In Flight USA Article Categories
In Flight USA Articles
New WACO Dealer
Passing of Thomas W. Wathen
Editorial: Student Pilots… Are You Getting Your Money’s Worth?
By Ed Downs
Yes, we start with a very open-ended question, so let’s narrow it down. “Student Pilots” come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from the newbies who are just getting into flying to advance pro’s going for type ratings in large turbojet aircraft. In fact, every pilot is, or should be, a “student” any time they are exercising the privileges of being a pilot in command. This writer has been at it for 60 years and has yet to land from any flight without having learned something from the experience. For the purpose of this discussion, let’s stick to newbies who are just getting into the art of flying and even narrow it down a bit more by talking about the cost and quality of flight instruction.
Now, you may ask, who made Ed Downs the know-it-all of flight instruction quality? Plainly stated, this writer does not claim to be the top expert in the field of instructing, but circumstances have given this writer an interesting look into the national window of what is going on, at least in the sector of flying with small, independent schools and part-time CFIs. As a long time CFI, and regular instructor for Aviation Seminars, a company that specializes in weekend training programs for a variety of written examinations and Flight Instructor Revalidation Courses (FIRCs), this writer works with hundreds of students every year. Additionally, Aviation Seminars guarantees results, providing private tutoring to those who have a tough time with written exams. That “guarantee” is, you guessed it, this writer.
Heaven's Landing Celebration
Heaven’s Landing Invites Public to Celebration Airshow & Concert June 25
A year ago, Clayton, county seat of northeast Georgia’s Rabun County, planned a “Skywalk Celebration,” a festival commemorating the 40th anniversary of hi-wire great Karl Wallenda’s crossing of nearby Tallulah Gorge, and asked Heaven’s Landing, its picturesque fly-In community, if they could provide the venue and a fly-over for the finale of the concert. Mike Ciochetti, who heads up Heaven’s Landing, said, “We turned that fly-by into a whole airshow, and it went really well. Everybody had fun.”
It went so well, in fact, that this year, Heaven’s Landing is going to host a second-year event. Last year, it was an adjunct to the county’s celebration; this year, Ciochetti says, “Everybody had such a good time that we’re making it an annual event, sponsored by Heaven’s Landing. We’re providing something for the county to do, as well as for our guests and neighbors.”
Combs Gates Award
Submission Deadline for National Aviation Hall of Fame’s Annual Combs Gates Award is June 13, 2016
$20,000 juried prize to be presented at 2016 NBAA Convention in Orlando
Earlier this spring, the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) publicly issued a nationwide “call for entries” for its 14th Annual Combs Gates Award. Submissions to be considered for the prestigious $20,000 cash award are due June 13, 2016. The Combs Gates Award is presented each year to an individual or group for a submitted project judged to be exemplary in the promotion and preservation of America’s air and space heritage. The subject of submitted projects ideally spotlights one or more of the 229 men and women aviation pioneers who have been inducted, to date, into the Congressionally chartered, nonprofit NAHF.
The 2016 award ceremony will take place during a special session of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) annual meeting and convention. The NBAA convention is the largest civil aviation event in the world, and this year takes place on Nov. 1-3 in Orlando, Fla. Officials from the NAHF and NBAA will present the award, joined by several previous enshrinees of the NAHF.
Unmanned and Sunny Drone Education Event
Unmanned and Sunny Drone Education Event
Aerospace Center for Excellence will host Unmanned and Sunny on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 from 1 – 4 p.m. at Aerospace Discovery at the Florida Air Museum, located on the Sun ‘n Fun Expo Campus 4175 Medulla Rd., Lakeland, Fla.
Unmanned and Sunny is a free drone education and awareness event for the public to learn about safe drone operation and the upcoming career opportunities that exist in the drone industry.
CPK Cars, Planes, and Kids in Compton
A Free Open to the Public Event To Benefit a World Record Teen Solo Flight Across the USA
Sponsored by California Pizza Kitchen, Taylor Lynn Foundation, www.taylorlynn.org
On Sunday May 22nd from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m., Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum – TAM (www.tamuseum.org) will be hosting hundreds of kids for a free lunch (while supplies last) sponsored by California Pizza Kitchen (www.cpk.com) at the Compton/Woodley Airport with a dynamic event called “CPK” (Cars, Planes, and Kids) to benefit a world record teen solo flight across the USA. Fifteen super cars (Bugatti, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, and McLaren) wrapped in super hero themes will be joining planes, helicopters, drones, and one of the world’s largest Instagram – Insta-Meet gatherings. #CPKCARSPLANESKIDS
Editorial: The “Flying Season” and Safety
By Ed Downs
Okay, not an exciting title, but give it chance. There really is a “Flying Season.” Logically, it takes place between May and October, obviously due to improved weather vacation travel. Generally, up to 70 percent of the flying hours flown during a year occur during these months, and the same percentage applies to revenues earned by aviation- related businesses. Regrettably, the NTSB and FAA also have to gear up, as accident rates increase with activity. No magic to those stats, more planes, more pilots, more accidents. So let’s see if there are any lessons from the past or new programs that might reduce this predictable trend.
The FAA came to an interesting conclusion early in this century. New technology airplanes were hitting the market, advanced GPS-based navigation systems came into play, and auto-flight control systems became increasingly sophisticated. This trend has accelerated. Many students learning to fly today begin their experience in planes like the Cirrus and new Cessna, which are fully decked out with advanced, integrated auto-flight and navigation systems.
New Website
Bird in a Biplane
Planes of Fame
Tuskegee Airman Reflects on Diversity
By Airman Jenna K. Caldwell, 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
(This feature is part of the “Through Airmen’s Eyes” series. These stories focus on individual Airmen, highlighting their Air Force story.)
Retired Maj. George BoydIt was 1944, and the U.S. was in the midst of two battles – a war on two sides of the world and the onslaught of cultural changes on the home front.
Meanwhile, a young African-American Soldier picked up trash on the white sandy beaches at Keesler Field, Miss. He had been briefed that although he was in the service and evidently may fight and die for his country, he could neither walk on this beach unless he was working nor could he swim here because it was for whites only.
Now retired Maj. George Boyd, a 28-year combat veteran and Tuskegee Airman, will never forget the hypocrisy of that order. Boyd, now a resident of Wichita, Kan., was part of the service during the transition from the Army Air Corps to the Air Force.
Boyd served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He witnessed the roots of social equality shift within his country and his service – from the integration of the armed forces by President Harry S. Truman in 1948, to the Civil Rights movements of the 1960s.
Air Show Season Makes for a Great Opportunity to Dine in the Sunshine State
For aviation enthusiasts, Florida is the place to be this spring. Between Sun ‘n Fun and the AEA workshops, it makes for the perfect vacation. Florida is also the perfect destination for family and friends, so why not try some world-class cuisine after a long
Contrails: Hanging Out with Dwayne
By Steve Weaver
“When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” – Leonardo da Vinci.
This was a surprising statement to be made in the 15th century, when most of the world’s population was too busy trying to stay alive to think many profound thoughts. But given da Vinci’s genius, it isn’t surprising that he said this, for flight has always fascinated man. I would imagine that down through time many humans have had such feelings but not the ability to put them into such eloquent words.
Socrates came close, almost 500 years before Christ, when he said, “Man must rise above the earth—to the top of the atmosphere and beyond — for only thus will he fully understand the world in which he lives.”