Yes, it’s worth the trouble to go somewhere. To travel by air with the freedom to go this way or that on a whim. To land on a grass strip for fuel just because you can. Or to set your sights on a destination you’ve dreamed of for years, but never thought was within your reach. The whole world is ours if we seek it out. One hop at a time. With a mindset that allows us to even enjoy the weather delays and unexpected diversions.
By the numbers: AirVenture 2021
EAA AirVenture 2021 boasted more than 608,000 people, 10,000 planes, and visitors from 66 countries. This year’s theme, “The Wait is Over,” hit the mark, with “joy and excitement throughout the grounds,” according to EAA’s Jack Pelton.
Big data analytics for general aviation
As part of a “data transparency campaign,” Planephd.com has published a homepage for every aircraft in the United States. Users can “claim your plane” and assume ownership of their aircraft on the Planephd website, entitling them to update aircraft specs as appropriate and even write reviews on their make and model, sharing feedback on everything from the airframe, avionics, and even STC performance with the community at large.
Another first for Piper
Piper Aircraft has achieved certification of the new Garmin GWX 8000 weather radar in all M-Class aircraft, such as the M600SLS, M500, and M350. Piper is the first general aviation manufacturer to certify the all-digital radar in a turboprop or piston product, according to company officials.
On a collision course
I hear the Traffic Alert start, which isn’t uncommon for aircraft 500 feet apart in this airspace, and as I look up Aircraft Y tells me he’s responding to an RA and his voice is clearly strained. I incorrectly said what I was thinking, which was “Aircraft X what are you doing! Climb immediately to 5,500” as I’m watching him descend through 5,200 feet right on top of Aircraft Y. He responds that he “thought they were on a collision course.” To which I informed him that his actions caused the collision course.
Picture of the Day: Oshkosh or bust
Scott Sundstrom submitted this photo and note: “New beginnings for N33LG: This is my son flying his plane he painted by himself to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2021 after eight months of hard work.”
The thrill of flying low and slow
“I enjoy the scenery while I’m flying low and slow, and watching the farmhouses go by,” he says. “If you didn’t like it, you wouldn’t do it.”
Signs of safety at Marcy Field
A Recreational Aviation Foundation grant will help purchase 10 signs to put alongside the turf runway to keep cars, pedestrians, and hikers safely away.
Woman-focused aviation podcast debuts
The podcast will feature trailblazers, record-setters, adventurers, and entrepreneurs, having “unguarded conversations about what it means to be a woman, especially in aviation,” according to host Shaesta Waiz, the youngest woman to fly solo around the world in a single-engine aircraft.