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The Confederate Air Force (CAF) does the granddaddy of all warbird airshows every October, in an unlikely place called Midland, Texas. The airport is located between the towns of Odessa and Midland, and while it is a superb location to fly an airshow (flat, no obstructions, no noise complaints except from armadillos), it’s a million […]

It is certainly awe-inspiring to witness the cascade of new avionicsthat are unveiled continuously. But what about the future? Whatcan we expect to see in the months and years ahead? Well, theblack box manufacturers are notoriously reticent about revealingwhat’s being cobbled up in their respective skunkworks; for onething, they don’t want to give away their […]

Airborne, the originator and dominant manufacturer of dry vacuum pumps, now attaches this disclaimer to each pneumatic pump that it ships: WARNING: FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN DEATH, BODILY INJURY, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE: 1. A BACK-UP PNEUMATIC POWER SOURCE FOR THE AIR DRIVEN GYROS, OR A BACK-UP ELECTRIC ATTITUDE GYRO INSTRUMENT, […]

Remember the last time you laughed so hard you wondered if you were going to be able to stop? We were lucky enough to have had one of those evenings in the pilot’s lounge very recently. A number of the regulars had gotten together to do some planning for the function we were going to […]

Fantasy camps are hot. They started with “Dude Ranches,” places where the city-born could ride the prairies with a broad Stetson on their noggins and a whiff of sweaty horse in their nostrils. From that simple Western beginning, fantasy camps have branched out into dozens of fields. You can now indulge your dreams of being […]

Preflight Briefing Photo Mission Prop Arc and Shutter Speeds Ground Shots Interiors Panels

Like aviation, photography can open up a new way of looking at the world around you. As in aviation, knowledge and experience are the best ingredients for a beautiful photograph. Knowing your equipment, surroundings, and techniques increases the chances for your intended results. These skills can only be acquired through practice. So be patient and […]

Michael Fizer was born February 14, 1959, in Phoenix, Ariz. Mike’s dad flew F-100s in the Air Force and Mike had his sights on the Air Force Academy to follow in his fathers footsteps. In 1974, at the age of 15, Mike received his first camera for his birthday. On his first photo shoot he […]

As anyone who closely followed the saga of the FAA’s certificate action against airshow star R.A. “Bob” Hoover during the 1990s would imagine, the “Hoover Bill” amends the appeal provisions of 49 U.S.C. 44709 (Amendments, modifications, suspensions, and revocations of certificates) to allow a certificate holder to obtain interim review of an FAA emergency revocation […]

Twas the night before ChristmasAnd all through the landNot a creature was stirringA storm was at hand. Ol’ Santa was worriedAs he said with a frown,“The children expect me.I can’t let them down.” He checked on the weatherBut the forecast was drearyIt looked like this ChristmasMight not be so merry. So he gathered his reindeerIn […]