How much oil is really necessary for that engine? It runs the gamut, and knowing the answer is somewhat of a black art. Read more →
Author: Ron Rapp
Bill Kershner Goes West
Saying goodbye to Bill Kershner, a legend in aerobatic and flight training circles for half a century. Read more →
Goodbye, O.C.
There is a God! That god-awful TV series, “The O.C.”, has finally been canceled. Read more →
TAC-E Rules
A friend of a friend (don’t all good hangar flying stories start out that way?) reminiced about flying rotorcraft in Vietnam. While there’s certainly adventure and excitement in becoming an impromptu test pilot, don’t forget that there were more than a few such attempts at stretching the envelope which didn’t turn out so favorably. In other words, don’t try this at home. If you’d… Read more →
GPS Approach Hell
A while back, I made a casual suggestion John at Aviation Mentor. He often writes about instrument flying in “glass panel” aircraft, something that is near and dear to my heart since this is one of my specialties at work. I’d been noticing that more and more instrument approach procedures where being developed with weird minima.  There were columns for… Read more →
Bells and Whistles
I perused the recent archives here at the House of Rapp and was surprised at how often I write about aircraft accidents. It may seem morbid. But ever since I started working as a CFI, I am conscious of the fact that with my own personal approval, pilots go hurling off into the clouds in new, high tech, 3/4 ton… Read more →
Starched Clearances
You know, sometimes the news is just too crazy to be made up. As I was flying across Southern California today, I couldn’t help but think of the new workplace rules the FAA has imposed on air traffic controllers: What rankles controllers most, on a personal level, at least, is the formal dress code being introduced. Some controllers dress as… Read more →
Real Estate Market Finally Gets Real
I hate to say “I told you so”, but I did. Again and again. And again. And… well, you get the idea. 2006 may well go down as the year Pluto was suddenly just another big rock, Brad and Angelina had a baby and the real estate market slid from great to miserable in a few short months. In data released… Read more →
Glider Reaches 50,699 Feet
Steve Fossett strikes again: The 62-year-old Chicago investment mogul said he and Norwegian co-pilot Einar Enevoldson, 74, rode powerful rising air currents above the remote Patagonia region on Tuesday, reaching a record 50,699 feet. If Fossett isn’t careful, he’s going to end up like Alexander the Great, standing on the edge of the aviation world and weeping because there are… Read more →
The Greasy Spoon
Sam got me thinking about good places for a pilot to grab a bite around Southern California. I was going to add a comment to his entry, but it soon exceeded the length of his original post, proving once again that Socal cannot be beat for flying destinations (or weather, but you knew that right?). Upon reflection, it also became… Read more →