It has been said that necessity is the mother of invention. When it comes to the needs of a pet, some people can be quite inventive — and sometimes that inventiveness can lead to a new source of income. Michele McGuire, a pilot from Maryland, likes to fly with her dog Cooper, but was concerned […]
Flying car wins MIT prize
The Ford automobile and the airplane came on the American scene in 1903. Both were considered technological marvels of the modern age and it wasn’t long before inventors sought a way to combine the two and produce a flying car. Although many have tried, no one has been able to come up with a design […]
Washington’s Evergreen Airport sold
The Olson family, owners of Evergreen Airport (59S) in Vancouver, Wash., have sold the airport to a developer, Opus Northwest LLC. A closing date has been set for mid-July. The airport, which has been for sale since June 2001, is within three nautical miles of Portland International Airport (PDX). It was known for its tailwheel […]
‘Miss Pearl’ Single-engine elegance
It is said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This becomes apparent as you prowl the rows of aircraft on display at air shows and notice which airplanes have the “Judge Me” placards on their propellers. If you spend any time with judges at these events you begin to spot the little […]
The best of times, the worst of times…
Flying yourself to a show like Sun ‘n Fun is always exciting, but it was especially poignant for Herb Rose from Sacramento, Pa. Rose, 49, has been flying for just two years. He spent a year restoring a 1959 Cessna 150. This year he proudly flew the orange and white Cessna to the Lakeland aviation […]
Inverted V-Tail LSA proof of concept flies
Last year at Sun ‘n Fun Joe and Chris Gagliano, a father-son aerospace design team from Titusville, Fla., unveiled their design for a pusher prop inverted V-tail Light Sport Aircraft. This year they returned to report the proof of concept model has flown, and quite successfully. “The proof of concept model is a full-sized aircraft,” […]
Kitfox off the endangered list
You can take the Kitfox, the popular, sporty, highwing experimental aircraft, off the endangered species list. John and Debra McBean, former SkyStar employees and owners of Sport Plane LLC, an Idaho-based builder’s assist center, have purchased the assets of SkyStar Aircraft Corp., the makers of the Kitfox. SkyStar declared bankruptcy in October 2005, leaving hundreds […]
It takes a bomber to build a complex
After World War II Uncle Sam had hundreds of surplus B-17s. The ones that were not scrapped became cargo aircraft or fire bombers. A few were even converted into executive transport. B-17G Serial #44-85790 may have had the most unusual fate of the Boeing brethren as it was converted into the roof of a gas […]
Are you a survivor?
The better you plan, the better your day will be at a fly-in. Follow these simple guidelines to enhance your air show experience: ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT A good pair of walking shoes is a must. You will spend a lot of time walking on asphalt, so make sure your insoles are in good condition. Socks should […]