BY J. DOUGLAS HINTON With the meltdown of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine gained its independence, causing private enterprise to bloom, including Kiev-based Aeroprakt company, founded the same year and bolstered by an investment by Saudi Sheik Hussein. The result was several Light-Sport Aircraft, principally the Aeroprakt A22-LS. Designed by Yuri Yakovlev, the LSA […]
Luscombe WIN ME! plane awarded
A long-time Luscombe lover, from a family of Luscombe lovers, is this year’s grand prize winner in the Luscombe Endowment’s “WIN ME” raffle. The winner, Jack Mason, purchased 10 tickets. He learned to fly while a teen, soloing in his father’s Luscombe 8A N72025 in 1977. Jack’s father owned and operated his 8A Luscombe for […]
Work begins on GMU park
Work has begun on a new park at Greenville Downtown Airport (GMU), the largest general aviation airport in South Carolina. Earth-moving equipment worked for several days to prepare raw land for transformation into the new park. “When the heavy equipment arrived it was an incredible moment for those of us who have worked on this […]
Government like (using) aircraft
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) hired NEXA Advisors to produce at study titled, “Government Use of Aircraft: A Taxpayer Value Perspective.” Spoiler alert: government personnel, at all levels of government, like using aircraft to do their job and find value in doing so. Imagine that. The quotes in the 24-page study are good reading. They include: […]
Rare JU52 to visit Front Range Airport
Front Range Airport (FTG) near Denver will be one of only five United States stops on the RIMOWA JU52 2012 North American Tour. The rare 1930s vintage aircraft will continue on to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., where it will be displayed on the showcase ramp during the show. The 3-engine, 9-cylinder JU52 was designed […]
Ever wonder how a solar-powered plane works?
The solar-powered Swiss plane Solar Impulse recently completed a 19-hour flight from Madrid in Spain to Morocco. The Solar Impulse is the size of a Boeing 747, but weighs around the same as a family car. The transcontinental flight is seen as a warm-up flight for a planned round-the-world tour in 2014. An animation describing […]
Crossfield award amount grows
Several donors have boosted the cash stipend for the 26th Annual A. Scott Crossfield Aerospace Educator of the Year Award from its original amount of $1,500 to $5,000, according to officials with the National Aviation Hall of Fame, who added the call for entries has been extended to June 30. The award is a juried […]
Do something
We donated a gift subscription to the Friends of Oceano Airport (FOA) for their May 12 Oceano Airport Celebration silent auction. In today’s mail I received a thank you letter from FOA organizers, Mitch Latting and Jolie Lucas. From the letter, “we’ve gathered funds which will help us continue to promote and protect this ‘little slice of […]
SUN ’n FUN Fly-In weekend
This weekend, SUN ’n FUN officials are inviting all pilots to fly in for a full slate of aviation activities, camping and camaraderie. A highlight of the weekend will be a Pilot Town Hall Meeting with AOPA President Craig Fuller. On Saturday, the Florida Air Museum, which is on the SUN ’n FUN campus at […]