Aircraft Ownership

February 19, 2013

False Start

False Start You might have read in a previous entry <link here> about how I replaced the spark plugs due to a bad magneto check. Last Saturday was my first opportunity to test fly it since then and I was excited to go. Arriving at the airport with temps in the mid 30s I plugged…

January 16, 2013

New Spark Plugs

New Spark Plugs In troubleshooting a bad magneto check, I have found at least one thing that certainly needed to be addressed – my spark plugs. After watching a webinar on the subject over at EAA.org – link here, I learned some interested things about spark plug and their health. After a couple of easy tests,…

December 30, 2012

Living with your airplane part 2: Residential airparks

Living with your airplane part 2: Residential airparks Last installment we talked about having a private airstrip. This post we are discussing living at an airpark community. Honestly, this is a deeper level of immersion than most of us are accustomed to. Friends of mine report that it’s an amazing experience to live at the…

December 29, 2012

Living with your airplane part 1: Home strip

Living with your airplane part 1: Home strip I have often dreamt of living with my airplane; being able to launch into a beautiful sky by merely walking out my back door is as romantic as it gets. First, only a very small group of us get to experience aviation this way. Most of use…

December 7, 2012

Buying a used homebuilt

Buying a used homebuilt In this economy there is no question it’s a buyers market. This is the same for the used homebuilt market, there are plenty of good deals out there. But do you really know what you’re buying? Lets examine some key questions and provide some answers from my point of view.

September 27, 2012

The Piper Cub

Piper Cub By Stephen Pope / Published: Jul 25, 2012   (editor: Check out this video to get the essence of how pure flying can be in a Cub!)   Simplicity and durability are defining characteristics of so many of the classic American products we love best: The Harley-Davidson Flathead. A well-worn pair of Levi’s…

September 21, 2012

Antique and Classic Airplanes are GAs Best Kept Secret

Antique and Classic Airplanes are GAs Best Kept Secret These are a class of airplanes that I believe are under recognized and certainly under utilized by the average GA flyer. If you are already an antique/classic enthusiast please hold the hate mail and bear with me.  This genre of airplane was primarily the product of…