Pilots who own or operate an aircraft under Part 91 of the FARs are allowed to perform various preventive maintenance tasks. For the pilot comfortable with basic mechanical tasks and aware of the rules and regulations, this can save time and...
A U.S. Air Force B-52 (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jonathan E. Ramos) Vapor purge testing provides critical information on how long it takes an aircraft operating in areas at risk of chemical attacks to purge hazardous chemical vapor...
Today’s bargain blends the fun of a taildragger with vintage style and ease of ownership. With four seats, ample parts availability, and docile handling, this 1954 Cessna 170B checks many boxes in terms of fun and ease of ownership and is...
An image of the Manta Ray during in-water testing off the coast of Southern California. This image shows, for the first time, the rear section of the UUV partly submerged (Northrop Grumman) We get a closer look a the Northrop Grumman...
A few recent articles within the frequent-flyer blogosphere have bemoaned that airlines cannot convince enough of their first officers to upgrade to captains and the staffing challenges that presents. Despite a huge pay difference (often an extra $100 an hour), a...
Today’s bargain offers a rare combination—a relatively low price and a relatively new airframe. Derived from the homebuilt Zenith CH640, it was introduced as a certificated type in the mid-1990s, and some 53 appear on the FAA registry today. Today’s example...
“Can you accept the visual?” It is not uncommon for air traffic control to pose this question to pilots on IFR flight plans approaching certain airports when the weather is VFR. In daylight, when the visibility is good, the winds calm,...
On April 27, 2024, the ROKAF F-4Es made their last public appearance before the type’s retirement in June (All images credit: Author) Republic of Korea Air Force Phantoms made their last public appearance at the 2024 Suwon Space Challenge event. On...
The history of general aviation will be on public display overhead in Washington, D.C., on May 11 as the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) hosts a “parade of airplanes” over the National Mall. In 1939, Franklin Roosevelt was the first...
A composite image showing the Advanced Travel Pod of the F-35 (Image credit: The Aviationist, using KIHOMAC and USAF images) The MXU-1072/A 5th generation travel pod is carried inside the F-35A Lightning II’s weapons bays. A travel pod is usually an...