting begins accident sequence
While on a cross-country flight over an area of mountainous terrain near Homer, Alaska, the Cessna 140 pilot noticed a bear near the entrance to a mountain pass. While orbiting over the bear, a strong downdraft emanating from the pass entrance caused the airplane to descend toward the saddle of the mountain pass. The pilot […]
The dirty diaper of aviation
Gary Lanthrum sent us this photo, with a note: “Flying is what we all love, but owning an airplane requires so much more than just enjoying the skies. At each oil change I get on the crawler and clean the belly of my plane, a Maule MX7-180C. This is the dirty diaper of aviation, and […]
Hardware is not the issue
Like pretty much everyone else involved in aviation, I frequently engage with people who say things like, “Oh, I could never fly an airplane. They’re too dangerous.” These same people limit the scope of their lives with similar comments about motorcycles and other pieces of hardware that are widely perceived as too dangerous for the […]
GOP Congressmen join in opposing ATC privatization
Five Republican congressmen recently took a stand against a proposal to privatize the nation’s air traffic control (ATC) system. In a July 13 letter sent to U.S. House leaders, the five GOP lawmakers request that any provision for privatizing ATC be withheld from floor consideration. “This request is a result of our deep and multifaceted […]