AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 6

HANGARTALK
The story behind the story
The Piper Malibu Mirage still looks young and modern
even three decades after its debut as the Malibu, then
the first in a new generation of Pipers, reports Editor
in Chief Tom Haines in “Piper Mirage: Pressurization
Points,” on page 58. “The Mirage is unique among
today’s piston singles because it is pressurized—one
of only a handful of piston singles ever designed from
day one to be pressurized. Pressurization relieves pilot
and passengers from needing supplemental oxygen in
flight, improving comfort for all—a big selling point for
the PA–46 line,” says Haines.
Author Barry Schiff has flown and written about a
substantial number of aircraft during his 48-year tenure
with AOPA Pilot. “Rarely,” he says, “do I come away
from an assignment wanting to buy an airplane like
the one about which I had just written.” Cessna’s L–19
Bird Dog (“A Soldier’s Best Friend,” page 72) had that
kind of effect on him. “Years ago I had logged some
time in an L–19 in Hawaii while doing some glider
towing, but flying Troy Cobb’s immaculate restoration
reminded me about how much I truly enjoy the Bird Dog.” Schiff says that
he has already begun to scour the used L–19 market for one that he hopes to
eventually call his own.
“Aircraft owners and pilots have a lot riding on
the health of the airplanes we fly, but annual inspections,
oil analysis, and thorough walkarounds can only
tell us so much,” says Senior Editor Dave Hirschman.
“Now, medical technology can show us detailed images
of failure-prone components deep inside engines and
airframes and share that information with maintenance
experts via the Internet.” Hirschman watched
Bonanza owner and A&P Adrian Eichhorn perform several
engine inspections using a medical endoscope that allowed him to diagnose
problems long before they became critical (“Frugal Flier: Will Medicare Cover
This?” page 87). “Watching Adrian was like seeing a radiologist poring overMRIs
or X-rays,” Hirschman says. “He was able to glean a great deal of information
that wouldn’t have been available through traditional means. As this kind of
technology becomes less expensive and more widespread, it’s sure to help A&P
mechanicsmake aircraft safer and more reliable.”
Storms blocked entry to Florida the day before the
January U.S. Sport Expo in Sebring, Florida, so Senior
Editor Al Marsh and Senior Photographer Mike Fizer
thought they might not get to review a light sport aircraft
for this issue. Strict rules for display aircraft meant
there wouldn’t be time for a flight review during the
show. Then the aircraft dealer had an idea. He also sells
Jabiru aircraft, and had one in Tampa, well south of the
bad weather. Would Marsh and Fizer want to substitute
it for the planned aircraft? They did, and the Jabiru arrived in the Sebring area
with just two and a half hours before it had to be on its display stand at Sebring
in preparation for the show’s opening the next morning (“Prime Time for the
Jabiru,” page 66). Turbulence interfered with the video shoot; however, the pilot
report was completed. Video editor Dan Pixton found a few video scenes where
the turbulence let up just long enough to show the aircraft in flight.
AOPA PILOT • 6 • JUNE 2011
Visit us at www.aopa.org/pilot
publisher Craig L. Fuller
associate publisher/
editor in chief Thomas B. Haines
editor at large Thomas A. Horne
managing editor
technical editor Mike Collins
senior editors Dave Hirschman
Alton K. Marsh
associate editors
Jill W. Tallman
Ian J. Twombly
editorial and production
assistant Sylvia Horne
administrative assistant Miriam E. Stoner
contributors Peter A. Bedell
Kathy Dondzila
Bruce Landsberg
Rod Machado
Barry Schiff
Phil Scott
Mark R. Twombly
John S. Yodice
design director Michael E. Kline
art director
Jill C. Benton
art director Elizabeth Z. Jones
contributing designer Adrienne R. Rosone
digital media specialist Chris Delisio
senior photographer Mike Fizer
photographer Chris Rose
advertising director Carol Dodds
advertising production
manager Brenda D. Ridgley
advertising sales and
marketing manager Liz Tarver
advertising administrator Donna Stoner
advertising representative
The Orison B. Curpier Co., Inc.
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011

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