Powder Puff Pilot has released “Claire Bear Flies to Oshkosh,” the latest in a series of full-color picture books starring Claire Bear, a pink-clad aerobatic performer and mentor for aspiring young pilots. In her fourth aviation picture book, author Sue Hughes describes a visit a to EAA’s AirVenture, “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration,” held every […]
Unauthorized instruction leads to crash
These October 2009 accident reports are provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, they are intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others. Aircraft: Piper Super Cub. Injuries: 2 Fatal. Location: Sikeston, Mo. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The 55-year-old pilot/owner held ATP, multi-engine, commercial and seaplane […]
Healing continues for Reno survivor
“He’s doing alright. Doing pretty good actually,” said Tracy, the wife of Reno Air Races crash survivor Larry Cruz. (I wrote about him Oct. 9). He is still in Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center but now has his new hook. He’d like to get moved to the rehab floor, but he still has a lot of […]
Congress is listening… at least one member is
Congressman Todd Rokita (Indiana) is a commercially-rated pilot who shares my concern with regulatory bloat and responded to my editorial “Have you put on some weight?” I recently read your editorial in General Aviation News titled “Have you put on a few pounds?” As both a commercially rated private pilot and as a member of […]
Hummelbird takes flight
By RAEANN SLAYBAUGH When you see it coming, you might think your eyes are playing tricks on you. Do they even make airplanes that small? Ted Dearing of Chandler, Ariz., does. And he does it well. Weighing less than most motorcycles — and delivering up to 50 miles per gallon — his 340-pound, Volkswagen-powered Hummelbird […]
Recreational Aviation Foundation names executive director
Following a nationwide search, the board of directors of the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) have named Carl Hicks as its first executive director. Truly a recreational pilot, Hicks, 58, of Gig Harbor, Wash., received his private pilot license in August 1975, and has several thousand hours of flight experience. After retiring from his first career […]
Celebrating 100 years of soaring
NASA’s Langley Research Center has partnered with the First Flight Foundation and other organizations to celebrate Soaring 100 — the centennial of Orville Wright’s historic, world record glider flight of Oct. 24, 1911. His nine minutes and 45 second flight started the sport and science of modern soaring. The Oct. 21-24 event will be at […]
Tanis partners with Bruce’s Custom Covers
Tanis Aircraft Products has entered into a business partnership with Bruce’s Custom Covers to fabricate Tanis brand insulated aircraft covers for protection of aircraft in harsh and demanding winter conditions. Tanis provides aircraft preheat systems to the global aviation industry. Bruce’s Custom Covers supplies aircraft covers. With more than 8,500 patterns, Bruce’s Custom Covers offers […]
Global reinsurer opens GA office in New York
Swiss Re Corporate Solutions’ aviation unit is expanding its operations in the North American general aviation market, basing an underwriting team in New York dedicated to developing its GA portfolio across the United States. As part of its growth strategy in the United States, the company also expanded its relationship with Seattle-based London Aviation Underwriters […]