October 13, 2015

From The Editor: Oshkosh, The Piper M350, The Kenai & Lots More!

It was the kind of weather that causes Wisconsinites to choose to live here year around…crazy people that we are.

October 9, 2015

Under The Cowling

Can a pilot really know everything about the condition of an engine?

Can the pilot really be expected to know everything about what has been going on?

October 7, 2015

Oshkosh ’15

Cool stuff, memories and anniversaries

Having been there so many times, I found myself seeing the grounds much the same way I see my old hometown.

October 2, 2015

The Real Challenges Of Space

We all know what we’ve seen in the movies and on TV. What are the realities of space travel?

Like so many kids who grew up in the 1950s and 1960s, I was fascinated by space travel. Most of the kids I knew in Alaska had the same fascination.

September 23, 2015

The Rewards Of Flight Instructing

Every day is a new adventure at aerobatic school

For years, people suggested I start an aerobatic school, but I hemmed and hawed about it. It seemed like a lot of work for little money.

September 18, 2015

Avionics Academy: Audio Upgrades

Adding or upgrading an intercom/audio panel can make flying more pleasant, but check the wiring first!

Over the last 20 years or so, there has been a revolution in general aviation (GA) audio, with noise-cancelling headsets and stereo entertainment systems that bring studio-quality music to pilots and passengers.

September 16, 2015

EAA AirVenture 2015

The ascent continues

Great weather, a stunning line-up of aircraft never seen before at Wittman Field and the hunger to be part of the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration powered EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2015 to a record-breaking year, continuing its recent upward trajectory.

September 11, 2015

The Low-Tech Approach

The NTSB warns not to forget about see-and-avoid

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued a Safety Alert to pilots emphasizing the importance of not forgetting about an old-fashioned, low-tech approach to maintaining separation from other aircraft, even while adopting advanced technology throughout the cockpit.

September 8, 2015

Words At The Beginning

When someone gives us a break, but we often don’t say thanks

After you’ve reached a certain age, when you get an email with a friend’s name in the title, you know that the news is never good.

September 4, 2015

Memories Of Australia

Imagine a 2,200-mile-wide desert island with magnificent cities built on the coasts. That’s Australia.

Flying down from Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, your course line slowly merges with Australia’s east coast as you sneak in from the left.

August 26, 2015

Loss Of Control

How to gain control of your aircraft

Recently, the NTSB came out with its 2015 “Most Wanted” list of transportation safety improvements. At the top of the list was “Loss of Control.”

August 21, 2015

Avionics Academy: Which Data Link Should You Get For ADS-B Out?

The answer depends on where you fly and what other equipment you have

A local pilot who reads these columns recently called me for advice.

August 21, 2015

From The Editor: Some Safety Advice & More

Here’s hoping your summer flying fun continues for many weeks to come!

July 21, 2015

Flight Control And Trim Anomalies

What the NTSB says you need to do after aircraft maintenance

The NTSB might have had in mind the situation I faced when it issued a new Safety Alert notifying pilots of the importance of performing thorough preflight checks when flying an aircraft for the first time after maintenance.

July 21, 2015