Innehållsförteckning för August 2025 från Plane & Pilot

I’ve been on a bit of a life adventure recently. When my lease expired at my humble abode back home, just south of Atlanta, in March, I loaded up my two Australian shepherds and hit the open road. With nothing to my name but whatever I could fit into my Subaru Forester, I headed west, in search of my next chapter. My first stop was Fredericksburg, Texas, where I hung out with flying friends, flew plenty of cool airplanes, and enjoyed all the honky-tonking I could withstand. After a thoroughly enjoyable, two-month long stay in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, I did what I had done only two months before—packed all of my belongings, gave the dogs some sedatives, and headed out for the second part of my trip. But…

The question of whether Captains Kim and Nick Gill are hell-bent or heaven sent is subjective. To their friends crazy enough to tag along for a work trip in Nevada to help out with their latest acquisition, the answer may lean toward the former. In the eyes of a Grumman Albatross long parked in the Silver State, the couple must certainly seem like angels on earth, the perfect combination of passion, ability, and means to bite off a project of this size. I flew as Kim’s first officer a few times before upgrading to captain, and we immediately struck a chord as small-airplane geeks. She and Nick have owned a slew of airplanes—their current fleet including an Aeronca Champ, Cessna 310, Extra 300 project, and there is some sort of…

Bellanca 7ECA Midlothian, Texas/Injuries: None NTSB Report: CEN23LA392 The pilot was familiarizing himself with the airplane in preparation for a multiday, cross-country flight. He also said that there was a potential that he would provide flight instruction to a student during the upcoming flights, so he wanted to perform three takeoffs and landings in the airplane to meet the recent flight experience requirements of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 61.57. He said that as he approached the airport, the reported weather indicated the wind was aligned with the runway. During the approach, he noted that the windsock showed a left crosswind, and he adjusted the approach using crosswind control correction for the left crosswind. During the rollout, the wind shifted, and the right wing rose. The pilot attempted…

Acquiring a used aircraft is a unique endeavor, distinct from purchasing more common assets like a car or a home. Unlike a quick car dealership transaction, the purchase of an aircraft mirrors the complexity of real estate, necessitating a multifaceted approach involving thorough inspections, intricate paperwork, and logistical coordination. Prospective buyers must juggle roles, embodying the knowledge of a mechanic, the strategy of a lawyer, the judgement of a loan officer, and the organization of a logistics coordinator. What initially starts as a straightforward desire to take to the skies can swiftly evolve into an extensive project demanding careful management. Determine Needs and Budget Before embarking on the search for a used aircraft, it’s crucial to assess your specific needs and financial situation. Consider factors such as typical passenger load,…

TWO MINUTES AFTER being cleared for takeoff, a maintenance error from 24 years ago suddenly presented itself. The transmission was clear and precise. The pilot, a doctor alone in his 1978 Cessna T310R light twin, sounded firmly in control. He had just lifted off from Santa Fe Regional Airport (KSAF) in New Mexico into a beautiful July morning. The slightly startled tower controller said, “Say again.” Pilot: “Five One Charlie’s got an engine failure.” Tower: “Five One Charlie… Roger, you can make the left turn to Runway 33.” It was a remarkably unruffled conversation. The Cessna had been cleared to depart with a right turn but had made a left bob above the runway on the failure of the left engine and then continued to gently track left of the…

Long before the vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) Hawker Siddeley Harrier, or the more recent Lockheed Martin F-35B jump jets, the concept of a fighter that could launch from a ship’s deck, fight off the enemy, and return was high on the priority list for the U.S. Navy. Since the early 1930s warships from around the world had launched light scout planes from catapults mounted on the deck to search for the enemy and deck gun crews. However, these floatplanes eventually landed next to the ship and had to be winched back on board. And these lightly constructed planes were no match for the frontline fighters of the day. What if a powerful fighter aircraft could lift off under its own power, defeat enemy attackers, and land back on the…

WITH PRICES OF used GA aircraft already rising in anticipation of FAA’s MOSAIC regulation, pilots interested in buying may have to look further to find a bargain. MOSAIC should open the door for pilots to fly aircraft such as the ubiquitous Cessna 172 or 150 plus several Piper Cherokee models and a wide range of other existing GA aircraft. That’s great because the FAA’s newest regulation may allow pilots to fly qualifying models with only BasicMed or, even better, a driver’s license in lieu of an aviation medical. Yet most such aircraft with price tags in the “affordable” range will be many years old. You may see nothing wrong with that given the careful maintenance GA aircraft generally receive, but these aircraft may be older than you are and have…

Let’s face facts. Learning to fly, like just about everything else these days, is getting pretty darn expensive. The cost of airplanes, insurance, quality maintenance, and the avgas to keep them flying have all gone up dramatically. Having said that, the long-term sustained market for airline pilots has created a bull market for flight training providers. For those pursuing an airline career, the costs can approach six figures for the flight training alone. For the rest of us who might just want to earn that private certificate and enjoy taking our friends for the mythical $100 hamburger, the choices are many, prices vary, and all of it can be a bit daunting. So, what is an aspiring pilot to do? My advice is to go shopping. Just like any major…

When it comes to pilot training materials, IFR approach plates, or even logbooks, the name Jeppesen is a common one. The Jeppesen company produces a version of just about everything a pilot could need. And it all started with a little notebook, a basement, and an airmail pilot—Elrey Jeppesen. Born in 1907 in Louisiana to Danish immigrant parents, Jeppesen became interested in aviation from a young age, watching birds fly and building models. At 14, he paid a barnstormer $4 for a 10-minute ride. Apparently, he enjoyed himself. After completing only two and a half years of school, Jeppesen dropped out of school and landed a job at the local airport doing odd jobs like organizing tools and sweeping out the hangar. It was while working there that Jeppesen first…