Susan Loricchio submitted this photo and note: “Mike Damiani, a pilot at Golden Age Air Museum in Pennsylvania, looks on before getting ready to fly Mildred, the Sopwith Pup replica.”
General Aviation
Hyperbole and hokum in the air
A well-managed traffic pattern can handle a dozen aircraft or more at one time without undue risk to safety or efficiency. Plug one ego-driven pilot into that scenario and things can get really exciting, really fast.
Safety alert advises multi-engine pilots when to feather prop if one engine loses power
Once a propeller’s speed drops below the range at which start locks engage, feathering is not possible. “The resulting windmilling and parasitic drag are almost invariably followed by loss of control with fatal consequences,” NTSB officials said.
Hartzell Propeller expands engine preheat offerings
Hartzell officials note that the Tanis brand uses heated bolts and silicone pads to provide engine preheat, while Reiff Preheat Systems uses heated coils and aluminum pads to heat engine cylinders and oil sumps.
Garmin introduces new mode controller for GFC 600 autopilot
The new controller contains a larger, sunlight-readable display that provides more than double the usable screen area compared to the previous mode controller, according to company officials.
Pilot mistakes service road for taxiway
Once on the roadway, I realized things were not right. At that point, I received a call from Ground telling me I was on a service road. The service road was not on the FAA airport diagram, and I saw no signs indicating it was a service road where I entered it.
Picture of the Day: Back from annual
Gilles Roy submitted this photo and note: “I love my T182T. I’ve owned it since new in 2007. From the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean, it has seen the best world.”
A proud passenger
It was an absolute joy to watch Brenna as pilot in command. From preflight to shutdown and securing of the aircraft — and everything in between — she was in command.
Tips for backcountry flying
Officials at the Recreational Aviation Foundation are joining other general aviation advocacy groups on high alert at the number of backcountry accidents so far in the summer of 2024 — 13 in Idaho — including a fatality and near disaster at Smiley Creek.