Part of the Musketeer family, the Sundowner is a low-winged, single-engine, light aircraft produced by Beechcraft. The line of aircraft was produced from 1963 through 1983, with over 4,300 having been made. Design and Development The Sundowner was originally the Model 23 Musketeer until it was renamed the “Sundowner” in 1972. This aircraft (the 23B [...]
When remembering all who served on Memorial Day, the Distinguished Flying Cross Society is an organization that helps honor and salute our fallen heroes. The society awards aviators and aircrew for heroism, as well as remarkable courage in flight. It’s the only honorary metal granted to all five military services in all wars from WWI [...]
After the tragic attacks in the U.S. on September 11, 2001, only one airline was allowed to continue flying in U.S. airspace that day. Justice Prisoner & Alien Transportation System (JPATS), nicknamed “Con Air,” is the largest prisoner transport network in the world. What is JPATS? Two air fleets joined together in 1995 to form [...]
Fueling your aircraft requires choosing a premier oil that promotes engine health. For those who use AeroShell’s single-grade ashless dispersant engine oils, a common question is: what is the difference between AeroShell Oil W100 and W100 Plus? In short, both single-grade ashless dispersant (AD) engine oils serve piston engines and help minimize sludge formation. W100 [...]
As one of the largest airplanes ever built, the Convair B-36 "Peacemaker" played a key role in preserving peace during the Cold War. Consolidated Aircraft and Vultee Aircraft merged in 1943 to form Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation, universally known as Convair after 1943. The American aircraft manufacturing company produced wartime planes and moved into making [...]
We covered the basics of caring for a piston engine aircraft and how important it is to fly the aircraft regularly here. However, starting a carbureted engine in the cold or when it has not been used for a while is notoriously difficult. The key to successfully starting a carbureted engine in the cold is [...]
If you don’t already know who Anne Morrow Lindbergh is, you’ve probably guessed right just in seeing her name. Wife to the famous Charles Lindbergh, Anne Morrow Lindbergh was also an accomplished aviator herself. Early Life and Marriage Born in New Jersey on June 22, 1906, Anne Spencer Morrow was the daughter to Dwight W. [...]
Routine certified aircraft maintenance is an important aspect of owning a plane. This makes owning an aircraft different from any motor vehicle. What really distinguishes plane maintenance, though, is the required use of FAA-approved parts. Various aircraft parts and materials may be “standard parts,” which the FAA defines as “a part or material that conforms [...]
Sometimes, you want an aircraft that is all sleek and modern—a plane that might as well transport you into the future while it takes you to your destination. If that’s you, then the Cessna 195 is certainly not the plane you are looking for. Rather, this classic bird is the embodiment of retro nostalgia. The [...]
