This March 2008 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: Cessna 172. Injuries: None. Location: Charlottesville, Va. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot attempted to start the engine using the key, but […]
Ask Paul: The seal of approval
Q: We’re building an RV-6A using an O-360 narrow deck engine. There are six studs that hold this engine together. The center studs are wider at the base than the outer four studs. The case has an indentation where the seals fit. All six are counterbored. The size of the center studs at the base […]
Second TSA nominee withdraws
Three days after appearing before a Senate Committee regarding his nomination to lead the Transportation Security Administration, Maj. Gen. Robert Harding withdrew his name from consideration, citing questions about his background as a defense contractor. Harding was the second nominee for the position to withdraw because of concerns that background questions would not be good […]
Air Force jet flies on plant oil fuel blend
On March 25, Air Force Maj. Chris Seager broke a flight barrier of sorts when he piloted an A-10 Thunderbolt jet fueled by a 50-50 blend of camelina plant oil and regular JP-8 jet fuel, according to a story at GovernmentExecutive.com. The story notes that the Air Force’s objective is to certify a family of […]
Total Eclipse debuts
Eclipse Aerospace, Inc. (EAI) is rolling out a new factory refurbishment program called “Total Eclipse” for new customers of the certified twin-engine Very Light Jet. The Total Eclipse program marks the completion of the final design of the original EA500 aircraft, company official said. In September 2009, Eclipse Aerospace embarked on a mission to finish […]
Epic Air to move to China?
An Oregon federal bankruptcy judge will decide Tuesday if a company owned by the Chinese government will take over the remnants of Epic Air and the companies associated with it, according to a report at AVweb, which notes the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC)’s bid of $4.3 million cash was selected over two American […]
‘Like night and day’
TSA’s general manager for general aviation, Brian Delauter, told a meeting of the Westchester Aviation Association that he will use his general aviation experience in government and private industry to lead TSA’s strategy to enhance security within the general aviation sector without crippling that sector, according to an AviationWeek report, that notes that “both local […]
Bonhomme wins Red Bull season opener
Defending champion Paul Bonhomme of Britain won the first Red Bull Air Race of the 2010 season in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, March 27, finishing just ahead of compatriot Nigel Lamb and Hungary’s Peter Besenyei. Austria’s Hannes Arch finished a disappointing 11th after posting the fastest qualifying time on Friday. Arch, who had won the […]
August Bellanca dies at 83
August Bellanca, president of AviaBellanca Inc. died March 16 in Annapolis, Maryland due to complications arising from chemotherapy being used in treatment of colon cancer. Bellanca was the son of aviation pioneer Giuseppe Mario Bellanca, one of the first to apply aerodynamic principles to the design of aircraft — a number of which went on […]