George C. Larson

George C. Larson served as editor of Air & Space from 1985 to 2005. He is currently an inactive pilot, but holds a commercial pilot's license, with instrument and multi-engine ratings. He is between airplanes at this time, but has owned or operated a Grumman American AA-5B Tiger and a Mooney 201. He has been writing about aviation since 1972, when he joined the staff of Flying Magazine.

In a 1935 publicity stunt, Fred Key checks the oil in flight.

The Pressure’s On

The ingenious—and goofy—modifications of endurance flights.

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Learning to Love Props–Again

Regional airliners powered by turboprop engines may be making a comeback

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Out of Work? Keep Training—For Free

One company's attempt to help out in hard times.

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A World Without Helium?

The second most plentiful element in the universe is rapidly running out here on earth.

The original Yak design, powered by a liquid-cooled inline engine, made its mark as a Soviet fighter in World War II. Will Whiteside and team SteadFast have completely modified his Yak-3U.

One Fast Yak

How Will Whiteside and his team transformed a light trainer into a racer.

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Need for Speed

Vincent Bendix wanted his trophy to spur better and faster airplanes, and he got his wish.

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Dr. Noise

Want your luxury jet to be just a little quieter than your competitor’s? Otto Pobanz is your man.

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Radio Flyer

In 1957, the Narco Superhomer was The Great New Thing.

Eurocopter's X3.

High-Speed Helicopters Come of Age

By adding a little push, compound helicopters push the speed limit up to 300 mph

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The Bind of Bio-fuels

The Lufthansa trials highlight a problem posed by bio-fuels generally: They're not available yet in sufficient quantity or at an affordable price

Bob Smyth, Grumman Test Pilot (1927-2012)

He flew the first flight of the F-14A Tomcat in 1970, but made bigger headlines when he had to eject from the aircraft just nine days later

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Wichita Takes a Hit

For aerospace workers in Kansas, the New Year started off with more bad news

Voyager (here, over Southern California) took off with 7,011 pounds of fuel; when it landed, it had only 106.

From Point A to Point A

Twenty-five years ago, Burt Rutan’s Voyager became the first aircraft to make an around-the-world flight without refueling.

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No Escaping Death and (Carbon) Taxes

North American airlines lost their bid to throw out a carbon tax on aircraft flying to Europe. Expect transatlantic fares to go up

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No Way to Treat a Hero

Would Chesley Sullenberger really want to be FAA Administrator?

A 2010 flight of two F-15Es (here, a Strike Eagle in Afghanistan earlier this year) saved the lives of 30 coalition troops surrounded by 100 insurgents.

Moments and Milestones: Trophy Mission

Honors for a risky bombing run

The China Clipper "scudded along a considerable sea swell" before vaulting into the air, reported Leo Kieran.

Moments and Milestones: Once Around

The 75th anniversary of a round-the-world trip.

Where do you park a zeppelin (here, the Navy airship Los Angeles)? On a seven-story-high mooring mast.

Last One Out, Shut off the Helium

Fifty years ago, the Navy ended its lighter-than-air program.

The X2 takes off like a helicopter, but has almost the speed of its high powered fixed-wing brethren.

From Zero to 250

Sikorsky’s X2 is more hot rod than helicopter.

Just months after Lieutenant Paul Beck made an early airborne radio transmission, aviators test a receiving set - with the airplane's engine running - on North Island, Washington.

Moments and Milestones: Can You Hear Me Now?

When radio communication took to the air.

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