Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: 1 Serious. Location: Clarendon, Texas. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was attempting to land at night. He saw the airport’s rotating beacon but was unable to activate the runway lights. He maneuvered the plane onto the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, extended the flaps and reduced engine […]
Briefly, a showroom of Cubs
Imagine yourself in a dealership filled with new Cubs! That was the scene at Florida’s Spruce Creek Fly-In community recently. For a moment, the FBO morphed into a gleaming showroom of Cubs, both Legend and legendary. Stick-and-Rudder City! Paraphrasing that ‘70s pop song, there were big ones and tall ones and fat ones and small […]
Innovations: Let there be light
North Carolina pilot Chip Davis used to struggle in the dark to get the towbar on the nosegear of his C172A, so he came up with his own solution. He started by noting that the collapsible towbar for Cessna, Beech, Piper, and many tailwheel aircraft has a T-handle made of 3/4-inch tubing. “A single AAA-cell […]
Aviation Innovations
We recently put out a call to our readers and advertisers for their Aviation Innovations, asking them for their innovative ideas to make flying easier and more fun. The response was overwhelming. Starting today, we’ll present some of these innovations. We hope that you’ll find them as interesting as we did. Let us know about […]
City officials in Virginia recognize value of general aviation
The Alliance for Aviation Across America is reporting that mayors and city officials from 12 communities across Virginia have recognized the importance of general aviation to their towns and communities. A letter sent to President Obama specifically cites the harm that a proposed $100-per-flight “user fee” tax would cause on businesses, farms, and non-profit organizations […]
NJ teen earns driver’s permit, soloes on same day
Josh Eichel earned his learner’s permit to drive a car and flew his first solo on the same day in November at Monmouth Executive Airport (BLM). According to a story in the News-Transcript, the Marlboro, N.J., teenager, who had been working toward the solo flight since 8th grade, noted that his Mom thinks flying is […]
AAR recruiting A&Ps
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL — AAR has job openings for 70 aircraft mechanics at its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) station in Duluth, Minn., and is expanding recruitment to the Twin Cities with a job fair on Jan. 23. From 1 to 7 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel Bloomington by Mall of America, AAR recruiters will be […]
Bristell names US Aviation authorized service facility
Bristell USA has appointed US Aviation at Denton Airport (DTO) in Texas to provide Factory Authorized Service for the Bristell Light-Sport Aircraft. US Aviation have been a Rotax Service Center for many years with six Rotax trained, full time A&Ps on staff. “Bristell audited the US Aviation facility and found the capability requirements and the […]
GA accidents fall slightly in 2011
According to just-released statistics from the National Transportation Safety Board, there was a slight drop in general aviation fatalities in 2011. The total number of deaths in aviation increased from 476 to 494 in 2011, with about 90% involving fatalities in general aviation, according to NTSB officials. Although general aviation fatalities account for the majority […]