On Feb. 4, Stephen Watson of Santa Clarita, Calif., took the first flight in his RV-7A, becoming the 8,000th completed RV reported to Van’s Aircraft. Watson works for the Jet Propulsion Labs in California, and chose the RV-7A despite the fact that the airplane is powered by a piston engine, with no rocket or jet […]
WACO kicks off Great Lakes Paint Scheme Contest
The WACO Aircraft Company has launched a Great Lakes Paint Scheme Contest. “With the Great Lakes 2T-1A-1 project coming along quickly, we are looking for a great new paint scheme to use on our first airplane,” officials said in a prepared release. Go to WACOAircraft.com to download the Great Lakes drawings. Submissions will be taken […]
FedEx Express donates 727 to SUN ’n FUN
SUN ’n FUN CAMPUS, LAKELAND, FL. – FedEx Express has donated a Boeing 727 to SUN ’n FUN to use as an interactive aviation classroom. SUN ‘n FUN CEO and President John R. “Lites” Leenhouts commented that, “It is truly an honor for SUN ’n FUN to be recognized by the aviation industry giant FedEx […]
Beringer debuts nosewheel for Twin Otter
The Beringer Co. has launched its new STC’d nosewheel for Twin Otter DHC-6. The wheel is CNC machined from high strength aluminum alloy and is anodized, protecting the part against corrosion, according to company officials. The roller bearings last longer thanks to a waterproof environment (lipseals and O-rings), officials add. The parts are optimized using […]
Janitrol, Southwind heater AD relief from C&D Associates
BUCHANAN, Mich. – Owners of aircraft with Janitrol or South Wind heaters have long had to comply with an airworthiness directive (A.D.) to repeatedly test for heater pressure decay. No longer. The FAA has authorized C&D Associates to overhaul original Janitrol or South Wind heaters with the end result being an aircraft heater free from […]
Warbird nose artist at museum
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 […]