Quoted from Pilot Mag Dec 2009

"Despite a crash in 2006 and a general aviation and business community that has left very light jets for dead, the prototype Sport Jet has flown once again and the company, Excel Jet Ltd., is reworking the next generation."

I was not aware that the Sport-Jet has flown again!?!?!? I know sensationalism is part of journalism to sell magazines, but this is irresponsibility..how does a quote like this make it into a magazine...Correct me if I am wrong, but from what I have seen/read all Bornhofen has is a fuselage....Since when do mock-ups fly?

It is this over-hyped B.S. that doomed the VLJ market in the first place...C'mon Pilot Mag..a little responsibility Please!!! SMH!!!(shaking my head!)

2009, what a year!

Last September, when PilotMag was in Reno for the National Air Race Championships and sponsoring the National Aviation Heritage Invitational, a newspaper was thrown on the breakfast table one morning in the Eldorado Hotel. On the front cover was Thomas Frank’s cover story in USA Today. With obvious bias and a blatant pitch for major airlines, Mr. Frank’s story “Little Used Airports Cost Taxpayers Big Money” was published for the readers to make up their own mind about the state of general aviation. We were furious. We published a response to Frank’s cover story on PilotMag.com, PilotLounge.com and even contacted our Congressman. We wanted to take immediate action.

How dare Mr. Frank. Small, unknown airports receive needed FAA and Federal funding to train countless, future pilots and provide maintenance and training facilities that feed the industry as a whole. When something means as much as aviation, we wanted to act quickly to preserve our livelihood and object to the negative press that aviation has received over the last year.

All of us at PilotMag have endured challenges over the last year, and we have done our best to provide our readers with exciting, positive publications and websites that bring the romance and adventure back. Over the last year, we have taking you heli-skiing, to the sands of Turks & Caicos, flying float planes in Central Florida and we have introduced you to many pilots making a difference in our community. As we reflect on the last year, and now, as we delivery of our 8th issue, PilotMag has realized some very valuable lessons. We aren’t perfect, but we’re persistent in our pursuit to being the leading adventure resource in aviation.

We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to our publication over the last year. The list is too long, but you know who you are. Taking what we have learned, PilotMag moves into the new year with changes that will perpetuate our success. Jeff Berlin, a frequent contributor to PilotMag, has been named Editor for 2010. A multiengine and instrument rated pilot since 1994, Jeff has flown a multitude of aircraft ranging from ultralights and LSA’s to cabin-class turboprops and jets. He enjoys keeping an eye on how technology impacts the flying experience and has contributed to magazines including AOPA Pilot, Private Pilot, Private Air, Aerokurier, and Aviation et Pilote in the past. We look forward to Jeff’s energy and his help with Pilot Magazine, LLC’s mission.

As we speculate what will come in 2010 after a year of record –breaking for airshow attendance, young pilots winning big at Reno, CEO’s coming and going, miracles on the Hudson and more and more products on the market, PilotMag makes some picks that will get you re-engaged in flying. With much deliberation, our editors and contributors have worked hard to bring you PilotMag’s Best Picks for 2010. Take a peek at our picks from the Fixed-Wing and Helicopter Best Picks to Headset Best Picks and from The Best Pilot for 2010 to the Best Aviation Movie. PilotMag has spoken. Also, we have assembled our all new 2010 Gadget &Gear Guide for all of your piloting needs.

We take a trip to the Holy Land, go skiing in our airplane, fly the P-750 XSTOL and even look into resurrecting a VLJ in this our last issue of 2009. We continue to go out on a limb and find the best adventures, the best stories and some of the best pilots. So, what are you waiting for? Tell us your story. We want to hear it.

All the best to aviation in the New Year!

Since I was a kid I wanted to be a pilot. The other day my cousin from Alabama called me and excitedly told me that he will be enrolling to become a pilot. Boy was I jealous!

Come on! I've been a very good student like I do great in all the custom essay writing activities we had. I write my essay like a pro. I even come up with the best science project. How come my cousin who's been a happy go lucky kind of student can be a pilot student and not me? Oh well, I am still hoping I could persuade my mother to say yes to this dream.

I want to become a pilot and that's the ultimate dream I could probable wish for.

Its a nice snowy day in Loveland, Colorado, and its a great time to research how to get a Sport Pilots license. There are some very beautiful Sport Aircraft available - as I'm discovering. I heard about the ICON aircraft coming in 2011, very cool.

Know anyone in the Loveland area that is a Sports Pilot Instructor?

Hi ladies, and gents!

My name is David Duvak. I am based out of South Jersey Regional Airport, and occasionally fly out of Princeton Airport as well. I am 21 years of age, and hold a Private Pilot, instrument single engine land certificate. I got into aviation at the age of one! My dad father,(who was the other pilot in the family) took me up for my first of many adventures involving flying! He was a customer of various flying schools, and clubs based at Robbinsville Airport,  and South Jersey Regional Airport. He has since gone on the 'inactive pilots list' due to finances, and work realated things for about two years now.

I started training out of Robbinsville Airport which is close by to my house in 2004. I soloed when I was 17, and got my license shortly after I had turned 18. It's a feeling of a kind to be operating a machine that gives you the sense of excitement, and freedom where as driving a car, or getting by via mass transit doesnt! Afterwords, I flew to build hours, and eventully worked up to my instrument in 2009! At the time, the economy was, and still is falling. I noted how many pilots where starting to take aloft on the 'inactive list' proir to finishing my IFR. My goal was to always keep working towards building certificates for a job flying professionally. However, my flight path took a different, awesome, and adventurious turn when I decided to form a pilots group called 'Mercer Flying Club'.

Mercer Flying Club is a social flying club that  meets at Robbinsville Airport,(N87) monthly specializes in keeping the basics we appreciate in general aviation. Frequent 100 dollar hamburger runs, trips places with all kinds of attractions, group meeting, along with lots of times to hangar fly with one another, and a mentoring program of our own that coaches students in thier training. We are a social orginization on a mission to keep pilots flying.,Many of us rent from the flight school based there, while others rent from South Jersey, Princeton Soleburg, and all over the state to partake in our outings as well.  With our free admission to the club, we try to make our hanger flying sessions/meetings filled with guests from the industry to keep us motivated to fly, and to learn something educational. We have had a road trip to Mgure AFB nearby in NJ, and plan on touring many ATC facilities as well. We have merely forty members, and we are trying to keep a positive growth in membership. Hopefully, our group will keep pilots flying, and encourage students to continue with thier training as time goes on. I still want to pursue my commerical certificate, and perhaps the CFI license as well. However, the economy has made my income shrink so bad, that the only time I am able to fly, is when I am hosting flyouts with my group. I work two part time jobs to build flying money, and neither income is helping at all. I may not be in a finanical postion to imediate get a loan either. I also am planning on going back to Mercer County, or Burlington County College to major in 'Business, and Administration' pending I get a loan settled for spring semester.  I am holding my head high as much as possbile but faced with alot of obsticales.

For more information on MFC, check out our website. www.mercerflyingclub.org Or send me a note here! Thanks for letting me write this blog to you!

David Duvak.