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...
The air ambulance Beech King Air C90A was flying between two Hawaiian islands to pick up a patient. It was a dark night, but otherwise the islands enjoyed the good VFR weather we picture for a tropical oasis. They were descending...
According to Professor Google, I have acrophobia—an acute and, as it turns out, somewhat irrational fear of heights. It likely started when as a very young kid when my stepdad took me onto a swinging bridge and then promptly showed me...
You might ask what these items—cheese, wine, computers, and airplanes—have in common. Well, as they would say in the popular TV game show Jeopardy, “What are items commonly imported into the United States?” Even though the U.S. has been known...
The text comes from an unknown number. “Do you own a Taylorcraft? A yellow one?” I find myself staring at the phone in disbelief. What stupid airplane antics have I recently participated in that would warrant the query? To the best...
A kit-built airplane derived from the 1950s-era Starduster, the Starduster Too incorporates a steel-tube fuselage and wooden wings, all covered in fabric. The airframe is rated to plus or minus 6 Gs and is able to perform basic aerobatics. Airframe plans,...
