by Isabel Goyer

Yesterday Pilatus launched an online configurator for the iPad that allows users to create their dream Pilatus PC-12 turboprop single. One of the hottest marketing tools for carmakers these last few years has been so-called “configurators,” digital utilities that let fans of the car (and potential customers) pick out colors, body mods, trim and interior […]

For bad and for good, the story of Beechcraft is a classic American tale more than 80 years in the making. The iconic Wichita, Kansas, light airplane manufacturer, which catapulted to prominence with what amounted to the Depression-era bizjet, the still-sexy Beechcraft D-17 Staggerwing, rose through the subsequent decades on the fortunes of a hall-of-fame […]

For those of you who’ve been trying to get your hands on an Apple iPad Mini, there’s good news. You might not need one. As cool as the newest and littlest iPad is, it’s difficult not to swallow hard when writing that check for the version you need, the one with GPS and built-in gyro, […]

The state of California recently passed a law that outlines the shape of the state’s future highway plan, paving the way for the integration of so-called “driverless cars” into California’s highway system, which has one-third more high-speed roadway than any other state in the nation. Many of these driverless cars would in fact feature drivers […]

One of my favorite jokes is the offhand remark that “Everyone talks about the weather, but no one ever does anything about it,” a quote that has been attributed to Mark Twain. Twain’s comment about the weather reminds us that there are some things, such as death, taxes and fuel prices, that we can complain […]

With the recent announcement by the FAA that it was slowing the process of designating official testing sites for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in part over privacy concerns, the organization that represents drone makers has a blunt message for the FAA that is perhaps best translated as, “Do your job.” The Association for Unmanned Vehicle […]

Those of you who live in deer country know all about deer whistles, those little devices you attach to the bumper of your vehicle that emit a high-pitched tone intended to let deer know to steer clear of your bumper. The only thing certain about deer whistles is that they have a perfect track record […]

Wingsuit pilot Alexander Polli says that he wants to be surrounded by people with a passion for life. For many people, his passion pushes the envelope of sanity. In this video Polli speaks about the project he came up with to slalom down a sheer cliff face thousands of feet high at 10 feet agl […]

The Willamette Valley in western Oregon stretched below us, green vineyards hugging the curves of the river, squared-off farmers’ fields, some browner this year than most, a patchwork of life all fringed by the hills that contain and define this timeless place. On days such as the one we were enjoying, the valley was the […]

Over the past several years the FAA has highlighted a few safety concerns designed to stop the most serious mishaps, but the agency has pursued none of these efforts as energetically as it has worked toward putting an end to runway accidents, a focus we applaud. It’s an effort that, unfortunately, has shown spotty results, […]