Air Facts

JULY 2, 2025

By the time we hit 85, the tail was flying, the main wheels were off the ground, and the nosewheel was grinding itself into the dirt. This term has been adopted by pilots throughout the world to indicate the worst possible landing. I was, in fact, partially correct. It’s the morning after a night at Mrs. Viggie’s hotel.

Cockpit

Aerotime

DECEMBER 27, 2024

However, right from the start of the year, this figure would have been significantly higher but for pilot professionalism, improved aircraft technology, and, of course, a dose of good fortune. A pilot was killed, one person was seriously injured and two more suffered minor injuries. There were four crew members on board.

Runway

Plane and Pilot

JULY 16, 2025

The Albatross, firewall forward, is set up as a “quick engine change” package, which means that the entire assembly comes off as a unit—engine, accessories, and its mount disconnect from the firewall and can be exchanged as a unit. We were airline pilots with screwdrivers, just hoping to be more help than hindrance.

Firewall

Vintage Aviation News

NOVEMBER 13, 2024

Thousands of L-4s remained in the US for the duration of WWII, training pilots and serving liaison duties for Army units in training. The surviving examples did find use in the post-war era, training thousands of pilots in the former European and Pacific theaters. 1,801 of that number were L-4H variants.

Firewall

Vintage Aviation News

AUGUST 28, 2024

He was too slow on his approach and was given “come on” signals by the Landing Signals Officer; when he was issued a subsequent “wave-off” command, the pilot banked away from the carrier with too little power, leading to a crash. The pilot was lucky to survive with just a few deep cuts to his forehead.” SBD-5 BuNo.36175

Firewall

Vintage Aviation News

SEPTEMBER 13, 2024

of Charlotte, North Carolina in 1964, where it was registered under the civilian tail number N4716C. Piloted by Mike Wright, the Corsair competed in the Unlimited Class, qualifying in 28th place with an average speed of 305.667 mph. For several years, the aircraft’s history was quiet until 1975, when it was acquired by Earl E.

Firewall

Vintage Aviation News

JULY 19, 2024

This early canopy limited visibility for the pilot, leading to later models adopting a more streamlined, blown canopy for improved situational awareness. The limitations of the early canopy are clearly seen in this near-pilot’s eye view. The power plant modifications plate on the engine bay’s firewall. Today, Ens.

Tail

Vintage Aviation News

MAY 6, 2024

Brooks had long wished to own an airworthy Flying Fortress as his father, Elton Brooks, had flown 35 missions as a B-17 tail gunner with the 570th BS, 390th BG from RAF Framlingham in England. With a crew of three (pilot, copilot & flight engineer) and four volunteers aboard, Liberty Belle took off, bound for Indianapolis.

Tail

Vintage Aviation News

APRIL 17, 2025

The retired Pan Am pilot spent nearly a quarter of a century rebuilding the classic sport trainer with the help of his late brother Bob and a small army of collaborators, returning it to the air after 50 years. But the tail feathers and the landing gear struts were OK.” “I paid 250 bucks or something around there for it! .

Cockpit

Vintage Aviation News

SEPTEMBER 2, 2024

The couple would serve their country during the war, with Joe flying overseas and Pinky serving as a member of the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), graduating in Class 44-W-9 and being assigned to Minter Field near Bakersfield, CA. Some parts were re-fabricated at Faribault, such as the firewall.

Firewall

Vintage Aviation News

MAY 21, 2024

During the 18-month restoration, Frank replaced TG114’s damaged cockpit section with the piece from VR919 and the tail section of VR918. It was repaired and mated to the wing center section of ex-German target tug, and the tail section was from an ex-Iraqi Sea Fury. People didn’t have that kind of equipment to do that type of work.”

Cockpit

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

When spelled geoduck it represents a grotesque, oversized mollusk, or clam to we pilot simpletons. True, a slightly higher aspect ratio wing was desired, which in turn required a larger vertical tail and thus a little extra mass, but the size, approximately 20% larger than a Widgeon, was set. Sea state matters, too.

Airplanes

Plane and Pilot

DECEMBER 16, 2024

Planespotters note the F2’s separate ailerons and flaps, conventional tail. Out back, theres an entirely new tail. Theres an unusual duck tail between the two elevator halves that provides a measure of anti-stall behavior. (All data comes from a review of FAA registration figures compiled at the ByDanJohnson.com website.)

Rudder

Vintage Aviation News

MAY 2, 2025

The bulge in the back side of the firewall provides clearance for the oil tank. image via AirCorps Aviation) This is the hydraulic hand pump which the pilot uses (if the engine-powered pump fails) to operate the flaps, radiator scoops, or the landing gear. image via AirCorps Aviation) Progress on hydraulic lines shows in this image.

Rudder