Despite the success and nostalgia that follow these aircraft, Textron Aviation, seeking a fresh perspective on its products engaged the pilots, owners and instructors that use them day in and day out.
Tucked away in the Textron Aviation delivery center sits a Beechcraft Staggerwing Model 17. For aviation enthusiasts and historians alike, this aircraft serves as a reminder of the humble beginnings of what is now Textron Aviation.
For nearly three quarters of a century, the Harvey family has been a household name in Snohomish County, Wash. The family began Snohomish Flying Service (SFS) in 1946, incorporating in 1950 and became the Fixed Base Operator (FBO) and flight training school of Harvey Field.
It started in 1999 with one man and one used aircraft. Danny Perna had a pre-owned CESSNA 152 piston, an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license and a flight instructor rating. That was all it took.
First of all, if there is anyone out there that is on the fence about taking the mountain flying course…stop thinking about it and just do it! It was one of the most thrilling, rewarding and exciting times I have had flying in a long time.
Aeronautical or sectional maps are good friends to most pilots. Pilots use them to understand departure and arrival areas in order to establish safe flight plans.
It’s Friday night in Kansas City, Kan. and officers are busy. This weekend, in particular, officers would be involved in seven different vehicle pursuits. Given the population of Kansas City and the nature of police pursuits, the encounters would normally be dangerous for all involved. That’s where the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) Aircraft Unit comes in.
The world of aviation is wide and offers opportunities for anyone interested in taking to the skies, regardless of their mission, path or destination. But often, the most intimidating part of taking flight is getting started.
When Mike McVean touches down, he knows all eyes are on his Citation® Mustang®.
Even as a child, Peter Tinsman had loved airplanes and wanted to learn to fly, but it wasn’t until he spooled down his responsibilities at work in Dubuque, Iowa, that Tinsman finally had time to devote to his lifelong dream.
Once single-engine piston pilots get comfortable in the cockpit, some long to go higher and faster with more room and more comfort.
Once a pilot decides to earn a jet type rating, the next challenge is often to fit training time into busy work and family schedules.
There are several reasons single-engine pilots add multi-engine certifications to their licenses, and each reason generally lands in the “more” category: more speed, more room, more payload, more performance or more complexity.
The best flight training programs in the country combine knowledgeable, skilled instructors with state-of-the-art aircraft and equipment.
Long before “LOL” and “OMG” became everyday conversation for some, we in the aviation community adopted our own abbreviated lingo.
Most pilots will tell you they love to fly, but there’s one group of aviators who are quick to qualify that statement, because they don’t just love to fly—they love to fly their Beechcraft® aircraft.
Among the many decisions you will make when choosing an airplane is whether to purchase a single-engine or a twin-engine model.
The thrill of earning a private pilot’s license is often the excitement that initially drives—or in this case, flies—new aviators to add more hours to their log books.
Selecting an aircraft also means choosing a manufacturer, your partner as long as you own the airplane.
On paper, John Springthorpe didn’t look like the kind of guy who was ready to move from his single-engine turboprop to a single-pilot jet.