Home-built airplanes by members of The Texas Fly-In were among the aircraft displays that attracted more than 250,000 visitors to the 75th anniversary Air Show at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio in November.Homebuilts on display or flying included Rob Chase’s RANS S-7, Mark Frederick’s C-45, Neil Longwill’s Lancair, and Stan Shannon’s RV-9A. The EAA airplanes […]
New Orleans FBO opens
Million Air New Orleans recently became the first FBO at Lakefront Airport to officially reopen its doors in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the Louisiana/Mississippi coast in late August. The FBO set up 2,100 square feet of modular office space, installed new skidded fuel tanks and purchased new fuel trucks. The airport received […]
GA shipments up 25%
The good news continues for the GA industry. In the first nine months of this year, shipments rose 25.7% to 2,432, while industry-wide billings for new airplanes rose to $10.4 billion, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Shipments of piston-powered airplanes manufactured worldwide increased to 1,685 units in the first three quarters of […]
Mooney sales boom
Mooney Airplane Co. delivered 23 aircraft valued at more than $9 million in the third quarter of this year. So far this year, the company has delivered 66 planes worth about $28 million, which places it on track to more than double 2004 deliveries. Last year, the company delivered 36 planes. Sales of Mooney’s Garmin […]
ADIZ comment period extended
The comment period on the FAA’s proposal to make the Washington, D.C., ADIZ permanent has been extended to Feb. 6. More than 17,000 comments had been received on the proposal when Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta announced at AOPA Expo that the comment period would be extended 90 days. A public hearing also will be scheduled. […]
Mustang gathering postponed
Stallion 51 made history in 1999 with its “Gathering of Mustangs and Legends” at Kissimmee, Fla. Since then, the group has been planning another gathering – “The Final Roundup” – for Stead Field, Reno, but “the interest and enthusiasm has expanded well beyond our original plans,” said organizer Angela West. “Due to the event exceeding […]
Potomac Airfield remains closed
The Transporation Security Administration closed Potomac Airfield (VKX), which is in the ADIZ, for alleged security violations in early November. One of the “DC-3,” the airport had been notified repeatedly about its failure to comply with security regulations, according to federal officials. Airport officials say its security procedures actually go beyond what the TSA requires.
Solo pole-to-pole flight scrubbed
A contaminant found in the fuel of Gus McLeod’s Firefly appears to be sabotage, the Maryland pilot said on Nov. 18. The mysterious incident has forced further postponement of McLeod’s planned pole-to-pole solo flight around the world. “After an analysis of the contamination, and cutting the tanks open for inspection, the verdict is inescapable,” he said. […]
Picking up after Katrina
When Hurricane Katrina roared through Mississippi Aug. 29, officials at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT) figured it would take six months to a year for the airport to return to full service. Damage included the loss of the hangar that housed the general aviation FBO, as well as the south end of the airline terminal, which […]