General aviation is driven by myriad forces. A strong or soft market overall can dramatically influence any given airplane’s success, quite apart from how it looks or performs. Pricing, too, carries an outsized influence—get the value proposition right, even at a...
Ben Ellison and Ross Mahon wanted a Widgeon. The Seattle pair have an Alaska habit and desired a capable, personal-sized amphibian good for the Seattle to Ketchikan run plus poking around inlets and inland when needed. The smaller Grumman flying boats,...
When we think about composite materials in production airplanes, the name Piper Aircraft does not come immediately to mind. The Cirrus and Diamond series, products of the late 1990s, demonstrated that composite airframes could achieve both production and market success. In...
Jason McDowell is a private pilot and Cessna 170 owner based in Madison, Wisconsin. He enjoys researching obscure aviation history and serves as a judge for the National Intercollegiate Flying Association. He can be found on Instagram as @cessnateur....
As an aircraft owner, it is tempting to seek cost-effective solutions for maintenance to minimize expenses. However, opting for cheap maintenance services without considering the potential risks can have dire consequences for both safety and the long-term value of the aircraft....
After getting married in 1990, my wife, Jill, and I spent several years restoring a 1946 Stinson 108. Serial number 256 made this early variant a dash nothing. The intent was to own an airplane capable of visiting each state in...
