Who would be willing to pay $84,000 for an airplane trip from Chicago to Tacoma, Wash.? The folks at the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma would, when the passenger is a beluga whale calf. The whale was flown aboard a chartered Air Force DC-8. “The animal was in a cradle made of fiberglass and reinforced […]
FAA moves to consolidate air traffic control facilities: But faces opposition from controllers, elected officials
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Should air traffic control facilities be consolidated? The FAA thinks so, but the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) says it is dangerous the way the FAA is doing it — and therein lies another struggle. NATCA says it is not opposed to consolidation “”where it makes sense.”” The FAA’s approach, declares […]
How can I fine-tune idle mixture?
How about a discussion of the scalloped wheel on the injector pump for an IO540-C4B5 engine? My engine will “”load up”” at idle and I have to run the rpm up to about 1,200 quite often during taxi. Also the engine will “”talk to you”” on final with the throttle closed. I have tried the […]
Unleaded avgas: You’d have to be insane to try to develop it
I received numerous comments about my recent article on the bonehead editorial in another magazine that called for the removal of brain-dumbing lead from avgas (Misguided public opinion could end avgas, April 20 issue). One of the notes was from a Dr. Lyons concerning the futility of trying to replace leaded avgas. He also pointed […]
June 2005 Accident Report
The inadvertent encounter with instrument meteorological conditions and failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance, which resulted in controlled flight into the terrain. Contributing factors were the pilots’ delayed decision to reverse course, and the low clouds, which obscured the rising terrain.
“The Greatest Airplane Ever”: It’s a matter of opinion, but three stand out
When we asked our readers to name The Greatest Airplane Ever, we expected – and got – a wide variety of opinions. What fascinated us, though, was the consistency more than the variety. The DC-3 and its C-47 military variant won, but not by much, followed very closely by the Piper Cub and the Wright […]
How can you help when disaster strikes?
June is the start of hurricane season and, in the southern part of the country, residents are bracing for the worst. The latest prediction from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center projects 13 to 17 named storms. Seven to 10 are expected to become hurricanes, with three to five possible “major” […]
A new way to reach kids: Todd Trainor hopes Aircraft Trading Cards will inspire dreams of flight
Like many good ideas, Aircraft Trading Cards was born because of a young child’s dreams. Todd Trainor’s 6-year-old nephew was bitten by the flying bug after a Young Eagles flight. And, like most kids these days, he also was fascinated by the Pokemon cards that are all the rage today. Unfortunately, his mother said no […]
Frustrations abound with FSS: Lockheed Martin working to fix problems, but pilots say transition glitches compromise safety
It started out as frustration for Dave Davidson, a veteran GA pilot from Texas. Now he’s angry — like so many other pilots who have tried, and failed, to contact a Flight Service Station run by Lockheed Martin. “This is a big mess,” said Davidson who, at 86, has been flying for more than 64 […]