By R. KURT BARNHART, Ph.D., CFII-MEI, A&P/IA For those pilots who haven’t noticed it, there is an emerging trend in aviation that is sure to impact most Americans — whether they know it or not — and most assuredly will impact the general aviation community. The Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), as it is known in […]
Students restoring Stits Skycoupe
For the past two years, a group of seven high school students has gathered nearly every Saturday at a small hangar on Flabob Airport (RIR) in Riverside, Calif., to work on restoring a 1963 Skycoupe. Designed by Ray Stits, who founded EAA Chapter One and has been associated with Flabob for decades, the Skycoupe was […]
RIP: Will 94 UL be DOA?
Here is a thought experiment about the future of avgas. The conclusion is fairly obvious if you do the numbers: The US consumed somewhere around 135 billion gallons of auto fuel in 2009. The last annual figures I have are for 2008 at about 138 billion and declining. General aviation consumes less than 300 million […]
Operation Phenomen takes off to Haiti with John Travolta as pilot
In continuing efforts to send aid to Haiti, a late night flight piloted by John Travolta took off from Tampa Jan. 26 carrying 50 doctors and more than 7,000 pounds of medical supplies, according to officials with the Embassy of Haiti and the Greater Washington Haiti Relief Committee. On the return trip, Travolta brought Haitian-Americans […]
Rotax lifts TBO to 2,000 hours
SPLOG By DAN JOHNSON No one doubts the leading position of Rotax engines among LSAs. Of course, most European producers use the Austrian brand, but so do many U.S. builders, even Van’s Aircraft. However, despite their dominance, some GA pilots have scoffed at the brand, saying it isn’t a “real” aircraft engine partly as it […]
Conch Republic Air Force makes relief flight to Haiti
The Conch Republic Air Force delivered antibiotics and baby nutritional supplies to Haiti on Saturday, Jan. 23. Pilots Fred Cabanas, Todd Stuart, Les Weston and Raymond Cabanas made the flight from Key West to Haiti, where they were met by representatives from Albert Schweitzer Hospital Haiti. Susan Cabanas and Dr. Mike Whitley coordinated the collection […]
Avemco lowers renters premiums while increasing coverage
Avemco Insurance Co. has reduced premiums for non-owned single-engine aircraft while doubling the coverage options for aircraft damage liability (ADL) insurance. “Our expanded ADL limits make Avemco’s non-owned insurance offering the most extensive available in the industry,” said Jim Lauerman, president. “Now pilots who operate GA aircraft they do not own can customize their insurance […]
Composites course offered online
Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) and Wichita Area Technical College (WATC) will host an online Composites Maintenance Technology course beginning in March. The course will provide students with an awareness of composite materials technology principles with a focus on repair and maintenance and associated safety issues. Sponsored by the FAA, the […]
US Aviation installs stainless steel fuel tanks
US Aviation at Denton Municipal Airport (DTO) in Texas has become the first FBO in the USA to select fuel storage tanks with stainless steel liners instead of the traditional epoxy-coated tanks. The use of stainless liners is new to the fuel storage industry, coming with a longer warranty, assuring a safer, unpolluted product, while […]