The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation, a total loss of engine power, and an off-airport landing, during which the airplane struck a vehicle.
Picture of the Day: Bidding the day farewell
Karissa Davan submitted this photo and note: “The end of a Maine day from the hangar. Cessna 182R bids the day farewell.”
Great vistas of green
There is an almost universally accepted belief that our world is over-developed. It’s excessively crowded. Steel and glass and concrete surround us everywhere we go. We’re hemmed in by our own construction projects. Cramped and confined to areas with heavy traffic, ceaseless noise, and crowds of strangers. Asphalt pathways lead us deeper into the chasm of our communities, yet make it nearly impossible for us to find our way out. Balderdash. Absolute rubbish. If perception is reality, then a realignment of our perceptions is in order.
Video: Festival of Flight
Smitty Smith, the force behind FunPlacesToFly.com, visited the Fall Festival of Flight in Gainesville, Texas, and shot this wrap-up video. You’ll see a wide variety of general aviation aircraft, including antiques, classics, warbirds, replicas and homebuilts.
Diamond all-electric trainer in development
First flights of the electric trainer, based on the already certified DA40, are expected in the second quarter of 2022.
Smart pitot cover for turbine aircraft unveiled
The “smart” pitot cover, designed specifically for turbine aircraft, protects the pitot tube while on the ground. Should it not be removed during preflight, its design ensures it safely ejects, within two to five minutes of pitot heat activation, immediately restoring flight-critical air data system function, according to company officials.
Gas cap flies off during takeoff
Shortly after takeoff, I noticed that the pilot side fuel cap had departed from the airplane and fuel was coming out of the wing at a tremendous rate. Fearing a severe weight imbalance, I Identified as an emergency and returned to land without further incident or damage.
Picture of the Day: Starry night
Lincoln Benedict submitted this photo and note: “During the midst of the full pandemic lockdown in April 2020 my wife and I escaped to Ragmuff Airstrip in northern Maine with our 2005 GlaStar. It was a delight. No one around, no cell reception, and some of the clearest skies I’ve ever seen. It was getting cold, but we had plenty of warm weather gear. As we sat down to eat our meal, we basked in the starlight. I’m so grateful for this moment now, that feeling of solitude was absolute and strangely comforting.”
What happens when the wrong fuel is added to a storage tank?
What happens to a fuel’s octane rating when two fuels are accidentally mixed in a storage tank?