Features

[AVweb’s reprint of A Pilot’s History began with Chapter 1.] Today, I look back on the years of stimulating growth in aviation during World War II. As a pilot, I saw great nations competing against one another to design and build aircraft in huge numbers, upon which their very survival would depend. The best brains […]

[AVweb’s reprint of A Pilot’s History began with Chapter 1.] Jeanne and I did some boating and relaxed as a family. I wrote a letter to Arthur Vining Davis letting him know I was free from any contracts and, if he cared to speak to me regarding employment, I was readily available. I soon received […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” While cruising at flight level, we heard the following between an American Airlines airliner and Miami Center: Airliner:“Center, American XXXX looking for higher.” Miami Center (female voice):“Didn’t hear you check in.” Airliner:“First time I’ve heard your voice. I must’ve forgotten.” Miami Center“That happens when you’re over twenty-six or […]

This Week’s Question |Previous Week’s Answers PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last week, on the seventh anniversary of the World Trade Center terrorist attack, we asked AVweb readers to give us their opinion on air security today. 34% of those who took time to answer our informal poll agreed with the assessment that security is improved greatly, […]

Sikorsky Fly by Wire UH60 The first fly-by-wire helicopter was a UH60 (AVwebFlash, Aug. 31), but it was developed by Boeing back in 1985. I know because I was the Flight Test Engineer.The system was called ADOCS and it contained not only a fly-by-light, fiber-optic control system, but also a fly-by-wire backup system as well.Here […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” Corporate Jet Captain:“San Jose Clearance Delivery, clearance on request for [airport name deleted to protect the guilty].” San Jose Clearance:“Didn’t I just give you that clearance?” [pause] Corporate Jet Captain:“My first officer is nodding yes. Sorry about that, but otherwise our airborne cockpit resource management is outstanding.” Michael […]

This Week’s Question |Previous Week’s Answers PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last week, we asked what AVweb readers think of the Martin Jetpack – specifically when it comes to the question of whether or not they’d like to own one. The biggest segment of our readers, 39% of you told us the much-hyped jetpack looks like a […]

We had our “Hey, Let’s Have a Barbeque” barbeque at the virtual airport recently. Of course it rained. I had retreated indoors to the Pilot’s Lounge, where pilots were blasting the TSA for its most recent screw-up. They were wondering how an organization that hired morons who climbed on TAT probes marked “No Step” while […]

Overheard in IFR Magazine‘s “On the Air” Into Tampa, Florida at night, I overheard the controller misspeak to the airliner ahead of me in the line-up for landing: Tower:“Airline 123, you’re number three of two – wait, that’s number two of three. Sorry.” Airliner:“That’s okay, five out of three pilots have dyslexia, anvway.” Travis Eddlemanvia […]

This Week’s Question |Previous Week’s Answers PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last week, we asked whether certain types of aircraft (e.g. experimentals, homebuilts) be restricted at airports in densely populated areas. Despite a few well-deserved chidings for not clarifying the difference between an “experimental” and a “homebuilt” aircraft (see this week’s AVmail), we received quite a few […]