In your Dec. 7, 2007, issue, in the article about David Tallichet (“David Tallichet, restaurant pioneer and airplane collector, dies at 84”), I found one lonely sentence that really caught my attention. “He found another fleet of Martin B-26s in western Canada, where the whole lot had crashed on the way to Alaska.” What a […]
Diary of a mad Luscombe pilot
Every new year brings contemplations, convolutions and resolutions, most of which are held dear for a week or two and then thrown out with that final bit of holiday trash. Contemplations of the New Year sort can get deep and perplexing at times. One realizes the Earth is another year older and one’s backside is […]
Airplane, heal thyself
Are self-healing airplanes the next big thing in GA? Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed technology by which airplanes can heal their own skins and engine parts can protect themselves from hazardous materials. Scientists are working on a process where damage triggers the repair mechanism in epoxy-based materials. When a crack […]
Put a Mustang in your house — or on top of it
Want to own a Mustang — or Spitfire, Corsair or Air Tractor — but just can’t come up with the cash? Now you can express your love for these classic planes with a 1/5th scale replica that can be used as home décor or a weather vane. “If the house is big enough, some of […]
Political climate creates uncertainty for GA
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington political situation will make the climate for general aviation “”uncertain”” this year. That’s according to James Coyne, president of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), who stressed this at a recent meeting for the Washington, D.C., press. Uncertainty brings with it many issues that can cause concern, he notes. However, […]
What to do about a ‘slightly’ rough running engine
I always look forward to hearing what you have to say, so here is my question: I fly a 1954 Piper PA-22/20 with an O-320 (no suffix) Lycoming, with about 975 hours since major. I fly it 150 to 175 hours per year, and keep up with all the maintenance an old ship requires. The […]
A new fuel takes flight
On Dec. 17, 2007, the United States Air Force flew a C-17 Globemaster III from McChord Air Force Base in Washington to McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey on a 50/50 blend of synthetic fuel and JP-8, a traditional hydrocarbon jet fuel. On Dec. 17, 2007, the United States Air Force flew a C-17 […]
A nighttime approach ends badly
A missed approach not performed by the pilot and the directional control not maintained by the pilot during landing. Contributing factors were the crosswind, unavailability of wind information due to inoperative meteorological equipment, and a NOTAM not issued by airport personnel indicating that the meteorological equipment was inoperative.
An historic airplane rises from an abandoned wreck
“Wow! Wow! Wow!” Those were the only words one Oshkosh visitor could utter as he stood beside Tom Dinndorf’s elegant Stinson SR-10, an airplane once owned by Shell Oil Co. and flown by Jimmy Doolittle. The gleaming red and yellow Stinson, correct to the smallest detail of its original 1938 appearance, is a past Vintage […]