Features

Hi, my name is Bill and I’m a toolaholic… Very few aircraft builders are not tool hounds. These are the people who walk through the local tool stores with a glazed look in their eyes. They are thankful when their spouse gives them a wrench for a present, even if they already have 12 identical […]

NY Center:“Jetsetter 123, got time for a quick question?” JS123:“Sure.” NYC:“What’s the service ceiling on that bird?” JS123:“FL 510.” [A moment of silence followed.] Then someone asked:“Does that thing come with astronaut wings?” XY456:“Hey Center, what type of aircraft were you talking to?” NYC:“He’s a G6.” Some other regional jet driver then chimed in:“Man, I […]

As winter unveils its hand across the nation, it seems appropriate to take a look at one of the last of aviation’s “firsts,” the aerial circumnavigation of our globe via the Poles. The first flight around the world was made in 1924 by a U.S. Army team. The North Pole was overflown in 1926 by […]

Most pilots I know are lazy. Writing as one who has spent most of his career flying airplanes, that’s meant to be a compliment. The lazy pilot tends to accomplish the least work necessary in order to achieve the intended goal. This usually improves workload management and provides a greater reserve of attention. However, sometimes […]

SocialFlight’s calendar shows some last chances to for fall fly-ins, but The Weekender is also gearing up for the many informative seminars that will take place in the coming months. Stag Air Park in North Carolina has rescheduled its fall fly-in for Saturday due to runway conditions. Weather permitting, all are invited to land on […]

40+ years ago, on a busy busy day in the Schenectady County Airport traffic pattern. An older WWII-era pilot owned a Stinson L5 that he used for a little instructing and light aerobatics. In the pattern on downwind, this exchange occurred. Tower:“Stinson N1234, do a 360 for spacing.” N1234:“Vertical or horizontal?” Mark Wielt

Last July I wrote an introduction to tailwheel flying as an AVweb Feature. It went into those hot-button items a fledgling tailwheel pilot needs to keep in the forefront of consciousness when coming down final in a tailwheel airplane. Let’s consider it “Tailwheels, Part I.” With this article, I’ll go through what you should expect […]

The Weekender’s SocialFlight calendar shows a busy Saturday coming up, including the start of holiday-related events. EAA Chapter 414 and AVP Kenosha Aviation in Wisconsin will host a first Toys 4 Tots drive, welcoming all to fly or drive in for a donation day on Saturday. Bring a new unwrapped toy and join the chapter […]

The glass in your bird is looking a little milky, there’s some crazing on the windshield and a little crack where the pebble hit. Is it time to replace the windows? How can you tell? What’s it going to cost? How can I make the glass last longer? First, it’s worth noting that what’s on […]

A controller on an adjacent position had a VFR pop-up looking for advisories. Due to a familiar sounding call sign, he asked if the aircraft was a Skymaster, obviously thinking it was a Cessna 337. The pilot replied:“Heck, no. I’m a solo student.” Derek Crane & Tim Shea