Cessna is reporting that it sold 178 aircraft, valued at more than $1 billion, at the National Business Aviation Association convention last month. During the three-day event, Cessna took orders for 101 Citations, 59 Caravans, 13 single-engine pistons and five SkyCatchers. These orders were in addition to those announced opening day for 30 Citation Xs […]
Bombardier launches Learjet NXT
Bombardier Aerospace has launched its all-new Learjet aircraft, provisionally named Learjet NXT, which company officials are calling “the next generation in Learjet excellence.” A public unveiling of the new jet is expected in October 2008, in time to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the first flight of a Learjet, according to Pierre Beaudoin, president and […]
A rose by any other name?
Picking a name for an airplane, especially the first of its kind, is never easy. Recently Cirrus Design Corp. bypassed the hassle by naming its entry into the Very Light Jet market simply “the jet.” Other aircraft manufacturers leaned toward celestial phenomena (Eclipse) or weapons (Javelin). When Cessna introduced its first business jet in the […]
No reprieve: Look out for commercials from your plane
It had to happen: The advertising industry finally realized that people flying in planes —whether airliners or their own Cessnas — are captive audiences. That’s why one advertising agency, London-based Ad-Air, has developed outdoor advertising designed to be viewed from aircraft in flight. The ads, which are about the size of five NFL football fields, […]
Buzzzz…….
“If the younger generation doesn’t learn to fly, what’s going to happen?” — Anna Pennington, 85, a long-time North Carolina pilot “Thank goodness for DUATS.” — AOPA President Phil Boyer, in talking about the many failures of Lockheed Martin’s FSS “A lot of people in GA don’t get involved in politics, but when something like […]
Build a Plane helps build our next generation
It’s a simple idea, really: Put airplane projects in the hands of high school kids. The initial mission of Build A Plane is to help kids learn how to be mechanics, as well as the skills needed to build a plane — skills they can then use in the workplace. But the program does so […]
Alcohol as fuel: Just say no
A short response to Tom Gribble’s Letter to the Editor in the “Quit Whining About Ethanol” in the Sept. 21 issue, sort of one point at a time: 1. You are correct — alcohol does take more petrochemical energy to make than it produces, so we should use it for…what? 2. It costs more than […]
Blast from the past
I just ran across your July 2002 article about Tommy Martin and his sons (Sons follow father to create Midwest aviation legend). My dad, Frank Reinhold of Sioux City, learned to fly in an Aeronca C3 in about 1937 or so, and his instructor was Tommy Martin. My brother, Frank Martin “Marty” Reinhold (deceased), was named for […]
Let’s keep common sense in aviation
I just read the letter about the guy who thought it would be a great idea to place the prop in a horizontal position after every shutdown to prevent engine damage in the event of nosewheel collapse (A lesson learned, Sept. 21 issue). Phil Boyer was all for it. Huh? I have taught my students always […]