My last column, “Asleep at the Yoke,” included a report about a Piper Seneca pilot who had to ditch his airplane in the Gulf of Mexico. The thought of having to ditch an aircraft intrigued me, especially when I realized there is a different psychology to the act of ditching vs. an intentional forced landing […]
Run the Runway at 6B6
By JAMES E. ELLIS Minute Man Air Field is a thriving general aviation airport about 25 miles west-northwest of Boston, mostly in Stow, Massachusetts. Owned by Don and Nancy McPherson, the airport has always tried to be open and inviting to the public. It starts with Nancy’s Airfield Café, an airport restaurant run by Nancy […]
TruTrak Vizion STC approved for Cessna 177s
EAA STC has received FAA approval to begin selling STCs for the Cessna 177 series for the installation of the TruTrak Vizion Autopilot. The Approved Model List (AML) for this STC also includes models F through S of the Cessna 172 series. The Vizion autopilot is a two-axis system with vertical and horizontal navigational capabilities, […]
Deadline looms for General Aviation Award nominations
The deadline for submitting names of CFIs, FAA Safety Team Representatives, and Aviation Maintenance Technicians for the General Aviation Awards Program is Nov. 30, 2017. The awards are a cooperative effort between the FAA and more than a dozen aviation organizations to recognize aviation professionals for their exemplary service and contributions to the general aviation community. […]
STC awarded for Silver Eagle with MT-Propeller
MT-Propeller has received an FAA STC for the next generation 5-blade Quiet Fan Jet scimitar composite propeller on the Cessna P210N Silver Eagle equipped with a Rolls Royce 250-B17F/2 turbine. The installation is already certified by EASA. According to MT-Propeller Vice President Martin Albrecht, the installation: Reduces ground roll and takeoff distance over a 50′ obstacle […]
Abingdon reveals 10-year anniversary watch
The Abingdon Co. has released its 10-year anniversary timepiece, Amelia in Crowning Gold. Amelia is the company’s most popular watch and helped launch the company back in 2007. The anniversary timepiece is in 24K gold and limited to 100 pieces. The watch includes a Ronda Swiss made 505.24H GMT movement, 40mm case size, and 5 […]
Kitfox’s propeller gearbox fails in flight
While on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for landing, the private pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane heard a “clunk” sound from the front of the Kitfox, however, the propeller continued to rotate and the engine appeared to be operating normally. He continued to the base and final legs of the traffic pattern […]
Pictures of the day: And the winners are…
The winners of the Recreational Aviation Foundation‘s annual photo contest have been revealed. For this year’s contest, the association received photos from all over the country. Officials split the nation into five regions. Judges report they had difficulty selecting just one winner from each region, finally selecting eight winners. “The quality and composition of the […]
Pilot Perspectives: Bruce Williams
By DEREK ROBERTS. “It’s like driving an old British convertible sportscar. It’s fun on a winding mountain road in the summer, but going down the autobahn, you’d rather have a Mercedes.” An apt metaphor from Extra 300L owner/instructor Bruce Williams, as he describes his seasonal trip from Seattle’s Boeing Field to Boulder City, Nevada, where […]