DC-9 —> MD80 —> MD90 —> MD95 —> (rebranded) B-717. Plus a bunch of intermediate models. Solid and reliable with a long history. Very few big changes in this development path.

(Written on 28/09/2020)(Permalink)

Hmmm. Textron website says “ Takeoff Field Length 3,300 ft”. Probably accelerate-stop distance. Not bad.

(Written on 14/08/2020)(Permalink)

The Caravan has been an incredible success. Rugged and reliable plane, with FedEx as primary customer (tho makes an awesome float plane too). Anyone know the SkyCourier’s TO and landing distance numbers?

(Written on 14/08/2020)(Permalink)

I’ve had two close calls with drones in the last two years. One in the Class D at 2200’ at KRFD and one at 8000’ 20 nm south of KDBQ. Both very near and very worrisome. Reported it to ATC each time but the operators were never found.

(Written on 09/07/2020)(Permalink)

U42 (South Valley Reg’l Airport is at elevation 4606’ with a 5800’ runway. It was 8am so relatively cool, so density altitude wasn’t an issue. But John Lenihan is right about 4 adults in a C172, and 4606’ is high enough to lose some of its ability to climb. As a general rule, a normally aspirated engine loses 3% power per 1000’. So about 15% reduction for this airport. The spiraling down observed in the article could be a classic stall-spin. Though possible to be a structural failure (tho less like.y). Of course, we have to wait for the NTSB to sort this out. May they Rest In Peace ... may we all fly safely this season.

(Written on 04/07/2020)(Permalink)

I’ve been working North 40 Flight Line Ops since the 1980’s. Camping under the wing of our 182. Kids grew up, since infants attending, and volunteer also. Terrible shame to miss this event. 10,000 aircraft arrive over the weekend and 25 square miles of incredible aviation activities. Best airshow pilots in the world perform every afternoon.

(Written on 08/05/2020)(Permalink)

In the upper Midwest (Michigan. Minnesota, Wisconsin, etc), almost no airline traffic but a ton of general aviation. Easy to get an arrival reservation into KORD now.

(Written on 17/04/2020)(Permalink)

Gotcha.

(Written on 02/04/2020)(Permalink)

Looks like an American Airlines tail, so could be Mesa (which flies commuter routes for American and United). Besides Mesa, American also uses Air Wisconsin, Envoy, ExpressJet, Piedmont, PSA, Republic, SkyWest and TransStates. Looking at the flight log for KSBP, I see lots of SKW flights. So maybe more likely SkyWest?

(Written on 02/04/2020)(Permalink)

There are some very interesting disaster relief scenarios where these new aircraft could be quite beneficial.

(Written on 05/03/2020)(Permalink)