Table of contents for May 2025 in Plane & Pilot

Like many pilots, I trained in Cessna 150s and 152s, swapping types based on availability and discovering slight disorientation along the way. I recall feeling like one of the 152s was easier to fly than the others, and the confusion of having to look at the A-pillar to find the flap setting on one of the 150s. Seems a quaint idea now that I get to fly a lot of very different airplanes, but it meant something at the time. My logbook declares that I graduated to the mighty Cessna 172 a few days after passing my private check ride, but 10 days after that was my first flight in a Cherokee. I can see now that this Warrior—already well worn when I flew it in the late 1980s—was deregistered…

IN 2016, TONY ANGER was flying the Commemorative Air Force B-17 based at Falcon Field (KMSC) in Mesa, Arizona. “One Saturday, this young man had just come home from Iraq and wanted to go for a flight in the B-17 to commemorate his grandfather, who had flown B-17 in World War II,” Anger said. “Sadly, his grandfather had passed away while the young man was deployed in Iraq. He wanted to memorialize him, so he had his grandfather’s wings and logbook. Then he went to pay and he handed the lady his card and she said, ‘That will be $425,’ and he grabbed it right back out of her hands and he said, ‘I thought it was $42.50.’ And I felt awful.” With the B-17 ride unattainable, Anger made the…

Purchasing a used airplane can be risky because it’s sometimes difficult to determine whether the aircraft has been taken care of properly. Buying a used kit aircraft? Even riskier. Not only do you have to worry about wear and tear but also whether the builder knew what they were doing. But that doesn’t mean buying one is foolish. It might allow you to find an aircraft that truly fits your needs, and possibly save you money because its homebuilt origin will likely reduce the price. If you feel comfortable going this direction, then a used Zenith is worth looking at—and if you don’t, remember that Zenith has also made the CH 750 as a factory-built special light sport aircraft (SLSA), of which there are currently 42 registered in the U.S.…

WITH THE DOLLAR as strong as it is against the pound, has there ever been a better time for a flying visit to England? Probably not. So, why should you come and fly here? What’s the same and what’s different? Obviously, the main similarity will be the actual aeroplanes (er, airplanes) you’ll fly. You might run into the odd Tecnam or Aquila, or maybe a Sonaca or Chipmunk, but they’re mostly going to be Cessnas and Pipers. Obviously rental requirements vary widely, but a good local checkout will be money well spent anyway. Brace yourself for some big numbers, even for little planes. A Cessna 152 dual anywhere near London will be north of 200 pounds an hour ($252). Hopefully you know a benevolent brother, altruistic acquaintance, or philanthropic pilot who…

Maule MXT-7-180 La Porte, Texas/Injuries: 1 Serious NTSB Report: CEN23FA164 The purpose of the flight was to conduct an aerial survey. Just after departing from Runway 5, the pilot announced on the airport’s common traffic advisory frequency that the engine was running rough and he was returning to the airport. Another pilot flying in the airport traffic pattern reported that the accident airplane appeared too high and fast to land on Runway 23. Shortly thereafter, the accident pilot transmitted that the engine was producing power again and that he was landing on Runway 5. The witness saw the accident airplane subsequently enter a left base for Runway 5 at low altitude and stated that the airplane appeared slow. The airplane overshot the runway, banked steeply, stalled, and entered a half-turn…

If asked to name one GA single-engine airplane that claims the roles of ultimate bushplane, STOL champion, military workhorse, movie star, arctic explorer, and even a little CIA intrigue thrown in for effect, the de Havilland Beaver comes immediately to mind. Powered by a hearty 9-cylinder, 450 hp Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp and boasting a useful load of over 2,000 pounds, this robust airplane has served with the militaries of over 35 countries. However, it is most loved for its ability to thrive in the northern reaches of its home country of Canada, as well as the Alaskan bush. Since its maiden flight in 1947, the Beaver has hosted as many as 15 different variants featuring skis, floats, turbine engines, and even electric propulsion. While well known in the…

Sporty’s Pilot Shop has a video for almost everything in aviation. Years ago, it advertised a DVD titled “How an Airline Captain Should Look and Act,” one of several in the appropriately named ”What You Should Know” series. It feels more like a video some airline pilot would be made to endure as a punishment for showing up with a sloppy uniform, yet there it was. A few weeks ago, a snippet of the Sporty’s video “How to Use Self-Serve Fuel Facilities at the Airport” popped into my Reels on social media. I laughed and shared it with some friends, joking that it was 2025—how would anyone not know how to use self-serve fuel? I got punished for that idea a week later. As I flew overhead to join the…

“MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY…” “Aircraft calling?” There was no immediate reply to Atlanta Center’s query. The frequency returned to being quiet. An American Airlines jet said it was pretty smooth at FL 300. The controller tried again. “I was hearing a mayday call. Is there an aircraft calling with mayday?” “Mayday, Mayday.” “Who’s calling Center?” “N74586. I’ve got a rough engine.” The controller assessed the situation—a single-engine plane over Alabama at 6,000 feet with engine troubles—and offered the pilot a heading to the nearest airport. It was Alexander City’s Thomas Russell Field (KALX), about 10 miles away. ATC also gave the pilot some details about the airport. The plane turned to the new track. “I’ve got my engine back.” The pilot sounded calmer and continued to take headings to Alex City,…

Erwin Maier was having a really bad day. He was a gifted pilot, already recording 11 kills over the Eastern Front. But his war was over. Having had his plane cripplingly damaged in a dogfight, he’d been forced to bail out over Russia. As he was captured, he just had one request: “Would it be possible to meet the pilot who shot me down?” Imagine Maier’s surprise when he discovered it was 21-year-old, petite, blonde Lydia Litvyak. Litvyak was born in 1921 in Moscow. Early life was a struggle for her family after her father was arrested during the Great Purge as an “enemy of the people.” As was the case with most of those arrested in Soviet-era Russia, his family never saw him again. Like many young girls, Litvyak…

ERNEST HEMINGWAY was once asked, “How did you go bankrupt?” He supposedly answered, “Gradually, then suddenly.” Pilots anxiously expecting MOSAIC may be wondering if gradually ever becomes suddenly. What is happening with the FAA’s new regulation? Short answer: You may have to resign yourself to a somewhat longer wait. The Latest News Word in knowledgeable circles as of early March is that the FAA will likely not announce MOSAIC at Oshkosh in July. I hear your groans of frustration. Truth is, the FAA likes to announce new sector regulation at major media events like EAA AirVenture. The agency may be a Washington bureaucracy, but it clearly understands the value of good public relations. Announcing the final details of a much anticipated program like MOSAIC would definitely be good news in…

Autopilots, once a relatively rare piece of equipment reserved for high-end GA singles and light twins, are everywhere today. Each of the major avionics manufacturers offer a sophisticated two-axis autopilot for around $10,000, installed. In aviation speak, anything in this price range should be considered a bargain. Many of these digital autopilots began life in the homebuilt and light sport aircraft community, where innovation occurs at a faster pace, and costs are about half of their certified brethren. Retrofits for certified airplanes are one of the hottest upgrades in the piston-single market. These full-feature autopilots bring airline style automation and seamless integration with GPS navigation, as well as concerns about pilot proficiency and the downsides of the technology. So let’s spend a few minutes considering the good, the bad, and…