Motor Head

A recent story in one of the big aviation glossies on the supposed advantages of piston-engine FADEC has sparked a storm of discussion among several user groups on my radar. The discussion, as it often does within these forums, eventually boiled down into an interesting philosophical debate about engine management. Are we, as pilots, too […]

This is what I call a great start to the flying season: Sun ‘N Fun blew into Lakeland sporting great weather and a kind of subdued enthusiasm that bodes well for Experimental aviation. Why am I pleased with anything less than a full-chat hype fest? Because a mature industry is much more sustainable than one […]

Natural selection weeds out the weak and encourages proliferation of the strong. It works in nature but I’m not so sure it hasn’t been subverted elsewhere. Specifically, I’m talking about Franklin engines, a once-upon-a-time contender in general aviation that is, for the time being, out of business.The short version is this: United Technologies — Pratt […]

I know I’ve got a bad reputation, and it isn’t just talk, talk, talk …” So says Freedy Johnston, one of those wonderfully quirky songwriters who’s way too good to ever reach the mainstream. His music oozed into my head the day a friend of mine called to ask about my experiences flying a Mooney […]

First permit me a program note. Starting this month, I’ll be taking over as editor-in-chief of Kitplanes, a marvelous magazine for the homebuilt-aircraft enthusiast. In that capacity, I’ll be getting more hands-on time with experimental engines than I ever thought possible, and will endeavor to report back here with the highlights of my travels. Generally, […]

Yes, I know that by now Oshkosh — er, the EAA Air Venture 2004 — is desperately old news, what with the kids back in school and some of us actually settling down to get some work done after the summer holidays. But I have to tell you that I’m still excited by what I […]

This will be no surprise to anyone who knows me: I love engines. Just dig ’em. Internal combustion, jet, compression-ignition, Rolls-Royce Trent, Briggs & Stratton, big or small — it really doesn’t matter. If it turns chemical energy into mechanical work, I’m hot to know more about it. Airframes are nice, and useful I suppose […]

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