WASHINGTON, DC — Last year, airplane shipments increased just .6%, while billings were down .9%, according to figures released by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). While mixed, the 2012 year-end numbers don’t reflect “the amount of development work in progress in general aviation,” said Brad Mottier, GAMA chairman. “The general aviation segment is poised […]
Wagstaff joins Excalibur 421 team
PASO ROBLES, Calif. — Aerobatic champion Patty Wagstaff has joined the Excalibur 421 team. She will be the demonstration pilot and also will be responsible for overseeing the transition training program. The Excalibur 421 features a remanufactured Cessna 421 airframe upgraded with Pratt & Whitney PT6A-135A turboprop engines. It also includes a custom Garmin avionics […]
Book: Topgun Days
With the movie Top Gun back in theaters, the timing of Dave “Bio” Baranek’s book titled, Topgun Days, is appropriate. The subtitle says it all… “Dogfighting, cheating death, and Hollywood glory as one of America’s Best Fighter Jocks.” Baranek was a Top Gun instructor when he “was assigned to combine his day-to-day flight duties with participation in […]
Eastern Aviation Fuels sponsors scholarship
The Florida Aviation Trade Association (FATA) and Eastern Aviation Fuels, the exclusive distributor of Shell branded aviation fuels in the United States, have established the Gary Steele Scholarship Fund as part of the FATA Scholarship Program. The fund is set up to honor the memory of Gary Steele and support the FATA/Embry Riddle Aeronautical University […]
Accurate fuel gauges for aftermarket Cirrus
REDMOND, Ore. – Pilots are taught from an early age to not trust their fuel gauges. Cies Inc. wants to change that with its TSO’d fuel senders. The Digital Fuel Level System is now available as a retrofit on the Cirrus-line of aircraft (SR20, SR22, SR22TN and SR22T). The system will measure fuel volume within 3% […]
Aviator’s Practical Organizer debuts
Making its debut is the Aviator’s Practical Organizer, a new system that helps student pilots organize and understand the knowledge needed for the oral and flight exams. Created by Teresa Guillemot, the Aviator’s Practical Organizer (APO) is an organizational tool for private, instrument and commercial student pilots that help them compile and organize all the […]
Tickets now available for Thunder in the Valley Airshow
COLUMBUS, Ga. — Advanced tickets to the March 16 and 17 Thunder in the Valley Air Show are now available for sale. “In 2012, we partnered with AttendStar to offer the 24/7 accessibility of online ticket sales and received positive feedback from out-of-town attendees and Facebook fans,” said Phaedra Childers, Event Coordinator. “We’re happy to […]
Bad landing for distracted pilot
Aircraft: Piper Navajo. Injuries: None. Location: North Bend, Ore. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot had been flying on an IFR clearance in IFR conditions. As he approached his home airport and the weather improved to VFR, he canceled his IFR clearance with the intent on finishing the approach VFR. He neglected to […]
This ain’t your grandfather’s SUN ’n FUN
Two months from now we’ll all be talking about the SUN ’n FUN International Fly In and Expo in the past tense. It will be behind us, and if history repeats itself, SUN ’n FUN 2013 will be as successful as it has been in the past. This year will be different, however, because this year […]