The “parade of airplanes” flyover event, which is sponsored by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), will begin at 11.30 a.m. EST from Frederick Municipal Airport (KFDK). The Washington portion of the flyover is expected to start around noon.

“The flyover will consist of 15 different ‘chapters’ telling the story of GA in America, starting in the golden age and continuing to the present day,” AOPA said in a statement. “Two dozen groups of aircraft will fly the 88-mile round trip from FDK down the Potomac River. The formation will be led by AOPA president Mark Baker in his historic Beechcraft Staggerwing.”

• READ MORE: ‘Parade of Airplanes’ Over Washington to Celebrate 85 years of GA

Parade Route

Washington has some of the most restricted airspace in the country and includes Prohibited Area P-56, which was created after 9/11. The event required coordination of more than 11 agencies, including the FAA, air traffic control, TSA, and U.S. Secret Service, according to AOPA.

According to AOPA, the flyover route will go past the Lincoln Memorial, down Independence Avenue, and over the Washington Monument.

The aircraft will be expected to fly at 90 knots at an altitude of 1,000 feet, ensuring they are visible from the ground. The flyover will also be broadcast online. 

The post How to Watch ‘Parade of Airplanes’ Over Washington appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Introduced in 2006, the Tecnam P2006T Twin has become a recognized option for flight training globally, serving prestigious institutions and private owners alike. Notably, the aircraft facilitates multiengine piston training at a noticeably lower cost compared to older twin-engine counterparts.

Bartolini Air managing director Bartlomiej Walas, expressed the historical significance. 

“If you are a passenger of Ryanair or another major European airline, it’s quite likely that your pilot made his or her first multiengine IFR flight in a shiny Tecnam P2006T at Bartolini Air,” said Walas.

• READ MORE: Tecnam Celebrates 75 Years of Passion for Aircraft Design

Since the acquisition of the first P2006T in its fleet, Bartolini Air now operates 15 Tecnam aircraft, with an additional five scheduled to join in early 2024. The company said this expansion aims to meet the rising demand for comprehensive training programs, providing more than 12,000 flight training hours annually and producing pilots for leading global airlines.

Walter Da Costa, chief sales officer at Tecnam, attributed the success of the P2006T Twin to the company’s commitment to offering unparalleled value, low operating costs, innovative design, and distinctive Italian styling. Da Costa pointed out that the Rotax engines contribute to the aircraft’s environmental viability, delivering remarkable fuel savings and significantly lower noise emissions.

The post Tecnam’s 400th P2006T Twin Lands at Bartolini Air appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

FLYING asked readers for their best advice when it comes to buying and selling general aviation aircraft and if they had any regrets after a deal was struck. 

Here are some of the top responses:

Top Tips

“Aircraft ownership is great, but don’t buy unless you can hangar your purchase. The best aircraft out there have a tailwheel. If you must buy a tricycle gear airplane, don’t worry about buying the newest one, as they are the most expensive.”

—Glider pilot who also owns a Taylorcraft and a V-tail Bonanza in Holtville, California

“Be sure it’s got good bones—no corrosion or significant damage.”

—Commercial pilot with single-engine land rating

“If you’re buying with partners, recognize the partners you choose are even more important than the aircraft itself. A poor partnership experience can ruin even the best of aircraft.”

—Commercial pilot from York, Pennsylvania

“If selling, have all logs in order and digitized. Be accurate and complete describing aircraft including any inoperable equipment, damage history, or hail damage. Have good digital photos to share. Be friendly on the phone and in person. If buying, look for all of that mentioned, have a prepurchase inspection done by a disinterested A&P, get a title search, and copy of all the aircraft data available from [the FAA in] Oklahoma City, and be sure you can get insurance for it.”

—Pilot with more than 59 years experience with a commercial certificate, and instrument and ASMEL ratings from Springfield, Missouri

• READ MORE: Prepare to Sell Your Aircraft By Tapping Local Resources

“If buying, [get] a thorough prepurchase inspection by a reputable A&P/IA. This could also serve as a fresh annual inspection. Any airworthiness issues found should be points for price concession or sellers responsibility.”

—ATP/CFII/MEI FBO owner and operator for more than 20 years, aircraft broker, and Bonanza owner

“Determine make and model you’re interested in, join a type forum for the plane you like, then read and learn all you can before buying. Before you actually plunk money down, ask your forum members for a recommendation of a qualified A&P—one who is familiar with the plane in question—in the area of the seller to do a thorough pre-buy. Yes, it costs, but this is like money in the bank. Don’t skip this!”

—Reader with some flight experience from Hanover, New Hampshire

• READ MORE: The Power of Networking

“Establish [a] budget and do not spend more than 75 percent on the plane. Keep the rest in reserve. You will need it! Realize that if the plane is not near you, you may be spending $2,000 or more just to get it home.”

—Pilot who first soloed in 1963 and later flew in the U.S. Navy Reserve from Eugene, Oregon

“Do your homework first. Can you really afford the hanger fee, insurance, fuel, maintenance expenses, etc.? It might be more cost-effective to rent when needed instead of owning an aircraft.”

—Pilot with experience flying Piper P118A, Cessna 172, Cessna 182 Wren and Cessna 182 Robertson STOL aircraft from Austin, Texas

Buyer’s Remorse

“I should have done a title search beforehand, as I had the plane for many years. The bank did not file the paperwork properly with the FAA when the loan was paid off, and I had no idea about this until a title search was done.” 

—Private pilot for more than 40 years from Mount Airy, Maryland

“Not a regret necessarily, but the first annual inspection resulted in many items that ‘could’ have been deferred. We decided to fix all of them. Advice to prospective buyers: have 10 percent of the purchase price set aside for the first annual. If this seems like too much cash to cough up, you may want to reevaluate your financial ability to buy the airplane. If you don’t end up using 10 percent on maintenance the first year, consider it a bonus back to yourself.”

—Pilot who flies for personal and business purposes (commercial certificate with single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane ratings with private rotorcraft helicopter privileges) from Southern California

• READ MORE: Top 5 Mistakes First-Time Aircraft Buyers Make

“I regret not thoroughly reviewing logbooks.”

—Pilot with more than 40 years experience and a full-time aircraft broker from Carefree, Arizona

“As I begin to use the aircraft more for travel and less for just recreation, I am strongly considering an IFR upgrade, but the cost is considerable. Had I been where I am now, I might have held out for an already IFR airplane or one that could be made so without a large amount of upgrades. However, I really liked that particular airplane, and it met the mission at the time. (I wasn’t even IFR rated when I purchased, though I knew I would be getting my rating soon.)”

—Pilot with ASEL on a commercial certificate, a CFII, and tailwheel ratings from Houston

“Not a regret, but I would have looked closer at a known issue, which was not as simple of a fix as I was told. Not a deal-breaker but did take more time and money than anticipated.”

—Commercial pilot with rotor, and fixed wing CFII, MEI, G12T instructor pilot from Dothan, Alabama

“I sold for about a third of what I had invested.”

—Pilot flying since 1973 with ASEL, ASES, and helicopter ratings

The post FLYING’s Reader Advice on Buying, Selling Aircraft appeared first on FLYING Magazine.