Sporty’s Classic Kneeboard, one of the products offered the longest by the pilot shop, demonstrates that sometimes old school is best, according to company officials. Its simple design withstands decades of use, they note. Sporty’s Classic Kneeboard is an extra-thick aluminum board with foam backing and an elastic strap with a Velcro closure. Measuring 6” by […]
Distracted pilot hits fence post
The pilot reported he was taxiing on the ramp at the airport in Abilene, Texas, after landing. He looked to his left at the line serviceman who was “marshalling” him and the right wing hit a fence post. The Cessna 182R sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The line serviceman said he […]
Having fun in the backcountry
Bill Whitney of Yakima, Washington, sent us these photos of his 1952 Cessna 170B he bought in Anchorage. He notes: “180-hp Lycoming engine conversion, 31″ Alaskan Bushwheels, Horton STOL kit, VGs and many other mods make it a very capable backcountry airplane.”
Big achievements by a small manufacturer
“It simply won’t work,” say too many pilots. “You cannot run a business making only 50 airplanes a year. To build good, safe airplanes, you must operate a large enterprise.” If you are one of those naysayers, are you sure about that? I write about the world of light aviation, a segment of recreational aircraft […]
Runway incursion study helps find solutions at PAJN
The FAA has made mitigating runway incursions a focal point over the past few years, aiming to reduce airfield risk factors that could ultimately lead to collisions between aircraft. At Juneau International Airport (PAJN) outside the capital city of Alaska, a new runway incursion mitigation (RIM) study showed that 50 runway incursions had occurred since 2004. […]
GA airport steps up in wake of Hurricane Harvey
As one of the only Houston area airports with the facilities to support military aircraft, and one of the only ones that were open during Hurricane Harvey flooding, Houston Executive Airport provided support for Army Reserve and National Guard units from all over the United States flying rescue and support operations during the flooding. The airport […]
New RAF Arkansas airstrip gets identifier
The Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) reports that the FAA officially activated Trigger Gap with a permanent location identifier on Sept. 19, 2017. Trigger Gap, (17A) is a new recreational airstrip in the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas. It lies on lands managed by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) above the Kings River. “The RAF enabled this […]
DeLand Showcase prepares for takeoff
The second annual DeLand Sport Aviation Showcase will take place Nov. 2-4, 2017, at DeLand Municipal Airport (KDED) in Florida. This year’s show will mimic the inaugural show in design, layout, daily schedule, and hospitality. But most important, the mission will remain the same: Committed to Sport Aviation, according to organizers. “As we work to […]
Thrush launches flight training programs
ALBANY, Georgia — There is an additional parking space being occupied at the already busy Thrush Aircraft factory, as Robert Garrett has joined the company as director of training. Garrett, a veteran of the ag aviation industry, will oversee Thrush’s new factory-based ag aviation flight and maintenance training programs. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in […]