Tail wags Dog
Peter Garrison ‘Hinge moment’ is the technical name for the force required to deflect a control surface. In small, relatively slow aeroplanes hinge moments are not very large; pilots move the controls with ease. But as control surfaces get larger and speeds get higher, hinge moments grow rapidly. Hinge momentsRead More →
The FAA’s MOSAIC proposals – how they will lead to big changes in general aviation
Guy Leitch How the FAA is Fixing Recreational Flying We often forget that South Africa still has some world class institutions that make our country a much better place than that supposed paragon of excellence – the USA. The American banking system is archaic compared to South Africa and ourRead More →
The Nurse’s Congo Ordeal
Laura McDermid continues her stories about Iris McCullum in Rwanda. There are certain years in a person’s life that remain emblazoned on one’s memory forever. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that they are imprinted on one’s soul. Those years define us and shape who we are.Read More →
THE DREADED HAMMERHEAD AGAIN – Jim Davis
THE DREADED HAMMERHEAD AGAIN. This discussion is to promote safety and not to establish liability. CAA’s report contains padding and repetition, so in the interest of clarity, I have paraphrased extensively. Aircraft registration: ZU-YUM Date and time of accident: 14 February 2015 1345Z Type of aircraft: LancairRead More →
The Step-Change Engine
About seventeen years the airline industry is expected to produce a 17% saving in fuel burn from step-change improvements in engine and, to a lesser extent, airframe technology. Our current crop of super-efficient engines is the product of steady evolutionary development. This happened around 2010 with the advent of theRead More →
Kalahari Bundu Bash – Part 2
Story and pics – Jean Tresfon In part 1 of this photo essay well known Cape gyro pilot and environmentalist Jean Tresfon described the flight from cape Twon’s Morningstar airfield to the remote Koppieskraal Pan in the Northern Cape. The 2023 Kalahari Bundu Bash Flying Adventure is a fly-in ofRead More →
Flight Test – The Comanche 400: The Boss
Jim Davis with Guy Leitch. Images Guy Leitch There is a popular saying that you can’t have a plane with too much power. Piper put that to the test when they increased the engine in their beautiful Comanche from 180 hp to a stonking 400 hp. So – does itRead More →
Diamond’s DA-62 – What a modern twin should be!
The future is here Text and detail images by by Guy Leitch The star at this year’s Aero Expo South Africa, held at Wonderboom, was the Diamond DA-62. The demo aircraft was flown out to South Africa especially for the event – showing the easy capability of this latest generationRead More →
Have 2-stroke diesels finally arrived for planes?
Guy Leitch asks the question in his Attitude for Altitude column. For years I have moaned about how crappy piston aircraft engines are. They are prohibitively expensive, yet have antiquated technology and are far less efficient and reliable than modern car engines. The modern car now has mature technology engineRead More →