Search Results for: vfr

Frankly, I hated the massive rewrite ofPart 61 that went into effect on August 4, 1997. No one asked me, but I didn’t think itneeded an overhaul. A few minor tweaks to clear up a few poor areas would have done verynicely. It changed rules and requirements that had been in effect for decades, from […]

This was a trip I had been anticipating eagerly allyear. I’d been invited to give a seminar at the CaymanIslands’ International Aviation Week gathering, and would be flying myT310R from its west coast base to Key West Florida, then joining up with The Cayman Caravan to fly over the top of Cubaand into Grand Cayman. […]

Henry Kisor was born August 17, 1940, inRidgewood, N.J. Age three brought his first experience in the cockpit of a TBF Avenger,and a bout with meningitis that would take away his ability to hear. Henry’s parentstaught him to read and to read lips and to find his place in a hearing world. He earned aB.A. […]

Somany pilots forget, or never knew, that the earliest heavier-than-air birdspretty much all flew beak-first. But check out any photo of the Wrights’earliest machines and some built by their followers … the canard. Strange thatthe canard never really became an industry standard, long ago overshadowed by”backward-built” airplanes, those with the tail surface in back, inone […]

When you arrived at Plant City you were on a VFR flight plan. What was your original plan for the day? I started in Melbourne. I was building cross-country time for my instrument rating. I want to get the instrument rating first, then I’ll have enough hours to go right into the commercial rating. At […]

Rod Machado was born in Oakland, Calif., in1953. He’s half German and half Portuguese, which he claims gives him a geneticpredisposition to conquer a country and then go fishing. He began flying at 16, soloed at17, took his private pilot checkride with legendary instructor Amelia Reid, and, a fewyears later, began to teach flying. After […]

NTSB Identification: LAX94LA184.The docket is stored in the (offline) NTSBImaging System. Accident occurred APR-07-94 at KERMAN, CAAircraft: CESSNA 182N, registration: N9124G Injuries: 1 Serious. RECORDED RADAR & VOICE TAPES REVEALED THAT 15 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFTBEGAN DEVIATING FROM HEADINGS, ALTITUDES, & ATC INSTRUCTIONS. THE FACILITIES WORKINGTHE FLIGHT SAID THE AIRCRAFT’S COURSE OF FLIGHT WAS […]

NTSB Identification: IAD97FA043 Accident occurred JAN-17-97 at ALTON, NHAircraft: Piper PA-28-236, registration: N8263Y Injuries: 2 Fatal. HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 17, 1997, at 1335 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-236, N8263Y, wasdestroyed when it collided with trees near Alton, New Hampshire. The pilot and onepassenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a […]

Winteris finally getting a grip here at the virtual airport. Airplane owners aresniffing the air and have set up engine heaters. Lots of hangars have airplanesplugged into wall sockets, as owners hope their steeds will start on the coldmornings without damaging the engine. The regulars here at the Lounge arestarting to look forward to our […]

Aletter from a reader who had an unpleasant experience at a non-towered airportprompted this column. He wrote the following account: I was recently making a straight-in final to a non-towered airport. Monitoring the Unicom frequency, I was aware of another airplane in the pattern flying touch-and-goes with a student. Since I was approaching from the […]