A first-ever attempt to auction off an entire aircraft manufacturing company at AirVenture didn’t go off quite as planned. The auction of Lake Aircraft’s assets, from its Type Certificates to parts, attracted more than 50 interested spectators during the big show in Oshkosh, but auctioneer Marty Higgenbotham failed to get a single bid. His auction […]
One-stop shopping
AirVenture 2005 marked the first where the Sport Pilot/Light Sport Aircraft rule was a done deal. What better way to celebrate than to give pilots and wannabe pilots a central location to view all the different models that fall into the LSA category? That place was the LSA Mall, located in a grassy area just […]
More training and user fees take center stage as FAA administrator faces Oshkosh crowds
How would you like someone from the FAA telling you that you had to get more training because of a violation committed by another pilot? If you are based within 100 nautical miles of the ADIZ in Washington, D.C., that’s exactly the situation you face. That information came from FAA Administrator Marion Blakey during the […]
Superflite donates award winning aircraft to EAA museum
In October of 2004, General Aviation News brought you the story of a Spartan that had been restored as a way to showcase the products of Superflite Aircraft Covering and Finishing Systems in Chicago. The rare 1930 Spartan C3-225 (only 12 of that model were built) won the Silver Age Champion Award at AirVenture 2004. […]
What keeps GA going
As I write this I am preparing mentally and physically for my annual excursion to Oshkosh for EAA AirVenture. Since 1970 I’ve missed only three or four of these grand aviation extravaganzas. I haven’t been able to attend the entire gathering every year, but for the vast majority of those years I’ve been on hand […]
Mooney diagnosis
I have owned three Mooneys (over 3,000 hours) with the Lycoming engine. I have had the exact installations of the Mooney as the person who was having the high oil temperatures (What is the maximum oil temperature for this engine? July 22 issue). Never in 3,000 hours did I see an oil temperature over 180°F. […]
The first air force
The most recent issue carried a synopsis of the recreated flight of Alcock and Brown (Vimy replica recreates first Atlantic flight, July 22 issue). In the write-up it was stated that Alcock had been a member of the RFC. This is not correct. Alcock was a pilot in the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). On April […]
Not that’s flying
Thanks to Andy Gelston for his wonderful comments regarding the heart and soul of flying (Flying at 14, Letters to the Editor, July 22 issue). He nailed my feelings exactly about the current state of aviating. And his final words were pure music: “. . . there are no better experiences than having your feet on […]
A part of history
I read your article on Lindbergh flying in the South Pacific back in 1944 (Lindbergh’s secret, June 17 issue). I saved it for a friend who is interested in Lindbergh’s life. I used to be in aviation and flew with the Air Force. I also remember the name of Bledsoe, who may be another fraternity […]