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Tom Wilson

Tom Wilson
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Pumping avgas and waxing flight school airplanes got Tom into general aviation in 1973, but the lure of racing cars and motorcycles sent him down a motor journalism career heavy on engines and racing. Today he still writes for peanuts and flies for fun.

The Fly As You Go Plan

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Learned colleague Paul Dye recently wrote about the time-limited nature of aviation hardware. That is, every bolt has its day. Eventually the cad plate...

Old World, New Engines

4
After putting another $140 into the gas tanks of my 300-hp biplane, I have to admit the newer sport planes coming out of Europe...

Going Around

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Gallons of ink have been dedicated—with only minor effect—to figuring out what it is that joins pilots together. But clearly there’s something in the...

NXT Next

2
Electroflight and Rolls-Royce partner to set the world’s electric airspeed record.

Higgs, Grove Form AC Aero

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Engine designer and industry consultant Andrew Higgs has joined with Sport class air racer Karl Grove to form AC Aero USA LLC. The new...

Just a Trim, Please

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Being well out of trim myself at the time, staying busy whirling the little knobbed wheel in the Cessna 150 trainer never appeared overly...

Missing Red Bull

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Am I alone when saying the Red Bull Air Races were not my ideal of aviation pursuit? I surprise myself a little saying that,...

On Getting Dark

4
Tyrants make memorable flight instructors, a good thing when the lessons being imparted need remembering. And I must say, my primary flight instructor was...

On Thanksgiving

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One of the compelling reasons to aviate is it can demand the ultimate payment, and with an impartiality Hemingway appreciated. That alone elevates flying...
Mojave airport aerial image

Cutting It Short

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Recidivist readers will recall last month I went on a bender over a breeze in Mojave and how a single chock saved the day....

In Case You Missed It

Lightning Strike!

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Arion introduces the XS-more power, more fun.

A Guide to Guides

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While it never feels good to be stuck in the ribs, when you deserve...
[Credit: LeRoy Cook]

Logging Time

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Recording flight time in a proper form is a time-honored ritual in aviation.
Tom Aberle said he looked at Phantom daily for a couple of years trying to decide if it was ugly or beautiful, and while its combination of angles and curves is unique, its 12 championships make it beautiful in our eyes.

Biplane Gold

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Phantom dominates biplane pylon racing by harnessing traditional homebuilding talent.