One of my first memories is of being a 3 year old standing in the doorway of the master bedroom of my parent’s home in East Hartford, Connecticut. My newborn sister, Suzann, was in my mother’s arms. My dad stood by the closet, sliding his impossibly slender, 6 foot 4 inch frame into a flight suit festooned with […]
$600K today or $900K tomorrow?
What sounds better to you? $637,000 today or $900,000 in the near future? But first some back story before you answer: Way back in 2015, Washington state’s HB 1526 became law. The legislation reallocated 100% of the aircraft excise tax to the “Washington State Department of Transportation aviation airport aid grant program.” Previously, just 10% […]
CubCrafters tops LSA market
A dozen years after the FAA created aviation’s newest sector, we have a new leader among manufacturers of fully built Light-Sport Aircraft. CubCrafters has been moving upward, with several years hitting 50 deliveries. In 2016 the west coast builder finally topped perennial leader Flight Design, which slipped to second place. The CT builder had occupied […]
‘No better bargain on the planet’
As the 2017 air show season shifts into high gear during the next few weeks, millions of families have discovered a secret: The memories that children and adults take away from air shows are more vivid, more dramatic, and more tangible than any major league sporting event, concert or theme park visit…at a small fraction of […]
Hartzell Trailblazer prop receives STC for Cessna Cardinals
Hartzell Propeller‘s composite Trailblazer prop has received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for Cessna Cardinals. The approval covers retractable gear normally aspirated and turbonormalized C-177RG Cardinals with IO-360s and IO-390s engines. “Our testing found the Trailblazer two-blade prop to have excellent performance. Its light weight and the composite materials result in very smooth operation,” said […]
Airfoil App introduces text messaging and local groups
Airfoil, a free app for pilots and aviation enthusiasts, introduces Airfoil Chat and Airport Chat. With Airfoil Chat, pilots and Airfoil members can connect with one another with direct one-on-one messaging. Use Airfoil Chat to organize trips, share advice, discuss planes and parts for sale, and much more. With Airport Chat, pilots can open Airfoil while at […]
182 hits airport building
According to the pilot, following his preflight inspection he attempted to start the engine with the electrical starter, but was unable to get the engine to turn over. He turned the magnetos to the off position and then got out of the Cessna 182 to “turn the prop through,” but was not attempting to hand prop […]
Night flight
Andy McPhee sent in this photo, with a brief note: “As a student pilot, there are so many things to learn. Aviation Mechanics, Weather Theory, Calculations and on and on. As a child, I used to go to KBOS to watch the planes land and takeoff and thought it would be “cool” to fly someday. […]
Dreams vs. goals
In the center of my town there is a park. In that park is a large blue chalk board where passersby are encouraged to finish the sentence, “Before I die I want to…” That’s a big statement. It’s got weight to it. A sentence that starts with those words begs for serious consideration. It’s not […]