The Wright brothers acknowledged the contributions of Otto Lilienthal (right) and his glider experiments in helping them achieve the first powered flight. Rarely do history books recognize that much of Lilienthal’s work was done with the aid of his brother, Gustav. In the 1860s the Lilienthal brothers endured jibes from their contemporaries as they experimented […]
What’s the big deal?
Some of the witnesses to the Wright brothers’ first successful powered flight didn’t understand why the brothers were so excited by the event, noting they had traveled much farther than 120 feet in gliders. It took a bit of time to explain that the Dec. 17, 1903, flight was the first time an aircraft had […]
Snakes on a plane
The writer who came up with “Snakes on a Plane,” the Hollywood movie ranked as “one of the worst movies of 2006” by several movie reviewers, was not the first to place reptiles on an aircraft intentionally. For years a pair of rubber faux snakes have protected Ron Johnson’s PT-22 while at EAA AirVenture. The […]
A busy year ahead: Expect confrontations on everything from user fees to cell phones
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This is going to be a busy year in Washington for aviation. Expect confrontations between various segments of aviation, between the FAA and some of its employees, between the government and some users, between the FAA and certificate holders, and possibly within the political parties. We already know about the user fee […]
Are dual mags reliable?
I own a Cessna R-182 that has a Lycoming O-540 J3C5D engine. It seems like a great engine and runs well. I have a concern about the “”dual-pack”” type magnetos that run off a common gear. Yesterday, another pilot told me of an engine failure that he had years ago in a Cherokee Six where […]
Another alternative for long-term storage: Try aerosol corrosion inhibitors
There is another alternative for long-term engine storage. There is another alternative for long-term engine storage. That’s the word from Rhamy Nipper of Graham Aircraft Engines, LLC, who wrote after reading my Nov. 17, 2006, column “”What oil is best for winter?”” “”MotorStor VCI is an aerosol corrosion inhibitor that you can spray directly into […]
January 2005 Accident Reports
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during an instrument approach for undetermined reasons.
Save valuable panel space
Mid-Continent Instruments has added a 2-inch course deviation indicator (CDI) to its résumé of certified instruments. The new CDI saves on panel space, allowing it to be placed just about anywhere in your instrument panel. “Every general aviation pilot needs a CDI of some sort,” said Todd Winter, president. “The MD200 series’ size allows you […]
Got oxygen?
Mountain High’s newest offering is the single-place EDS-O2D1 digital “Pulse Demand” FADOC Oxygen Delivery System, which bridges the gap between portable Constant-Flow devices, built-in-panel and pressurized oxygen systems, according to Mountain High officials. The system, with the new patented redesigned electronic “Pulse Demand” oxygen delivery system, enables GA pilots to fly at pressure altitudes up […]