This National Park Week (Aug. 22-30) there is no better way to celebrate America’s “best idea” than by a visit to a National Park unit that celebrates America’s aviation heritage.

Established in 1937 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to coincide with Orville Wright’s birthday (Aug. 19), National Aviation Day has become an enduring tribute to the pioneers, innovators and professionals who make flight possible. Each year, we commemorate this day by reflecting on aviation’s profound impact on our nation’s history and the promise of its future.

There was no red carpet for the ‘Oscars’ of General Aviation. Presenters and award recipients didn’t wear tuxes or designer gowns. The awards venue, rather than being a huge concert hall, was a welcoming outdoor pavilion aptly named “Theatre in the Woods.” This was the setting at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026, when then-FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau recognized three outstanding aviation professionals in flight instruction, aviation maintenance, and flight safety for their significant contributions during the annual General Aviation Awards ceremony.

Originally from Vernal, Utah, Daniel Cohl Pope has a knack for taking things apart. His goal was always to fix it, whatever it was, broken or not. That hands-on mentality led Cohl to enlist in the Air Force in 1990 to repair and keep aircraft flying.

Weather awareness is crucial in general aviation (GA) for several reasons, the primary being safety. Pilots must be mindful of potential hazards, such as thunderstorms, to make informed decisions that ensure the safety of passengers, crew, and the aircraft.

The FAA is laying the groundwork for the resurgence of civil supersonic flights over the continental U.S. “Advances in aerospace engineering, materials science, noise reduction, and new operational concepts will eliminate the old sonic boom,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “This means we can ultimately repeal the ban from the 1970s on supersonic flight over U.S. territory while ensuring minimal noise impacts to residents in communities along the route and near airports.”

The Aviation Weather Handbook (AWH) was updated this spring. Just as pilots should routinely get updated forecasts before flight, it’s advisable to refresh your basic weather knowledge, too. The AWH also covers the theory behind weather systems and the atmospheric structure.

The annual summer migration is underway. As millions of Americans head out for vacations, family visits, and long-awaited adventures, the FAA is working around the clock to keep the nation’s airspace safe, efficient, and moving.

Most pilots are great at planning the flight they intend to fly. Pilots look at the weather, choose a route and altitude that make sense, pick a reasonable departure time … and sometimes file a flight plan. But sometimes they don’t. If the weather looks marginal, pilots will glance through alternates and maybe even write down a few airport codes. Even if all looks good, they still check for the usual trouble spots — TAFs (terminal aerodrome forecasts), radar, NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen), etc. It’s a familiar rhythm, and for most flights, it works just fine.

Flying under visual flight rules (VFR) is a great way to experience general aviation (GA). VFR offers a sense of freedom that many pilots prize. So long as the weather cooperates, pilots can fly VFR from one end of the country to another. VFR flying allows a more flexible, less rigid approach than instrument flight rules (IFR). In some cases, VFR flexibility can offer advantages over IFR, even when the weather deteriorates, and air traffic control (ATC) procedures may restrict operations. While they are edge cases, these circumstances do exist. And some pilots prefer to hold complete control...