Author Archives: Mac

Homebuilders and Electronic Flight Control Advancement

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Mac

I believe the new frontier for light airplanes is fly-by-wire, or more likely, electronic enhancement of flying qualities and envelope protection. And homebuilders are the people in a perfect position to pioneer those advances. Light airplane design and technology is … Continue reading →

Posted in Mac Clellan's Left Seat Blog | 1 Comment

Airframes Need Experience, Too

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Mac

Sikorsky helicopter president Jeff Pino was talking about the company’s S76 twin engine helicopter that will soon be offered in yet another evolutionary version, the “D” model. The S76 has been in production since 1979 and continues to be one … Continue reading →

Posted in Mac Clellan's Left Seat Blog | 1 Comment

Aviator or Pilot?

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Mac

  My boss, EAA president and CEO Rod Hightower, likes the word aviator. And also aviate. I am pleased that Rod thinks of me as an aviator. But, as usual, some have groused about use of the title aviator and … Continue reading →

Posted in Mac Clellan's Left Seat Blog | 15 Comments

Is A Crash A Crime?

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Mac

In many countries accidents are considered to be criminal acts. Italy and Brazil come to mind as nations that have treated high profile aviation accidents as criminal acts by the pilots involved.  In Italy several years ago a U.S. military … Continue reading →

Posted in Mac Clellan's Left Seat Blog | 30 Comments

Are Touchscreens Here to Stay?

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Mac

Garmin is all in on touchscreen avionics. It will no longer build its wildly successful GNS 430/530 flight management systems which have been replaced in production by the GTN 700/600 series units that have touchscreen control. Garmin also has the … Continue reading →

Posted in Mac Clellan's Left Seat Blog | 45 Comments

Over Water Worries

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Mac

I was chatting with EAA founder Paul Poberezny last week. What an amazing guy. Through a very unusual set of circumstances during his military career during World War II and then as an officer in the Wisconsin National Guard he … Continue reading →

Posted in Mac Clellan's Left Seat Blog | 30 Comments

Two Single-Engine Jets Funded Again

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Mac

The Cirrus SF50 Vision single-engine jet development program had been on hold since last fall while the company’s new Chinese based owner, CAIGA, analyzed and reviewed the program. But the new owners are apparently satisfied with the prospects for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft, Industry & Government | 15 Comments

The International Politics of NDB Approaches

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Mac

How old is the non-directional beacon (NDB) as an aeronautical navigation aid? Eighty years? 90 years? Or maybe more. I’m not sure. The NDB was certainly around before even the fancy four-course range with its dit-dah left-right guidance along a … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft, Industry & Government, Technology | 40 Comments

The Good, and the Bad in 2011

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Mac

I’ve been writing this Left Seat blog for EAA with the generous sponsorship of Aspen Avionics for a year. I don’t think it’s my fault, but 2011 has not been the most memorable year in aviation, but there was some … Continue reading →

Posted in Aircraft, Airmanship, Flying for Fun, Industry & Government, Safety, Technology | 11 Comments

When High Pressure Isn’t Always Good

Posted on December 22, 2011 by Mac

All pilots are amateur meteorologists out of necessity. And one weather fact we think we know is that high pressure systems make for good flying weather. And that’s generally true – but not always at this time of the year. … Continue reading →

Posted in Airmanship, Safety | 8 Comments