Dave Fleming from Scottsdale, Ariz., submitted this photo of him flying in a 2013 SportCruiser from Czech Sport Aircraft over the Tonto National Forest area northeast of Phoenix, Arizona.
What is causing bent rods and sticking valves?
Q: I am acquainted with two IO-540 engines with 1,000-plus hours that have bent rods in the #5 cylinder and stuck valves in the #2 cylinder. One aircraft was manufactured in 2007 and the other in 2009. The oil has always been changed at 50 hours using Exxon Elite 20/50. Any particular thoughts? RICHARD WEICHMAN, via […]
Outlook good for third-class medical overhaul bill in 2015
As the year draws to a close, bipartisan support continues to build for congressional legislation to remove the third-class medical requirement for operating a variety of general aviation (GA) aircraft. Introduced last December by House GA Caucus Co-Chairman Rep. Sam Graves (R-6-MO) and Rep. Todd Rokita (R-4-IN), the General Aviation Pilot Protection Act of 2013 […]
Sensurion’s MP-1 opens Nevada UAS test site
BOULDER CITY, Nevada – Sensurion Aerospace‘s Magpie MP-1 officially opened Nevada’s UAS Test Range on Friday, Dec. 19. The Magpie MP-1 holds a Special Airworthiness Certificate from the FAA and carries U.S. registration N106MP. “This is a great day for the State of Nevada, the FAA, and Sensurion Aerospace,” said Sensurion CEO Captain Joe Burns. “This is an important […]
Air Race 1 World Cup to debut in 2015
Air Race 1 will hold three races in 2015, which will together form the official “Air Race 1 World Cup.” Each of the three events of the Air Race 1 World Cup will also be considered an independent cup title. The destinations are confirmed and will be announced with dates and other information in the coming […]
GA aircraft shipments expected to grow in 2015
The U.S. aerospace industry is expected to ship more general aviation (GA) aircraft in 2015 than it did in 2014, according to the Aerospace Industries Association‘s (AIA) 2014 Year-End Review and Forecast. Shipments of GA aircraft are projected to total 1,691 units in 2014, up 4.7% from the 2013 total, AIA wrote in its report, […]
SUN ‘n FUN unveils airshow highlights
Scheduling of airshow performers for the 41st Annual SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In & Expo, scheduled for April 21-26, 2015, in Lakeland, Fla., is in full swing. Topping the list of performers is the Breitling Jet Team and the USAF Thunderbirds. The Breitling Jet Team will begin their first-ever United States tour at SUN ‘n FUN […]
Museum to hold open cockpit day
WINDSOR LOCKS, CONN. – The New England Air Museum will hold its next Open Cockpit Day on Sunday, Jan. 18. On that day, visitors will be permitted to climb into the cockpits of up to 10 vintage aircraft, a full-motion flight simulator and two static flight simulators. These include the Vietnam era “Huey” helicopter; the North […]
Spatial disorientation kills four
Aircraft: Piper Matrix. Injuries: 4 Fatal. Location: Greensburg, Ind. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The instrument-rated private pilot was executing a non-precision instrument approach procedure at night in deteriorating weather conditions. According to GPS track data, he executed the approach as published, but descended below the missed approach point’s minimum altitude before executing a […]