West Star Aviation Inc. will consolidate all surplus avionics sales and service at its facility at St. Louis Regional Airport (ALN) in East Alton, Illinois, effective immediately, closing its division in Hiawatha, Iowa. “This consolidation allows us to control expenses during more difficult economic times,” said Jim Swehla, VP of sales & marketing. To make […]
Know when to crow
To at least some degree we pilot types have gotten a bad rap. More often than not I find that we’re characterized as whiners, babies, rich guys who want everybody else in town to pay for their playthings. And while I disagree entirely with that perspective, I can completely understand how we came to earn […]
GA’s Catch 22
Why don’t FBOs sell auto fuel? When will unleaded avgas be available — and who will sell it? These questions, and more, abound about aviation’s Catch 22: FBOs will not stock unleaded fuels until the market supports it — and the market will not develop until the fuels are readily available. A fuel system at […]
EAA kicks off free first flight lessons
Since 1992, EAA members have provided more than 1.5 million Young Eagles with an introductory flight in a general aviation aircraft. During the past 18 months, EAA, with support from individuals and the aviation industry, has been building a “Flight Plan” to assist interested Young Eagles in earning a pilot certificate. The next element of […]
First flight of restored Colonial Skimmer C-1
Colonial Skimmer Serial Number One, the prototype of the Lake Amphibian fleet, recently had its first flight after a complete restoration at Walter J. Kolodza Airport (GBR) in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. John Staber of Old Chatham, N.Y., a flight instructor and pilot of Lake Amphibian aircraft since 1964, has for the past 11 years been […]
Steering birds clear of planes
The “Miracle on the Hudson,” when Capt. Chesley Sullenberger famously ditched his US Airways airliner into the Hudson River after multiple bird strikes, has resulted in a number of safety recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board, including research on the use of pulsating lights to deter birds. For Scott Philiben, vice president of Bend, […]
CT LSA used to measure volcanic ash
A specially equipped Flight Design CT Supralite from a German company, UL GmbH is being used by the Duesseldorf Technical University’s Department of Volcanology to study airborne ash from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland. To allow higher altitude measurements, the CT Supralite was equipped with an oxygen system. Supralite is a version of the popular […]
Cadets aim high at CAP’s flight academies
Nearly 200 Civil Air Patrol cadets from across America will learn to fly at a National Flight Academy (NFA) this summer. CAP is holding eight national flight academies this year, each specifically designed for cadets who want to learn to fly either powered aircraft or gliders. The first NFA, a glider academy, is already underway […]
Growing the next generation
Chesapeake Sport Pilot Flight School, and Annapolis EAA Chapters 532 and Laurel Chapter 4, recently partnered to present a one-day aviation workshop and Young Eagles Rally for 68 local Boy Scouts. The workshop was held at the Bay Bridge Airport (W29) in Stevensville, Md. The Youth Aviation Adventure program was started in Ohio in 1997 […]