Letters

Concerning the “new” Lockheed Martin Flight Service System, I am sick and tired of hearing alternative sources being suggested for obtaining a weather briefing.  Lockheed, the FAA and AOPA overwhelmingly advocated this privatization as the best thing since sliced white bread. I suggest calling them even more and forcing them to deliver the services they […]

Yuk, not “Top Gun” (“Top Gun” takes top honors, but is it really the greatest aviation movie of all time? May 18 issue). Here’s my list of flying films that often get overlooked in top 10 lists; some have nutritional value, some are amazing only because they are in color, and some have pretty interesting […]

I am writing in response to the letter from John Townsley in the May 4 edition (Tough pilots, tough planes, tough flying). John’s letter disputes a comment in your article on the Museum of Mountain Flying (Tough planes, tough pilots, tough flying: Montana Mountain Flying Museum showcases the best of aviation in the Big Sky […]

Stephen Hawking was never “briefly free of the gravity normally limiting his motions.” (When boundaries flew away: Slipping the surly bonds of gravity, May 18 issue). In the article it states that, “Although he was weightless for about a minute, actually in free-fall…” In free-fall he was being accelerated toward the earth with the full force […]

A few days ago as we were taxiing the Xenon back to the hangar an elderly gentleman was following us in his truck and waving madly. As soon as the prop stopped he was at our side. “Wow I just read all about the Xenon in General Aviation News,”  he exclaimed. He could not believe his luck that […]

During a recent Senate vote, the senator from Washington, Maria Cantwell, chose to vote with the airlines, and against the rest of aviation. It was a narrow vote — 11 to 12 — so her vote had a significant impact and could have easily turned the tide on this one. The battle is not over, […]

Everyone is up in arms about user fees. Where were you and others when the Flight Service System was being contracted out? That was the first step to to user fees. It seems no one wants to admit that, but all of you cannot be so blind as to see where this is all heading. After two […]

Shame on you, Senator Maria Cantwell, for supporting FAA user fees. The last thing the general aviation industry needs is for Congress to allow airlines to dictate the funding of FAA operations.  I hope you will correct your misguided decision if this bill ever comes to the floor. DAVID STAHL Gig Harbor, Wash.

I was a 4-year-old in 1927 when the greatest man of my generation, Charles Lindbergh, flew across the Atlantic Ocean from New York to Paris. On May 20 and 21, we celebrated the 80th anniversary of that historic flight. No one person has ever achieved a greater accolade from Europe or America than this man […]