Features

While working local Control (tower) as a newly minted Air Force controller in the ’60s, I often got requests from local pilots for practice DF steers, [our location] having one of the last DFs in the area. The DF console was located on the opposite side of the tower from Local, and I had a […]

Today is the 40th anniversary of arguably the most famous hijacking of all time and one of the most compelling mysteries of the last four decades. In today’s blog, Dan Gryder offers a video teasing a full explanation of the crime, and our Editorial Director Paul Bertorelli notes there are no shortage of questions and […]

Each week, we run a sampling of the letters received to our editorial inbox here in AVmail. One letter that’s particularly relevant, informative, or otherwise compelling will headline this section as our “Letter of the Week,” and we’ll send the author an official AVweb baseball cap as a “thank you” for interacting with us (and […]

Sad but true. I was en route to Winchester, north of the DC area, when I heard a pilot in a Piper making this request: Piper:“I am low on fuel and need to go direct Martinsburg.” Potomac:“Sir, I cannot give you direct Martinsburg. That route would take you through P40.” Piper:“But I am low on […]

We’re trying to gauge the impact of the FAA’s decision to start charging for online flight data downloads. How will the end of free flight data from the FAA affect you? (click to answer) Last Week’s Question: Results Want to see the current breakdown of responses? Take a moment to answer the question yourself, and […]

Like the Lockheed Constellation, Cessna’s 421 Golden Eagle is an airplane of another age. Impossibly sleek, fast and comfortable, it’s hard to imagine such a thing ever being built at all, never mind again. But owners rave about the 421’s exceptional combined capabilities and even though many of them could easily afford turbines or light […]

Each week, we run a sampling of the letters received to our editorial inbox here in AVmail. One letter that’s particularly relevant, informative, or otherwise compelling will headline this section as our “Letter of the Week,” and we’ll send the author an official AVweb baseball cap as a “thank you” for interacting with us (and […]

[AVweb‘s reprint of Dick’s memoir began with the Introduction.] Starting the B-25’s engines was a lot easier because of our training in the T-6; but if we thought the sound of an R-1340 being fired up was music to our ears, the R-2600 produced an aeronautical symphony when all 14 cylinders got together. It was […]

I heard this going into Los Angeles International Airport on SoCal approach frequency: Approach:“Airliner 123, turn right, heading 180, for spacing.” Airliner 123:“Right turn, 180. Airliner 123. What’s up?” Approach:“Well, our computers have the ability to suggest a specific vector to help us get the required spacing. So the computer says you gotta go south […]

The FAA thinks you’re holding back on reports of contact with self-propelled FOD – but you can tell us what you’ve hit. Have you had any wildlife encounters with your airplane? (click to answer) Last Week’s Question: Results Want to see the current breakdown of responses? Take a moment to answer the question yourself, and […]