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After writing hundreds of aviation news stories and releasing thousands of aviation podcasts over the past decade, I've become accustomed to the low-level stalking that comes with that work. There are services which have forwarded my opinion pieces to opposing political groups, and one which...

On everything but the cross-country training, I found I reached mental saturation well before two hours per session. In retrospect, I also should have limited myself to three lessons per week to maximize effectiveness. There was also a point in my training where I was struggling with...

Doesn't Part 141 require formal stage exams through ground school? I took group classes at a 141 school, even though I did most of my flying with Part 61 instructors. I found the group classes very efficient, as I learned from the questions of others in the class.

I asked my AME last time I was in for my third, and he said he charged $87 for Class 2. That's less than what my primary doc bills my insurance plan for a routine checkup without vision and hearing.

Power pushover is an issue only when the thrustline is above the aircraft center of mass, and not compensated by an adequate horizontal stabilizer. It is not an issue on modern pushers. The only gyro kit still being sold in any numbers worldwide with a severe thrustline offset and inadequate...

Like a minivan to a Miata. In autorotation, rotor RPM (on fixed-pitch gyroplane rotors, at least) is proportional to G loading throughout the operating range, not something which stops suddenly at a particular point. You'll see RPM decrease with reduced weight and thin air, and increase in...

John, you'll want to network with some existing owners and find out if the Cavalon will check all your boxes. It might not be a good choice for rough field operation, and trailering requires removing the rotorblades. The extruded aluminum rotorblades have limited life and limits on bank angles...

Who better to design and manufacture the leading powerplant in recreational Light Sport Aircraft? The 912/914 series is not based on any snowmobile engine. It is a purpose-built aircraft powerplant which has proven its TBO claims and delivers class-leading fuel economy and power-to-weight ratio...

Unlike the Continental O-200D in the Skycatcher, the Lycoming 233 doesn't appear to have found an OEM partner that will do even the Skycatcher's low sales volume. The response of the legacy aircraft engine companies to Rotax's assault on the market has been extremely disappointing. There...

Experimental Amateur Built has always been about tasks, not time required. The 2011 update of the FAA's "scorecard" for determining 51% compliance for gyroplanes was prepared with input from the US distributor for Magni Gyro, an Italian company. It really cleared the way for fast-build versions...

As a professional, Colbert knows where to turn for comedy. ;)

Even Dan may be missing some. A significant number of aircraft which meet the FAA definition of LSA (FAR 1.1) and can legally be flown by Sport Pilots are not registered LSA. (Dan feels the need to differentiate them as "Sport Pilot eligible" for some reason, but the FAA defines them as Light...

Eh...badly run banks run using traditional currencies fail, too. If there were early warnings about lax security or questionable management, depositors should have acted sooner. I suspect we'll see more stories like this, but I also believe the day will soon come when independent, digital...

John and Martha King reported they were pretty real, and their encounter was the second time a bogus intercept had happened with that same plane. How much evidence do you need to decide something is real?

Me? Not so far. But it's becoming common enough that it will be on my mind when deciding what I carry with me in the aircraft. Latest from AOPA:

Ron, take another look at my comment. As I said, I'm not worried about the FAA. There are other agencies ignorant of the regs detaining pilots. "Confiscate" and "not relinquish" are relative terms when you're surrounded by a SWAT team which has already violated the Fourth Amendment.

I don't remember if I had to specifically ask, but on renewal I got my original First Phone back with a nig red "CANCELLED" across the front. I have it in a frame, but nowadays nobody knows what it is. At least the General doesn't expire.

I did mine at a quiet (at night) Class D where the tower offered straight-in, but was more than happy to grant my request for full patterns on each landing.

Lots of starter jobs (in many fields) are with employers who hire the minimally-qualified because they have to. The reason the openings exist is because anyone qualified enough to leave for a better job does so. I have felt this way about some shady employers in the past, but with the...

There's nothing "tinfoil hatter" about wanting to keep your logbook away from the plane. At least not anymore. I don't worry about FAA inspectors, but it now appears common to have "misunderstandings" with CBP and DEA over other documents. Pilots have recently been threatened for lack of...