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 […]
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The Spivey family flying station wagon
There are many men who will tell you that buying an airplane very nearly resulted in divorce because their wives were dead-set against its purchase. Kenneth Spivey Jr., from Vestavia, Ala., says he had a completely different experience: “My wife actually MADE me go buy this airplane!” he said, gesturing to his 1952 Cessna 170B. […]
Top 10 aviation insurance myths, Alaska edition
Avemco Insurance Co. President Jonathan “JJ” Greenway was a featured speaker at the 2012 Great Alaska Aviation Gathering, May 5-6, at the Anchorage International Airport. Greenway spoke about separating fact from fiction in his seminar “Top 10 Aviation Insurance Myths.” “You know it’s possible to have too little aviation insurance, but can you have too […]
Bob Jones taught eastern Idaho to fly
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — The Idaho Aviation Association (IAA) honored local flight instructor Bob Jones during the May 18-19 Trade Show Aviation Idaho. Jones is 86 years old, still instructing, and as sharp as I wish I were at less than half his age. IAA District 6 Director Mike Hart admitted the IAA was honoring […]
Saying goodbye to a mentor
I was sitting in the terminal building in Orlando on my way home from SUN ’n FUN when my cell phone rang. “Meg, this is Peggy Boyd…” she began. Peggy is the wife of Dean Boyd, my friend and aviation mentor of some 20 years. The tone of her voice told me before she got the […]
From survivor to student pilot
Jennifer Julian, 54, is a double lung transplant survivor. Scratch survivor. She’s a “thriver.” And today, she is a student pilot. Julian, who live in Castro Valley, Calif., was first diagnosed with lung disease in 1998. As her health deteriorated following the diagnosis, she began to wonder if the doctors at Stanford would be able […]
Paying tribute to Mama Bird
An honor guard of Civil Air Patrol cadets will salute aviation legend Evelyn Johnson Bryan, known by all as “Mama Bird,” when she is laid to rest Wednesday morning in Jefferson City, Tenn. The scheduled cadet presence is part of CAP’s tribute to Col. Evelyn Bryan Johnson, one of its most storied members. She joined […]
Much ado about nothing
LeRoy Brown should hate me, but he doesn’t. He should at least be mad at me, but he isn’t — and for that I’m eternally grateful. You see, I met LeRoy in the worst of circumstances for an editor. We had published a story from a freelancer that told of the long-ago exploits of a […]
Klapmeier named ‘Industry Leader of the Year 2012’
Cirrus Aircraft CEO Dale Klapmeier was awarded German magazine Fliegermagazin’s prestigious “Industry Leader of the Year 2012” at AERO Friedrichshafen. The award recognizes leaders in general aviation whose work increases growth and interest in the industry and who exemplify innovation and ingenuity in their business. “The committee is awarding Mr. Klapmeier ‘Industry Leader Of the […]