Pilot Proficiency

The 1969 Learjet 25 that crashed in the early morning of December 9, killing singer Jenni Rivera and six others, was owned by Las Vegas-based Starwood Management LLC. But the company said the fatal flight was not a charter. Rather, it was described as a final demonstration flight in anticipation of Rivera purchasing the jet […]

The photos released last week of a Bell 412 towing a giant banner over the United Arab Emirates as part of a record-setting flight caught my attention. While helicopters do an admirable job of hauling sling loads from their bellies, they aren’t the ideal platforms for all types of towing. I know this, in part, […]

If you’ve been tracking Solar Impulse’s quest to fly around the world without using fuel, you may have a chance to see it up close and personal next summer. The Swiss company is planning a trip in HB-SIA, the first prototype of the all-solar-powered airplane, from the West Coast to the East Coast next year. […]

The variety of final destinations for retired airplanes can be quite fascinating, ranging from scrap metal to incredible pieces of art. Now a police officer and race car driver, Jeff Bloch (aka Speedycop), who has become known for creating unique racing machines, has come up with a new idea for the use of a parked […]

Jenni Rivera, the 43-year-old Mexican-American singer and performer, was killed in a Learjet 25 crash over the weekend about 70 miles south of Monterrey, Mexico. According to the NTSB, which is assisting in the investigation, the accident occurred around 3:30 a.m. local time and claimed the lives of all seven individuals on board. Search and […]

After the tragic loss of his wife Amanda in an airshow accident, Kyle Franklin will return to the circuit with a dramatic new airplane. Revealed this week at the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) convention in Las Vegas, “Dracula” is a highly customized biplane with the retro appeal of early Waco racers – speed […]

As a pilot, you should be very familiar with checklists. There are preflight, startup, climb, cruise and pre-landing checklists, just to name a few. When you head to the airport, there are many things you need to make sure you bring along in order to fly safely, legally and comfortably. So why not create a […]

As I drove down our neighborhood hill at 05:30, a rust-orange glow interrupted my lethargic trance. The glow wasn’t the rising sun. It was actually the moon, a very bright blue moon, to be exact. Its larger relative size made it appear as though it would sink into the waters of our lake with a […]

My morning routine is to get up at 6 o’clock or so, make coffee — an elaborate ceremony that involves measuring out and grinding the beans, pre-wetting the grounds, dribbling water over them at a certain temperature, and all that stuff; I think I prefer the ritual to the coffee — and sit on the […]

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 Matthew Boucher, who recently flew into Austin Executive in a Navion Rangemaster. Here’s what he has to say about the experience. “En route from California to Florida, we […]