The best way that I can think of to describe Cessna’s new light jet Mustang is that it is, in all respects, a Citation. That means it has pleasant and predictable flying qualities, uncomplicated and robust systems, good payload and range, and it delivers on all of the promises Cessna made when it introduced the […]
Mountainous terrain offers great scenery but recent accidents illustrate it can be treacherous for the unwary. Heres what to look for and how to avoid it.
Safer Trainers
I enjoyed your coverage of the new training airplanes safety features (Building A Safer Trainer, August 2006), but I am afraid the future for all three of these choices is very limited. It seems likely they will be replaced with the much less expensive S-LSA airplanes now coming onto the market.
It is not clear to me which of the S-LSA aircraft will prove to be best for primary training. Whichever ones come out best, the lower purchase price and operating costs for these planes are certain to make them the popular choice over any airplanes certified under Part 23.
Paul Mulwitz
Camas, Wash.
The market for light sport aircraft (LSAs) is jus…
Not all airplanes are created equal. You need to think about whether yours is appropriate for the mission.
Turbulence Flap
I am a retired aeronautical engineer and active CFI. I conduct many aviation safety seminars and teach, among other subjects, safety aspects for operating in turbulence. I have a comment regarding Taking It Slow (May 2006).
In this article, author Jeff Pardo states, Then when it gets below VFE or VLE, you respectively can lower the flaps or landing gear, if so equipped. That will slow you down more, of course.
Extending the landing gear is okay, but suggesting that extending the flaps to slow down in turbulence is a good idea is, well, a very bad idea. Flaps, besides increasing drag, cause a considerable increase in the airfoil camber and, in some cases,…
June 1, 2006, Port Townsend, Wash.
de Havilland DHC-3T
At approximately 0830 Pacific time, the float-equipped airplane was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing in Puget Sound. The Airline Transport pilot and his 10 passengers were not injured. The flight was being as a Part 135 air taxi; instrument conditions prevailed. The pilot later said that as he approached Port Townsend, the flight encountered lowering ceilings and visibility. Water conditions were glassy smooth with no visual definition. As he began to turn back, conditions worsened and he elected to perform a precautionary landing on the water. With no visual definition, he misjudged the landing and…
Glider pilots learn energy management as a matter of survival and usually make it back to a runway. Whats their secret?
May 3, 2006, Aguila, Ariz.
Schweizer SGS 1-26D
At about 1430 Mountain time, the glider collided with terrain during takeoff. The Private pilot and sole occupant sustained fatal injuries; the glider was substantially damaged. The tow pilot subsequently stated that, with the towplane at about 40 feet agl and the glider airborne, the glider assumed a severe pitch-up attitude. The tow rope separated and the glider climbed to about 150 feet agl. The glider stalled, making a right turn while descending toward terrain.
May 4, 2006, Lincoln, Neb.
BAE125-800A
Its crew lost control of the business jet on a maintenance test flight at about 1800 Central time. The even…
In the February 1975 issue of Flying, I wrote a story comparing a new Bonanza with a used Baron of about the same value. Either a new Bonanza or a four- or five-year-old Baron rang in at just under $100,000 at that time. (A B55 Baron sold for about 65 percent more than a V35B […]
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