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On Full Disclosure A total of 46 California pilots, 14 of them active, have been charged with lying to federal authorities to obtain certificates. In most cases, authorities allege, the pilots, seven of whom held commercial licenses, hid medical conditions that would have disqualified them. “The fraud and falsification allegedly committed by these individuals is […]

Franklin, of Neosho, Mo., and Younkin, of Rogers, Ark., had both been flying in air shows since they were teenagers and had close to 70 years of experience between them. Franklin had learned to fly while sitting on his father’s lap. When home alone at age 12, he arguably started his career when he snuck […]

Franklin, Younkin, Jim Leroy, and Les Shockley came up with the concept called the “X-Team Masters of Disaster” in 2002. Younkin in his big biplane Samson, Leroy in his Pitts and Franklin in his jet-powered Waco all took off together and filled the sky with noise and smoke as Les Shockley’s jet trucks belched fire […]

Cause Unclear In Masters Of Disaster Tragedy Few details have been forthcoming so far regarding last week’s fatal “Masters of Disaster” air show crash, as Canada’s Transportation Safety Board continues its investigation. Bobby Younkin, 46, and Jimmy Franklin, 57, died in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, on July 10 during a performance in front of 20,000 spectators, […]

There is way more going on at AirVenture than we can fit here, but AVweb staffers will be on the field, as ever, covering every square foot of the sprawling show to bring the latest news to your inbox as it happens. If you’re in Oshkosh, come visit us at Booths # 1007-1008 in Hangar […]

Oshkosh is where the industry players old and new show off their latest products. This year, we’ll check out Innodyn’s “twinpack” turbine, wireless headsets and the latest avionics upgrades, including a new handheld from Garmin that may cause minimalists to consider tossing entire panels. We’ll track down the mysterious (Bombardier) V300T engine, now being exhibited […]

Whet Your Appetite For EAA’s Big Show At OSH EAA AirVenture‘s 53rd annual gathering is almost here, coming up July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis., and it is shaping up to be a pretty amazing event. “This is a year that should not be missed,” said EAA President Tom Poberezny, “not only […]

Blakey and Carr both pledged to take the high road during the talks, but it’s the vantage point that creates the perception and while the two may be approaching a problem from opposite sides of the coin there may be more obstacles. “We don’t think these negotiations need to be contentious,” said Blakey. Carr said […]

Blakey told reporters that, “We can’t afford an agreement like 1998.” The existing contract, signed under a previous administrator and extended by her two years ago, is a “bad deal” that costs too much. She said the average controller’s annual pay package, excluding retirement benefits, is now more than $165,000 and that some make more […]

PR War Precedes Controller Contract Talks To some observers, contract negotiations between the FAA and its air traffic controllers are shaping up to be the most divisive, confrontational and acrimonious talks since President Ronald Reagan fired striking controllers in 1981 — and the latest round of bargaining hasn’t even begun yet. The two sides don’t […]