On Feb. 17, as part of its February Open Cockpit event, the New England Air Museum welcomes Connecticut native Gary Velasco, who has developed a reputation as one of the finest “nose artists” in the business. “Nose art” refers to the caricatures painted on wartime aircraft, an art form popularized during World War II. Velasco […]
Glastar pilot forgets the gear
Aircraft: Glastar. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: Wilsonville, Ore. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot took off from the airport in his amphibious experimental airplane with the intention of flying a closed traffic pattern. Because he planned to land back on the runway, he left the landing gear in the extended position. During the […]
The post-war bubble
On May 17, 1945, with the war in Europe ending and military production being cut back, the War Production Board announced the end of the prohibition on the production of civilian aircraft, providing such manufacturing didn’t interfere with war output. Aviation magazines and the mainstream press jumped on the news of the post-war aviation potential. […]
Innospec news — a shot across the bow?
Early last week my inbox starting filling with breathless news that Innospec, the world’s last producer of Tetraethyllead (TEL), the amazing chemical compound that gives avgas such excellent anti-detonant properties, is planning to end production in 2013. Worse yet, according to an online article in Specialty Chemical News, the company had actually planned to stop […]
Innovations: Add ANR to your old headset
Many pilots have upgraded their headset to one of the many popular ANR headsets on the market. But what to do for a passenger without a headset or for someone yet to make the leap to an ANR? If you have an old non-ANR headset, consider an ANR Kit from Headsets Inc., which makes kits […]
February Mooney Flyer online
Mooney pilot? Mooney fan? Just interested? The February issue of The Mooney Flyer is available now (download PDF) for all the above… and anyone else.
Try Flight Guide iEFB for free
Still exploring the many options available for flight planning and navigation via app? If so, Airguide Publications is making their Flight Guide iEFB IFR/VFR Plus available for free for 30 days. Download the app from Apple’s App Store to your iPad, create a user account and begin your 30-day free trial.
NTSB commends AOPA for response to safety recommendations
National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman has praised the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association for its response to NTSB safety recommendations. AOPA took action that exceeded the NTSBs recommendations following the investigation into the Aug. 9, 2010 airplane accident in Alaska that killed former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens. The NTSB recommended that AOPA […]
FAA mandates inspections of older Pipers
In a new Service Bulletin, the FAA is mandating enhanced inspections and repairs where necessary to cables that control tail surfaces on about 30,000 Piper aircraft. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, the bulletin, prompted by at least one accident and a serious incident stemming from such malfunctioning flight-control systems in recent […]