Should the worst happen and we find ourselves standing beside an incapacitated airplane in the dark of the early morning hours, at an unfamiliar airport, after sliding off the runway, what should we do?
Opinion
Another reader worries his engine is a ticking time bomb
While waiting for a new engine, a reader wonders if he should worry about his existing engine, especially since he flies over open water a lot.
We were here first
Instead of requiring drones to detect and avoid (DAA) any obstacle (like airplanes, helicopters, or cranes), this rule will put the onus on crewed aircraft.
Secondary matters
Knowing when to head for the pasture and when to continue the flight without a care in the world can make all the difference. There’s no need to tear up a perfectly good airplane in an emergency landing just because a light burned out, a secondary flight control failed, or the person beside you lets their breakfast loose in the cockpit.
Product Review: Lightspeed’s Zulu 4 delivers quiet comfort
A new headset is put to the test in a Piper J-3 Cub.
What oil will GA use with unleaded fuels?
Will general aviation move to a full synthetic oil when we transition to unleaded fuels? Or will we stick with what we are using today?
The ripple effect goes on
If we are so unfortunate as to mix the very human tendency to be momentarily irresponsible with something as unforgiving as aviation, the pain is expanded beyond ourselves. The collateral damage can last for decades.
Ask Paul: What could cause this to happen?
If you look closely at the photo, you’ll notice that the exhaust valve pushrod shroud tube on the right is bent severely and has fractured the pushrod shroud tube. The intake pushrod shroud tube is also bent, but you’ll also notice that this has caused much more serious damage because it has cracked the tappet boss on the crankcase, which means the crankcase will either need serious repair work completed at an FAA-approved facility or a complete replacement.
For the love of airplane noise
Before I understood much of anything about manned flight, I was attracted to the sound of aircraft passing over my head. I knew nothing of density altitude, stochiometric mixtures, cloud types, or weather patterns. I had little understanding of lift or thrust or drag. But the sound caught my ear.