J.K. Caldwell

Photo by Jay Selman First Impressions: The Epsilon scratches that fighter pilot itch. I can’t think of another reciprocating trainer that feels more like a fighter. It doesn’t just look fast; its acceleration, control harmony, and responsiveness are fast. It feels like the pinnacle of modern piston military trainers; a bridge between lively GA singles and entry-level jets. The Socata Epsilon is sometimes described as the “French T-34”, an understandable comparison if judged by its...

Jet Fuel Burning Diesel Engine Fun Photo by SC Runway Junkie First Impressions: Something in the traffic pattern sounded different. It wasn’t a radial, a Rotax, or a standard horizontally opposed aircraft engine. The RV-14 that I saw was zipping along fine but I couldn’t put my finger on why it sounded unusual until I saw the word “PROTOTYPE” emblazoned on the fuselage and the “DeltaHawk” logo after it landed. As a big fan of Van’s Aircraft, I have looked forward to the opportunity to fly...

Flying the Fortress Photo by Tim O'Brien First Impressions: The B-17 is more than just an airplane. It is a monument to a time in history where freedom itself hung in the balance. So much so, that an entire generation of young men left their homes to fight both in and over foreign lands. Flying Fortresses flew in every theater from start to finish, but will always be remembered for the job they did in the hostile skies over Europe as the workhorse of the “Mighty Eighth” Air Force. ...