For a certain segment of pilots looking to travel a certain distance, a fast, personal airplane can serve as a veritable time machine. For missions that would entail a tedious drive of several hours via automobile but are too short to...
On January 13, Hartzell announced their Carbon Voyager propeller has received supplemental type certification (STC) for Cessna 180s and Cessna 185s. “The original aluminum Voyager has earned its place as a popular propeller upgrade among the Cessna Skywagon community,” said Hartzell...
Well-informed readers are aware that MOSAIC—Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification—is nearly upon us after years of proposals, public comment, and endless discussion among pilots. MOSAIC, which can really be described as a significant broadening of the rules surrounding both light sport...
Both engines were out. It’s almost unthinkable in an airliner, and surely tensions were high in the flight deck. But this story isn’t about captain Chesley Sullenberger. Twenty-one years before the “Miracle on the Hudson,” one man pulled off a similar...
In FBOs and online forums, many prospective airplane owners ask other pilots for aircraft recommendations. Oftentimes, the shopper specifies that they want to be able to carry multiple, full-sized adult passengers, access relatively short runways, and fly cross-countries at a reasonably...
Many years ago, while working my way through college pumping avgas at the local airport, I discovered that one of our university deans owned a diminutive two-seat, twin-tailed airplane—an Ercoupe. He was proud of his little bird, with its unique split...
As I sat down to write this column, I had just returned from an amazing trip to EAA AirVenture. It was 19.7 hours of single-pilot IFR spread over three days, most of it between 8,000 and 10,000 feet, dodging cumulus buildups....
In October, we loaded up the Mooney and pointed the nose north, seeking out fall colors that only exist for a fleeting moment in Atlanta. We figured our chances to view seasonal foliage would be better in Maine, and we could...
Aviation is a wonderfully broad and varied experience. Over its history, some really cool hardware has arrived, amazed a few of us, and, in some cases, left the scene. For pilots, memorable experiences are a combination of the where and when...
For a good, all-around, do-it-all airplane, it’s tough to beat a 180 hp Cessna 172 or Piper Cherokee. These types provide a very noticeable performance boost over their 150-160 hp siblings, yet cost less to acquire and maintain than their more...
