Features

Sometimes you learn hard lessons in life. Sometimes these lessons are cheap, but sometimes they are very expensive. During the first week of February, I learned one of the expensive lessons.I have perhaps one of the most highly modified and upgraded Cessna T206H aircraft in existence. It has just about everything. However, when I fly […]

From our “been there, done that” files… On my first cross-country with friends after passing my private pilot checkride (back in the late Paleolithic…), I was in the runup area, working through the pre-takeoff checklist. An uncharacteristically subdued voice said from the rear seat, “If she still has to read the directions, I don’t think […]

*** PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last week, AVweb polled readers about recent innovations in general aircraft design. Will GA improvements make used aircraft prices drop, or will rising prices continue to be the trend? According to our respondents, the demand for used aircraft will remain steady, and prices will continue to rise – just as they […]

I had a incident the other night that really bothered me, so (of course) I started looking for a way to work it into a column. When I see something like this incident, I’m ashamed to admit my first reaction is usually somewhat uncharitable. The thought pops into my head that some people are just […]

Killing the Commanche In a typical Army mentality, the system that wants to “restructure and revitalize Army aviation to meet current and future needs” killed the one avenue it had to do exactly that. As a retired Army pilot, I have watched for years as this branch of military service seemingly anti-aviation, makes all the […]

I think I’m seeing the rapid growth of yet another OWT (Old Wives’ Tale). Some pilots are going to extraordinary lengths to prevent this badly misunderstood phenomenon, and a few are creating far more danger for themselves and their airplanes as they try to avoid a problem that probably doesn’t exist.I believe the Commemorative Air […]

From our “Fans of the new Business AVflash” file: re: Business AVflash Volume 2, Issue 4 — February 25, 2004. You referred to “East Overshoe, Wyoming” in your articleabout the TSA. East Overshoe is in Connecticut. The town you’re thinking of is Medicine Breath, Wyoming.

*** PREVIOUS RESULTS *** Last week, AVweb and TSA polled aircraft owners/operators about the safety of their personal planes. Half of those who responded (220 AVweb readers) were very confident about GA safety, telling us their planes were kept locked in secure hangar when not in use. 34% of respondents had some concerns about the […]

Presidential TFRs Enough is enough. For the fourth time in the last five months, I have been personally affected by the Presidential TFRs. When are the NSA and Homeland Security going to realize that my Cessna 177 offers very little risk to the president? I have flown to New Smyrna Beach, Fla., for the Daytona […]

Few times in my life have I ever been as nervous and anxious as I was last week. Starting college, my first solo, my first airshow performance, and my first trip without my parents at the age of 13 — these events never presented as much excitement as I experienced last week.For the past five […]