NGPA’s Winter Warm-Up and Industry Expo had a record number of exhibitors, as well as 1,400 attendees, including students from eight university chapters of the association.
Pilots
New boss for SUN ‘n FUN
The director of Lakeland Linder International Airport, home to SUN ‘n FUN, will take over as president and CEO after this year’s fly-in. That’s when John “Lites” Leenhouts, president since 2011, retires.
Voice functionality, more added to Garmin pilot watch
Garmin has introduced the D2 Air X10, a GPS watch that lets pilots take calls and use their smartphone’s voice assistant to send texts, ask questions, and more.
Guilty of confirmation bias
We entered the pattern and got no gear down in the annunciator panel. I pointed this out to the owner and he said the gear is down and didn’t seem surprised. We verified this with a small window on the floor between the front seats.
Picture of the Day: Fall in Frankenmuth
Don Schwanke submitted this photo and note: “A Cessna 177A Cardinal resting in the transient parking area on the north side of Runway 9/27” at Zehnder Field – 66G.
Best in flight training revealed
The 2021-2022 survey garnered nearly 8,000 submissions, including 1,740 recommendations for top CFIs and 949 for best flight school. Taking top honors for flight schools is In the Pattern in Denton, Texas, while Ambyr Peterson of Minneapolis took top honors for CFI.
Turbo Skylane back in Cessna lineup
The updated Turbo Skylane features the Garmin G1000 NXi avionics suite, a heated propeller, an in-cabin oxygen system, is powered by the Lycoming TIO-540 engine. Orders are being taken now, with delivery expected in early 2023.
Picture of the Day: Flying through a postcard
Karissa Davan submitted this photo and note: “Departing on Runway 19L in Brunswick, Maine (KBXM) always provides an amazing sea view, but especially at sunset. This photo was taken on a departure in my Cessna 182R. The 200° view surrounds you with blinking lighthouses, lobster boats and, if your timing is just right, a stunning sunset looking toward Portland, Maine. It’s like flying through a postcard and it never gets old!”
Alaska vacation leads to internship for Florida twins
When Sean and Wells Muraskin vacationed in Alaska in the summer of 2021, the highlight of the trip was flying floatplanes with Terry Cartee of Acme Cub Training. But that’s nothing compared to the summer of 2022, when the twins will work as interns at the Alaska seaplane base, flying with Cartee and learning maintenance skills from Steve Williams after working during the day.