Eastern Iowa’s Aviation Heritage, a new book from Arcadia Publishing, captures Eastern Iowa’s long-time fascination with flight. From primitive air gliders and balloons to today’s modern airplanes (and everything in between), aviation enthusiasts in Eastern Iowa have had their heads in the clouds since the late 1800s. Written by Iowa native and aviation history expert […]
Windshear wrinkles Zodiac
This May 2009 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others. Aircraft: Zodiac 601. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: Greenville, Tenn. Aircraft damage: 1 Minor. What reportedly happened: The pilot obtained an abbreviated computer weather briefing before […]
Tecnam’s all-autogas fleet
While many in the U.S. fret over the future of avgas, especially in light of last week’s announcement by the Center for Environmental Health threatening to sue suppliers and the FBOs that sell leaded fuel in California, the world’s largest producer of light aircraft has been quietly preparing for a lead-free future. As reported on […]
Training reform begins
Just two weeks after the Pilot Training Reform Symposium in Atlanta chaired by the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE), Aviation Supplies & Academics (ASA), Sporty’s Academy and SAFE have made their training syllabi available not only from the SAFE website, but from the Pilot Training Reform website as well. Responding to a recommendation […]
Iceman’s Flight Log
Our thanks to reader Patrick Rydzewski, who sent us this link to a blog written by Fort Worth pilot Ron Phillips, chronicling his training and his love of flight. Phillips, who is known as “Iceman,” says: “This site is the story of my flying career…what there is of it. I haven’t completed my goal of […]
Thunderbirds to fly on alternative fuel
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds flight demonstration team will be flying on alternative fuel for the first time at the Joint Services Open House at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland this weekend. Aircraft #5 and #6 will perform the team’s first performance using “green” biofuel, making the Thunderbirds the first Department of Defense […]
FAA-conforming HondaJet reaches milestones
Honda Aircraft Co. announced at the annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) that it has successfully completed additional milestone flight tests with its FAA-conforming HondaJet, including the achievement of a maximum operating altitude of 43,000 ft. This accomplishment follows soon after Honda’s jet recorded a maximum speed of 489 mph during flight testing […]
TSA’s GA chief leaves agency
The departure this month of Brian Delauter, the Transportation Security Administration’s general manager of its general aviation branch, is raising questions about the fate of some key TSA initiatives affecting GA, such as the rewrite of the proposed Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) and expansion of gateways at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), according […]
Hawker Beechcraft opens Hawker 400XPR upgrade order book
Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Support (GCS) is using this year’s European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) to officially open its Hawker 400XPR order book and begin accepting letters of intent for its factory-direct aircraft upgrade program. Hawker 400XPR development is progressing and certifications of its Pro Line 21 avionics, Hawker winglets and FJ44-4A-32 engines […]