The latest blimp from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., launched earlier this spring, finally has a name, thanks to an Ohio schoolteacher. Matthew Harrelson of Uniontown, Ohio, submitted the winning name, Spirit of Innovation, in the company’s Name the Blimp contest. His reward: Use of a blimp for a day. “I can’t believe I won […]
golden West attracts record number of planes
Airplane count at the annual Golden West EAA Regional Fly-In, held June 9-11 at Yuba County Airport, Marysville, Calif., was at an all-time high, with more than 1,000 planes flying in for the event. One of the planes attracting a lot of attention was Cory Bird’s experimental. The builder, from Mojave, Calif., powers his plane […]
History organizations collaborate to catalog aviation archives
Volunteers from four aviation history organizations are collaborating to produce an on-line catalog of U.S. Air Force Engineering Division records now held at the U.S. National Archives II in College Park, Maryland. This gigantic collection of records chronicles the development and procurement of practically everything acquired by the USAF between 1917 and 1947. It contains […]
Test pilot Jim Gannett dies
James R. Gannett, a retired Boeing test pilot who helped launch the jet age, died of a brain aneurism June 17 at his home in Redmond, Wash. He was 83. Gannett’s interest in aviation was sparked as a boy when his father gave him $1 to take an airplane ride. That ride led to a […]
GA focus of new master plan at FMS
With a new master plan in the final stages, Fort Smith Regional Airport (FMS) in Arkansas has renewed its support of GA. As part of the plan, new construction of a taxiway and general aviation ramp will be followed by construction of three 14-unit nested T-hangars and at least one 10-unit shadeport. Construction is due […]
First Diamond Brilliance Flight Center opens
Diamond Aircraft has opened its first Diamond Brilliance Flight Center in Naples, Fla., operated by Europe-American Aviation. Diamond Brilliance Flight Center operators are hand-picked by Diamond Aircraft to provide flight training and aircraft rental services. The centers use Diamond aircraft and flight training devices exclusively. The Europe-American Diamond Brilliance Flight Center’s fleet will consist of […]
An unwelcome passenger
“No matter what happens fly the airplane.” Pilot Monty Coles remembered that nugget of advice given to him by his flight instructor some 25 years ago when he discovered he had an uninvited passenger in the form of a 4-1/2-foot snake aboard his plane during a recent flight over the Ohio and West Virginia border. […]
Texas Fly-In moves to June 1-2, 2007
The EAA Southwest Regional Fly-In is moving its 2007 fly-in to June 1-2. Originally held in early May, the fly-in will now take place the first full weekend in June. This year’s fly-in was better attended than at any other time over the past 10 years. However, some EAA members thought attendance would have been […]
Jabiru-powered Legend Cub
American Legend Aircraft Co. now offers the Jabiru 120-horsepower engine as an option for its Legend Cub, a certified Light Sport Aircraft. The Jabiru offers performance benefits, according to company officials, including more useful load, shorter takeoff distance, and faster climb.