Category: Miscellaneous –  Page 27

I’m about to find out if my mother reads my blog

I’ve done it again. I need a measly three take-offs and landings within the last 90 days in order to take passengers. It’s a sensible rule: they don’t want people getting out of practice, then bundling the family into the plane and crash-landing due to incompetence. If you’ve flown within six months and think you…

Read more… 15 Aug 07

Tit for tat

Yet another counter-terrorism bill aimed at safe flying — protecting the good old US of A against western Europe. This time, the European Commission took a stand. “We are following with concern the tightening of security measures in the US, which impose a burden that is not justified by the benefits,” said the BDI’s Carsten…

Read more… 9 Aug 07

Bright Lights

I haven’t even written about the last flight and we are planning the next exciting one: Rome! As in Italy, not Indiana. We’re planning to fly there, meet my mother (who is visiting friends), take her to Mannheim and then fly home. My mother is very impressed at the taxi service she’s being offered ……

Read more… 3 Aug 07

Practice Flight on Google Earth

I sit at my desk, staring at the web browser. A voice inside my head says, Pass your message. “November 666 Echo X-ray is a PA32 travelling from Beziers to Altenrhein, Switzerland. We are currently west of the Alps at 7,500 feet and requesting a flight information service.” 7,500 feet! Flying past the Alps! Wow,…

Read more… 21 Jun 07

Flying High

Next weekend Cliff and I will be braving the Alps though which I’m already having nightmares about. We’ll be flying from Málaga to Lake Constance for a wedding which I’m very much looking forward to but there’s still the flight to plan (Argh, do we have maps for Switzerland?) and the fear of going over…

Read more… 15 Jun 07

Looking for info: Yarborough Monument

The Yarborough Monument on the hills of Culver Down looks out over the channel like a burnt out lighthouse. It is a memorial for Charles Anderson-Pelham, who became the first Earl of Yarborough in 1794 and founded the Royal Yacht Squadron. Lord Yarborough had what appears to have been an illustrious naval career but in…

Read more… 5 Jun 07

Accident Reports

Unbolted in Fairfield (Update on the 2022 Bell 407 GXP Crash)

On the 4th of June 2022, a Bell 407 GXP helicopter crashed in a field near Fairfield, New Jersey. I wrote about it at the time. The final report and…

Madness on the Runway at Manchester

The Manchester Airport Group Plc owns and operates three airports: Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands. Manchester Airport is the third busiest airport in Britain. Their website says Manchester Airport…

Demystifying

Training an AI Copilot To Spot Gliders

My friend Maria at Daedalean wrote this article about how they are using AI to help pilots detect gliders. I thought it was fascinating and Daedalean gave me permission to…

The Missing Bolts from Alaska Airlines flight 1282

On the 5th of January 2024, Alaska Airlines flight 1282 had just taken off when it lost a door plug, leaving a gaping hole on the left side of row…

History

Gladys Ingle Inflight Wheel Change: Emergency Action or Stunt?

This video of a mid-air wheel exchange goes viral once a year or so, but I never get tired of watching it. Last week, it showed up on Reddit and…

The Disappearance of the Hawaii Clipper May Not Be as Mysterious as Was Thought

This week, we have a guest post by J.B. Rivard who wrote an article for the American Aviation Historical Society (AAHS) and used one of my articles as a reference.…

Fun Stuff

A Few Good Stories

I’m in Dresden at the moment and I’m afraid I haven’t had a free moment to write you a new article. Luckily, lots of other people are on the internet…

Flying Fails and Airshow Considerations

Long-term readings of Fear of Landing know that my favourite aerobatics show of all time is Kyle Franklin’s Ben Whabnoski Comedy act. Just in case some of you haven’t seen…