I am thinking about buying a 1946 Taylorcraft that has NO gyros at all on the panel. I really want at least a turn and bank so I want die if I loose reference to the horizon for any reason. I have been told that the heading information from a GPS is good enough to do the function of a turn and...

It's my Father in Law's 80th birthday, and we are wanting to treat him to an aviation themed culinary experience. Our choices in Atlanta are Downwind at PDK or Flight Deck at Charlie Brown. We want to eat and watch planes with 3 great grandkids...any input on either of these? This is the same...

Here is a question to challenge your understanding of engine operation... During Winter in the colder climes, do you use less fuel when you fly because the air is more dense?

Sometimes some people get spooked when driving out in the middle of nowhere (especially the desert southwest of the USA) for various reasons. Obviously darkness, isolation, and a lack of signs of civilization and humanity can play a role in getting one's mind to wander in the wrong directions. ...

I was wondering what people view as their limitations in terms of wind. I'm talking 172 / Warrior territory here. Clearly this is a personal decision, based on your perceptions of your own skills, the aircraft you are flying, the specific conditions on the day (E.g. how gusty, reports of LLWS &...

I've mastered fuel management now the hardest part. How to manage mine and my wife's bathroom breaks. Our trips are typically 3 to 3.5 hours but our blatters don't always make it thus forci6ng a stop. Thats a big 30 min addition to the trip. On my last filight I filed two flight plans and...

http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2007/070205funding.html Jay B

So my Garmin Pilot III is complaining to me that the internal battery has stopped functioning (hats off to it) and it's time to look for another portable. Man was I surprised to see that there is essentially nothing comparable to the Pilot III in its price range anymore! Was I ever even more...

Yesterday afternoon Blane Anderson, a local Iowa City pilot, died ferrying a homebuilt back to Iowa City for an owner. A passenger also died in the crash, although we have no further information about this person. Blane was one of the truly good guys. In his late 30s, Blane was a youthful,...

Some will find this reference interesting. An underlying assumption for the patent seems to be the airplane is in coordinated flight. Isn't that an uncomfortable assumption for most of you -- slips along a straight track would go undetected as banks, wouldn't they? United States Patent...

Just bought a used Garmin Pilot III off ebay and found it has a problem with the screen. About 12 vertical lines down the screen more or less randomly spaced which really stuffs up the view. Seller had said " a couple of lines on the screen" which I interpreted to be scratches on outside which I...

I normally fly into Brookhaven ( HWV ) to visit my Mom but I need to go up next Sunday and there is no car rental there and Enterprise is closed on Sunday. Can anyone recommend a airport/FBO combo on the eastern half of the island with decent prices for tiedown & car rental? John Theune

For those of you lucky enough to subscribe to "Aviation History" magazine, you've already seen Scott M. Fisher's outstanding article about Jack Knight's epic transcontinental air mail flight through Iowa City, way back in 1921. Commercial aviation was literally born right here in Iowa City, thanks...

This is the audio tape of a Fed Ex Caravan pilot who tangled with some severe icing conditions. http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Videos/2007-1-26_N1278L-Mayday.mp3 (It's a good-sized .mp3 file, so be patient while it downloads...) This was given to me by our local FAA safety guy, to...

http://www.zippyvideos.com/4250853396597546/south_park_-_saddam/

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/orl-bk-nasaastronaut0507feb05,0,6104316.story?coll=orl-home-headlines Lisa Marie Nowak drove more than 12 hours from Texas to meet the 1 a.m. flight of a younger woman who had also been seeing the astronaut Nowak pined for, according to Orlando police. She...

I was trying to explain to a non-pilot why increased power is required with altitude. She said "isn't the air thinner up there so there isn't as much resistance?" I said "yes, but the plane needs to fly fast enough for the air over the wings to feel like it does down low. So the speed required...

Hi Jay, Hope all is well with you. I have an "off the wall" suggestion for you. Hope you don't think that it's too nutty. I'm not a pilot or aircraft owner. I'm just a "garden variety aviation nut" who really likes the concept of your inn. As I've been looking at your site, I was thinking...

I had another close encounter with a (party / decoration-type) balloon. I was flying back to SQL with 3 passengers in an Archer at 2500 AGL/MSL when out of the corner of my eye this black thing flew (no pun intended) by. I asked a passenger what it was and they said it was a balloon. I...

Well, I finally passed my CFI checkride last Sunday! I started the ride the week before, but clouds ceilings kept us from doing most of the airwork. Whew. Now I'm just waiting for it to warm up enough to head out to the airport again. :-) On to the CFII... --