True story: I’m afraid of heights. But I’ve got a sense of humor about it. This is probably best illustrated by a visit to the Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Center I enjoyed a few years ago. The ground floor exhibits really caught my attention. On the second level, I enjoyed the view. By the time I got […]
Opinion
Are you a pilot with a plus one?
There are few things in life more magical than flying. Even better is when we take someone else along for the ride. Whether our passengers are kids or kids at heart, nurturing their interest is key. Some may want to become pilots themselves. Others are happy to be passengers. While a few are interested, many […]
At the confluence of ignorance and fear
Bad judgment lives at the confluence of ignorance and fear. Not that most folks notice. I direct you to an astoundingly popular activity that involves a carnie strapping you and a friend into a device intended to shoot you into the sky. It then allows you to drop at the speed of gravity, before boinging […]
Want two, three, or no engines with that Gooney Bird?
It was not uncommon for mass-produced aircraft of the 20th Century to stick with one type of engine, albeit with model advances as the engines improved. All production B-17s except the Model 299 prototype flew with some version of the Wright R1820 radial; B-24s were loyal to Pratt & Whitney R1830s. The Douglas DC-3/C-47 series […]
Are my oil pump gears OK?
Q: I found an old article with your name on it, regarding AD 96-09-10 and oil pump gears. My information is as follows: My Lycoming O-320-E2D, S/N: L-24557-27A, was overhauled by Penn Yan Aero back in 1990 when the engine had 2,000 hours on it. During my annual in 2011, the question came up about oil […]
Delving one layer deeper
It comes as no surprise to anyone involved in the aviation industry that cost is a factor when it comes to bringing new blood into our ranks. Learning to fly isn’t cheap. It doesn’t have to be prohibitively expensive either, but let’s face it, flight time is generally perceived as being out of reach for […]
Of WINGS and bling
In the more than quarter century I’ve been a Certificated Flight Instructor, I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve had people ask about the FAA WINGS program. My take-away from all those conversations is this: Most of us don’t really understand what the WINGS program is. That stinging rebuke applies to […]
Island time enhanced with ‘Coast Dog’ stories
On a single hand, with two missing fingers, I can count the number of proper vacations my wife and I — and our kids — have taken in our nearly 23 years of marriage. So a week on Oahu in Hawaii was just what the proverbial doctor ordered. Whenever I travel, I tend to be […]
Welcome to OSH, now take a stand
The first of several text messages — I and thousands of others will likely receive — from the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) during AirVenture 2017 offered a stark reminder…and I wasn’t even onsite yet. “Welcome to #OSH17!” the message starts. Immediately followed by a wet blanket over the excitement that is OSH: “Take a stand […]