The weekend wasn’t kind to the TICO Warbird Airshow. Showery weather plagued Florida’s east coast. Some complained online that warbird flying was thinner this year and a promised act didn’t appear. But for the dyed-in-wool military aviation aficionado, this was still a pure play. Any time of year, the Valiant Air Command (VAC) offers its […]
Making movies, talking aviation
When videographer Dave Loveman first approached me in 2009 about doing videos I was hesitant. I may have been unsure, but website visitors spoke clearly and you know what? I like doing them as much as you like viewing them. More than 138 videos are available, all for free. Many more are works in process. […]
Map of airports with autogas now online
Thanks to GAfuels blogger Dean Billing, a map of all the airports that offer lead-free, ethanol-free autogas is now available at this link. Hovering over a marker will show you the airport’s identifier. Selecting a marker will open the relevant page of airport information. This map uses data found in a comprehensive list of these […]
FAA cites continued aviation growth at forecast meet
Aviation in the U.S. is expected to pause in growth this year, but over the next 20 years to show significant growth, with general aviation’s demand for products and services to be mainly in new business jets and Light-Sport Aircraft. These were the primary issues discussed at the FAA’s annual forecast conference, held in Washington, […]
Group files lawsuit against EPA on avgas lead emissions
Members of the General Aviation (GA) Avgas Coalition say that a lawsuit filed against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the environmental group Friends of the Earth (FOE) over piston-engine aircraft’s use of leaded aviation gasoline (avgas) is not taking into consideration the work already completed toward the development and deployment of an unleaded solution. […]
Indiana governor names March General Appreciation Month
March is “General Aviation Appreciation” month throughout the state of Indiana after Governor Mitchell Daniels joined a growing list of governors who publicly recognize the importance of general aviation to their states. According to the Indiana Department of Transportation, general aviation contributes more than $4.9 billion in economic activity to the state, supporting more than […]
Aerospace industry and unions stress importance to economy to thwart threatened budget cuts
The U.S aerospace and defense industry directly employed 1.05 million workers in 2010 who received $84.2 billion in wages and who paid $15.4 billion in U.S. federal income taxes and $1.9 billion in state individual income taxes, according to a study commissioned by the Aerospace Industries Association. The industry has an estimated indirect and induced […]
Idaho governor signs bill that exempts sales tax
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter has signed bill H.417, which exempts sales tax on aircraft parts installed on out-of-state aircraft. Because of the emergency clause included in this legislation, this bill becomes law immediately. “This is an excellent piece of legislation that creates a net financial gain for the state of Idaho,” said Jeff Mihalic, president […]
Vintage video of the first jet flight
General Aviation News fuels expert Ben Visser sent along this link to a video of the first jet flight in October 1942. Included in the email was this note: “They installed a $2 doorbell ringer to the dash of the P59A to provide vibration so the gauges wouldn’t stick. Ya gotta love it…”