Well the pilot died a multibillionaire flying an ultralight in the Tetons 35 years later...

(Written on 08/29/2014)(Permalink)

Great video... I saw in the comments section of the video that the pilot is John Walton. Which is amazing because in 1971 I doubt anyone in Anguilla MS would suspect he'd be a multi billionaire by 2005 when he died. I'm not positive it's him, but it looks like him and here's a line from an obituary I found: "Throughout his life, Walton pursued a variety of business interests, including crop dusting in the 1970s and boat building in the 1980s and 1990s, and was a noted philanthropist."

(Written on 08/29/2014)(Permalink)

I think it is "that" John Walton. Look at this from his obituary: "Throughout his life, Walton pursued a variety of business interests, including crop dusting in the 1970s and boat building in the 1980s and 1990s, and was a noted philanthropist."

(Written on 08/29/2014)(Permalink)

If anyone is at Oshkosh and stops by to talk with them, I'd love to know if they are spending the money to pay for the STC to update the Acclaim's G1000. The 07/08 Acclaims haven't seen an update since they were manufactured.

(Written on 07/31/2014)(Permalink)

This happened to me last month in ZTL airspace. One controller cleared me to 230 as he's handing me off (I later find out he doesn't own the space below 240). Handoff occurs, I check in with the new controller and add leaving 250 for 230. New controller doesn't catch the fact that I'm descending to 230, but calls RJ traffic at my 9/10 o'clock (without giving me an altitude). My wing was blocking my view, but when I see him, he looks close. My traffic alarm goes off, as I'm about to check for his altitude he calls out to ask if I'm descending. All becomes clear to the controller in an instant, he cancels clearance to 230 (I had stopped my descent when traffic was in sight) and puts me at 240 (which by now I have to immediately climb to). The RJ was at 230. Had to call ZTL when I got on the ground, but they had already listened to the tapes and figured everything out. The one thing I could have done and do now, is get an altitude if none is given on a traffic call. ATC p

(Written on 05/16/2014)(Permalink)

Heartbreaking. Horribly sad... Does Mark Duell know the pilot? Looks like he has a few pictures posted of the aircraft. Track looks like he's on the ILS 2 flying from the southwest into HVN, but the house is north of the field. Must have gone missed. Witnesses seem to say the aircraft wasn't under power, but to lose two engines on climb out from a missed approach would seem unlikely. Even if down to just one, those dash 5s make a lot of noise. Although, after a loss of one, reaching minimum controllable airspeed, he might have pulled back on the other and just couldn't get it back under control with the altitude he had left. Very sad...

(Written on 08/09/2013)(Permalink)

Really and really seriously. It is amazing that United is so anxious to talk about their world class sushi and the half a billion they are investing in gadgets and trinkets. If they can't do the most basic things, coordinating scheduling and getting their passengers where they paid to go...they are a complete waste of time. To add insult to the passengers, after the flight was ready to push, they combined another and wasted another hour. This 6am flight departed at 9:14am. I can forgive the first 2 hours, but the last showed zero regard for the passengers. I think everyone shoud be aware of the type of judgement United managers exercise. And this travel site is exactly where the traveling public can learn of such practices. United does not deserve the faith of the traveling public.

(Written on 04/19/2013)(Permalink)

Thanks...I"m aware of the grounding. That's why I thought it was worthy of a post when I saw a 787 flying on the Flightaware tracker. Why are they filing it as a 787?

(Written on 03/07/2013)(Permalink)

Good memory. It was the Mars Climate Orbiter. Tried to enter orbit at wrong angle and burned up.

(Written on 03/01/2013)(Permalink)

I agree on Parker, but I hope this horribly bad idea doesn't get far enough along that such a question needs to be answered. I've only been flying American since August, but I'm enjoying them enough that I'm already gold with them. They won me over from USAirways. USAIRWAYS $@# (is not good)! I'd rather drive than fly US Airways....

(Written on 12/11/2012)(Permalink)