Planes

Profiles, flight characteristics, and first-hand encounters with a wide range of aircraft — from general aviation singles to military transports and wide-body airliners. Each post covers the design philosophy, performance specs, and what makes the aircraft distinctive. Featured planes include the DHC-2 Beaver (de Havilland’s legendary bush plane), the American Champion Citabria 7ECA (a fabric-covered aerobatic taildragger), the Piaggio P180 Avanti (the world’s fastest turboprop with its distinctive forward canard), the Daher TBM 700 (high-performance single-engine turboprop), the Epic E1000 (carbon fiber composite turboprop), and the Piper PA-23 Apache 150 (a classic light twin). On the larger side, you’ll find the Airbus A380 (the world’s largest passenger aircraft), the US Coast Guard C-27J Spartan (military transport), and the Canadair CL-215 water bomber with a cockpit tour video. There’s also a detailed look at wing icing encountered on a Boeing 757, and highlights from Castle Air Museum including the B-52, F-15, and F-16.