General Aviation Aircraft
Explore the world of general aviation aircraft with our reviews. Written from a pilot's perspective, these reviews provide fantastic insight into what these general aviation planes are really like.
Friday, December 1, 2006 Accelerating A Mooney
Power Flow’s tuned exhaust system works
 Okay, I admit it. I was a hot-rodder as a kid. Shortly after I was old enough to drive, a buddy and I began campaigning an old Ford on the second-gear, stock-car circuit around Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska. Later, I raced a Triumph TR3B and an Austin Healey 3000 in Sports Car Club of America gymkhana events around New Mexico. I didn’t win very often, but I had great fun in the process (until I realized how much money it was costing me).
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Friday, December 1, 2006 New-Generation Trainer
Flight schools are oohing and aahing over Diamond’s sleek two-seatersBill Cox, Photography By Jessica Ambats
 Traditional wisdom in the aircraft business has always been that if you could build the perfect trainer, the world would beat a path to your door. No airplane is perfect, but Diamond Aircraft may have come as close to that ideal as anyone with the Diamond DA20-C1 Eclipse. |
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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 Piper Mirage: Pistons, Pressure and Class
The most comfortable piston single in the skyBill Cox, Photography By Jessica Ambats
 Just as the Mooney 201 rescued its namesake company from oblivion in 1976, in the mid ’80s, the Malibu offered Piper Aircraft the only light at the end of the tunnel that wasn’t a train. After the whirlwind uphill ride of the ’70s, general aviation sales were tumbling all across the board, but the Malibu was an instant success.
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Wednesday, November 1, 2006 2007: The Year Of The VLJ
Will the world of VLJ diverge into two distinct markets?
 Recently, global superstore Wal-Mart announced that it would sell Eclipse 500s at select locations. Customers will make a deposit, get a demo ride, and if they like it, they’ll ink the deal right at the airport. Wal-Mart will even paint its yellow happy face on the tail. Now there’s a thought. All that will cost a mere $1.6 million or so. |
Wednesday, November 1, 2006 Allegro 2000: Light Sport and Fun!
Fast, Easy to Fly and Relatively Inexpensive—This Plane Is Part of the Sport Pilot Family
 Not all light sport aircraft are created equal; some are more equal than others. From old aircraft barely able to get off the ground to speedy, shiny, new glass aircraft—LSA covers a lot of ground. |
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Sunday, October 1, 2006 10 Cheapest Birds In The Sky
Don't Let Their Low Prices Deter You: These Planes Aim to Please
 As much as those of us in the industry might wish it otherwise, flying is definitely one of the more expensive pastimes. Unfortunately, some pilots simply accept the realities of expensive flying costs without investigating the alternatives. Despite what you may think, there are ways to fly without busting the family budget. True, you won't be aviating at 170 knots in a shiny new A36 Bonanza or Columbia 400, but you can stay in the air for considerably less than the national debt of Peru. |
Sunday, October 1, 2006 Columbia 350
Finally Ready For Its CloseupBill Cox, Photography By James Lawrence
 Looking down on the Bend, Ore., airport from 2,000 feet AGL, the ramp at Columbia Aircraft resembled an air show in progress. There were airplanes everywhere. My quick count came up with 63 Columbia 350s and 400s waiting for delivery to their new owners. That’s probably $30 million worth of airplanes. There was little question that Columbia was back from the brink, big time. |
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Friday, September 1, 2006 The Ultimate Bonanza: Glass And Fast
This high flyer can carry six people at 200 MPHScott Perdue, Photography By Jim Wilson
 Most new pilots build time in low-performance airplanes before moving up to faster, more complex airplanes. Not Dee Winston—he cuts straight to the chase. A brand-new glass-paneled Bonanza G36 was the perfect fit for his growing business. The fact that he didn’t have a fixed-wing pilot’s license wasn’t a factor. |
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Tuesday, August 1, 2006 How To Keep Older Aircraft Flying
A new proposal offers some hope for owners of America’s aging aircraft fleet
 It’s a sad state of affairs when it’s far easier for older pilots to have new knees installed in their vintage bodies than to have new fuel valves installed in their vintage airplanes. It’s, however, becoming an unfortunate reality, as the general aviation fleet grows progressively older and accessing “approved data” becomes more difficult. But now a glimmer of hope is on the horizon for those owners who wish to safely and legally maintain and upgrade their antique, classic and vintage airplanes. |
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Tuesday, August 1, 2006 The New Mooney Acclaim
EXCLUSIVE! First look at the world’s fastest production airplaneScott Perdue, Photography By Jessica Ambats
 Adapt, overcome and have fun—Mooney has done it again! Whether it’s staving off financial troubles, or innovating new products, Mooney has experienced some ups and downs in recent years. With the brand-new Acclaim, however, they’ve raised the bar. You want fast, you want improved climb rate, you want known ice with air-conditioning, you want to carry a respectable load? In short, if you want to fly higher, faster and farther, then get a new Mooney Acclaim. |
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