As you might imagine of a guy who writes for an aviation publication with the reputation enjoyed by General Aviation News, I’ve been flying for quite a while. You might also get the impression I pretty much know what I’m doing. That’s not necessarily true. Sure, I can get an airplane into the air and […]
Pilots
A future pilot
Tom Bryant sent in this photo of his son, Franky, who is one and a half years old, explaining: “We had just flown back from Saturday morning breakfast at Brighton Airport (45G) in Michigan and I caught this picture of him after landing. Pretty sure he will be a pilot one day!”
From hooves to helicopters
By Alexa Paprosky. The only thing I had ever piloted before my intro flight had four legs, a mane and a tail. I was type rated in thoroughbreds and had only soloed airframes with hooves and brains. I walked into the hangar expecting to see a Clydesdale of a machine, but instead was faced with […]
Fully manufactured LSA and IFR
ASTM’s F37 committee is composed of people with technical knowledge who achieved a challenging task: Start with a blank sheet of paper and create aircraft standards for the Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA) sector. That this group did so in just a few years on the leanest of budgets is a credit to their dedication. These volunteers from […]
I might not be able to walk, but I can fly
For North Carolina pilot Justin Falls, flying an airplane represents a freedom denied him on the ground. Falls, 28, overcame a devastating spinal cord injury as a student and has rebuilt his life to include completing college, earning a pharmacy degree and, most recently, passing his sport pilot check ride. Falls, who suffered a broken […]
Celebrating the Bonanza
It’s an iconic airplane that is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. About 17,500 Bonanzas have been produced over the past seven decades, with production still continuing, but at a much lower rate. In 2016, 25 Bonanzas were produced by Textron Aviation, which bought the Beechcraft brand in 2014. The Bonanza is also a plane […]
The Doctor Killer
While the Beechcraft Bonanza has a loyal following, it also has an infamous moniker: The Doctor Killer. It gained that name decades ago following a spate of high-profile crashes, with many of the pilot doctors. In fact, that spate of accidents was part of the reason for the creation of the Beechcraft Pilot Proficiency Program […]
Beech homecoming
As the Bonanza celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, there’s another big celebration in the works: The 50th anniversary of the American Bonanza Society (ABS). ABS officials are planning an “epic” event in September to commemorate the Golden Anniversary in — where else? — Wichita, where the Bonanza was born seven decades ago. “We call […]
VMC Clubs introduced
EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — Non-instrument rated pilots who want to improve their skills and knowledge now have a new resource through the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), as VMC Club programs and content are now available as to members. VMC Club is based on the IMC Club, which is now a part of EAA. […]