By BOB MACKEY The designated pilot examiner (DPE) and student pilot were conducting a private pilot check ride. The DPE reported that, during climb-out, he retarded the throttle to simulate an engine failure. The student attempted to recover the airplane by lowering its nose to maintain controlled flight. However, the airplane descended. The DPE terminated […]
New DVD saves time, money on aircraft preventive maintenance
EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — A new how-to video from the Experimental Aircraft Association gives certificated aircraft owners a better understanding of preventive maintenance and ways to save money by personally completing some of the tasks. “Aircraft Ownership: Understanding Owner Preventive Maintenance” is a multi-part video series combined on one DVD that shows certificated […]
Georgia Tech wins first Collegiate Drone Racing Championship
Georgia Tech won the first-ever Collegiate Drone Racing National Championship hosted by Purdue University on April 15, 2017, scoring more than $15,000 worth of equipment and prizes. Gusty winds and a winding track were no match for the 48 pilots and their homemade drones. The races went off without a hitch, despite challenging 19-20 mph winds, according […]
Hard landing bends Bellanca
During the landing flare at the airport in Campbellsville, Kentucky, the pilot reported that it “felt like the air was sucked out from under the plane.” The Bellanca 1730-A landed hard on the main landing gear, bounced and touched down again, buckling the nose landing gear. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot […]
A relaxing sunset flight
Arthur Billingsley sent us these photos with a quick note: “A relaxing and beautiful flight at sunset from Fort Lauderdale, Florida (KFLL), to Palatka, Florida (28J) at 9,000 feet. These pictures were captured near Cape Canaveral and Orlando (KMCO).
Love at first flight
Braylon Faulkner, 6, fell in love with airplanes on his first flight. Traveling with his mother Michelle Faulkner and grandmother Carol Faulkner-Davis in September 2012 from Orlando to Providence, Rhode Island, his excitement came to the attention of the Southwest Airlines pilot who invited him to the cockpit before the flight. His father, Brian Faulkner, […]
Preservative oil
I recently received an email from Mark Peterson concerning the use of preservative oils. I have addressed this before, but preventing rust in low usage aircraft is still the number one lubricant area of concern for GA pilots. A number of years ago, Phillips started to recommend that pilots add a quart or two of […]
Aircraft insurance: Building and flying
By BOB MACKEY Whether you are building or flying, there are a few things you should know about aircraft insurance so you aren’t wasting your money and you have the insurance protection you paid for. During the building phase you have essentially two risks: Someone gets hurt while working on the project and the project […]
Piper unveils M600 personalization package
VERO BEACH, Florida — Piper Aircraft has introduced a personalization program exclusively available on the new Piper M600. The package, named Expression or EXP, enables customers to have greater involvement in the design of the interior for their new Piper M600 aircraft.With the M600 EXP package, customers have a choice of a variety of interior enhancements, […]