Pilot Proficiency

By order of FAR Part 91.113, “vigilance shall be maintained by each person operating an aircraft so as to see and avoid other aircraft.” It all starts before you leave the ground. You may be cleared for takeoff or taxi onto the runway to “line up and wait,” but it’s worth taking a final look […]

ATIS “Tango” was advertising 43 degrees C when we landed Sunday afternoon. Although I’m “mathematically challenged” I think that works out to about 110 degrees F, which might explain the eerie quiet on the Lunken tower frequency. David Zombek had just flown an outstanding private pilot check ride in the 172. He’d worked long and […]

In our FBO Spotlight series, we’re highlighting FBOs around the country that have received rave reviews from our readers. This latest Spotlight is brought to you by Frank Himmerich, who recently flew into Fullerton Municipal Airport in Fullerton, California, in N8530N, a Piper Cherokee 235. Here’s what he has to say about one of the […]

The history of the National Aeronautic Association is a long and glorious one. From the organization’s first award to Glenn Curtiss for the development of the floatplane, the NAA has much more often that not hit the nail on the head, recognizing remarkable achievements that have stood the test of time. But there have been […]

Strong surface winds can throw pilots an unexpected curve ball if they’ve planned a flight to a favorite destination and find the conditions at the arrival airport exceed the capabilities of their airplane, themselves or both. An experienced flight instructor I was talking with recently related a story in which he damaged the wing of […]

Airplane lovers looking for a new event to attend this summer can now mark their calendars for “The Gathering of Warbirds and Legends.” This inaugural event, scheduled to take place August 1-4 in Topeka, Kansas, is expected to become an annual gathering where historical airplanes, still in airworthy condition, will be on display. While “The […]

The next daredevil attempting to break the world record for freefall speed will have to go a little faster following the release of new data from Felix Baumgartner’s jump from the edge of space in October. According to Red Bull Stratos, Baumgartner achieved even higher speeds than initially thought, albeit by slight margins, after jumping […]

In our FBO Spotlight series, we’re highlighting FBOs around the country that have received rave reviews from our readers. This latest Spotlight is brought to you by Don Jockwig, who recently flew into Madison County Executive Airport in Huntsville, Alabama in a Piper Comanche 180. Here’s what he has to say about one of the […]

If all goes according to plan, the famed Hawker name will all but cease to exist after bankrupt Hawker Beechcraft emerges from near financial death in the coming days under the Beechcraft name alone. Just how long the storied Hawker brand remains dormant is anybody’s guess, but it’s hard to imagine it going away forever […]

The Cirrus SR20 that deployed its whole airplane recovery parachute last week in Danbury, Connecticut, did so after making a classic mistake that continues to top the list of general aviation accident causes. According to a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board on Friday, the airplane was on approach to Runway 26 […]