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2006

January - February - March

$100 Hamburger

March 31 - We're always looking for a new location for  that $100 Hamburger...  here is a nice location that will satisfy your flying $100 HB urge.  MORE...

Tunica Air Races 2006 Cancelled

March 29 - From information on their website, it appears that 2006 Tunica Air Races are no longer...  MORE...

Mack's Hangar...

March 29 - Worried about being shot out of the sky in a TFR?  So is Mack.  MORE...

Small Plane Reported Down

March 21-  It has been reported to Fly-Low that a Seneca II has crashed after taking off from the M. Graham Clark Airport, Branson (MO), and the report is that all four on board have been killed.  There are no reported injuries on the ground. 

First reports indicate the pilot and passengers were from Texas—perhaps Lubbock—attempting to return home.  The plane developed a problem after takeoff, and was trying to return to the airport. 

OKC Pilot Town Meeting Today (Thursday)

March 16 - OKC will host Phil Boyer at a town meeting tonight... for details go to here...

Bentonville Airport & High Winds

March 14 - Tornado Alley, Kansas - Oklahoma - Arkansas, received high winds and many tornados on Sunday and Monday March 12-13th.  These photos of the Bentonville (AR) Airport were sent to us by Brad Kidder.  MORE...

Business Spotlight

March 13 - Priority Aviation is owned and operated by Nathan and Wendy Cline of Mena (AR).  They provide maintenance, flight instruction, custom restoration, rebuilding and consulting or pre-purchase for their customers.  Mena Airport (KMEZ) is known as one of the largest gathering of aircraft businesses in the country.  MORE...

Cooling Aviation

March 13 - Port-A-Cool originates in Center (TX).  Where is that you ask?  It is fifty miles southwest of Shreveport (LA).  “It looks like parts of North Carolina with rolling hills and pine trees. The area is heavy laden with poultry houses and industry.  All those huge buildings need cooling,” says Rick Campbell Port-A-Cool's owner.   MORE...

Air Racing Lives

March 10 - Air races go back to the birth of aviation.  Vincent Bendix, a manufacturer of aviation accessories, created the Bendix Race.  Bendix today is a name that is synonymous with aviation.  Curtiss Wright was one of the first racers.  Other names that is associated with air racing are Wiley Post (1930), James H. Doolittle (winner in 1931), Ben O. Howard (winner in 1935), Paul Mantz (winner in 1946), Roscoe Turner, Louise Thaden, Laura Ingalls, Jacqueline Cochran, Amelia Earhart, and Joe C. DeBona.  MORE...

"FIFI" Is Coming Back

March 8 - "FIFI" the Commemorative Air Force's B-29 (the only flying B-29) has been down for over a year due to an extensive repair and refurb.  Gary Austin sent us photos as the crew places a wing back on.  There is a very good chance that "FIFI" will be back on the air show circuit before long.  This repair and refurb of "FIFI" was long over due and will put her back in top shape.  MORE...

Aluminum Overcast Flies (AGAIN)

March 8 - At 2:13 p.m. local time Tuesday, March 7, the long and meticulous repair project for EAA's B-17 Aluminum Overcast officially ended when her wheels left Runway 18 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh for a 50-minute test flight. The flight crew consisted of EAA Director of Flight Operations Sean Elliott; B-17 Tour Assistant Director George Daubner; Bob Davis, check airman, and mechanic Vince Hammons.   MORE...

What Does FEMA Do With 10,777 Trailers?

March 5 - You have to put them somewhere.  Hope (AR) is the current home of over ten thousand trailers/manufactured homes intended for Katrina victims.  Click on the image to see a large aluminum Airfield.  MORE...

Walnut Ridge Reunion

March 3 - The 2006 WRAAF Reunion will be April 7 and 8, 2006 at the former Walnut Ridge Army Air Field.  The  Walnut Ridge Army Flying School Museum will be open Friday from Noon until 4:00 P.M. MORE...

2004 Accident Report In

March 3 - The AOPA Air Safety Foundation’s just-released 2005 Joseph T. Nall Report shows an historic low for aviation accidents in 2004.  The report, funded by the Emil Buehler Trust, is the nation’s first authoritative look at the general aviation (GA) accident rate for the preceding year.  According to the report, there were 6.22 total accidents and 1.2 fatal accidents per 100,000 flight hours for 2004.   For 2003, the accident rates were 6.77 and 1.37, respectively.   MORE...

Happy Birthday Fly-Low

March 1 - Today Fly-Low, a monthly aviation publication, completes five years of publication.  Sixty-one issues and we begin our sixth year.  Thanks to all of you.  We're looking forward to the next 20 years.  The March issue is in the stands today.  If you would like to get a copy direct to your home, click on Subscribe above.

One More TFR Bust

February 23 - On Monday of this week, near Auburn Hills, MI, another pilot was found wandering into the NO FLY ZONE near the president.  A couple of F-16s from Selfridge Air National Guard Base were deployed to move the intruder out of the restricted air space.   To get the attention of the wayward pilot, flares were fired by the F-16s.  Yep, it got his attention. 

If you plan to fly...  click on NOTAMs above... call FSS.... It is in your neck of the woods where you will find that surprise TFR...

Wiley Post, The Explorer

February 22 - There is a brand new website that became active over the weekend.  Well, the website was active but it was re-designed and made public with it's new look.  A group of aviators have organized with plans to rebuild the Curtiss-Wright Wiley Post hangar at the Wiley Post Airport in OKC.  The group has expanded it's mission statement to offer scholarships, provide an Aviation Center, and Museum in Wiley Post's name.  To follow the progress of this group, go to this Wiley Post website.

FYI:  Aviation Accidents

February 19 - Every month we pull data from the NTSB website and publish in our hard copy issue of FLY-LOW.  It is the hope that by reading about the misfortunes of others, pilots will take that extra time to prevent the same mistakes.  This is this months selection. 

Business Spotlight

February 14 - "It's a pleasure to get up every day and do what you Love!" says Keith Latour, owner and president of USA Aircraft Brokers, Inc.   Keith started USA Aircraft Brokers in 1991 with the goal of becoming a nationwide network.

MORE...

Stalls, Revisited

February 12 - The term “threatened and endangered” is used to describe small airports that are disappearing throughout the U.S. at an alarming rate. It might also be appropriate to add this label to pilots who have not been exposed to stall aerodynamics.  MORE...

Air Show 2006

February 8 - Moreno Valley, CA - The USAF Thunderbirds Air Demo team will be performing in AirFest 2006 at March Air Reserve Base on Saturday April 29^th and Sunday, April 30^th. The event will also include military air demonstrations and fly-bys and spectacular civilian aerobatic acts.  The Vietnam Moving Wall will also be displayed on the base for the week of April 24th, 2006. 

Also, on April 29^th, during AirFest 2006, an attempt will be made to capture the record for the longest Wall of Fire, with a one mile endeavor. The Guinness Book of Records Certification Team will be present to document the effort.

Hours of the show will be from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Admission and parking are free.

Editor's Note:  Story came via e-mail

$100 Hamburger

February 8 - Just checking your website about the $100 Hamburger idea!  We have in Cushing, OK, have TWO (at least) great restaurants that are worth mentioning!  First, I might point out, that Cushing, OK (pipelines crossroads of the world) has MORE privately-owned, NON-chain restaurants than most any town west of Mississippi!!  To read more from John Ward go HERE...

Adam A700 Flies

February 7 - Adam Aircraft today announced the first flight of the A700 AdamJet, Serial Number 002, which is the first of three aircraft slated for conforming FAA flight-testing. The airplane, piloted by Bill Watters, Vice President of Flight Operations, and Ken Sasine, Senior Turbine Test Pilot, achieved a smooth takeoff as it flew the pattern for its intended 34-minute maiden flight at Centennial Airport (KAPA), Englewood, Colorado. MORE...

Denver Pilot Wins Plane

February 7 - Robert Melnick of Denver, Colorado, got the surprise of a lifetime Sunday when Phil Boyer, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, presented him with the grand prize in AOPA’s  Commander Countdown Sweepstakes for 2005 – a completely refurbished 1974 Commander 112A aircraft.  MORE...

California Mtn Flying Course

February 6 - Sparky Imeson of Jackson, WY will present a Mountain Flying Seminar for those in and around Upland, CA.  The day will be March 4, 2006.  If you're interested, go to this page for the times and locations...

Whiteman AFB Air Show

February 6 -  Whiteman AFB (MO), home of the world’s premier weapon system, the B-2 stealth bomber, will host a two-day air show June 17-18.“Wings over Whiteman” is free and open to the public.

The U.S. Army Parachute Team “Golden Knights” and the Lima Lima T-34 Flight Team, the first six aircraft civilian formation aerobatic team in the world, headline this year’s event.  Various military and civilian aircraft – modern and historical – will perform and be on display throughout the weekend.  Air show updates will be posted to Whiteman’s Web site as they become available. The address is http://www.whiteman.af.mil

For more information, call the public affairs office at 660- 687-6124.

A Pilot Busts A Presidential TFR

February 5 - The VIP, Texas, TFR, F-16s and a 172 pilot who doesn’t check with FSS.  F-16s intercepted a Cessna 172 that got a little to close to the Crawford (TX) Ranch of President Bush on Friday night.  The Aircraft landed at Waco Regional Airport.   

The pilot admitted that he violated Crawford (P-49) air space before.  The TFR at Crawford will last thru February 5.  The pilot was not held, but will have further discussion with the FAA. 

Every time this happens, it is another black eye for General Aviation pilots. 

Come On Pilots...

February 3 - AOPA reports establishing the ADIZ is not a good idea!  More than 20,300 of your fellow pilots have taken a few moments to write to protect their airspace. Remember, an ADIZ can happen any place, any time. When it does, pilots, businesses, and airports suffer. Act now while you still have the opportunity.
 

Fly-Low urges all pilots to go to this site and get involved...  Out of 600,000 pilots, only 20,300 writing letters might not be enough.
 

Gary/Chicago News

February 3 - The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced its intention to approve the Gary/Chicago Airport’s (GCA’s) Letter of Intent Application, which is expected to provide $57.8 million for improvements and expansion that will help the GCA stake its claim as the third major airport in the region.  MORE...

Throttle Forward

Feb 1 - Here is 2006 with some of the things that make a year - a year.  Throttle Forward, better known as ramblings from our publisher, has been posted.  The cover is posted above.  It is a close up of the Wiley Post Spirit Award with the winner and the award super-imposed in the lower right corner. 

Controller-FAA Talk

January 29 - Senators Barack Obama, D-Ill., Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., January 26, 2006 introduced a bill that would force the Federal Aviation Administration to engage in productive, good faith contract negotiations with its unions, including the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.   MORE...

NM Pilot's Association

January 27 - The New Mexico Pilot's Association has posted their 2006 events on their website.  To visit the page go to HERE...

Fire Protection... 

January 25 - Fly-Low has been asked to post this information.  The fire season is here (way too early) for a majority of the central, southern, and southwestern states...  Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas have had an extremely dry 2005, which relates to a dry 2006.  We have posted this reminder and phone numbers to assist pilots.  Smoke, curiosity, and complacency can be a killer...    MORE...

Banyan Air to Host Challenge Air

January 24 - On Saturday, January 28, 2006 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. nearly 150 children from the South Florida area will have the opportunity to experience the wonders of aviation at the 10^th Annual Challenge Air “Fly Day.”   The event will be held at Banyan Air Service located at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE).  MORE...

CAP's Winter Training

January 24 - Twenty-six volunteer pilots of the Arkansas Wing of the Civil Air Patrol gathered in Little Rock recently to learn how to deal with the dangers of flying during the winter months.  This training event featured National Weather Service Senior Forecaster Newton Skiles and other local aviation experts.  MORE...

New Airport Linked

January 22 - We are linking this Colorado airport to our links page, by request...   This airport is in one of the most beautiful spots in the world, southwestern Colorado.  The town, beautiful Pagosa Springs... want your airport or business linked...???  Contact us..

FYI:  Aviation Accidents

January 17 - On October 15, 2005, at 0947 Pacific Daylight Time, a Piper PA-28-140 was destroyed due to impact with trees/terrain near Paine Field (PAE), Everett, Washington. The instrument rated private pilot and his two passengers were fatally injured.   MORE...

Life's Little Cross Country

January 17 - With each year that draws to a close, we have been conditioned by our culture to become introspective regarding events of the past year and our place in them. I guess the gambit is supposed to instill a sense of renewal and reformation as if after so many previous years we’re suddenly going to keep that 10 pounds off and quit watching reality TV in favor of the higher sources of edification on the History Channel.  MORE...

Pilots Need To Read This

January 14 - Sometimes we receive an e-mail that is very important to all pilots.  This is one of those...  This is an example, "Because of the Oklahoma City truck bombing, a law is passed that everyone within 75 miles of any large city must place a call for every car trip they make and give your name, car make, license plate number, what time you will be leaving, specifically where you are going, and exactly when you expect to arrive."  Pass this on to your congressman and senator.  MORE... 

Sea Fury Checkout

January 14 - Gary Austin gives us this account of a mechanic's Sea Fury Checkout in the pilot seat....   My introduction to the Hawker Sea Fury was when I was six years old in 1976, at the National Championship Air Races in Reno, NV.  Lloyd Hamilton's Sea Fury "Baby Gorilla" was one of my favorites even though it wasn't one of the fastest.   MORE...

OK 99s Receive Plane Donation

January 13 - To receive a $50 donation is one thing, but to receive a complete airplane as a gift is another.   Read here to get details...

We Sell Hats & Stuff

We have added our merchandise page to this site.  Go to the above link or click on the hat and check out our supply of goodies.

Thanks..

One hat shipped out same day is $15 or $25 for two including shipping.......................

Wiley Post Spirit Award

January 11- One of the nation's more prestigious aviation awards will be presented on January 27th in Oklahoma City (OK).   MORE...

Beard's Funeral

January 10 - The family of aerobatic performer Eric Beard has announced the funeral date and time.  Services will be held Friday January 13th at the Museum of Flight <http://www.museumofflight.org> at 2pm in Seattle, WA.  Our prayers go to the family and friends of Eric Beard.

To read a story we printed about Eric Beard on March 15, 2004 in Fly-Low go to this page.

 

OK Pilot's Assoc Meeting

January 10 - The February 2, 2006 monthly meeting of the Oklahoma Pilots Association will feature Ron Blevins.  Mr. Blevins specializes in instrument flight training and weekend mountain checkouts in the southern Rockies of New Mexico and Colorado.  MORE...

One Of Our Best...

January 8 - It happens again, one of our best aerobatic performers has been reported killed in a plane crash in Washington State.  Eric Beard who flies "Russian Thunder" in air shows was reported killed in an IFR flight while flying a twin engine aircraft.  MORE...

TFR Slow Down

January 7 - Since the slow down of TFRs, we are discontinuing posting all of the recent TFRs.  We will continue to send out e-mail notifications when necessary.  The Notam Icon above will take you to the FAA website that post all TFRs.  If you want to receive a TFR & Air Event Notification from us, then simply click on the TFR Notification List Icon above. 

New Mexico Pilot Association

January 6 - NMPA in partnership with the FAA and the USAF is able to offer an all-day USAF High Altitude Chamber aerospace physiology class and a high altitude chamber flight.  For New Mexico pilots who fly in the mountains and above 10,000 feet AGL, this is the opportunity to learn, first-hand, in a safe environment, what happens to you when you become hypoxic. MORE...

Air Racing 2006

January 6 - You can fly one or all three of the races: the exciting cross country 1800-mile Marion Jayne Air Race from Hutchinson, Kansas to Wisconsin, the Hutchinson 300-mile Air Race in Kansas and/or the Wisconsin 300-mile Air Race in Wisconsin. A cruise at your own speed division is also available. These fabulous flying events will be held July 16-23, 2006. Participants will receive custom trophies, cash, completion plaques, prizes and the all-important bragging rights.  For more information and your entry application go to this PAGE... 

Jacquie Baby..

January 6 - From the west coast a lady has arrived on the “male dominated” aerobatic circuit.  Jacquie Warda is a new and up-coming lady aerobatic pilot.  Even as a young girl  she has always been interested in aviation.  MORE...

Looking For Adventure?

January 4 - Annual Fly-Ins are beginning to be announced.  One that is a recommended event to attend is one in NM. This is the 15th Annual EAA Land of Enchantment Fly-In, 9-10 September, 2006, Moriarty Municipal Airport(0E0), Moriarty NM.  For more information and the website, go to HERE...
 

New Addition to F-L

January 3 - We are always trying to improve our website.  Today, we added a few new features.  One is at the bottom of this page and on our Archive page.  It is a search engine, powered by Gooogle, for this site and/or the Web.  Try it out, it is fun and very accurate.  Our website was getting so large and hard to locate archived stories that this feature will make searching for stories and individuals much easier.  We have added links from Gooogle to other websites that compliment our website.  When your finished with our site, take a look at some of those other links.  If you would like to add these features to your site, click on the blue button at the bottom of this page for more information.

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