During World War II, Southern California was a prime location for the production of military aircraft. Lockheed, Convair, North American, Douglas, Hughes, Northrop and Vultee all had factories there. Today one of the largest collections of airworthy specimens of aircraft produced during this era resides in Chino at the Planes of Fame Museum. The museum […]
Airworthy and active: The Heritage Flight Museum in Bellingham, Wash
You may never have been to the Heritage Flight Museum in Bellingham, Wash., but you have probably seen some of its aircraft. The mission of the museum, located at Bellingham International Airport (BLI) in Bellingham, Wash., north of Seattle, is the preservation of flying military aircraft, so during the spring and summer months the machines […]
A rose by any other name? Quirks in rental aircraft inspire nicknames
There is a learning curve that must take place when you go from being an aircraft owner to a renter. A number of my clients are learning this. Some of them are between airplanes. Others decided that it is a better financial decision to rent airplanes than to own them at this time. They all […]
Developer’s plans shot down by pilots — and everyone else
When a developer started eyeing a piece of property for a housing development less than a mile from Centennial Airport (APA) in Centennial, Colo., just outside Denver, it wasn’t just the aviation community that raised the alarm. The business community and local homeowners association raised the cries of opposition, as well. The proposal was to […]
Airport vs. an old-growth forest: Which will be left standing?
Every pilot thinks that his airport is special. Sky Harbor Airport (KDYT) in Duluth, Minn., is special for several reasons, or so say pilots, the people who live near the airport and the government agencies that are charged with managing and protecting not only the airport, but the surrounding area. Sky Harbor Airport, as the […]
F-14’s seized by Uncle Sam
Four retired and stripped F-14 aircraft were seized recently by the federal government as the result of a 17-month investigation into the illegal sale of aircraft parts to Iran. The aircraft, including three that were at museums at the Chino Airport in Southern California and one that was a Hollywood prop, had been in civilian […]
New jet center markes new age for California airport
Two years ago pilots and airport officials at Buchanan Field (CCR) in Concord, Calif., were fighting a developer’s plan to close the airport to make way for homes and a shopping center. When the FAA and the local community raised objections, the developer dropped the idea. It was then that — finally — airport officials […]
Cirrus facing wrongful death lawsuit in Lidle crash
An attorney representing the families of New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle and flight instructor Tyler Stanger, who died in the crash of the Cirrus SR20 in Manhattan, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Cirrus Design Corp. The complaint alleges product liability, negligence and breach of warranty against Cirrus. Teledyne, Hartzell Propeller, S-Tec, Honeywell […]
Children’s Air Corps Guild
“Your child has cancer” is one of the most devastating sentences a parent can hear. Richard Newman, a pilot from Washington state, heard these words when his daughter Carli was diagnosed with lymphoma, but this wasn’t the only thing that inspired him to create the Children’s Air Corps Guild, an organization geared toward raising funds […]