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Thun family honored

September 21, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Bruce Thun, son of John Thun who developed the airport and for whom it was named, looks to the site where the plaque honoring his father is located. Bruce is operations manager for the Pierce County owned facility and he introduced many family members during the ceremony Sept. 18

Bruce Thun, son of John Thun who developed the airport and for whom it was named, looks to the site where the plaque honoring his father is located. Bruce is operations manager for the Pierce County owned facility and he introduced many family members during the ceremony Sept. 18

The airport may be officially named Pierce County Airport but to anyone who has ever been around the airport it is Thun Field and Friday, Sept. 18, Pierce County dedicated a plaque to the man, John Thun, who built the airport on Puyallup’s South Hill and ran it for about 20 years before selling it to Pierce County.

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Filed Under: Airports, News, People

Has the recession landed at airparks?

September 16, 2009 by 1 Comment

What affect has the economic slowdown had on airpark properties?

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Filed Under: News

What do I need to know about a fuel tank on my airpark property?

September 9, 2009 by 3 Comments

Q: There’s a fuel tank in the ground on the airpark property I am interested in buying. The seller hasn’t had fuel delivered in a number of years, but says the tank is sound and there’s no reason it can’t be filled by a local distributor of avgas or auto fuel. What are the rules on this? Can I buy fuel in bulk? I know a lot of gas stations in town have had to dig up and replace their fuel tanks and I’ve heard that’s costly. Would a property like I’m looking at require that type of action?

A: Oil companies can sell fuel to an individual and deliver it to your underground tank in any quantity that works out for both parties. However, before the oil company can legally deliver the fuel and pump it into your underground storage tank, it must see your Underground Storage Tank permit.

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Filed Under: News

FAA’s long-standing policy against thru the fence agreements booed at Oshkosh

July 31, 2009 by 1 Comment

A capacity crowd turned out July 30 at EAA AirVenture to meet and hear from new FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. I was all prepared to ask him about thru the fence problems but Brent Blue from Driggs, Idaho, got to ask a question before I did.

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Filed Under: News

Homer Kolb dies at 78

July 14, 2009 by 6 Comments

Homer Kolb, 78, of Phoenixville, Pa., died July 12 about a week after successful surgery to implant stents into blocked arteries. Kolb was the designer of numerous ultralight and experimental aircraft going back to 1980.

Homer and Clara Kolb

Homer and Clara Kolb

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Filed Under: News

A new way to buy parts

June 1, 2009 by Leave a Comment

Sometimes the big ideas in aviation come from the simplest thoughts.

aircraftpartsexpressFor example, Ken Willaford, AI and owner of Aeromech, Inc., a maintenance facility on Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Florida, stocked lots of parts. In an effort to expand his business, he put a truck on the road as a roving parts store. But  when fuel prices started soaring, he found it wasn’t financially feasible to keep the truck, pay a driver, as well as cover the costs of travel.

But, with a good list of clients around Florida, he thought there had to be a way to service them and their customers in a more economical way.

His thinking resulted in a new business called Aircraft Parts Express, Inc. He sets up kiosks at FBOs stocked with parts that the FBO feels are the best sellers. The FBO can buy the stock or sell it to retail customers, earning a commission on items sold.

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Filed Under: Products Tagged With: ,

Bach is back!

May 15, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Hypnotizing Maria

Hypnotizing Maria

Author Richard Bach has finished a new book – Hypnotizing Maria – after a 10 year absence. And, for all the Bach fans, you can be assured this one is much like several of his earlier ones, particularly Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

And, like most of his books, Hypnotizing Maria is a physically small book (5.5X7.25 inches) and in number of pages (160). But, like other books, it is huge in making the reader think and explore the inner self.

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Filed Under: Books, News, Products Tagged With:

ELT switch could save your life

May 8, 2009 by Leave a Comment

What’s more important to you: Money in your bank account or a search and rescue operation if you go missing in your airplane?

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Filed Under: News

Many pay respect to Slim Lawson

May 7, 2009 by Leave a Comment

photo

Several hundred people gathered at Spanaway airport Sunday May 3 to pay respects to Ralph ‘Slim’ Lawson who died last month. Known to all as Slim the owner and operator of the airport and flight school spent more than 26,000 hours in the air as an instructor and helped hundreds to enter the aviation industry.

There were memories shared by those attending and numerous photos scattered around the hangar. The airport remains open as Gary Lawson, Slims son and business operator works on a possible property sale.

Filed Under: News

Flying on Silver Wings

May 5, 2009 by Leave a Comment

Did you solo at least 25 years ago?

If so, you should join with others who accomplished that feat in the Silver Wings Fraternity, an international organization of pilots.

Founded in 1958 by the late Russ Brinkley and several other pilots, it has grown over the years to include pilots from all aspects of aviation. Notable members include former President George Bush, Senator Barry Goldwater and even Elrey Jeppesen.

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Filed Under: News