Jeff Poplin sent in this photo of his 2-year-old son Cooper’s first helicopter ride in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Tips for cold weather engine starting
Now that cold weather is here, I get asked quite often, “How long should I warm up my engine before I drive/fly off?” As always, there is no simple answer. Part of the reason we warm up our vehicles is to get the heater going. But there are technical reasons to warm up our cars […]
‘The show is back on’
When Dee Hanson, Executive Director of the Alaska Airmen’s Association called on Thursday, she sounded relieved. The first words out of her mouth were, “The show is back on.” The “show” is the annual Great Alaska Aviation Gathering. Until Thursday, there was doubt about an 18th annual show taking place in the FedEx Express maintenance […]
Bonus depreciation legislation awaits President’s signature
If you are in the market for an aircraft, new or used, Congress has helped make it easier on your wallet… if you act before Dec. 31. All you’ll need is President Obama’s signature on the legislation (which he’s expected to sign), an airplane and cash. For a new airplane, the bonus depreciation deduction enables companies that […]
FAA funding secured through September 2015
Congress has passed a spending bill that keeps the FAA, and other government agencies, funded through the end of the fiscal year in September 2015, according to a report at AOPA.org. The bill includes $12.4 billion for the FAA, approximately $17 million less than the FAA’s 2014 funding level. It also covers full operation of the air traffic […]
Reduce, reuse, recycle… hangars in this case
The great state of California reduced the number of general aviation airports in 2014 by at least one. Specifically, Rialto Municipal (L67) was shut down on Sept. 18 to make way for a 1,439-acre residential and business center. (I know, but don’t get me started…) From the ashes of L67, nearby Flabob Airport (RIR) will reuse […]
Sporty’s launches Cessna 172LITE project
Sporty’s has launched its new Cessna 172LITE project, acquiring Cessna 172s and equipping them with basic flight instruments. In fact, the only avionics are a communications radio and a transponder. A factor not usually considered in attracting new pilot starts is today’s trainers overwhelm beginning students as they stare at dozens of switches, buttons and […]
Video: Year in Review
Zach Sweetser gets to fly quite a bit. He shoots lots of videos and stills. His videos can be seen on YouTube at RedDevilSquadron. Prepare to be a tad bit jealous of the year Zach had in 2014 in this “super-cut” video. I couldn’t help but ask a few questions after seeing this video: GAN: Where was most […]
Nominations open for Lightspeed Aviation Foundation grants
Nominations and applications for Lightspeed Aviation Foundation’s 2015 grant program are now open. The deadline to receive nominations is Jan. 31, 2015, midnight PST. Applications will be accepted until Feb. 6, 2015, at midnight PST. Each year, the Lightspeed Aviation Foundation recognizes a select group of aviation nonprofit organizations that are actively promoting growth in aviation or […]