Roll, loop, dodge and shoot like a World War II ace with the new “WWII Aces” game for the Nintendo Wii system. Fly alone or with a friend via split-screen co-op as you join the ranks of the Royal Air Force, Soviet Air Force or Luftwaffe and pilot 12 authentic airplanes, including the Spitfire, Mosquito […]
50 years and counting…
Philip Carrell sold his first airplane 50 years ago. It was a 1947 Stinson 108. Since then he has sold more than 500 airplanes, some for as much as $8 million, to customers as far away as Australia, Brazil and the Czech Republic. Late last month Carrell celebrated his 50th anniversary as a salesman for […]
Politics put FAA’s top spot in limbo
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nowhere is it more evident that politics rules government than what is going on with the inaction on presidential nominees. Robert Sturgell was nominated last October to be FAA administrator, but the Senate hasn’t held even one confirmation hearing. His is one of at least 75 nominations held up in the Senate. […]
Engine exhaust creates unsafe condition for Colt owner
My Piper Colt has a strong odor of engine exhaust in the cockpit. The mechanic says he is sure the muffler is good, and turning off the heater does not change the amount of odor. Looking at the floor board, directly below the seats, I can see a lot of daylight. There’s an upholstery cover […]
Liability raises its ugly head once again
I recently received a number of notes from people who asked the same two questions: Could aircraft engine manufacturers build engines that operate safely on autogas and autogas containing ethanol and, if so, why don’t they? I recently received a number of notes from people who asked the same two questions: Could aircraft engine manufacturers […]
January 2006 accident reports
The aircraft’s encounter with a deer during landing
The Flying Farmer’s last show
Charlie Kulp flew his amazing aerobatic comedy routine one last time Oct. 28. The much-admired air show pilot, known far and wide as the Flying Farmer, drew a record crowd to the Flying Circus Aerodrome near Warrenton, Virginia, on a blustery day that concluded with special presentations to Kulp by representatives of the FAA and […]
European investment in Eclipse ‘in excess of $100 million’
Eclipse Aviation CEO Vern Raburn announced Jan. 14 an “expansion” of his company’s partnership with European Technology and Investment Research Center Aviation (ETIRC), which has invested “substantially in excess of $100 million” in the Albuquerque-based VLJ builder. The investment makes ETIRC the largest shareholder in Eclipse, according to Raburn. ETIRC already was the sales, customer […]
Air show performers Steve Oliver and Suzanne Asbury-Oliver dance through the sky
“It sure beats working for a living.” That from Steve Oliver. He and his wife, Suzanne Asbury-Oliver, perform at air shows across the country in the Oregon Aero SkyDancer. Steve is the aerobatic pilot in the family while Suzanne is a skywriter — one of the few left today. Together, they travel about nine months […]