jlawrence

""If it flies, it's cool"" pretty much nails the ethos of James Lawrence. Milestones along the taxiway include boyhood obsessions with airplane models and science fiction; first flight lesson at 15 (Piper Cub); cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy, (class of '67); sailplane lessons in the California desert when he could afford it; built and flew his first hang glider (1973); magazine and book author and actor (TJ on tv's SWAT); former Editor (Ultralight Aircraft, Outdoor Photographer, Plane & Pilot); freelance writer/photographer since 1992; current LSA Editor-at-Large. Rents a local Piper Cub in Great Barrington; still loves the sky, from ground and air.
jlawrence Wednesday, November 13, 2013

RV12s, Hot Off The Griddle!

Put on them bibs, pardners, if you’ve got an appetite for one of the tastiest S-LSA out there. Last year, Vans Aircraft came out with its Signature Series, an even dozen pre-built SLSA. They were built by Vans kit builder support company Synergy Air of Eugene, Oregon. Now I’m not trying to set you up […]

Read More »
jlawrence Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Skycatcher: To Be or to Be, Not

A story posted by Daniel McCoy, a reporter for the Wichita Business Journal, claims the star-crossed Cessna 162 Skycatcher will likely not enjoy the longevity and success of other notable Cessna icons such as the C-172 and C-150/152. The Skycatcher was one of the first SLSA out of the gate for the new category created […]

Read More »
jlawrence Sunday, August 4, 2013

Freakish Oshkosh Weather Continues!

Yes, Airventure fans, it’s been fair, mild, low humidity, refreshing, beautiful weather…all descriptors none of us is used to using in the same sentence with the words Oshkosh and summer. It’s been a delight not to drop with exhaustion at the end of a long day slogging around the miles of paths and thousands of […]

Read More »
jlawrence Saturday, August 3, 2013

The Big O Photo Jam

In the wee and foot-throbbing hours after wandering the highways and byways of the vast Oshkosh Airventure showgrounds all day, here’s a taste of some of the cool things encountered so far from my abbreviated visit – my 32nd year in attendance since 1981…and every year brings new wonders and old friends: threads of gold […]

Read More »
jlawrence Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Fantasy in Paris, Reality at Home

“How ya gonna keep ’em down on the farm…after they’ve seen Paree?” That’s a timely reprise of an old show tune to bring our attention to the Paris Air Show, which is sending out some ripples in the “What’s New” Dept.. I’m always thinking about electric flight. If we manage to survive as a species […]

Read More »
jlawrence Thursday, April 11, 2013

Live From Sun ‘n Fun 2013

It’s the third day at Sun ‘n Fun. Breezy, hottish (high 80s), humid: in other words, classic Florida Spring weather. The attendance seems steady if not overwhelming. I’ve been hanging out a lot in the new Paradise City Light Sport/Ultralight area and grass landing strip in the southeast corner of Lakeland Linder Airport, and enthusiastically […]

Read More »
jlawrence Monday, April 1, 2013

Getting With The (Tower) Program

With all the concern around the FAA’s officially announcing the closing of 149 ATC control towers, Pilot Workshops of Nashua, NH is getting with the program to help ease pilot anxiety about the transition. The company just put out three free videosthat are aimed to help us all refresh our memories aboutNon-Towered Airport operations. PilotWorkshops […]

Read More »
jlawrence Thursday, March 21, 2013

Towering Inferno

UPDATE TO POST BELOW: CHICAGO – Mar 22 – Associated Press announced that the FAA put the final list of air traffic control tower closures at 149. The process of shutdown will start early in April. One key point: closures will not force the airports themselves to shut down, but all pilots will use unicom […]

Read More »
jlawrence Monday, March 4, 2013

Wrangling An Air2Air Photo Shoot

My flyin’ pal,industry leader and co-blogger Dan Johnson suggested recently that I throw some tips your way about how I put together and do air2air photography. Since I’ve done around 600 in my 30 year career, it’s not a topic I have to research, always good news. So for those of you interested in what […]

Read More »
Loading Posts