The Great Alaska Aviation Gathering isn’t the biggest aviation event. It doesn’t have an airshow. It’s just two days in the massive FedEx maintenance hangar at Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage. But its one of the best events you could ever hope to attend. Aviation in Alaska is different. You’ve heard that before. So […]
Touch & Go
SUN ‘n FUN an absolute blast
The 41st annual SUN ‘n FUN fly-in is the books. It was hot, humid and an absolute blast. I’d say that even if I hadn’t gotten a ride on a B-25 — with four T-6s and four CJ-6s in tow —as part of a My MacDill Air Force Base support flight. No longer just “Spring Break for Pilots,” […]
A niche of a niche
Do you hold an Israeli pilot certificate? If so, are you looking to add a seaplane rating? Well, I’ve found the guy. Probably, the only guy – in the world – who can help you. How’s that for a niche market? Rich Hensch, owner of Florida Seaplanes, is that guy. From his time working with United […]
Sensing good things on the horizon
While flying, have you ever looked down to tune a radio? Check an engine or fuel gauge? Referenced your navigation chart? Chat with your passenger? Focus on something on the ground? Well, then you aren’t seeing and avoiding to the best of your ability. Wouldn’t it be nice to have some help? Something that doesn’t […]
Stories from the logbook
We’re all connected…somehow. A July 1987 entry in my logbook proves it. I was barely 17 years old and had flown our 1946 J-3 Cub on July 17 from our airpark home – Shady Acres – to the annual Arlington Fly-In. My logbook notes, “massive headwinds, heavy x-wind when landing.” At this point, I was […]
A deadly combination: Selfies and flying
Recently the National Transportation Safety Board released a report on the May 2014 crash of a Cessna 150 in Watkins, Colo., that was attributed to the pilot being distracted by taking selfies. How many people heard about this crash and thought to themselves, “It was only a matter of time before this contributed to a […]
1,000 pilots x $20 = 3 new pilots
We don’t need to attract every kid, just the next kid… or three. Seventeen-year-old Ella, 16-year-old Jonathan and 15-year-old Benjamin Robbins are passionate about aviation. The homeschooled trio from Ferndale, Wash., have been designing and building their own radio-controlled aircraft for several years. A family friend took each of the kids for a ride in […]
If these bomber jackets could talk…
Cdr. Leroy Robinson, a World War II naval aviator, flew in the Pacific Theatre and is a confirmed “Ace.” He also flew in the Korean Conflict and had a 32-year career at Delta Air Lines. In failing health now, most of his time is spent in his Civil War-era Tignall, Georgia, farmhouse. Stories like this, and more, […]
FAA finds research partner, seeks perps
The FAA is behind the power curve – big time – when it comes to the nascent (and rapidly growing) remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) industry. On Jan. 12 CNN announced a research agreement with the FAA to “to advance efforts to integrate Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) into newsgathering and reporting.” As a distant cousin to […]