May 1 was the day many in Frederick, Maryland, had long awaited — or dreaded, depending on your point of view. The home of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), defender of our freedoms to fly, was finally getting a control tower. Was it a day to celebrate or commiserate? A control tower had […]
The engines of AERO Part II
Your blogger briefly mentioned the engines on display at AERO Friedrichshafen 2012 in a previous report on April 22. With Europe’s largest general aviation show now two weeks past, I thought it was time to provide a few more details. With the previous two shows having focused great attention on electric propulsion, AERO organizers wisely […]
NTSB slates general aviation safety forum
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will hold a two-day forum here focused on safety issues related to general aviation June 19-20. The event, “General Aviation Safety: Climbing to the Next Level,” will be chaired by NTSB Chairman Deborah A. P. Hersman and all five board members will participate. “Each year, hundreds […]
Hawker Beechcraft gets OK to operate during bankruptcy
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York has granted approval of Hawker Beechcraft’s “First Day Motions” as part of the company’s voluntary filing for reorganization under Chapter 11. Approval of these motions enables Hawker Beechcraft to continue to operate in the ordinary course of business during the reorganization process. Among the […]
Warbirds to tour Eastern U.S.
The Commemorative Air Force’s famous Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber, “FIFI” — the only remaining flying example of the aircraft in the world — will return to the eastern U.S. for a four-week tour. The B-29 will be joined by an equally rare B-24 Liberator, “Diamond Lil,” and an actual combat veteran P-51 Mustang from the […]
Canadian Skyhawks to make their Oshkosh debut
The Canadian SkyHawks parachute team, the official skydiving team of the Canadian Forces, will make its first appearance at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in 2012 with performances during the daily afternoon air show. This year’s Oshkosh is slated for July 23-29 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. The SkyHawks will be performing Friday-Sunday, July 27-29, at […]
King Schools releases online FIRC
John and Martha King of King Schools have released a new online Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC). “This FIRC moves away from reviewing the same topics that flight instructors learned as private pilots, and instead gives flight instructors more insight on issues such as identifying and changing at-risk behaviors, and conducting an effective flight review,” […]
Vets to share memories of D-Day
World War II has been the subject of countless books and movies, but few people have had the opportunity to hear what it was truly like from the men who fought in the trenches. On Friday, May 11, and Saturday, May 12, Fantasy of Flight presents part four of its 2012 Legends & Legacies Symposium […]
LEGO Sopwith Camel takes flight
The legendary Sopwith Camel, the aircraft flown by World War I aces and one of the most recognizable British aircraft to take to the skies, has been recreated as a LEGO Exclusive model. The biplane that took on the Red Baron Manfred von Richthofen and his flying circus has been turned into an authentic model […]