Former Minnesota Vikings All-Pro linebacker Matt Blair, a 2008 candidate for induction into the Football Hall of Fame and a successful entrepreneur, has become involved in the Red Tail Project. Blair, who owns Matt Blair’s Celebrity Promotions, Inc., says he plans to “help raise awareness, build momentum, and get information out about the Red Tail […]
‘Ruff Stuff’ pilot dies
Norbert C. Ruff, of Bloomer, Wis., died Nov. 28, following a stroke. He was 88. Born in 1919, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940. During the war he was stationed in the South Pacific and flew a P-38 with the 80th Pursuit Group. After the war Ruff left the military and became […]
Swick Clip-T gets new owner
In 1972 Jim and Mike Swift bought a 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12 with an 85-hp engine. The plan was that Mike would use the plane to build his hours to qualify for an airline career. While recovering the aircraft, the brothers decided to do some modifications to it, including clipping the wings. Other modifications followed, including […]
AOPA launches security course
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has teamed with the Transportation Security Administration to develop an online course to help flight schools, FBOs, aircraft owners and pilots to enhance security. The interactive course, which offers practical guidelines and security tips, is an extension of AOPA’s Airport Watch program. The course, along with a review of […]
SkyCatcher’s ‘Made in China’ label upsets some pilots
The fact that Cessna’s LSA, the SkyCatcher, is being built in China has garnered a lot of attention for the Wichita airplane manufacturer — and not all of it is good. Many took the company to task for not building the plane in the U.S., but instead choosing the Shenyang Aircraft Company (SAC) in China […]
Million Air at LA Exec AP plays host to “Parade of Pistons” expo
Million Air at the Los Angeles Executive Airport will play host to the inaugural “Parade of Pistons” expo March 27–29. This is the first of four regional events designed to make it easy for aircraft consumers to visit a single location to compare new piston aircraft. On display will be everything from LSAs to high-performance […]
the buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
“Grass strips…are just disappearing — being gobbled up.” — Jean Weasener, who owns New Jersey’s Twin Pine Airport with her husband, William. “It is pretty bad.” — Nisha Marvel of the Washington State Department of Transportation on the condition of Chehalis-Centralia Airport after recent floods. “We’d be happy to have any other manufacturer’s VLJs or […]
Famous flyer: Morgan Freeman shares his passion for flight
Like many pilots, flying got Morgan Freeman into trouble when he was in high school. “I started flying at my desk in school,” the award-winning actor said during a visit to AirVenture this year. “My English teacher would see me ‘flying’ an F-86 Sabrejet at my desk and ask, ‘Morgan, what are you doing?’” Like […]
COWS AND AIRPLANES DON’T MIX
I was feeling pretty good, so I decided to fly my 1946 Luscombe 8A about an hour before dark. I put in five gallons. I had maybe two or three gallons in it already. I figured I would be in the air only about 30 minutes, so I reasoned I was good for about one […]