Wetzel Aviation

03/29/2026

Do you borescope? It’s a useful tool to see what the engine is doing.

03/22/2026

Rutan designs are wild. Sadly he’s getting up there in age also but I was fortunate to hear him speak on a few occasions. I enjoyed Bob Hoover and Chuck Yeager were always great also. I feel like I need to get out to events because sadly we are losing all of these aviation legends.

03/22/2026

A complaint filed in federal court in Florida is challenging the FAA’s system for reviewing complaints against and terminating designated pilot examiners.

03/21/2026

It’s condition inspection time…

03/21/2026

We have a new prop balancer coming next week. If you’ve never had your prop balanced it greatly improves vibration and makes the engine feel smoother. More to come!

03/15/2026

Fun Fact: The first step in an inspection is review of the paperwork followed by cleaning the aircraft. You don’t start inspecting until step 5, can you guess step 3 and 4?

One is for avionics and the other is _________.

03/15/2026

FAA and DOT officials have selected the City of Albuquerque Aviation Department—partnering with Reliable Robotics—for a new national pilot program testing next-generation electric aircraft — often referred to as “flying cars” across 26 states, with a local focus on autonomous cargo operations.

The aircraft, known as electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOLs), can lift off like helicopters and then fly like airplanes, are designed to be quieter, cheaper, and produce fewer emissions than traditional helicopters.

Over the next three years, the pilot program will test uses like cargo deliveries, regional trips between cities such as Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Durango, and emergency response missions, while the aircraft move through the FAA certification process. Early test operations in the Albuquerque area could begin as soon as this summer.

Albuquerque’s selection places the city in a small group of regions helping shape what many experts believe could become the next generation of advanced air mobility — laying the groundwork for future passenger air taxis and urban air travel.

03/15/2026

There have been many questions from people about operating limit changes for the new MOSAIC rules pertaining to maintenance. Feel free to message with questions. The process is simple and I’ve gotten 16 changed to date. I don’t mind the text and calls with questions. Once I explain the steps you’ll have them very quickly. The key is knowing where to route the request.

03/12/2026

Finally the lawmakers are taking notice to this problem

More states are crafting ADS-B protecting bills similar to the proposed federal Pilot and Aircraft Private Act.

03/10/2026

Here are the states that are included in the initial round of Air Taxi integration (per US DOT).

https://www.flyingmag.com/26-states-electric-aircraft-trials-summer/

03/10/2026

Sometimes we have to make light of situations.

03/08/2026

The first two air shows on the U.S. Navy Blue Angels’ 2026 season have been canceled. This comes as military installations implement heightened security measures in connection with the ongoing military operations against Iran that began over the weekend. https://vist.ly/4tucu