Search Results for: Lockheed

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the prototypical business turboprop, the Beech King Air. The airplane, to our knowledge, is the longest continuously produced civilian turbine aircraft. (The Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules is the only turbine aircraft that has been continuously produced for longer.) It was in August of 1963 that Beech Aircraft announced […]

Selected recent general aviation and airline accidents

On several occasions after the breakup of the Space Shuttle Columbia on February 1st, I found myself in conversations about the safety of the space program. Actually, my knowledge is limited to much lower altitudes and speeds and much more prosaic equipment. On a few occasions, nevertheless, I felt obliged to put in my two […]

When governments buy airplanes, they face many of the same constraints that we do. If it is a new airplane, it takes a long time to develop. And, the fewer engines the airplane has, the more affordable it can be. The next generation fighters, the F-22 and the F-35 (Joint Strike Fighter) are perfect examples […]

When it comes to capturing the imagination of old and young, sport fliers and professionals, nothing can beat the appeal of warbirds. Antique biplanes and World War II fighters have been popular for years, and recently the availability of former Eastern Bloc jet fighter trainers has expanded the appeal of very hot airplanes among those who have ridden the stock market (among other things) to riches.

But just as its said that a fool and his money are soon flying more airplane than he can handle, the accident record for warbirds paints a very discouraging picture. Valuable and irreplaceable aircraft, including P-51 Mustangs, hit the ground for reasons that can only be described as irration…

Researchers conclude instrument design can prevent disorientation and flight into terrain. Now to work it into cockpits.

I was the pilot of the Grumman F9F-2 Panther referenced in your August, 2000 story Warbirds of Attrition, [Airmanship, August] which ran off the end of the runway at Kalamazoo/Battlecreek International Runway. I must say I am appalled that you would write such an article with apparently as little information as you had, especially about my accident. The NTSB changed its Factual Report on my accident three times because it couldnt get it right. Apparently the information you had came from perhaps one of the earliest of the accident reports.

First, I had far more than just an hours conversation with a test pilot before I flew the Panther jet. I had two days of intensive ground trainin…

The following briefs were selected from the 112 preliminary reports filed with the NTSB in November 2000. Statements in quotes were taken directly from the NTSB documents. The information is subject to change as the investigations are completed. Click here to view “Accident Totals, November.”

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Nov. 1, Millersburg, Ohio
Beech Bonanza
At about 10:15 eastern time, a Beech A-36 was damaged during a forced landing at Holmes County Airport. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The pilot reported the power failure to ATC approximately 6 miles northwest of Millersburg and was given radar vectors. The airplane str…

The following briefs were selected from the 111 preliminary reports filed with the NTSB in December 2000. Statements in quotes were taken directly from the NTSB documents. The information is subject to change as the investigations are completed. Click here to view “Accident Totals, December.”

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Dec. 2, Cross Keys, N.J.
Cessna 152
At approximately 11:32 eastern time, a Cessna 152 was substantially damaged during takeoff from Cross Keys Airport. The two occupants were not injured. The pilot, who held a flight instructor certificate and was flying from the right seat, reported that the controls felt spongy during tak…

The following briefs were selected from the 208 preliminary reports filed with the NTSB in June 2001. Statements in quotes were taken directly from the NTSB documents. The information is subject to change as the investigations are completed.

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June 01, Ogden, Utah
Questair Venture
At 12:08 mountain time, a homebuilt Questair Venture caught fire following landing at Ogden Municipal Airport. The pilot was seriously burned. The tower controller said the pilot reported fuel fumes in the cockpit and was cleared to land on any runway. After an unstable, fast landing, the airplane groundlooped on the runway and caught fire.

June 02, Elkton, Md.
Cubby Sport T…