The Ramp Hold, the Weather Decision, and What a Clear Sky Is Actually Worth
Weather is a top-tier factor in fatal GA accidents - not because pilots lack data, but because pressure overrides judgment. Here's what the research shows.
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Every article from Radio Hangar - aviation history, technology analysis, flight training, destinations, and news.
The Supreme Court, the Eighth Amendment, and the Question of Whether the Government Can Keep Your Airplane
The Supreme Court is taking up a case that could establish a uniform constitutional standard for government aircraft seizures under the Eighth Amendment's Excessive Fines Clause.
TowerThe Viper Shield, L3Harris's First Podded EW System Off the Production Line, and What Two Hundred Thirty-Three Units Means for Allied F-16 Fleets
L3Harris delivered the first production-standard Viper Shield EW pod for the F-16, with 233 units on order across eight allied nations as of September 2026.
TowerTSA, the Closed Door, and the Security Blueprint That Will Define BVLOS at Scale
The TSA is convening closed-door industry sessions to build model security programs for beyond visual line of sight drone operations, a framework that will reshape U.S. airspace for every pilot.
TowerBeryl Markham, the Percival Vega Gull, and the Solo Atlantic Crossing That Beat the Ocean Going the Hard Way
On September 4, 1936, Beryl Markham became the first person to fly solo non-stop from England to North America - east to west, against the prevailing winds, alone.
TaildraggerBig Creek, Idaho, the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, and the Backcountry Strip That Earns Every Landing
Big Creek, Idaho is a 3,000-foot gravel strip at 5,700 ft MSL in the Frank Church Wilderness - one of the most demanding backcountry destinations in the U.S.
RampCal Rodgers, the Vin Fiz Flyer, and the Forty-Nine Days It Took to Cross a Continent
In 1911, Cal Rodgers became the first person to cross America by air - 84 days, ~4,300 miles, and no instruments - after forfeiting the prize he set out to win.
TaildraggerClass Charlie Airspace, the Radio Call That Isn't a Clearance, and the Two-Way Contact Rule That Catches Every Checkride Candidate Off Guard
Class Charlie airspace requires two-way radio contact - not a clearance - before entry, and one word in ATC's response determines whether you've met that requirement.
PatternDensity Altitude, the POH Performance Chart That Does Not Lie, and the Runway That Shrinks When It Gets Hot
Density altitude silently degrades aircraft performance on hot days - learn to calculate it and use your POH takeoff charts before every departure.
PatternFAR Ninety-One Point Two Thirteen, the Inoperative Equipment Decision Tree, and the Step-by-Step Process That Decides Whether Your Airplane Can Legally Fly
FAR 91.213 gives pilots a four-question decision tree to determine whether an aircraft with inoperative equipment is legally airworthy to fly.
PatternFAR Sixty-One Point Fifty-Seven, the Ninety-Day Rolling Clock, and the Passenger Ride That Became Illegal Without You Noticing
FAR 61.57 sets the minimum recent flight experience to carry passengers legally - here's what the regulation actually requires and where pilots commonly miss it.
PatternFuel Starvation, the Engine That Quits with Full Tanks, and the Fuel Selector Habit Every Pilot Needs Before the Engine Decides for Them
Fuel starvation - when the engine quits despite fuel in the tanks - is one of the NTSB's most documented GA accident causes, and it's almost always preventable.
PatternGAMA First Half Twenty Twenty-Six, the Turbine Surge, and What Falling Piston Numbers Mean for the Future of General Aviation
GAMA's first-half 2026 data shows turbine sales surging while piston deliveries fall, revealing a deepening structural split in general aviation.
TowerGE Aerospace, the Derecho Program, and the Race to Build an Air-Breathing Mach Five Test Vehicle
The Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit has contracted GE Aerospace to develop Derecho, an air-launched hypersonic test vehicle designed to reach Mach 5.
TowerHoneywell Anthem, the Open Architecture Flight Deck, and the Cockpit Platform War Nobody Talks About
Honeywell Anthem's open architecture promises post-certification software evolution - a genuine shift from how avionics have worked for decades, if Honeywell can execute.
VectorJetBlue BlueFirst, the No-First-Class Airline That Just Changed Its Mind, and What It Says About Where the Industry Is Headed
JetBlue's new BlueFirst enclosed first-class cabin ends the airline's 25-year no-first-class identity and signals a broader shift away from egalitarian cabin models.
TowerMichigan Airport Landing Fees and the Growing Threat to Open GA Access
Manistee County Blacker Airport voted August 17 to impose landing fees effective October 1 - a move AOPA calls 'extremely concerning' with implications far beyond Michigan.
TowerOrcas Island Airport, the San Juan Islands Crossing, and the Pacific Northwest Bucket-List Fly-In Every Pilot Should Have on Their Chart
Orcas Island Airport (ORS) offers one of the most rewarding general aviation experiences in the Pacific Northwest - here's how to plan and fly it safely.
RampOrmer Locklear, the Texas Wing-Walker, and the Hollywood Searchlights That Killed the Man Who Invented Barnstorming
Ormer Locklear invented wing-walking out of in-flight necessity in 1917, became America's first aviation celebrity, and died at 28 during a Hollywood night-dive stunt in 1920.
TaildraggerRichard Bong, the P thirty-eight Lightning, and the Forty Kills That Made America's Ace of Aces
Richard Bong flew 40 aerial victories over the Pacific in a P-38 Lightning, becoming America's greatest fighter ace - and died in a California test flight on August 6, 1945.
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