From The Editor: A Time For Every Season

It's early September as we're wrapping up this November issue, and it's inescapably clear that summer is beginning its transition to fall. Looking out my office window just a bit ago, I watched a squirrel scampering across my neighbor's driveway, with a walnut in its jaws. I hope he remembers where he buries it!

Swallows and sparrows are beginning to flock together!and the geese have started flying. There's no denying it; summer is winding down. But, fall is my favorite time of year, and not just because of football. I love the cool, dry days of fall, the clear sky, and the beautiful color extravaganza that nature treats us to.

Fall is a great time to go flying to enjoy those colors from a different viewpoint, and this month, P&P is featuring Pireps on a couple of aircraft that would be great fun to do some scenic flying in---an Aviat Husky and a Just Aircraft SuperSTOL XL.

H.G. Frautschy is one of three new writers contributing to P&P this month. H.G. has lots of hours in an Aeronca Champ as well as some float time, so he won the honors to fly an Aviat Husky A1C on Wipaire floats with a new, reversible-pitch MT propeller. Veteran writer Bill Cox checked out the new Just Aircraft SuperSTOL XL at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, and both detail their experiences inside this issue. The Legacy Pirep this month features the venerable Piper Arrow.

Adam St. John is another new contributor this month, sharing his adventure flying his SportCruiser from Gaithersburg, Md., to Santa Monica, Calif., much of it over historic Route 66. Adam shared several lessons he learned during his flight.

Talk about fun places to fly!Udo LeinhÃ¤user is our third new name on the masthead this month, and he lists his favorite places to fly to in California.

This month's buyer's guide by Marc Lee covers engine analyzers and does a great job of highlighting the benefits they offer, including a list of some of the most popular engine information systems (EFIS).
In our Proficiency feature article, Bill Cox offers some tips on formation flying, while in his Cross-Country Log, he recalls some of his ferry flights through Alaska's Inside Passage and has some advice for those considering such a trip.

Patty Wagstaff takes a little Zen break to wonder why we can't just be happy where we are, asking, "What does it take to be truly in the moment?"

On a more somber note, Peter Katz shares the National Transportation Safety Board's final report on the accident that took the life of Dr. Richard Rockefeller last summer, along with the lessons we might learn from that tragedy.

John Ruley debates the pros and cons of upgrading your autopilot, with some advice for those facing that decision in our monthly Avionics Academy column.

And, lastly, Budd Davisson was at a car swap meet a while back and couldn't believe his eyes or ears when he saw and heard a P-51D Mustang doing a pass over the area!but even more so, couldn't believe that none of his fellow "junque" collectors stopped to watch the airplane. Were they deaf?

That wraps up another "good to the last drop" issue, so grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy! And when you get a chance, head on over to our active flying community and join in on the aviation conversation on Facebook at www.facebook.com/planeandpilot.

Mary Jones, Senior Contributing EditorWriter