Features

There are few personal airplanes that can deliver both mission utility and attention-getting nostalgia. The venerable Cessna 195 Businessliner is one of them. Cessna named it the Businessliner because it was, well, a business aircraft. But it was not the first business aircraft by a long shot. It is probably the most practical of classics […]

While monitoring traffic at KAPA, we overheard a Skyhawk pilot having a difficult day. Having gone around on his first attempt, he ended up safely on the ground on his second — if a bit long and far from gracefully. Tower:“Skyhawk 123, you O.K. there?” Skyhawk 123:“Yeah. We took a bounce there. [pause] I hope […]

If there is anything that motivates pilots, it’s passion. Their fire to fly imbues every fiber of their beings. You hear it in their speech and see it in their body language anytime the prospect of flight is about. They have looked down upon the hidden waterfall in the wilderness and the circular rainbow around […]

Have you ever had these thoughtsrun through your mind while getting ready to fly an airplane? “I hope this thing flies.” “I hope I will be able to handle this thing when I get it off the ground.” “I hope I’ll be able to land it.” Have you ever had these thoughts in flight? “I […]

Whether you’re looking for the best in comfort food or some friendly competition, the Weekender found fly-ins on SocialFlight with a bit of everything.Pulled pork and bratwurst sandwiches for lunch, burritos for breakfast and live music will be featured at EAA Chapter 484’s Calaveras Air Fair on Saturday in San Andreas, California. Enjoy classic car […]

As part of our continuing series on aircraft refurbs, we’ll focus on a specific avionics upgrade this month—the wireless interface of a portable device (tablet or cell phone) running a flight planning app with IFR-certified, panel-mounted avionics. If you’re doing an avionics upgrade as part of a refurb, we think wireless avionics integration makes sense, […]

Some insist it began production as the world’s largest flying sweet potato and evolved into Snoopy crouching as he waited for his supper. The original PA-23, the Apache, seemed almost round and had such modest powerplants that single-engine operation could be hazardous—just as with other twins with small engines. The last versions, the Aztec series, […]

The Weekender’s selection on the SocialFlight calendar runs the gamut from laid-back to intense, depending on where you go. Meet hundreds of Minnesota and Wisconsin pilots, and perhaps some out-of-staters, Friday and Saturday during the Great Minnesota Aviation Gathering at Anoka County-Blaine Airport in Minnesota. The event will feature aviation vendors and educational sessions from […]

As number two in the pattern today, I announced:“Comanche, right downwind, runway 21.” Number three in the pattern said:“182 on 45, looking for traffic.” I responded:“I’m over the hill, turning base now.” Number three said:“If you’re flying today, there’s no way you’re over the hill.” Al Briguglio

Long ago, an instructor explained to me that knowing the various options for using the airplane, the different ways to make it do what’s needed, and the savvy to use those different models as appropriate; differentiated aviating from rote piloting. In the case of using climb abilities to your benefit, the best preparation begins with […]