I’ve received a number of comments concerning the use of additives in the fuel or oil of aircraft. They range from “”I’ve seen #2 diesel fuel gel at cold temperatures even with an additive”” to “”I’ve added such and such an additive to my oil and now I get over 50% better mileage and my […]
Legend Mama Bird Johnson honored
“To Mama Bird, With Love” was the title of a tribute to Evelyn Bryan Johnson when more than 400 people got together in May to honor the 95-year-old aviatrix. Johnson became “Mama Bird” early in her career as a flight instructor. Her students — now more than 9,000 and counting — called her that because […]
Ten fat years a’coming?
Forecast International issued an optimistic prediction about general aviation, particularly its business jet segment, last month. The Newtown, Conn., market analysis firm believes that 10,900 business jets, worth some $141 billion, will be built — and sold — in the decade between now and 2014. Specifically named in its report are Cessna, Bombardier and Eclipse, […]
A gathering of bombers at Oshkosh
Commemorating the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, a unique reunion of World War II bombers will gather for this year’s AirVenture, July 25 through 31. Five B-17s and several B-25s will be featured, joined by the only airworthy B-24 and B-29 in the world. Neither has been at Oshkosh within the […]
Curtis Pitts dies
If the Pitts Special was the standard by which aerobatic biplanes were judged for more than half a century, Curtis Pitts was the inspiration behind much of today’s sport aviation. Tom Poberezny, president of the Experimental Aircraft Association, has given Pitts a lot of the credit for inspiring him, his father, Paul, and the very […]
CAF PT-26 in Georgia crash
A Commemorative Air Force World War II trainer, a Fairchild PT-26 Cornell, struck a tree and crashed at Peach State Airport near Williamson, Ga., June 16. The crash killed the pilot, James Ford of Marietta, Ga., and passenger Robert Lang, also of Marietta. Ford and Lang both were CAF members. Ford was a retired Delta […]
Aviation stamps to take flight
Ten classic American aircraft from the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s will be doing their flying in the form of postage after the Postal Service dedicates its American Advances in Aviation commemorative stamp sheets at EAA’s AirVenture in July. The first-day-of-issue ceremony will take place in AeroShell Square July 29, beside at least six of the […]
CarterCopter sets elusive record — later crashes
During a flight test on June 17, the innovative CarterCopter unofficially broke the Mu-1 barrier — a goal that eluded rotary wing builders until that day. Mu is the ratio of the aircraft’s forward speed to its rotor tip speed. As forward speed increases, the effective airspeed over the retreating blade decreases. At Mu-1, the […]
Liberty XL2 gets IFR certification
Liberty Aerospace of Melbourne, Fla,. received Type Inspection Authorization for IFR operation of its single engine XL2 aircraft late in June. The XL2 already is certified for VFR day and night operations. The Liberty XL2 is the only piston powered production aircraft with a full authority digital engine control (FADEC). It has a carbon fiber […]