The history of aviation is a long record of man’s restless urge to emulate soaring eagles and swooping hawks, to escape the earth and reach the freedom of the skies. Even though the air had been harnessed for centuries with aerodynamic devices such as the feathers on an arrow or the shape of a boomerang […]
Opinion
Electric Sports weight-shift trike impresses
AERO, held each year in the south of Germany, is one of those shows that has interesting aircraft in more nooks and crannies than even a crack reporter can find. Thanks to Tom Peghiny of Flightstar eSpyder and Flight Design USA fame, we have more from the German show about electric-powered aircraft. Enthusiasts of electric […]
Rich Suicidal Idiots
GUEST EDITORIAL By THOMAS P. TURNER Rich, suicidal idiots — that’s what most people think about general aviation pilots. In many ways we bring these perceptions on ourselves. If we are to improve the public’s opinion of personal aviation, these are the stereotypes we need to address and, if possible, refute. Rich As a “personal […]
Lawmakers work to quash air tour amendment
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House General Aviation Caucus has joined aviation’s alphabet groups in an attempt to derail an amendment in a bill that would give the National Park Service authority to regulate air tour flights over national parks. Recently, 18 members of Congress signed a letter to Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), chair of the […]
General aviation airport inspections and the TSA
By DAVE HOOK. In my previous post I covered what an agent of the TSA could “request” of a general aviator. Because the article was so regulation intense, I sent an early draft to the TSA’s Office of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs for comment. They afforded me the courtesy of a review with useful […]
The big dogs came to town
As the political season heats up with candidates on the stump and spokesmen backing them or tearing them down on television, there is one message that is clear to many of us. We will never personally meet or have a substantive conversation with the individuals at the top of the ticket — not unless we […]
Of airport BBQs and the TSA
By DAVE HOOK. I am partial to barbeques, so when I received a recent invitation to go to a local airport and enjoy a free barbeque lunch and escape the office, I jumped at the opportunity. I had the pleasure of enjoying my pulled-pork sandwich and iced tea with some local aviators that call the […]
Flying the Bristell
Since the Sebring LSA Expo in January, the airshow season has rushed by at warp speed and now we can return to more aircraft flown at the event that kicks off the aviation year. In this post, we’ll have a quick look at the all-new Bristell, first unveiled to the American pilot community at the […]
Government like (using) aircraft
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) hired NEXA Advisors to produce at study titled, “Government Use of Aircraft: A Taxpayer Value Perspective.” Spoiler alert: government personnel, at all levels of government, like using aircraft to do their job and find value in doing so. Imagine that. The quotes in the 24-page study are good reading. They include: […]