Search Results for: Cessna 172

Engine oil was observed dripping out of the port side wing root. The ¼-inch aluminum oil pressure line (p/n 5600107-11) was routed over the top of a section of three-inch SCAT tubing. The SCAT tubing’s wire chafed a hole in oil pressure line. This airplane’s starboard line also was routed the same way and was rerouted to prevent chafing.

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security a few days ago issued a warning that small airplanes might be used as improvised flying devices against civilian targets by terrorists looking to make a deadly statement on the 10th anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The advisory went on to say that there was […]

Are you an experienced pilot with a light sport aircraft (LSA) in your future? For many of us, LSAs answer the need for a lower-cost option as we seek to continue flying even as the expense of doing so keeps rising. For others, an LSA is a way to scale back to the type of flying that attracted them to aviation in the first place. Yet other rated pilots see the medical self-certification of sport pilot rules as a way to keep flying longer, perhaps after becoming ineligible for an FAA medical certificate, while accepting the rules limit us to flying LSAs. Regardless of your motivation, moving from “traditional” airplanes to LSAs may be a little more involved than you’d expect. For example, what are the design and engineering issues that make LSAs handle differently than larger airplanes? What’s the safety record for pilots moving “down” to light sport? And, is there anything we can do to better manage the differences?

Henriksen Jet Center (KEDC) Pflugerville (Austin), Texas In our FBO Spotlight series, we’re highlighting FBOs around the country that have received rave reviews from our readers. The latest Spotlight is brought to you by Cessna 172 pilot Paul S. Barnett, who was recently impressed with the costumer service provided at Henriksen Jet Center (KEDC), in […]

_(September 2011) _Just fly it like a Cessna 172,” said Tecnam’s demo pilot David Lubore as we approached to land at Plant City Airport (KPCM) in Florida, just west of Lakeland Linder Airport, at the completion of our demo flight. I set the airplane up on downwind at around 90 knots with the gear down. […]

For the time being, a Mode C transponder is your key to regularly accessing Class A, Class B, TFR and ADIZ airspace. Under most circumstances, losing altitude squawk capability means ATC isnt going to let you into those places, although you can continue flying elsewhere. Thats one reason many operators have installed a second, back-up Mode C transponder, in case the primary box fails. But that Mode C transponder is destined to be supplemented by-maybe replaced by-the FAAs new air-traffic surveillance system, ADS-B, or automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast. As plans currently stand, well all need this technology installed in our aircraft to access various airspace types by 2020, when the FAAs final rule mandates the latest and greatest ATC system, NextGen, is implemented. Putting aside the new systems relative merits and implementation timetable, the time will come when at least ADS-B Out equipment will be required for a lot of places we want to go.

Better than New Stinson 108-3 __One of the nicest examples of a custom restored Stinson you’ll find anywhere occupies a row hangar at Sussex Airport (KFWN) in northern New Jersey. Here, a 1947 Model 108-3 “Flying Station Wagon” (so called because of its Woody-style wood-paneled interior and reinforced floor) proudly displays its window sticker signifying […]

(August 2011) It’s certainly not hard to understand the allure of a new airplane. There’s nothing quite like the smile on the face of a buyer who has just been handed the keys to a brand-new bird. There’s an undeniable pride of ownership there, along with other advantages. New airplanes have the latest features, they’re […]

The pilot reported a burning smell in the cabin. Inspection revealed the taxi light circuit breaker switch had burned internal components. This switch (p/n 35-380132-105) is the improved model required by AD 2008-13-07. Unfortunately, when these switches overheat, it can be impossible to determine if the insulators had been installed improperly, or installed at all. This was the second post-AD switch failure in this fleet.

Wednesday morning was one of those mornings I was “living the life.” At 0800 John Moreland, the southeast rep for SWT Aviation, a certified CubCrafters sales center, picked me up at Orlando-Apopka in a Sport Cub for a leisurely flight over to Deland and back so I could get a feel for the airplane. I […]