After flying all the way around the world and setting two distance records, the flight from Salina, Kan., to Chantilly Va., to deliver the Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer for display in an aerospace museum must have seemed anti-climactic for millionaire pilot adventurer Steve Fossett. Fossett delivered the carbon fiber aircraft designed by Burt Rutan to […]
Congressional panel takes first step to protect airports
A House panel charged with funding the FAA recently rejected the Bush administration’s proposed $1 billion budget cut for airport improvement spending. The Appropriations Committee’s transportation subcommittee recommended a congressionally authorized funding level of $3.7 billion for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). Under federal spending formulas, if AIP spending falls below $3.2 billion, annual entitlements […]
70th anniversary of Blenheim Bomber’s first flight
It was 70 years ago, on June 25, 1936, when the first flight of the Bristol Blenheim bomber took place at Filton, near Bristol, England. It was the first all-metal, stressed-skin aircraft ordered for the Royal Air Force and was destined to play an important part in World War II. It was, interestingly, a private […]
The Buzz
“From my front yard you can hear the airplanes going down the runway. Sometimes I’ll rush out to the airport to see what’s going on. I love being around old airplanes. I love the sound of them, I love wiping oil off of them.” — Jim Arlow, executive director, Olympic Flight Museum, Olympia, Wash. “Based […]
Travels with Meg
“Need a ride?” One of my favorite parts about Sun ‘n Fun is the people I meet when I’m driving around in the golf cart. We get golf carts because we have to cover a lot of territory for the daily paper we put out at the show. If it won’t impact my deadline I’ll […]
User fees OK: play and pay
Another day, another tax. Mr. McCollom’s idea of fixing the FAA’s operating capital deficit (A simple fix, May 5 issue) could be equated to the comedian Gallagher’s approach to slicing and dicing fruits and vegetables with the Sledge-O-Matic. In other words, we have a problem, let’s just tax everybody (some more) and see if it […]
Glenn Curtis’ contribution unsurpassed
I would have to say that a very critical milestone comes from a man whose name is not a household name, nor has he ever really had the popularity or notoriety that was bestowed upon the Wright brothers, yet his contribution to aviation has been unsurpassed by any other (What are the 20 most critical […]
Scott Crossfield: A true gentleman
After reading several articles about the tragic death of Scott Crossfield (including yours in the May 5 issue), I feel the need to say something about the man I am proud to call my friend. Scotty and I were introduced about 12 years ago by a mutual friend and have since become good friends. We […]
Rules for flight
Some common wisdom that’s good to revisit now and then: 1. Every takeoff is optional. Every landing is mandatory. 2. If you push the stick forward, the houses get bigger. If you pull the stick back, they get smaller. That is, unless you keep pulling the stick all the way back, then they get bigger […]