We all know the classic adage “don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” It’s simple advice. Perhaps too simple, because people still ignore it, no matter how obvious the repercussions of running afoul of it might be. The latest and greatest example I’ve encountered happened just the other day here in central Florida. And […]
Opinion
Expect the unexpected
Like so many general aviation pilots, I found myself some years ago with very limited options for renting aircraft. Whenever I found a company that was willing to rent to the public, I found the price was high, the service was poor, the aircraft were less than inviting, and I never felt particularly valued as […]
Electric aircraft … Going mainstream?
Can electric aircraft truly become part of the national or worldwide fleet? You might discount the possibility, but then consider Airbus. When I was a youngster, I remember a TV commercial with a song jingle that went, “Electricity does more for you each day.” (Despite the decades that have passed, the tune still plays in […]
No step
By JEB BURNSIDE. One of aviation’s endearing characteristics involves the abundant myths surrounding aircraft operation: Do this, that or some other thing and your airplane will carry more, fly faster on less fuel and land on a dime. Such myths are great hangar-flying fodder, but most of them fall down when confronted with the real […]
Dick Merrill, Atlantic double-crosser
Merrill’s flying career began in 1920 when he purchased a war-surplus Curtiss Jenny for $600.
The King of Cancellations
Like you, I have on occasion cancelled a dentist appointment. Even at the last minute, with almost no warning, I’ve cancelled plans to attend a wedding or a birthday party. A friend of mine just cancelled a dinner he had been planning. Cancellations happen. We might be disappointed, but we adapt. We overcome the sorrow […]
What’s the best way to read the dip stick?
Q: Should one read the oil level with the dip stick screwed in or just resting on the threads? Gary Brown, via email A: Gary, I’m glad you asked this question even though I can see the boys in the hangar beginning to smile about it. First of all, it’s not quite as simple as […]
You should subscribe to the Federal Register
You should subscribe to the Federal Register. If someone in the greater Salem, Ore.-area had been subscribed to the Federal Register, they might have seen a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled, “Proposed Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace, Revocation of Class E Airspace; Salem, OR” scroll across their email inbox on May […]
Respect the two great intangibles
It is a basic human drive to acquire things. Historically, this ambition has been used as a means of showing affluence. Mr. Smith owns a tidy three-bedroom, one-bath house, which causes Mr. Jones to set his sights on a bigger, more opulent home. Mrs. Pierce drives a new mid-line sedan, sparking Mrs. Snyder to purchase […]