Tortoise celebrates 130th birthday

Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

Methuselah, who has been at Reptile Gardens in Rapid City since 1956, turns 130 this weekend. In honor of the giant tortoise’s birthday, Reptile Gardens is throwing him a birthday party.

He was born in 1881!!

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B-17 makes fiery emergency landing in cornfield

Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

Seven crew members and volunteers walked away without serious injury after a World War II “Flying Fortress” bomber burned in a cornfield southeast of Aurora Municipal Airport on Monday, June 13, officials say. The B-17, christened the “Liberty Belle,” took off from the airport at 9:30 a.m. and made an emergency landing in a cornfield near Highway 71 and Minkler Road in Oswego after the pilot reported an engine fire, according to Sugar Grove Fire Chief Marty Kunkle.

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AOPA

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

From ANN Contributor Bob Miller, CFII, ATP – My suggestion to our readers is that they follow my example and yank the plug on AOPA.

From ANN – Today (long after the first complaints), ANN received a threatening missive from an AOPA lawyer in an apparent attempt to intimidate us into silence… and (surprise!!!) less than a day after they were notified (in order to elicit a response) that we were publishing a Guest Editorial from another high-profile member of the aviation community protesting conduct like this…

This is NOT the AOPA that ANN once admired, praised and was proud to support… not by a long shot.  Click here for full story.

Human-Powered Helicopter Takes Flight

Saturday, May 14th, 2011

University of Maryland’s “Gamera” Claims World Record with Female Pilot Aboard, Confirmation Is Pending

A team of more than 50 students at the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering has succeeded in flying their human-powered helicopter, Gamera. At approximately 1730 EDT on Thursday, pilot Judy Wexler, a 24-year-old biology graduate student at UM, pedaled furiously, taking the craft 3-5 inches into the air for about 4 seconds, setting a world record for human-powered helicopter flight with a female pilot.

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Piper Lance Evaluation

Monday, April 18th, 2011

The last annual was completed July 2010.  The 91.411 & 91.413 certifications were completed June 2009.  The owner states that all ADs, and mandatory service bulletins are up to date as of last annual inspection.

Some notable log entries:  The major overhaul on the engine was completed by Barrett Precision Engines in Tulsa Ok in June 2009.  It was reinstalled on the aircraft at 2754.2 hobbs time.  The total time on the engine is approximately 5900 hours.  In May of 1982 there is a log entry to replace a horizontal stabilizer and “one tip”.  There is also a log entry for a ferry flight for this repair.  The aircraft was repainted in February 1992 using DuPont Imron system.  There are several log entries made by Three Wing Flying Services for skin replacement due to cracks in the skin.  These entries and the May 1982 entry are not considered “damage history” in my opinion.  A new interior (seat coverings and side panels) was installed in 1994 and the material has the proper FAA certification paperwork in the log books.  A new windshield was installed in March 2004.  The aircraft appears to have been operated on a Part 135 certificate based on log book entries to comply with Part 135 requirements.

The average price for the current online listings is $130,500 USD.  The most comparable aircraft online have an asking price of approximately $149,900 USD.  Most likely these aircraft will sell in the mid $130,000 USD range plus or minus based on a careful review of the aircraft and records.

My review of the log books and aircraft show that the aircraft is in very good condition.  The log books appear to be in order and complete.  The aircraft shows very well with only one minor flaw in the paint – see photos for details.  The interior is “like new” and in my opinion better than average for an aircraft of that year.  I also search the NTSB database which showed no results.

I have included a BlueBook appraisal for reference.  I priced the items that were in the BlueBook database or that I was able to find online or by other reliable resources.  I have also included a snapshot of the listings on the Controller, ASO, and Trade-A-Plane.  Based on all of this information (and recent sales that I made) I would put a fair market price of $125,000 USD to $135,000 USD.

Sun N Fun Damage Video

Sunday, April 17th, 2011

Virgin Galactic is Hiring Pilot-Astronauts

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011

Pilot-astronaut responsibilities include the WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo spaceflight system test program in accordance with government regulations and company policies in Mojave, CA and Virgin Galactic’s commercial operations at Spaceport America in New Mexico. Qualified candidates are full course graduates of a recognised test pilot school who are broadly experienced with both high-performance fast-jet type airplanes and large multi-engine types. Prior spaceflight experience is desirable.

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Airbus A380 Collides with Regional Jet

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011

An Air France A380 collides into a Regional Jet on the ground.  The A380 is the world’s largest aircraft with a wingspan of 262 feet.

2002 Cirrus SR20 Appraisal

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

Here is an appraisal and market analysis of N912BG, a 2002 Cirrus SR20.  The BlueBook appraisal has an average retail of $169,365 USD and a wholesale or trade-in value of $136,149 USD.  This appraisal does not take into consideration the actual condition of the aircraft or a review of the aircraft log books.  An aircraft will usually sell for somewhere between the average retail and the wholesale value.  However based on the current market and current listings N912BG will likely sell for somewhere in the $130,000 range.  I would recommend starting the listing near the $160,000 range and come down from there.

BlueBook Appraisal

I have included current listings from Controller, Trade-A-Plane, ASO, and Global Air.  A review of these listings show 2004 and 2005 Cirrus SR20 available for under $169,000 USD.  The nearest competition is a 2002 by Steel Aviation listed for $144,000 on the Controller and a 2002 on Trade-A-Plane for $129,000 USD.

ASO listings – Controller listings – Global Air listings – Trade-A-Plane listings

There has also been a lot of negative news regarding Cirrus Design, the company and news regarding the safety of the aircraft.  You may search my newsletter section for “Cirrus” to find some of the post regarding Cirrus.  From my contacts in the brokerage business this negative news has turned some buyers away from purchasing a Cirrus.  This negative news had made Cirrus harder to sell.  They tend to stay on the market longer.

The Cessna 172 is a good choice for a replacement aircraft.  Here is a current listing of the Cessna 172 that are available on the Controller.  The price range is from $98,000 USD up to $140,000 for an equal replacement Cessna 172.  Channel Islands has a Cessna 172 with 802 total time for $98,000 USD.

Cessna 172 listings

Plane Lands on Beach

Thursday, April 7th, 2011

The 24-year-old pilot who landed a Piper Warrior with two passengers onboard on Rockaway Beach in Queens, NY Monday reportedly told police he got the idea from Discovery Channel’s reality TV series Flying Wild Alaska. The show depicts the flying exploits of commercial pilots in Alaska where beach landings are relatively more common than they are in New York. Jason Maloney, 24, of Cornwall, NY, hasn’t been charged with anything yet but the FAA is likely to have something to say about his decision to set the Warrior down on the famous beach despite an air traffic controller’s suggestion that he not. Click here to listen to the ATC tape. In addition to the FAA, NYPD, Port Authority and likely several other organizations, Maloney will have some explaining to do with the plane’s owner and insurer.

The tide was out when he landed. At high tide the plane was up to its wings in salt water, which, at a minimum, will likely result in a thorough cleaning and inspection before it’s airworthy. Maloney announced his intention to land on the beach because an alleged “teensy teensy” roughness in the engine and a sick passenger but the unconventional nature of his reports to ATC might play a role in the FAA investigation. There were no injuries.

Click here for some video of the plane in the water