The revised third edition of “The Rogue Aviator: In the Back Alleys of Aviation” is now available. Pilot “Ace Abbott” takes readers through his career spanning 36 years, including flights to 44 countries with 25 different employers. The story ranges from five star hotels and restaurants in Paris to noisy, greasy, cargo ramps, and a […]
Aviation News
Simulated power loss leads to real accident
This June 2010 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others. Aircraft: Beech Duke. Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious. Location: Edenton, N.C. Aircraft damage: Destroyed. What reportedly happened: The pilot was receiving an instrument proficiency check […]
Flying someplace different(ly)
A seaplane trip to Bimini? I took the bait and learned a lot, had a good time and spent more than I should. But getting away to an island is the perfect case for general aviation. And Bimini is closer to the Florida coast than any Bahamas island. I got the chance to ride along […]
C150 owner saves $800 annually with autogas
Mark “Prigs” Priglmeier, an officer of EAA Chapter 551 in St. Cloud, Minn., contacted us recently on the use of autogas in his C-150F: “I started using autogas in my 1966 C-150 at about 500 or so hours prior to my engine rebuild at just over 2300 smoh. I have had no issues. The engine […]
ECi CEO Gary Garvens dies
Gary H. Garvens, owner and chief executive officer of Engine Components International (ECi), passed away, Thursday, May 31, after an 18-month battle with cancer. Garvens began working for the company on Sept. 30, 1960. With his entrepreneurial spirit, he brought new and innovative technologies to the piston engine aircraft industry, company officials note. His optimism […]
Eclipse kicks off production
During the first International Eclipse Dealer and Sales Conference held this past Friday in Albuquerque, Eclipse Aerospace announced the official launch of initial production of the new model Eclipse 550 twin-engine jet. Eclipse dealers representing the United States and over 30 countries were on hand as the management team and board of directors for Eclipse […]
Christiansen Aviation celebrates 40th anniversary
Christiansen Aviation at Jones Riverside Airport (RVS) in Tulsa, Okla., celebrates a milestone this year — 40 years in business. According to a story in the Tulsa World, owner Bill Christiansen always wanted to be a pilot. The story quotes him: “Aviation gets in your blood. People have a passion for it. Being a pilot […]
Contract awarded for runway project at BVS
The Port of Skagit in Burlington, Wash., has awarded a contract for a major maintenance and standards project on the main runway at Skagit Regional Airport (BVS) to Scarsella Bros. Inc. of Seattle. The contractor’s winning bid for construction of the Runway 10-28 Crown Conversion and Longitudinal Gradient Adjustment was $8,562,798.25. That makes the project […]
Air Force Pilot Training Class reunion held at RIR
Over 40 years ago, 59 cadets, members of Air Force Pilot Training Class 70-05, earned their USAF wings at Laughlin AFB, Texas. This spring, 25 of them gathered at Flabob Airport (RIR) in Southern California for a reunion. The three-day event resulted in a lot of hangar flying and tours of local tourist spots. One […]