LAS VEGAS – In a wild and windy season finale, pilot Matthias Dolderer was crowned Germany’s first Red Bull Air Race World Champion in Las Vegas on Oct. 16, 2016. Australia’s Matt Hall, the only pilot able to challenge Dolderer’s dominance in the final stages of the season, shared the champagne from the second step […]
RAF Photo Contest launches
The Recreational Aviation Foundation has launched a Photo Contest. Pilots are encouraged to send a photo of their plane at a recreational airstrip. The winners will be used on RAF’s greeting cards, which are sent as thank you notes to thousands of donors and supporters.RAF officials note that photos with airplanes and great scenery are […]
$15,000 drone competition launched
SYRACUSE N.Y. — The UTM Convention 2016 and HiddenGenius.com have partnered to launch a technology competition that demonstrates drone sense and avoid technologies (SAA). The enormous growth in the number of small UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) has highlighted the tremendous opportunities in this industry. This includes using drones beyond line of sight to monitor the safety of rail […]
Florida International Air Show puts out call to charities
PUNTA GORDA, Florida — The Florida International Air Show (FIAS) is asking Southwest Florida charities for volunteers to help work concessions at the event, slated for Oct. 21-23, 2016, at the Punta Gorda Airport. “Working” charities will receive 10% of the concession stand’s gross sales in exchange for their help during the show. To date, […]
Belite introduces digital altimeter
Belite Enterprises has introduced its Radiant Digital Altimeter for use in experimental and ultralight aircraft. This new product combines four common aircraft instruments into one unit that weighs two ounces. The unit packs digital VSI and altitude, along with a settable pressure window, density altitude and outside air temperature into the main display screen. Like other […]
Seat sliding backwards on takeoff contributes to crash
The private pilot reported that, during takeoff for a local personal flight in Xenia, Ohio, his seat unexpectedly moved rearward, and the seat back tipped rearward. As the seat slid rearward, he inadvertently applied aft yoke and his feet came off the rudder pedals, which resulted in a loss of directional control. The Cessna 172 went off the […]
Picture of the day: A smokin’ Shark
Smitty Smith from FunPlacesToFly.com snapped this photo at the recent Heart of Texas Airshow in Waco, Texas, then titled it “A Smokin’ Shark!”
Work begins on homebuilt for disabled pilots
On Sept. 10, 2016, members of Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 1083 in Salisbury, N.C., began building a Zenith CH 750 Cruzer at the chapter’s hangar at Rowan County Airport (KRUQ). Joining the build was John Robinson, the founder of AV84All, a non-profit dedicated to providing access to general aviation airplanes for everyone. The Cruzer will […]
AOPA asks Supreme Court to hear aircraft liability case
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a case involving aviation products liability, an issue that could have a significant impact on the cost of flying. At the heart of the case is the question of whether juries can impose aircraft design standards at the state level […]