Pilot Talk
Article: Amateur-Built Safety
According to the NTSB, although the approximately 33,000 experimental amateur-built (E-AB) aircraft make up about 10% of the U.S.
Article: Light-Sport Chronicles: Back To The Future
You could say his bold steps were the sparks seen 'round the world: Electric flight projects popped up everywhere.
Article: Trusting Souls
We're about to do some hangar flying under the guise of talking about some of the most trusting people I've ever met in my life.
Article: Dynon D1 Pocket Panel
Twenty-first-century private pilots benefit enormously from technologies like GPS, WAAS and iPads.
Article: From The Editor: Hangar Home
It was Plane & Pilot's home for a week: a luxury three-bedroom house with an attached hangar, right next to a runway.
Article: Flying Above Mars
Like most pilots, I've been a major fan of the space program since long before there was one.
Article: When Using NEXRAD Can Be Dangerous
Today, more information than ever before is being made available to pilots, both in printed and electronic formats.
Article: Of Porta-Potties And Fields of Yellow
No, let me amend that: It was my 41st to Oshkosh, plus three to Rockford, the last home of the EAA's yearly orgy of all things aerial and wondrous. ...
Article: Light-Sport Chronicles: Ears Wide Open
Something I've at least attempted all my life is to remember to open ears and close mouth when in the presence of someone who knows a heck of a lot more than I do (a frequent event.)
Article: From The Editor: Cubbin' Around
This year marks the 75th year from when William T. Piper first created the J-3 Cub in 1938.
Article: Lightning Enlightenment
On April 13, 2012, United Airlines flight 930, a Boeing 777, took off from San Francisco International Airport en route to London.
Article: Light-Sport Chronicles: Shroud Lines II
Although the deployment was in a Cirrus four-seater, I wrote about it for several reasons.
Article: The Gettin’ In Dance
However, it often appears as if the most "interesting" vehicles require the most difficult dance moves to get into them.
Article: From The Editor: One Small Step
The Lindbergh Foundation was created in 1977 to carry on the spirit of Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh by providing grants to projects that foster new and environmentally friendly technology.
Article: Engine Reliability
Many of us have had this happen at one time or another.
Article: Light-Sport Chronicles: Shroud Lines
In an upcoming issue, you'll find my feature story about the harrowing experience of Dr. Richard McGlaughlin and his daughter Elaine as they rode a BRS airframe parachute canopy into the water near the island of Andros in the Bahamas.
Article: Dreamin’
I just discovered an important fact of life: dreams don't die.
Article: Staying Healthy
Pilots sit on their butts a lot. We might want to stay in shape.
Article: From The Editor: Lights, Camera, Action!
It's a fact: Pilots love to share their flying stories. Good landings, bad landings and everything in between.
Article: Turbines vs. Pistons
A friend stopped by my hangar a while back on a rainy Saturday with an interesting question.
Article: Do As We Say, Not As We Do
Over the years, you've no doubt heard urgings from various government agencies to always pay careful attention to the weather when you're in flying mode. ...
Article: It’s More Than Just An N-Number
The other day at the hangar, we were talking about how many times I've rebuilt my airplane: twice for the engine, twice for the fuselage and once for the rest of the airframe, which included re-cover and painting.
Article: From The Editor: Backcountry In Style
It was the perfect mission of exploring Moab—Utah's popular base for national parks such as Arches and Canyonlands—and the perfect airplane, a Pilatus PC-12 that can land just about anywhere and carry just about anything.
Article: Improving On A Good Thing
Just as airplanes such as the straight-tail Beech Bonanza and Piper Super Cub have become pre-eminent in their respective classes, the Cessna 210 has enjoyed a similar reputation as an aviation icon.
Article: Perception
I'm constantly asked about my unique line of work as an air show pilot, "Do you get dizzy?" or, "Do you wear those earrings when you fly?" But probably the question I'm most asked is about fear—"Aren't you afraid when you're diving toward the ground?"...
Article: Aviation In The Key Of Gee Whiz
The other day, we were discussing magazines, writing, flying and other major food groups of life, and I referred to the kind of wordsmithing I've always done as "Gee-Whiz Journalism."
Article: Light-Sport Chronicles: Profiles In Vision: Dan Johnson
Dan characterizes the Big Picture this way: The market has spoken. LSA are here to stay.
Article: The Race For Ratings
One of the most common questions I get has to do with the most unusual aircraft I've flown.
Article: From The Editor: Cross-Country Sophistication
Whether you fly the coastal route or choose California's Central Valley, the flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco is a spectacular one—and it's even more spectacular if you happen to be in a new 2012 Cirrus SR22.
Article: Light-Sport Chronicles: To Dream, To Live
Jan Hercek got his flying start the way a lot of us did back then: in an old Rogallo-style hang glider.




