Ian Kerr, who is in a master’s program in aeronautics, recently flew a $5,000 Embry-Riddle drone located in Idaho to perform an aerial survey of a cemetery from his home in Seattle. Another crew member participating in the flight, Casey McGuire, was located at his home in Las Vegas.
Desser Aerospace launches eCommerce website
The shop.desser.com website development team was focused on providing a “comprehensive ordering tool for new and retread tires, tubes, brakes, linings, batteries, hoses, aircraft transparencies, and related aircraft components for virtually every aircraft flying today,” according to company officials.
Loose seat belt results in noseover
The pilot’s failure to properly tighten his seat belt, which allowed him to slide forward in his seat and resulted in his inadvertent application of excessive brake application during the landing roll and a subsequent noseover.
Picture of the Day: The essence of grassroots aviation
John Schmidt submitted this photo and note: “A Pietenpol, the essence of grassroots, self-reliant, aviation, landing at sunset on a summer evening in Minnesota (home of designer Bernard Pietenpol!).
Tips & tricks from our readers
Our readers weigh in with their own advice on everything from high engine temperatures to meandering flight to what to put in your pilot survival kit.
Video: A close-up look at a volcano
Reuters has just posted a short video to YouTube showing the moment a drone crashes into an erupting volcano in Iceland. The drone captures stunning images of lava flowing out of the volcano before it crashes. The drone pilot then comes on the video, explaining how difficult it is to fly a drone in these conditions. Check it out below:
Helping A&Ps learn their craft
The donation is the largest in-kind donation the Texas college has ever received. SWAT also will provide a scholarship for students studying to be A&Ps and avionics technicians.
Garmin autopilot approved for Comanches
Garmin continues to add additional aircraft models to the STC list for the GFC 500 autopilots. This time it’s the Piper Comanche.
Inoperative fuel gauge, improper fuel planning results in bent helicopter
The pilot’s improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power, and his improper landing flare during a forced autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident were the inoperative fuel gauge, which was not accurately calibrated, and the pilot’s reliance on the gauge.