Dave Higdon
Dave travels far and wide as a long-time aviation journalist, so the subject of survival skills—what to pack, how to use it—was never far from his curiously sloping frontal lobes. Because we all tend to focus on the building and test-flying, knowing what to bring on that first long cross-country of the year gets lost like a Cleco in a chip storm.
Lancair ES-P
Robert Simon had the distinction of building the first Lancair ES-P to fly. But the process wasn’t without its challenges. The ES-P employs the cabin design and structure of the pressurized, retractable Lancair IV-P, but has a larger wing and fixed gear. During the build, Simon also deviated from the base design with changes that required factory support to accomplish. Not only did he learn much, he ultimately got the plane he needed; by Dave Higdon.
Survival of the Smartest
Surviving an emergency or crash landing in a remote area is just the beginning of staying alive long term. Thinking about what you might need and equipping yourself adequately for the type of flying you intend to do are essential to making it until help arrives.
As Things Wind Down…
As Sun 'n Fun concludes, it comes home that the week has seen a lot of aviating, hangar flying, buying, selling and wishing. Even...
If It's Not One Thing…
It's another, and in the business of showing and selling aircraft, neatness counts. Early on in this year's Sun 'n Fun adventure, rain-soaked grounds...
Teaching Homebuilding Skills
Many a homebuilder has heard the admonition from the uninitiated about how they love the idea of assembling their own plane, if only they...
The Eyes Have It
Do you ever get the feeling that someone's watching you? The paint on the Sparrowhawk gyros on display at Sun 'n Fun drew many...
Our Eyes in the Skies
The need to coordinate the arrival of thousands of aircraft, to manage the airshow flow, and maintain separation on the Lake Parker arrivals demands...
Up, Up and Away
Not all that flies at Sun 'n Fun roars like a radial, buzzes like a hornet or spews smoke during low passes. The traditional...
You Don't Need A Wing If Your Ship's Got That Swing…
Sun 'n Fun's Chopper Town provided a graphic reminder Friday that you don't need a wing if your ship's got that swing, as a...
And Now for Something Completely Different
One of the great aspects of events like Sun 'n Fun is the frequency with which something new shows up. It's unusual for those...
In Case You Missed It
Deformed Gascolator O-Ring
Some gascolators have internal O-rings that should be checked for deformation regularly. This was...
Around the Patch
Editor-in-Chief Marc Cook highlights an intriguing product that caught his eye at AirVenture Oshkosh 2007, and he reiterates the difficulty of bringing new engines to market.
Light Stuff
When you purchase a new light or ultralight aircraft, you should talk to the manufacturer or distributor about the flight training services they provide. By Roy Beisswenger.