Aircraft: Cirrus SR22. Injuries: None. Location: Eden Prairie, Minn. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: When the pilot attempted to start the engine, the starter motor turned, but the starter did not engage. He turned off the battery master switch, exited the airplane, and walked around to the front of the airplane. He reached through […]
Picture of the day: A bird’s eye view
Karen Sholten sent us this photo from a flight over Lake Michigan and Ottawa State Park depicting the channel leading into Lake Macatawa, Holland, Michigan. Karen was the passenger with flight instructor Barbara Fleming at the controls.
Take it to the bank
A few decades ago, I became very interested in electronics. The home computer was just beginning to look like a viable product and it occurred to me that devices that used to be purely mechanical were rapidly transitioning to become computerized. Once gas pumps and grocery store checkout counters stopped clacking and banging in favor of […]
Phantom’s one man aircraft factory
By BILL WILSON The phone rings at Phantom Aeronautics in Three Rivers, Michigan. A customer is calling the kit aircraft company with a request. There is a very good chance he or she is also asking about the new 4-cycle engine Phantom is in the midst of testing. The milling machines, lathes, inventory control and […]
Sporty’s highlights trends for 2014
Every year, the folks at Sporty’s take a look back at the year and identify trends they’ve seen developing in general aviation. So, what’s on their list this year? ADS-B Out reaches a tipping point? It’s a much-maligned rule, but thousands of pilots are finally starting to understand what ADS-B is all about. Many are flying […]
FAA kicks off RPA public awareness campaign
Santa Claus may travel on a reindeer-powered sleigh, but he’s expected to deliver a ton of high-flying remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) this week to teenagers and other amateur aviators, which is making for an anxious yuletide season at the FAA, according to a report in The Washington Post. On Monday, the FAA and the RPA industry kicked […]
Final conforming Vision jet takes flight
DULUTH, Minn. — Cirrus Aircraft reports the maiden flight of the third and final conforming flight test aircraft, C-Two (C2), in its Vision SF50 personal jet program. The initial flight of C2 marks the latest milestone for the Vision jet program as C2 now joins C0 and C1 in FAA flight testing and certification activities. C2’s […]
Turbulence destroys King Air
Aircraft: Beech King Air. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Amarillo, Texas. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The accident happened during an IFR cross-country flight. The 1,650-hour pilot, who held an instrument rating, was in contact with air traffic control during the flight. The controller cleared the plane to flight level 210 and gave the pilot […]
Picture of the day: Solo over the mountains
Joshua Boyd submitted these two photos from his recent solo cross country over the Smoky Mountains in a Piper Archer.