The House of Rapp

Archive

Last modified: January 22, 2009

2010 (3)

06/29/10 - The Long and Short of ATIS (6)
I make the case for shortening ATIS broadcasts in the name of safety.
06/23/10 - Long Beach Class C Airspace Proposal (13)
A look at the details of a proposed Class C airspace for Long Beach.
02/09/10 - Best Paint Scheme Ever (1)
Kulula Airlines puts the fun back into flying with a unique and humorous paint scheme.

2009 (11)

11/20/09 - Junk In, Junk Out (4)
Computers are a boon to the cockpit. Fast, informative, and efficient. But they're susceptible to human error. Here's one humorous example of
11/19/09 - Bird Strike (17)
My King Air goes head-to-head with a 40 lb. hawk. Who will win??
11/16/09 - Married! (11)
I explain the lack of updates on the site, along with current news from the aviation sector and my personal life.
09/09/09 - Applemoon “Flying” Slide Show (0)
More aviation-themed engagement photos published, along with a multimedia slide show.
09/03/09 - Engagement Photos (2)
Photos and details of our aviation-themed engagement photo session.
03/18/09 - A Day at Medfly (13)
A photographic tour of a day of flying at the California Medfly eradication program -- one of my many day jobs.
01/23/09 - US Airways 1549 Damage Photos (0)
Fascinating damage photos taken during the salvage of US Airways Flight 1549 illustrate just how tough aircraft are built.
01/22/09 - Kristi’s Cub Flight (0)
An account (with photos) of a sunset flight down the coast in a 1943 Piper J-3 Cub.
01/19/09 - US Airways Flight 1549 (3)
A look at two factors which may have affected the positive outcome of a dual engine failure in a US Airways Airbus A320
01/14/09 - Changes (4)
The new year brings a new look to the House of Rapp, plus a revamped photo gallery and a renewed dedication to actually posting every now and then!
01/09/09 - TFR Madness (8)
Flight restrictions have truly reached a level which can only be described as insanity; now they're issuing TFRs for weddings!

2008 (11)

09/25/08 - The Pitch/Power Debate: It’s the Trim, Stupid (5)
"Pitch vs. power"? How about "both"! Better yet, let's focus on something really important, yet often neglected: trim.
09/24/08 - Gyroscopic Precession (5)
Gyroscopic precession is not well-understood by most aviators... unless they're aerobatic pilots, that is.
08/11/08 - Snafu (2)
I have six employers, so keeping my schedule straight is a real challenge. Here's how I do it.
07/12/08 - MOA Flying (0)
Stay out of MOAs? I don't think so. MOAs are joint-use airspace, and we need to use them, too.
07/01/08 - Time for a Beat Down, Becker (0)
As much as I love the Extra 300, I hate that damn Becker com radio. Perhaps it's time to do something drastic...
05/12/08 - Are Needle, Ball, and Airspeed Obsolete? (0)
I teach glass panel. I'm a fan of glass panel. But we need to stay proficient on the steam gauges, too! Here's why.
03/12/08 - Back in the Saddle Again (0)
Time to prep for the new aerobatic competition season! Here's my practice strategy, and my problem areas so far.
03/07/08 - These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things (3)
A post -- and photos -- prompted by my new car, which happens to be the exact same color as my Pitts S-2B!
01/29/08 - On Instructing (13)
Many people harbor disparaging attitudes toward instructing, but I feel it's high time CFIs get the recognition & respect they deserve.
01/24/08 - I Love Days Like This (0)
Recent flights prompt some thoughts about the weather. The rain has been welcome on the ground, but in the air, it's making life challenging for pilots.
01/02/08 - My New Car! (2)
Yes! Finally, a new car! The buying experience was painful, but the end result was worth it.

2007 (38)

12/31/07 - The Ninth Circle of Hell (3)
To me, a career flying for the airlines looks a lot like the ninth circle of hell. Only worse.
12/11/07 - Fortune Cookie (1)
My fortune: "Confucious say, you are much admired for your adventurous ways". Thanks, Mr. C....
12/10/07 - The Case for Spin Training (7)
Have you had spin training? If not, find a good aerobatic instructor and get the lead out. You won't regret it.
12/09/07 - RNAV Approach Quiz (1)
The AOPA Air Safety Foundation has an excellent (and free) online course on RNAV approaches. I learned a lot!
11/15/07 - The Clue Phone (2)
That smug, Apple-esque feeling of superiority you get from owning an iPhone could backfire...
11/09/07 - Limitations (5)
Analysis of a Hawker 800XP accident which occurred when the flight crew exceeded the aircraft's published limitations.
11/08/07 - Housing Bubble Blogs (2)
One of my guilty pleasures lately has been reading a few "housing bubble blogs", web sites dedicated to tracking the carnage in the real estate market.
11/05/07 - Martin Mars (6)
Photos of some very impressive fire fighting done with the world's largest operational flying boat, the Martin Mars.
11/04/07 - Red Bull Air Race on TV (6)
I have to hand it to Red Bull, they really know how to put on a slick show. And now the Red Bull Air Race is broadcast on TV!
11/03/07 - A Carb-Free Future (2)
The general aviation fleet is put at risk by the loss of a major parts supplier. The reason? Product liability concerns.
10/24/07 - Getting Back Into Flying (9)
A reader's email inspires me to expound on ways to keep aviation affordable and interesting for GA pilots.
10/23/07 - SNA Blames Runway Incursions on “Small Planes” (2)
General aviation takes the blame again, this time from John Wayne Airport management. I refute their accusations with hard, cold facts.
09/22/07 - The Annoying Upper Low (0)
A persistent low pressure system wreaks havoc with my flying schedule.
09/17/07 - Problems at Socal Approach (6)
A recent IFR flight highlights the controller chaos at Socal Approach, and proves once again the old adage "trust, but verify".
09/16/07 - Turbine Toucan (1)
The era of the biplane is over? Maybe not. Look at this turbine-powered beast, which sports a higher thrust-to-weight ratio than an F-16.
09/02/07 - Air on a Six-String (2)
I found a fantastic YouTube video of Sean Tucker's airshow routine, set to the music of guitar legend Steve Morse.
09/01/07 - Two Hundred Thousand (9)
My trusty Mitsubishi Eclipse reaches 200,000 miles. But she won't last forever, so I'm looking ahead to The Next Thing.
08/28/07 - The Tiger Has Landed (0)
Ah, adventure! Another coast-to-coast ferry flight, this time in a refurbished Grumman Tiger.
08/14/07 - Shuttle Tile Repair 101 (0)
A look at options for repairing the space shuttle while in orbit.
07/26/07 - Whatchamacallit (1)
Debating the appropriate type designator code for a Diamond DA-40. Yes, these are the things pilots talk about for hours on end.
07/26/07 - Charts: Are They Required? (3)
Is it legal to fly without charts? With very few exceptions, the surprising answer for VFR or IFR is actually "yes".
07/25/07 - Airline Pilot or CFI? (6)
This brilliant video ecapsulatse my life as a CFI. At 8 a.m. I'm Dean Martin. By 8 p.m., I'm Foster Brooks.
04/23/07 - A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words (0)
Since a picture is worth a thousand words... and I haven't been writing much lately, here are some photos. :)
04/10/07 - Bel Canto, West Texas Style (2)
A few thoughts on Opera Pacific's production of Elixir of Love, which we've set in the 1950's in a west Texas diner.
03/20/07 - Photos of Airbus A380 Arrival at LAX (0)
A friend of mine -- a professional photographer -- snapped these photos of the Airbus A380's first arrival in the U.S.
03/20/07 - Go Eagles! (0)
My alma mater's basketball team makes it to the NAIA championship game. Go eagles!!
03/19/07 - Another Reason to Fly GA (3)
A bit of a "sticky wicket", as the Brits would say: what to do with the body of a person who dies during a flight. Just strap him down in first class.
03/15/07 - BASHing WordPress (5)
A green-screen, command-line interface theme for Wordpress? OK, that is officially the coolest thing since aerobatics.
03/14/07 - Legacy/Gol Accident: Ignorance Is Bliss (2)
Who's to blame for the Brazilian Legacy/Gol midair collision? It might not be the pilots at all.
03/12/07 - “Over The Airwaves” and the GA Fatal Accident Rate (4)
Is the GA fatal accident rate getting worse? I take issue with that assertion using facts, not hype and hysteria.
03/08/07 - Ground Control, New York Style (3)
An audio excerpt from a New York ground controller who's having a bad day.
03/08/07 - RV Aerobatics (4)
The aerobatic community's largest untapped resource is sitting under our noses: the 5000+ experimental RVs and their pilots.
02/18/07 - Going Around (4)
I get a good laugh at Southwest's expense, but karma's a bitch.
02/02/07 - Aviation Memorabilia (2)
Aviation memorabilia: I find some World War II-era instrument approach plates, and a reader sends in a CS prop manual.
01/21/07 - That’s Entertainment (1)
They warned me that the Colonel made a mean bird, but I didn't expect to be thrown off KFC's corporate aircraft.
01/18/07 - Oil Levels: The Black Art (6)
How much oil is really necessary for that engine? It runs the gamut, and knowing the answer is somewhat of a black art.
01/09/07 - Bill Kershner Goes West (1)
Saying goodbye to Bill Kershner, a legend in aerobatic and flight training circles for half a century.
01/04/07 - Goodbye, O.C. (1)
There is a God! That god-awful TV series, "The O.C.", has finally been canceled.