EAA Heading in a New Direction?

Anyone noticing a change occurring with the Experimental Aircraft Association? The organization has historically been centralized around creating and building experimental aircraft. Over the last year since Tom Poberezny retired from his position as Chairman for EAA, the company's main focus seems to have shifted.

Radar Contact! Flying into Controlled Airspace.

Many pilots fear flying into controlled airports in class D/C/B airspace. For many, who blast around with no radios, operating off of grass strips and mountain valleys, their backcountry skills are top notch but visits to controlled airspace can be few and far between. Often pilots become rusty, begin to doubt their abilities inside controlled airspace and begin to avoid it.

This is sad because even though romping through the backcountry and gently touching onto a grass runway behind the farm is incredible, there are also many great experiences located inside these airspaces. Great airfield restaurants, museums and attractions are often collocated on these fields or a short courtesy-car ride away.

Here are some tips to help when talking with approach and tower so you can enjoy all flying has to offer.

Free Ways to Boost your Airplane Ad's Marketability!

Photos like this make it into For Sale ads all the time.
Dusty and neglected with a bunch of trash in the background. 

I admit it; I am an airplane shopaholic. Well browseaholic anyway, seeing as I am not in a great location to buy right now. I can spend hours aimlessly sifting through ads on Barnstormers, Trade-a-plane and Controller.com.  Though my first instinct is to browse the taildragger section, my flavor of the week could be just about anything from Taylorcrafts to Meridians.

One thing I have noticed when it comes to ads is the difference in the quality of photos people use to market their items for sale. Photos are a must in today's marketplace and a bad picture can quickly turn a potential buyer off.

Five Great Books You Have Probably Never Heard of, for when the Weather Turns Nasty.

Okinawa has felt the effect of six typhoons so far this season with another brewing down by the Philippines right now. This works out to a typhoon roughly every two weeks. Generally I am required to evacuate aircraft to a far off place while my family is left behind to weather out the storm. Twice this year however, I have been required to stay behind. 

The winds gradually pick up and the skies grow darker and darker. When the humming winds develop into a full blown freight train attempting to drive through the front window, television goes out and the loss of power is right around the corner.

I have found this is a great time to curl up on the couch, throw in some headphones and dive into a great aviation book.

Flying in an Airshow!

The Island of Oahu seen from our holding point
during the Kaneohe Bay Airshow 2012.

The entire trip was just shy of 9,000 nautical miles. Ten days, three practices and two airshow performances while visiting the gorgeous island of Oahu. Though our part was small, this was my first experience performing in an airshow and it was a great time!