Ian Twombly

Frederick

Senior Content Producer at Aopa Pilot

Senior Content Producer Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association

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Articles

Spot me

1 month ago | aopa.org | Ian Twombly

STOL videos are fun to watch. Seeing stripped-down Cessnas and homemade purpose-built tailwheel airplanes land and stop in mere feet brings out the airborne cowboy in all of us. There’s just one problem. The techniques that work in short takeoff and landing competitions might be effective for videos, but they’re unsafe for most of us. STOL videos are aviation’s equivalent to NASCAR.
Classic champion

Jan 24, 2025 | aopa.org | Ian Twombly

The plan was ambitious. Five classic tailwheel airplanes. Seven tests. One day. It would be the ultimate showdown to determine, after 80 years of debate, which airplane is the best. On the list of airplanes you must fly before you hang up your wings, a classic tailwheel always places prominently. And among the many options, some believe that a Piper Cub is the ultimate choice.
Buyer be aware

Jan 15, 2025 | aopa.org | Ian Twombly

The cost of maintaining an airplane can far outweigh the cost of purchasing one. Major engine work, structural repairs, or a lack of parts supply are all potential gotchas that can quickly turn a $100,000 investment into a $200,000 spending spree. A prepurchase evaluation is designed to prevent that from happening. We spoke with Paul New, owner of Tennessee Aircraft Services, for his advice on how to approach the prepurchase evaluation process.
Good and Bad

Jan 1, 2025 | aopa.org | Ian Twombly

Publications devote special issues to naming the best cars of the year, and Consumer Reports and others carve out lucrative businesses from telling us what not to buy. Why don’t we do the same with airplanes? About a year ago I wrote a short story for our sister magazine, AOPA Pilot, giving examples of a few maligned airplanes. These weren’t my opinions; it was a compilation of airplanes that cost less than their competitors, have poor support, or are odd outliers.
Unwanted camping

Jan 1, 2025 | aopa.org | Ian Twombly

Most of these are minor, but some are more serious incidents or accidents that result in substantial damage or injuries. Being prepared to handle that potentiality is an unfortunate reality of being a pilot. Experts say that acceptance is the first step to being successful in an emergency situation. That’s as true after the incident as it is before. Like most activities, flying has risks that we must be able to anticipate. An aircraft can fly anywhere, regardless of what’s on the ground.
Behold, the future

Jan 1, 2025 | aopa.org | Ian Twombly

The always-crowded light sport aircraft field is set to become even more expansive as the FAA works toward a final rule that will enable a host of innovative technologies, increased gross weight, and a greater range of capabilities as part of a major rulemaking framework called MOSAIC. Manufacturers, especially those based in Europe that already have certificated adaptations, are already lining up, frothing at the new market.
Oh, my aching back

Oct 23, 2024 | aopa.org | Ian Twombly

Twenty-four years ago, I set off in my uncle’s Piper Cub from its base outside Memphis to another uncle’s house outside Atlanta. My best friend was sitting in the front seat. He was always up for an adventure, and sitting in the front seat of a Cub bouncing along for hours in the summer heat is most certainly an adventure.
Never fly alone

Oct 22, 2024 | aopa.org | Ian Twombly

The vastness and the enormity of the weather can at times make us feel small and alone. But at least when it comes to understanding the weather, you’re never alone. In addition to the wealth of weather information we have before taking off, many sources of information are available to us en route as well. They come broadly from three sources. Panel or iPadThe most easily accessible and robust source of in-flight weather comes from your airplane’s panel or your iPad.
Say again

Oct 22, 2024 | aopa.org | Ian Twombly

Training at a reasonably busy regional airport with two runways and airline traffic, I was pretty adept at communicating with the control tower while working in the pattern. Or at least I thought I was. Coming off my successful first solo, I was feeling supremely confident in my ability to do an hour of touch and goes in the pattern. It was to be an opportunity to practice skills, but more importantly, to gain confidence flying alone in the airplane.
Maintenance shop owner

Oct 22, 2024 | aopa.org | Ian Twombly

New is the owner of Tennessee Aircraft Services, a small maintenance facility based in Jackson. He draws 210 owners from all over the country who come to him for his intimate knowledge and vast experience with the airplane. But New started his aircraft maintenance journey as an avionics technician and only moved into owning a shop after his father decided to retire.