When Anthony Fokker’s team introduced the futuristic Fokker D.VII biplane fighter to Germany in 1918, its welded steel tube fuselage and wings with less external bracing and rigging were a game-changer. Clocking speeds as high as 124 miles an hour, the D.VII was bested in that regard by the contemporary British S.E.5 and French SPAD […]
Visiting KLEE
A group of 15 Leesburg High School students who are members of the school’s Spark Club recently got a tour of Leesburg International Airport (KLEE) in Florida. The tour’s mission was to show the students that there are good paying jobs in their hometown and many of those jobs center around aviation. The tour was […]
Van’s celebrates 10,000th plane flying
When David Porter took his first flight in his RV-7 on Nov. 24, 2017, he probably didn’t know he was making history. The Martinsburg, W.Va., pilot’s plane became the official 10,000th Van’s RV aircraft to transition from a collection of parts and take to the skies. “We say ‘official’ because there are certainly more than […]
Aviation Design Challenge fills in record time
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) reports that registration for its 2018 Aviation Design Challenge has filled in record time. Additionally, GAMA member company Click Bond will be the owner of the Glasair Sportsman the winning high school team will help build as its prize. “This will be our largest competition since we started the […]
KSBD installs new self-serve fuel terminal
SAN BERNARDINO, California — Luxivair SBD at San Bernardino International Airport (KSBD) now offers pilots an upgrade in self-serve fueling with the installation of a new M4000 self-serve terminal from QTpod. The M4000 offers many convenient and time-saving features for pilots including faster transaction approvals, according to FBO officials. Backlit touch keypads help pilots see […]
FlightSafety launches engine course for ag pilots
FlightSafety International has launched a new Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A Series Pilot Familiarization Course designed specifically for agricultural aircraft pilots. Training is planned to begin in Brazil in early 2018. Additional locations will be added according to customer needs, according to company officials. “This new course will provide agricultural pilots who fly aircraft equipped […]
Cirrus pilot pulls chute too late
The private pilot had spent several hours flying practice instrument approaches to various airports. He stated he became distracted and failed to monitor the Cirrus SR22’s fuel state. His normal habit was to alternate between the airplane’s wing fuel tanks every 30 minutes, however he did not perform this action during the last hour of […]
Picture of the day: Backcountry camping at its best
Marian Jensen of Auburn, Washington, sent us this photo, explaining: “Backcountry camping in a C-180 at Moose Creek, Idaho.”
10 things you don’t know about the Civil Air Patrol
While some missions may not be a surprise — including the rush of hurricane-related flying towards the end of the fiscal year — other missions are not what most of us traditionally consider when we think Civil Air Patrol.