Cleared Into the Thoma Bravo—ForeFlight Has New Owners

ForeFlight is still considered the EFB standard with a very loyal user base—it’s their market share to lose. However, I also don’t think their future is entirely CAVOK either: In the 25-plus years I’ve been in the software business, I have never met a private equity deal I liked. Mainly because private equity’s primary (only?) focus is maximizing ROI, usually at the expense of innovation, while with traditional corporate ownership it tends to be the other way around.
stearman

A Stearman, a POW, and the World’s Busiest Airport

Every year, for the past 13 years, Delta Airlines hosts their annual Veterans Appreciation event at their huge Technical Operations Center. I had alerted the Atlanta Air Traffic Control facilities that our slow flying airplanes were going to be coming to visit them so they were expecting us, but trying to sequence us into their operation must have caused a lot of clenched jaws and tense moments with Atlanta Approach Control and the Atlanta Hartsfield Tower.

Do We Like Airplanes or Other Pilots?

If you look at pilots demographically, you’ll see a wide spread—different backgrounds, different ages, different aircraft. But psychologically, we often share a lot: high conscientiousness, high independence, strong internal motivation. (Yes, there’s actual research to back that up.)
arrogant pilot

Air Facts Launches Podcast—Episode 1: Peterson Conway

Today, the heart of Air Facts is you—the pilot. Whether you’re telling the story or offering thoughtful comments, you have lots of interesting stories to tell. And that’s where this podcast comes in. Each episode, we sit down with Air Facts contributors to learn more about them and to hear the story behind their story.

The Wizardry of OZ—Flying the Ozarks

The privilege of flying Alaska's Denali, Idaho's Frank Church, and Utah's red rock country had made me somewhat jaded.  However, the amazing vista at the John Harris (AR06) strip was a completely unforeseen bonus.  The landscape dropping away under us lifting off runway 28 at Trigger Gap (17A) was another unforgettable view.
airventure cup

Friday Photo: AirVenture Cup Race Fly-Over

My wife and I participated in our second AirVenture Cup.  The Wisconsin mornings proved to strong of a pull to avoid a morning flight.  The event draws many people, and an occasional fly-over for the local fans is encouraged.  So, with an empty pattern and a beautiful sunrise for the backdrop, I was able to grab a quick snapshot of our host airport, Wausau Downtown.

A Love Affair with Aviation from CAP to Piper Cubs

For the first time in my life, I experienced a feeling and sensation that I had never felt. I wasn't nervous anymore, my knees stopped knocking, my heart calmed down, and a powerful feeling of security, well-being and confidence took over me. This confirmed my boyhood love affair with aviation.

Visual Angle of Attack Indicators and Systems Engineering Theory

If VAOAI is primary, then failure mode remedies must be determined, published, and trained. Pretty soon, the solution will come to pitch and power to determine approximate airspeed. Back when I gave primary instruction, I wouldn’t solo a student till they had an hour of pattern work with the airspeed indicator covered. They were terrified on the first approach, apprehensive on the second, and by the end of the hour, bored stiff. They were ready to handle an airspeed failure.

Know Thy EFB

Your EFB is only as good as the data it uses. Consequently, it’s absolutely imperative that before you jump into the cockpit with your trusty mount, fully set up your EFB. And that’s more than just waiting for it to automatically download the latest weather and charts.

The Starlink era is here—will we regret it?

This promises to be a major advancement in cockpit technology, with benefits for pilots and passengers alike. But before diving headfirst into the Starlink pool, it would be wise to pause for just a moment and contemplate what we might lose. Don’t worry, I’m no Luddite and I’m not here to scare anyone away from an exciting new gadget. I am, however, an observer with enough experience to have seen technological breakthroughs bring unintended consequences. I fear that may happen here.

A Winter Flight That Sparked a Family Legacy in Aviation

It seems to me there are almost limitless ways to learn about flying, and not all fall under one or more of the above adjectives; yet those lessons are there, and they are free for the taking. In fact, some happened even before we held a license to do the deed ourselves, or for that matter even before we might have considered it.
howard 500

Friday Photo: Howard 500

I was doing some work at my hangar and caught a glimpse of a twin-tail plane on final. I didn't see it very well, but thought it would be worth a closer look. I finished up at the hangar and drove over to the Signature ramp, where I beheld this beauty. It was good luck as there are only two of these still flying.

Share Your Spring Flying Adventures with Air Facts

At Air Facts Journal, our Travelogue series is built on real stories from pilots like you—stories that capture both the joy and the challenges of personal air transportation. Tell us about your route, the airports you stopped at, the weather you encountered, and those unexpected moments that made your trip unforgettable.