My first combat mission in an F-4 Phantom
My first combat mission in the F-4E Phantom took place in late summer of 1972. It was a few months...
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Category: Air Facts Journal
The best regulations
Of all the many fascinating aspects about aviation, a very underrated one is regulation. Yes, you...
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A gear problem?
After fifteen years flying one rented Cessna 172 or another, I finally bought my first plane with...
Read More Peer pressure among pilots
A few years ago I was getting ready to depart from a busy east coast airport to California. It was...
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Friday Photo: Miami Beach
The view: Miami Beach shoreline in December, over the Atlantic on the way to Key West The pilot:...
Read More Three minutes before the fan turns off
This is a story on how, at 10 minutes after midnight and after 5 hours of flight time, in an...
Read More Go or no go: how bad is the turbulence?
Over the last 10 years, you’ve gotten to know your Mooney 201 quite well, using it to travel...
Read More An FAA medical story with a happy ending
One sunny afternoon in mid-June I grabbed a letter out of my mailbox. The return address sent a...
Read MoreLandings at the crosswind limit
It was one of those early spring days when the lows were very low, the high pressures very high, and in between the wind was howling. As is often the case on these days, the sky was clear and the flying conditions good—until it...
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Friday Photo: landing at 9000 feet
Click on image for full size. The view: Jomsom airstrip, Nepal The airplane: Cessna Caravan 208...
Read MoreThe mystery of a very heavy 747
It was my leg as a cargo 747-100 first officer, a creampuff Sunday flight from southeast US to Anchorage, Alaska. Dauntingly clear skies and smooth air bridged the gap separating us three from cold drafts and beer battered...
Read MoreWhat if flying cars are just a bad idea?
For a newspaper journalist on a tight deadline, there’s nothing like a “flying car” story. It’s guaranteed to get lots of clicks, the companies being profiled will eagerly supply information, and most readers don’t know enough...
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