Features

This story originally appeared in KITPLANES. By LeRoy Cook The Whisper motorglider from South Africa, designed by Russell Phillips in 2004, served admirably in its intended role as a long-winged self-launching soaring aircraft boosted aloft by an 80-hp Jabiru, Limbach or Rotax engine. But with over 30 Whispers flying, there was obviously a potential for […]

On a beautiful day last fall we were flying a practice ILS at Winnipeg International Airport. We had been cleared for a low approach when I asked the tower: Me: Does the local airport authority charge the $10.00 landing fee if one does a touch and go? Tower: I don’t know but I will check. […]

AVweb’s General Aviation Accident Bulletin is taken from the pages of our sister publication, Aviation Safety magazine. All the reports listed here are preliminary and include only initial factual findings about crashes. You can learn more about the final probable cause on the NTSB’s website at www.ntsb.gov. Final reports appear about a year after the […]

Hey, Tower, Do I Amuse You? I’m a controller, enroute and I work in Safety. I think every controller should be pilot rated and I think the FAA should pay for it. Some of our best trainers are pilot rated controllers. We have had several aircraft saves in the past with a pilot rated controller […]

There are many considerations to work through before your first purchase. Indeed, for the most economically efficient path to the best simulator for your purposes, you should work through all those considerations before making any purchases. Parts of a Sim Want a home flight simulator? You’ll need a chair to sit on and a table […]

This story originally ran in KITPLANES. By Scott Spangler Concretely explaining why a specific airplane appeals to a pilot is almost as easy as explaining why they fly. All Bob Bounds really knew when he first saw Fred Keller’s Prospector STOL, named Plansbuilt Grand Champion at EAA Oshkosh 1989, is that he wanted one. “I […]

On a recent trip from Illinois to Arkansas, we overheard the following exchange: Razorback Approach: “Cessna Two Three Tango, Razorback Approach. Have you changed your destination from Houston, Texas?” Cessna 23T: “Razorback Approach, Cessna Two Three Tango. That’s a negative. Destination is still Houston.” Approach (chuckling): “Well Cessna Two Three Tango, on your current heading […]

One challenge all instrument-rated pilots face from time to time is the zero-zero takeoff, one in which the ceiling and visibility are at or near nil values. While such an operation can be completely legal under FAR Part 91, it poses obvious risks, not least of which is the need for precise aircraft handling when […]

Do You Really Need To Go Flying? In the UK, the vast majority of private pilots have decided that recreational flying is not right for the following reasons: 1. The ground trip to and from the airfield (if applicable) would contravene the travel guidance as it does not comply with the 4 permitted reasons to […]

I had to fly a go-around the other day. My instructor and I were landing in my Debonair at a familiar airport on a gusty day after 1.5 hours of instrument work. Although I was accustomed to the airport and the visual approach, I had forgotten how windy conditions at this particular runway could wreak […]