Aircraft Ownership

Bay Bridge Airport serves as an ideal gateway for pilots seeking to avoid the SFRA.

I spent years searching for an inflation tool that can “air up” light aircraft tires accurately and reliably (i.e. without breaking or melting). The process followed a now-familiar rhythm of apparent success followed by sudden and utter disappointment—untiil recently. After my last compact cordless air compressor failed from stripped threads in its plastic chuck, I […]

We pilots all have our fears when it comes to flying. Luckily, they rarely keep us from enjoying our time aloft. My aviation nightmare scenarios usually involve running out of fuel. I understand how ridiculous this might sound, because the problem is easy to avoid. I also know how easily distraction and complacency can lead […]

If you have browsed the market for used piston aircraft lately, you might have noticed a lot of Cirrus SR-series aircraft for sale. And if you have ever wanted to own a Cirrus but could not quite make economic sense of the purchase, it might be time for another look. The SR22, long an object […]

Affordable step-up aircraft are available for diligent shoppers

Not all filter cutting tools are created equal, and this one stands out.

Modern, three-axis system brings updated performance to Vintage Mooney panels.

Moving hundreds of miles to a new home often marks the beginning of an exciting personal chapter. The actual process and seemingly endless paperwork, though, can be stressful, frustrating, and exhausting. Turn all of that up a notch if you own an airplane. While coordinating the acquisition of a hangar when purchasing an aircraft is […]

Aviators are not always the easiest people to buy gifts for, but our list, based on personal pilot experience, might help.

Aircraft shoppers often find that their favorite Beechcraft Bonanza is beyond their budgets. Fortunately, there are many attractive alternatives on the market.

When I started flying more than a dozen years ago and started to talk about buying an airplane someday, my father-in-law asked me to name some of the economic advantages of traveling via general aviation instead of driving, taking a train, or using the airlines. I had to break the news to him that, as […]

You probably have heard what they say about fools rushing in. The expression applies in spades when shopping for an airplane. Still, sheer excitement at the prospect of acquiring a flying machine can be enough to cloud the mind and cause one to gloss over important details or forget them altogether. No, we are not […]