HOOD RIVER, Ore. – Since 2007, the Hood River Fly-In has earned a smokin’ hot reputation as a premier antique aircraft fly-in. In 2017, “smokin’” turned literal as nearby forest fires enveloped the area around Ken Jernstedt Airfield (4S2) in smoke and a trio of TFRs. In 2016, several hundred aircraft from all over descended […]
Touch & Go
12 miles away, a world apart
As the crow — or drone flies – Santa Monica (SMO) and Van Nuys (VNY) airports are just 12 nautical miles apart. But they might as well be on different planets. While Santa Monica seeks to give their airport a 1,500-foot haircut, Van Nuys is crowing – rightly so – about a number of achievements […]
Full circle in just 29 years
Twenty-nine years ago last month, my mom, dad, sister and I loaded all my belongings into our 1973 Beechcraft Baron and flew me to Grand Forks, N.D., to move me into McVey Hall at the University of North Dakota. Fast forward 29 years and the roles had reversed. My wife and I drove to the […]
Are you a pilot with a plus one?
There are few things in life more magical than flying. Even better is when we take someone else along for the ride. Whether our passengers are kids or kids at heart, nurturing their interest is key. Some may want to become pilots themselves. Others are happy to be passengers. While a few are interested, many […]
Island time enhanced with ‘Coast Dog’ stories
On a single hand, with two missing fingers, I can count the number of proper vacations my wife and I — and our kids — have taken in our nearly 23 years of marriage. So a week on Oahu in Hawaii was just what the proverbial doctor ordered. Whenever I travel, I tend to be […]
Welcome to OSH, now take a stand
The first of several text messages — I and thousands of others will likely receive — from the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) during AirVenture 2017 offered a stark reminder…and I wasn’t even onsite yet. “Welcome to #OSH17!” the message starts. Immediately followed by a wet blanket over the excitement that is OSH: “Take a stand […]
Cirrus Embarks on a new training journey
If you buy a pre-owned Cirrus, Cirrus wants to embark on a journey with you — a training journey. Whether you buy that aircraft through Cirrus’ pre-owned sales network or from an independent seller, Cirrus Embark is something you’ll be able — and should — take advantage of. New owners who register online will get up to […]
Tell Congress, then tell a friend
A little more than 44% of all airline flight delays between May 2016 and April 2017 were categorized as Air Carrier Delay. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics defines Air Carrier Delay as “within the airline’s control (e.g. maintenance or crew problems, aircraft cleaning, baggage loaded, fueling, etc.).” So it feels a tad misleading when Southwest […]
Control is an illusion, except when it’s not
I find it fascinating to watch people attempt to control what is often beyond control. If only a non-profit, non-government entity was in control of air traffic, the ills of airline travel would magically disappear. Or so Congress — and the airlines – would like us to believe. As if… According to the Bureau of Transportation […]