Flying April 2023

AN EARLY MORNING in the Alps. I’ve spent summers in Alaska—in fact, five summers flying a Piper Super Cub with big 35-inch tires landing in the bush, on rivers, and on glaciers. I fell in love with this mix of freedom, nature, and responsibility. When I went back home to France, I wrote an article about the experience, and an Airbus test pilot who read the piece decided to become the French dealer for the CubCrafters Carbon Cub. Three years later, he came to my airport: Gap Tallard (LFNA), a beautiful airfield in the Alps where we have 300 sunny flying days each year. With my good friends Nicolas Libis (an aerial firefighter pilot in the Canadair) flying the Carbon Cub and Tom Fitzgerald (a RedBull mechanic in the Extra)…

AMY JO SLEDGE is an award-winning graphic designer. As the creative director for FLYING Media Group, she rebranded the design of the magazine into what it is today, using the vision she’s brought from designing aviation and hospitality publications throughout her career. She comes from a family of pilots with her father, brother, and most recently her nephews joining the club. Amy Jo is honored to be part of the very talented crew that creates FLYING Magazine each month for all pilots to enjoy. LEONARDO CORREA LUNA has been an airline pilot since he was 23. His first airliner to pilot was the Boeing 737-200 Classic, and he’s now a captain on the Airbus A330, with 14,000 hours—and he’s not counting anymore. He has experience in 41 different airplanes, mostly vintage and…

APRIL MARKS AN aviation milestone that I approach with reverence: my 30th anniversary of obtaining my initial flight instructor certificate. It was a warm spring day in 1993 at the Boulder Municipal Airport (then 1V5, now the chuckle-inducing KBDU) in Colorado. I worked the desk and flight line at Dakota Ridge Aviation to help fund my progress, and I intercepted looks of commiseration from my coworkers when I told them I’d drawn Pete Shouldis as the FAA ops inspector delivering the practical test. Shouldis’ reputation led me to prepare for a long day—and it was one, but for good reason. The oral portion of the test began as a thorough and deliberate probing of my knowledge but turned into a happy exchange of ideas. He was tough but fair, so I…

WELCOME TO THE April edition of FLYING—Issue 936. It’s springtime, and that kicks off my favorite time to be in the air. Living in East Tennessee means that we watch the mountains turn from the dull colors of winter to the green of budding leaves—and it’s a perfect time to take my ICON through the Tennessee River Gorge. Spring is also the start of the great general aviation shows, beginning with Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida, and climaxing with EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. This year, FLYING will have a large presence at both shows, so please come by and say hello. At Sun ‘n Fun, FLYING will make two major announcements—an acquisition of another media brand in the general aviation space and the launch of Aircraft For…

IT’S A SACRED place, the one I’ve assumed as I take on the mantle of publisher of FLYING magazine. In a recent team discussion regarding street names for The Fields, our 1,500-acre fly-in community development in progress, it further deepened my appreciation for the legacy of those who have contributed to making FLYING what it is. Since 1927, we have had extraordinary writers and publishers, from founding members of the U.S. military branches to legendary authors, creators of the commercial airline industry, pioneers developing aircraft technology, engines, and airframes, photographers, and the finest aviation storytellers. William Ziff, Robert Parke, Edward Muhlfeld, and Jay Durfee are a few of the publishers’ names referred to in my early career meetings, idolized for their great work. I wished then that I could have known…

Insurance Alternative Your February issue featured an article by Dick Karl about insurance problems triggered by his advancing age. He laments the threefold increase in his annual single pilot premium. My question is, “Where have you been, Dr. Karl?” We octogenarian pilots have faced this problem for the past few years. I have over 11,000 hours, about half in fighters and half in multiengine jets. Like Karl, I have the FAA Master Pilot Award and have been to recurrent training courses annually. (I also have the Distinguished Flying Cross, 10 Air Medals, and other assorted military decorations from a 20-year USAF career flying 89 different aircraft.) Does any of this impress the Insurance Industry? Not a chance. At 85, I can recall the times when airline pilots were retired at…