Ownership

Not to be irretrievably cynical, but more than any other industry, general aviation has shown itself capable of reducing even well thought out business plans to smoking rubble. And never mind the half-baked ideas. Ive always attributed this to the fact that flying and airplanes as a concept are so intoxicating, that only the most […]

Anyone who flies out west understands the need for turbocharging and pressurization isnt a bad idea, either. An older Cessna P210 fits this requirement perfectly and this month, were featuring Steve Biggs P210N, which is based in Bozeman, Montana. I’m proud to submit my newly refurbished P210N for your consideration as Refurb of the Month. […]

Aeromobil, a Slovakian company that has been working on a flying-car design since the 1990s, recently flew its aircraft for the first time. The company says it aims for the design to be a “real ‘roadable aircraft’” that combines the performance of a sports car with the qualities of a light aircraft. The airplane that […]

Legislation that would update FAR Part 23 and streamline aircraft certification, the Small Airplane Revitalization Act of 2013, has now passed through the Senate and will go back to the House of Representatives where it is expected to pass (again). The House passed its version of the bill back in July with a 411-0 vote […]

At AOPA Summit, Garmin International is showing off something new: a sophisticated pilot watch that features GPS navigation, built-in altimetry with alerting, multiple timers, and even wireless camera control. The new gadget sells for $449 is expected to be available in November. view on YouTube

Compared to two years ago, aircraft owners and operators say theyre more confident in future supplies of 100-octane gasoline of some kind-no thanks to the FAA-and fewer owners are delaying purchases or upgrades due to worries about fuel supplies. Nonetheless, many owners also report theyre flying fewer hours, due in part to the cost of […]

Every time I do research or reader surveys on mogas for airplanes, I come away thinking I must be living in an alternate universe. Or maybe the people I talk to are. In todays news columns, were reporting on the results of our recent avgas survey, which revealed some interesting movement in opinions toward mogas. […]

Aircraft sales can’t be completed during the government’s partial shutdown because the FAA’s registry office is not considered an essential function and has been closed, the Wichita Eagle reported Friday. The Eagle says the General Aircraft Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has polled its members and deliveries of 12 new airplanes scheduled for the first two days […]

Dynon has introduced the D2, a small portable MEMS-based AHRS true artificial horizon with WiFi suitable for use by all pilots but not certified for aircraft flown outside of the experimental and light sport categories. The WiFi connectivity can be used to transmit real-time attitude, GPS ground speed, G’s, track, and altitude to an aviation […]

While stepping up to a glass panel may appear to offer lower maintenance bills and downtime, its just as likely that when the all-in cost of ownership is added up-including data revisions-glass could cost more than a well-kept steam gauge panel. Glass ownership is fraught with unexpected costs that many owners seem unprepared for. Routine […]