Recently I’ve been reading a book by Malvern (Mal) Gross titled “Nine Lives – Adventures of a Lucky Pilot.” (See the first part of the review here.) Gross started his career as a CPA and during his many years he set world records in his Cessna 210, headed up a couple of national and international […]
Touch & Go
Book review creates flood of memories
Every now and then I get a call from the office and the conversation usually goes something like this: Ben: Hi dad, what’s going on? Me: Nothing much just watching the Olympics or working on some Rotary stuff but nothing critical … what have you got in mind? Ben: How about coming into the office. […]
‘Washington, we have a problem’
GUEST EDITORIAL By DAVE HOOK Each time I read of a new security proposal that will impact general aviation, I feel like keying the mic button and saying, “Washington, we have a problem.” You know, just to see if anybody’s listening. That’s because our freedom to fly is at risk. Risk — now that’s a […]
Good riddance 2009!
Happy New Year! I’ve been waiting to say that for about six months now. While there is no guarantee 2010 will be any better than 2009, it always feels good to flip the calendar to a clean sheet, full of possibilities. That said, looking forward I find loads of challenges (or opportunities if you prefer […]
Beware the “sound bite” solution
GUEST EDITORIAL By MICHAEL KRAFT, senior vice president and general manager, Lycoming Engines I commend Janice Wood for taking on the avgas issue (“Preparing for the end of 100LL”) and reporting objectively the comments made at this year’s AOPA Aviation Summit in Tampa. The past and present story of 100LL has technical, political, economic and historical […]
A story we need to share
At the conclusion of October’s Copperstate Fly-In, held at Casa Grande Municipal Airport (CGZ) in Arizona, I attended the annual awards banquet. As luck would have it, I sat at a great table. Seated with me was Chris Christiansen (and his parents), designer/builder of the award-winning Savor, Dave Edwards from Las Vegas, who turned me […]
Movie review: “Amelia”
With all the hype surrounding the new movie “Amelia,” I was prepared to encounter another aviation biopic that slaughtered the main character and violated the Laws of Physics when it came to aviation and what airplanes can actually do in the air. I am pleased to say that the Laws of Physics remained intact, but I […]
A buyer’s market for airparks
To prepare for the forums I’m presenting at this year’s AOPA Aviation Summit in Tampa, Florida, (Nov. 5-7), I’ve done a lot of talking with people about the status of residential airparks. It probably isn’t much of a surprise to anyone that the sale of lots and homes on residential airparks, regardless of their size, […]
Continuing education
GUEST EDITORIAL By PAULA DERKS, president, Aircraft Electronics Association My son graduates from college in December. His father and I could not be happier. Of course, we are proud he is obtaining a college degree, but I must admit we are more than a little thrilled that it means no more tuition payments, no more […]