YouTuber Ordered to Pay Defendant $1-Million+

A Texas court ruled on 16 August 2023 that online allegations made by controversial YouTuber Dan Gryder against Texas pilot and airport-owner Charles Cook were false and defamatory. Judge John P. Chupp of the 141st District Court in Texas’s Tarrant County ordered Gryder to pay Cook a total of $1,081,667 plus interest accruing at five-percent annually "until all amounts are paid in full”—according to court records.

Total 2023 Sales to Date Exceed $1.6-Billion

The Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) has released its second-quarter 2023 Avionics Market Report. In the first six months of the year, total worldwide business and general aviation avionics sales amounted to $1,601,414,712.48, or more than $1.6-billion as reported by participating companies.

Hail the Deserving Victor

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and the Ninety-Nines International Organization of Women Pilots have announced Julie Clark is to be awarded 2023’s Katharine Wright Memorial Trophy.

Dakota Territory Air Museum Welcomes All

Minot, North Dakota’s Dakota Territory Air Museum will observe National Aviation Day with a gala event featuring flight- and static-displays of vintage aircraft, free plane rides, and a drawing to determine the winner of the museum’s 27th annual sweepstakes. Among aircraft to be displayed at the event are recently-restored WWII-era P-51 Mustang and P-47 Thunderbolt fighter planes.

Of Reaping and Sewing

Government and media outlets in Canada, the U.S., and Europe ascribe the prevailing paucity of CFIs primarily to COVID layoffs. The truth, as ever, resists simplicity, and in the prevailing instance, speaks to the perils of poor planning and complacency.

Braving Hell in Paradise

General aviation aircraft owners and pilots mobilized their machines and mustered their skill, courage, and humanity in equal measure for purpose of establishing a supply-line by which to provide humanitarian relief to the people of fire-ravaged Lahaina. The supply-line effort by which Lahaina was sustained during the fires’ second week was conceived of and organized by CFI and flight-school owner Laurence Balter and Maui Brewing founder Garrett Marrero. Utilizing little more than text-messages and social-media, the pair recruited pilots, aircraft, volunteers, and donors, the combined efforts of which facilitated the commencement of relief flight operations of 11 August 2023.