Affordable Aviation

Many years ago — back in February 2020 — I attended my last airshow. Fortunately, that was not the dark ending to a most trying year. For 2020, the next airshow is Mt. Vernon Airport’s (KMVN) Midwest LSA Expo — slated for September 10-11-12, 2020. Hurray! I don’t know about you (certainly not everyone, I […]

What a weird season, or non-season, if we think about all the airshows we should be attending …but are not! However, entrepreneurs do what they must and pilots remain as interested in flying as ever. Given both forms of determination, I expect those who tour with their airplanes will largely be warmly welcomed — although […]

Although a mirror reflection of the greater global economy, many pilots are stunned that airshow after airshow has fallen to the virus. It seems like two or three years ago when, back in February 2020, Videoman Dave and I covered the Copperstate/Buckeye show west of Phoenix. Here’s another sure sign of virus-induced time distortion. This […]

The end is near! Or, is it? The reference is to the long-running effort to revise the FAA regulation affecting Light-Sport Aircraft. The new ruleset has been discussed back into 2017 and started to take shape in early 2019. Almost two years later, what is the status? I have reported on this earlier: May 2019 • July […]

➡️ This article was UPDATED on July 31, 2020 with additional information — see after video… Some pilots love to whirl their wings over their heads. Many others like the idea of rotary flight — offering short takeoffs and landings plus ease of operation in windier conditions. A majority have not (yet) acted on their […]

Most ultralight aircraft (officially: “ultralight vehicles”) are rather simple constructions. They must be to stay within the tight constraints of a 254-pound maximum empty weight.* That’s not a negative comment about them. Actually, it’s the opposite. To build a flying airplane that weighs less than the engine alone on a Light-Sport Aircraft, a designer has […]

Some pilots are wary of taildraggers. This is hardly surprising since only tricycle-gear aircraft have been used in primary flight instruction dating back into the 1970s. Most pilot have no experience with taildraggers but nearly all have heard of the dreaded ground-loop tendency such gear configuration can allow. Indeed, when investigating insurance for a taildragger, […]

We live in an age of sophisticated two seaters, a large flock of wonderful aircraft of every description. Such two-place flying machines lead in sales and perhaps that’s to be expected. Around 80% of light aircraft buyers prefer three-axis fixed-wing aircraft. This is hardly surprising as that’s what nearly all pilots have used for primary […]

Perhaps it’s too bad the airplane sellers can’t do something similar, but avionics developers have found a way to be Almost-at-Oshkosh and they invite you to join them. See Garmin’s approach here. We’ll join our friends at Dynon while they host their version of “Virtual Oshkosh 2020” and while we’re at it, we can congratulate […]

Garmin is going to Oshkosh 2020! No, wait, that can’t be. Oshkosh is going to Garmin! Nope, that’s not right, either. Ah, how about Garmin simulating being in Wisconsin, in effect, bringing a virtual AirVenture airshow right into your home. Now we’re talkin’! Actually, this is rather cool. I don’t know about you, but when I […]