“The EAA Sport Aviation Halls of Fame were established to honor the outstanding achievements of men and women in aviation who share the spirit of EAA and its community,” the organization said. “Those inducted into the halls of fame are selected by their peers for myriad contributions made to their respective areas of aviation.”

• READ MORE: NAFI Unveils Newest Flight Instructor Hall of Fame Inductees

The 2024 class will honor six inductees, representing the Vintage Aircraft Association, the International Aerobatic Club, ultralights, EAA Warbirds and homebuilders. 

The 2024 inductees include:

• EAA Homebuilders Hall of Fame: Sebastien Heintz, owner and president of Zenith Aircraft Company;
• International Aerobatic Club Hall of Fame: Linda Meyers Morrissey, a multi-time medalist at the World Aerobatic Championship, and long-time member of the U.S. Unlimited Aerobatic Team;
• Warbirds of America Hall of Fame: Frank Stickler, a former U.S. Air Force and American Airlines pilot, and founder of Fox 51, a maintenance business focused on antique and warbird airplanes;
• Vintage Aircraft Association Hall of Fame: Dave and Jeanne Allen (posthumous), the husband-wife restoration team known throughout the fly-in circuit for multiple projects including a 1930 Waco ASO and a 1947 Piper PA-11 Cub Special.
• EAA Ultralights Hall of Fame: Dave Goulet (posthumous), co-founder of Quad City Ultralight Corporation, known for manufacturing the Quad City Challenger.

The inductees will be honored by EAA at a dinner ceremony on October 16, in the Eagle Hangar of the EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh Wisconsin.

The post EAA Unveils 2024 Sport Aviation Halls of Fame Inductees appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Victory’s Arsenal Theatre

It’s not Sun ’n Fun without historic military warbirds on display. The aircraft played significant roles in multiple conflicts, such as World War II and the Korean War. You’ll see a variety of transports, bombers, trainers, and pursuit aircraft, later known as fighters.

Beginning April 10, Victory’s Arsenal Theatre will present an aircraft each morning in front of the grandstands on the Sun ’n Fun warbird ramp. The pilot or owner of the aircraft will share  its story. The master of ceremonies will be Ron Kaplan, former executive director of the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

• READ MORE: A Fond Memory: Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo 2023

Take a Warbird Ride

The Commemorative Air Force will once again be offering rides in select warbirds, such as the RC-45J Expediter, T-6 Texan, known as “the pilot maker,” and P-51 Mustang. These once-in-a-lifetime flights are available for a price (it varies) and will certainly be the highlight of any aviation enthusiast’s day.

Catch a Daily Airshow

It wouldn’t be Sun ’n Fun without a daily airshow. Weather permitting, delight to the exploits of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, aerobatic pilots Michael Goulian and Patty Wagstaff, the Titan Aerobatic team, the Howard DGA-6 Mister Mulligan, and the Patriot Parachute Team. Check the daily schedule here for updates, and keep your eyes on the skies.

• READ MORE: Sun ’n Fun 2024: Soar into the Skies with Unforgettable Airshow Spectacles

Hands-On Workshops

If you have ever thought of building your own aircraft or restoring one, check out the hands-on workshops. There will be demonstrations of a variety of skills, including composite construction, electrical installation and noise troubleshooting, fabric covering and metal shaping, woodworking, and welding.

• READ MORE: Trace Adkins, Sara Evans to Kick Off 50th Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo

Bring Your Kids

For children, there is the Junior ACEs program, which is a weeklong open house showcasing the year-round STEM programs available for those between the ages of 7 and 17. Explore different careers in aviation, fly a simulator, or learn about space. This year there are three locations for Junior ACEs: the Skylab Innovation Center, Buehler Restoration and Skills Center, and Junior ACEs tent located in the Future ’n Flight Plaza.

As if that’s not enough, don’t forget to wander through the exhibit hangars. If you can fly it, navigate with it, train with it, or use it to enhance your aviation experience in any way, shape, or form it, you’ll likely find it there.

The post 5 Things to Look Forward to at 2024 Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1941 Boeing​/​Stearman PT-17.

Flying a 1940s Stearman biplane is a singular experience that will leave any pilot feeling fortunate and perhaps humbled. How did those young cadets learn to land these things so quickly during World War II? Perhaps it was the urgency of life during wartime, or maybe the producers of the training films I have watched left out the nastier cases of ground loops, noseovers, and other botched landings. Either way, these old biplanes still have a lot of training to offer.

The aircraft for sale here has been upgraded with the Pratt & Whitney R-985 engine, which puts out 450 hp—a big jump from the 220 hp Continentals that powered many Stearmans from the factory. The extra power gives these old birds thrilling performance through big, airshow-style maneuvers. Indeed, this Stearman is registered in the aerobatic category.

This 1941 Stearman has 3,637 hours on the airframe and 912 hours on its Pratt & Whitney R-985 engine since overhaul. The VFR panel features basic “steam gauge” instruments.

Pilots interested in finding out how aerial combatants trained for WWII or simply experiencing a piece of aviation’s golden age should consider this 1941 Boeing​/​Stearman, which is available for $129,000 on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

• FLYING Magazine: Restoration Nation: The Stearman Next Door
• FLYING Magazine: Ageless Aviation Fleet of Stearmans Expands to Honor More Midwestern Military Veterans
• FLYING Magazine: Taking Wing: Stearman Patrol
• The Aviation Consumer: Buying The Old Ones: Homework Mandatory
• The Aviation Consumer: Off The Beaten Path: Vintage Aircraft

The post This 1941 Boeing/Stearman PT-17 Is a Golden Age ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The daily airshows, scheduled from 1-5 p.m. EDT, promise to deliver thrills courtesy of renowned performers such as Patty Wagstaff, Rob Holland, and Michael Goulian. Additionally, the night airshow and pyrobatic fireworks will illuminate the skies on Wednesday and Saturday, kicking off at 7 p.m.

• READ MORE: A Fond Memory: Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo 2023

For aviation enthusiasts, the Commemorative Air Force is set to offer vintage aircraft rides, including the iconic B-29 Fifi, and various other warbirds. Interested individuals can secure their ride bookings through the Sun ’n Fun website. Spectators can look forward to captivating performances by the U.S. Air Force F-35A Demo Team, Air Force Thunderbirds, Patriot Parachute Demo Team, and Warbirds Arrival Show on April 9, with additional warbird events sprinkled throughout the week. The official website provides a detailed event schedule.

On the ground, attendees can partake in workshops, explore opportunities at an aviation career fair, and provide young aviation enthusiasts with inspiration at a dedicated kids corner. Aviators flying into the show can benefit from available discounts, while those seeking an elevated experience can opt for preferred seating, available on the event’s website. The Sun ’n Fun event promises an immersive experience for aviation enthusiasts of all ages.

The post Sun ’n Fun 2024: Soar Into the Skies with Unforgettable Airshow Spectacles appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

I can honestly say our stories captured millions of reads from pilots and aviation enthusiasts over the last 12 months, both for our digital-only news and enterprise reporting, as well as the print features we brought online to share with the world.

Being the stickler for detail I am, I waited til the last second ticked over on the year before diving in to see what scored highest—and here are my select 7 of those stories and why I found them compelling.

Boeing Bird of Prey Shrouded in Secrecy Still

Jason McDowell, a mild-mannered private pilot from the Midwest, consistently entertains and intrigues with both his New Owner online column, Air Compare features in print, and this series on History’s Unique Aircraft. A jet named after a Klingon spacecraft from Star Trek and given the designation “YF-118G”, Boeing’s Bird of Prey incorporated dramatic design inside and out. Why is it still a mystery? It has less to do with Boeing—and more so with the giant aerospace OEM it acquired in the 90s, McDonnell-Douglas. 

Downed WWII Lancaster Bomber Raised from Sea Floor

Our readers love their warbirds—and they clearly love a good rescue story. Who doesn’t? Especially when the survivor in question is a rare Avro Lancaster Ed603—the heavy bomber the Brits used to defend their shores and stop Hitler in World War II. Eight decades later, the airplane’s remains and those of several crewmembers have been recovered in a poignant story by Kimberly Johnson that clearly struck a chord with readers.

Why Jet It Failed

From our unique position as the world’s largest aviation media organization—a title we took in 2023 with several key acquisitions—we have an insider’s look at much of industry. And sometimes that goes a step further, because we are deeply involved in flying and operating aircraft ourselves. When fractional operator Jet It collapsed in May, FLYING Media Group owner Craig Fuller brought his behind the scenes look at the cause of the collapse to FLYING’s readers as one of the HondaJet share owners affected by the fractional’s failure.

Collings Foundation Grounds Air Tour for WWII Aircraft

More living history made our headlines—with repercussions following the horrific accident taking B-17 Flying Fortress Nine-Oh-Nine on October 2, 2022. Technical editor Meg Godlewski went in depth when the Collings Foundation took the needed step to reduce its exposure to risk by halting its famous Wings of Freedom tours of WWII aircraft and other flying legends. Instead, it has adapted its mission to bring the aircraft to a wider range of school groups with more robust education and preservation.

NTSB Releases Fiery HondaJet Runway Excursion Details

Unfortunately, many of you seek FLYINGmag.com for its reporting on accidents—looking to learn beyond the reports of the National Transportation Safety Board and understand why they occurred. Our goal? To help you mitigate the causes of these occurrences in your own flying. While several high-profile events captured our readers’ attention—and continue to do so in Peter Garrison’s Aftermath analysis as well—runway excursions by business jets remain a stubborn accident profile that the industry seeks to reduce.

A Yak 18T’s Escape from Ukraine

An exclusive feature from our print edition also racked up significant views in just the few weeks since it debuted online—FLYING contributor Jay Selman revealed the inspiring story of a special Yak 18T and the complex maneuvering  to bring it out of Ukraine and into flying status in the U.S. Both restoration and rescue mission, this article drew a lot of attention—as do many of our aircraft features, including We Fly reports on new aircraft, and Restoration Nation features on bringing historic airplanes back to life.

SpaceX Starship Grounded Indefinitely by the FAA

And the top story—in terms of total time viewers spent reading it? Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship has clearly caught our imagination in its democratization of space. Jack Daleo’s reporting on the subject drew folks to our site (thank you) and kept them reading all year long. We’re fascinated by space—and the dawn of a new era of exploration is upon us that more regular people will be able to take part in. 

That’s just one reason why I’m excited to see what 2024 brings us, in terms of stories.

And for me? I vow to #flymorein24! See you in the skies.

The post My Top <i>FLYING</i> Stories for 2023 appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

To help mark the occasion, Courtesy is offering clients a one-year membership in the North American Trainer Association and a three-day professional T-28 ground school for all North American T-28 aircraft sold during November and December.

• READ MORE: How to Buy a Warbird

“Five hundred North American Aircraft sold is a great milestone for Courtesy Aircraft Sales”, said company president Mark Clark. “We are very pleased that our customers have recognized the value of our brokerage services. Five hundred North American Aircraft sold in 31 years is the result of our commitment to provide our customers with the best service in today’s warbird market.”

Courtesy said it has sold thousands of aircraft since the business began in 1957 as a Cessna dealership. The company expanded during the 1960s to include sales of new Piper and Champion aircraft.

• READ MORE: Building the New American Dream SkyRanch

The company also moved into the used aircraft market, which led to its involvement with warbirds in the 1970s. Since then it has focused on warbird fighters, trainers, bombers, and transport aircraft. Several of these warbird sales included P-51 Mustangs, T-6 Texans, and other North American Aviation models. The company said its employees are still gathering pre-1992 sales records from old files for a final overall sales count.

While Courtesy is best known now for warbird sales, it continues to market general aviation aircraft, which account for about 20 percent of its overall sales.

“Courtesy Aircraft’s goal is to keep all aircraft transactions as smooth as possible,” Clark said. “We are thankful for our customers and their commitment to preserve and fly our great military aviation history. We look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence in the sales of both warbirds and civilian aircraft for years to come.”

The post Courtesy Aircraft Sales Marks 500 North American Aviation Models Sold Since 1992 appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1952 Douglas AD-4N Skyraider.

When I was a kid, building model airplanes was my main avocation and the local hobby shop, my favorite destination. Proprietors Bob and Ed had served in the Korean War, so when I bought a Douglas Skyraider model, they began sharing stories about the airplane’s special qualities, like long range, targeting accuracy, and load-carrying ability. Indeed, despite the rise of jets, hard-working Skyraiders stuck around for decades, through the Vietnam War, where they saw lots of action.

Today, the Skyraider is a fairly rare sight. When one shows up at an airshow, crowds form around it. It seems like you can always overhear people saying things like, “It’s much bigger than I realized.” The airplane is famous for its size and strength, which enabled it to carry huge loads of ordnance and absorb extreme combat damage and continue flying.

This Skyraider has 4,000 hours on the airframe, 800 hours on its Wright R3350-26WD engine since overhaul, and 745 hours on the propeller. The panel includes an Apollo GX65 GPS/Comm, Becker radio, ARC 400 marker beacon receiver, dual Collins Proline 51R7 navs, Collins 51V5 glideslope receiver,  King DME, and RCA AVQ-95 transponder.

The aircraft comes with a spares package that includes an engine with 600 hours since overhaul, another engine disassembled, 18 factory-new engine cylinders, set of wheels and brakes, four main tires and two tailwheel tires, horizontal stabilizer, and miscellaneous avionics and instruments.

Pilots who are ready for upper-level warbird operations—but want to fly something a bit farther outside the ordinary—should take a look at this 1952 Douglas AD-4N Skyraider, which is available on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

• FLYING Magazine: Devotion Is Worth Watching If You Haven’t Already—Or Even If You Have
• FLYING Magazine: How to Buy a Warbird

The post This Douglas AD-4N Skyraider Is an ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick for Warbird Fans appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1967 Nanchang CJ-6A.

When you see a Nanchang CJ-6 on display or flying in formation at an airshow, your first thought might be something like, “That airplane is not from around here.”  It is true that the aircraft, long used as a military trainer in China, is a departure from what we are accustomed to seeing at local airports. Still, the Nanchang boasts a following in the U.S. among pilots who cite its fun-to-fly qualities, which include aerobatics. There are quite a few of the aircraft registered here, and owners enjoy an active type club, the Red Star Pilots Association.

The Nanchang echoes the lines of the Soviet-era Yak 18. Over time it received a number of revisions, upgrades, and adjustments to improve its performance and maintain its relevance in the fleet. It seems like its appeal would be similar to that of the North American AT-6 Texan from World War II, which has become a favorite among warbird enthusiasts. There are many differences between the Nanchang and the Texan—including lower operating costs, in general—though the Chinese machine winds up occupying a category of its own. Its trailing-link tricycle landing gear, for example, reflects its use as a trainer for pilots headed for duty in jet fighters.

This Nanchang has 835 hours on the airframe since rebuild and 567 hours on the engine since overhaul. Its panel includes a Garmin GTR 200 and Bendix King KN165. The aircraft was last painted in 1992. In the U.S., the CJ-6 is operated under the FAA experimental/exhibition category.

Pilots interested in owning a unique, eye-catching military aircraft that gets attention at the airport—and could also fetch invitations to airshows—should take a close look at this Nanchang CJ-6, which is available for $85,000 on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

• FLYING Magazine: Oshkosh Flying Memories
• Plane & Pilot: Warbirds On A Budget (Sort Of)

The post This 1967 Nanchang CJ-6A Is an ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick for Pilots Interested in Warbirds appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1941 North American AT-6D Texan.

North American turned out more than 17,000 AT-6 Texans and variants like the SNJ Harvard, mostly for advanced training during World War II. But the airplane’s career would continue long after the war, arguably to this day. Indeed, for many pilots the AT-6 remains the most effective preparation for those who want to fly high-performance tailwheel fighters.

Like many AT-6s, the airplane for sale here has been restored and upgraded in certain ways to keep pace with the changing demands of modern general aviation. Still, lifting off in this sturdy, 600 hp machine, retracting the gear and adjusting power settings is sure to transport modern pilots back to the early 1940s, when this airplane was the last stop before stepping into a thoroughbred fighter to fly combat missions.

My fondest AT-6 memory is of a family friend and career airline pilot who also owned one of the trainers and flew it regularly. We were members of the same radio-control model airplane club during the 1980s. One Sunday he circled our busy club field in a rural part of New Jersey. We loved the sweet sound of that radial engine. As he departed he performed a beautiful barrel roll—not something I would try today, but an absolute thrill at the time. We all cheered.

This 1941 AT-6D has 870 hours on the airframe, 280 hours on its Pratt & Whitney R1340 engine and 100 hours since overhaul on the Hamilton Standard propeller. The panel includes an Apollo 360 GPS, King KX 170B nav/com with KI 214 glideslope and Narco AT 50 transponder, uAvionics WingX ADS-B beacon and Sigtronics 200 intercom. Special features include a smoke system for potential airshow performances.

Pilots looking for an exciting warbird experience, invitations to airshows, or a stepping stone to flying frontline vintage fighters like P-51 Mustangs and F8F Bearcats, should consider building time in this 1941 North American AT-6D Texan, which is available for $210,000 on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Financial Group. For more information, email info@flyingfinancial.com.

• FLYING Magazine: The T-6 Texan
• The Aviation Consumer: Warbird Ownership: Respect Required
• The Aviation Consumer: Off The Beaten Path: Vintage Aircraft

The post Today’s Top Aircraft For Sale Pick: 1941 North American AT-6D Texan appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The timeline promises to be challenging, in part because the Las Vegas Spaceport has not been built yet. A parcel of land between Las Vegas and Pahrump, Nevada, is earmarked for the facility, though, and the event’s organizers say they will bring the necessary elements together in time.

• READ MORE: Regional Growth Forces Reno Air Races to Look for New Home

The announcement follows the news from earlier this year that the World Championship Air Races held in Reno, Nevada, for decades will not continue after the 2023 event. While the spaceport group says its planned races include classes like warbirds, jets and formula one aircraft, it is not clear whether they intend to create an event with essentially the same cast as the outgoing Reno races. The Reno Air Racing Association, or RARA, has not responded to a request for comment.

According to the recent announcement the Las Vegas races will include more than 500 vendors and will accommodate more than 25,000 people. Events will include live music, drone races, and rocket launch demonstrations.

• READ MORE: Reno Air Races Reveal Final List of Participating Pilots, Aircraft

“Ensuring safety is paramount as we execute our plan to draw visitors to the Las Vegas Spaceport and establish our brand,” said Robert Lauer, CEO of the Las Vegas Spaceport. 

“Our upcoming Air Races event in the coming year will serve as a demonstration, not only for the FAA but also for the public, reaffirming our unwavering commitment to safety compliance. We look forward to hosting this event for many years to come.”

The post Las Vegas Spaceport to Host Air Racing Event in October 2024 appeared first on FLYING Magazine.