Features

SocialFlight has a busy Weekender schedule lined up with airplane and helicopter rides, cars and bikes, and a two-day airshow.Bakersfield Municipal Airport in California will host an Open House & Fly-In on Saturday, featuring Harmon Rocket kit creator John Harmon, Young Eagles airplane rides and plenty of airplanes to view. Fly in and tie down […]

I was tuned to Indy Center yesterday and heard this exchange with a plane on flight following: Indy Center:“Cessna 12345, contact Indy Center on 124.62.” Cessna 12345:“Can I have something that doesn’t end in a ‘2’ or a ‘7’?” Indy Center:“What was that request?” Cessna 12345:“Can I have a frequency doesn’t end in a ‘2’ […]

In their older years, my parents were cheapskates. When I visited them in their Southern Texas retirement community, they always were delighted to share their favorite places, those with senior discounts, dollar-breakfast specials and cheap all-you-can-eat buffets. The same proved true when buying unleaded: I thought it odd they would drive six miles round-trip to […]

Because of design, certification and insurance costs, the OEM industry is hobbled with a rather arcane system of pricing replacement parts. When it comes to interior plastic parts—like a window molding, hinge cover or a glove box overlay, for example—a couple of dollars’ worth of plastic becomes a $400 part simply because of its unique […]

The holiday weekend has a lot in store on SocialFlight, from campouts, poker runs and plenty of food. A weekend of camping, entertainment and cookouts awaits at Llano Municipal Airport in Texas, where ShareAviation will have burgers, brats and hot dogs on the grill along with campground games and an outdoor movie on a 12-foot […]

For over 70 years general aviation pilots have volunteered their time, skills and airplanes to help others in need by giving free flights for everything from search and rescue through medical transport, environmental survey and research to disaster relief, animal transport and exposing kids to the world of flight. What has been termed Public Benefit […]

A reader of IFR Refresher recently inquired about the ATC/Pilot relationship for departures from airports in Class G (uncontrolled) airspace—specifically executing these clearances, and ATC’s expectations of how that aircraft will maneuver. Hailing from an en-route center where mountainous terrain dominates and TRACONS are scarce, I frequently encounter situations where aircraft request departure off one […]

The Weekender has some family-friendly outings on the SocialFlight calendar, along with an aviation expo and even a chance to fly in for some fishing. The Idaho Aviation Association, in partnership with Aero Mark, will host the 6th annual Idaho Aviation Expo Friday and Saturday in Idaho Falls, featuring bushplanes to business turbines, displays for […]

On a flight from Panama City, Florida to Asheville, North Carolina, I heard ATC asking another aircraft if his transponder was on — to which the reply was: “We’re putting quarters in the slot now.” Ray Mansfield

The Cessna 182 series is one of the most popular and prolific all-purpose flying machines in the general aviation fleet. They are dependable, straightforward, and easy to fly. They are traded frequently on the market, and lots of people are looking to buy one at any given time. While the huge run-up in the cost […]