Mar 22, 2013 - It's not the first jet to qualify for age 65 social security, but it is one of the more iconic to hit that milestone. Sixty-five years ago today (Mar 22, 1948), the first Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star (or T-Bird) took to the skies piloted by Lockheed test pilot Tony LeVier. Over the next 12 years of production, 6,557 T-33 would be produced. Today there are only 97 examples left in the FAA Registry.

Mar 16, 2013 - With the CJAA Convention behind us and the upcoming airshow and flying season ahead of us, it's time to wrap up this year's membership drive and go to work on the 2013 Membership Guide. The 60-page guide will be published in booklet format and will include contact and aircraft information for all current CJAA members.

In the coming weeks, each member will receive a personalized email with their contact information. If it's correct, do nothing. If any of the data is out-of-date, you will be asked to fill out an online form with updated data. Expect that email during the last week of March.

Mar 10, 2013 - Dear Members,

As your newly elected CJAA President, I’d like to review for a moment the state of our organization and outline my vision of the future.

CJAA just concluded our 25th annual convention, a convention which attendance improved, in which the number and quality of professional speakers rose, in which our usual camaraderie was expanded to over 200 warbird owners, operators and suppliers, and a convention in which, for the first time, FAA representatives attended and engaged in constructive and mutually beneficial discussions. More about this later.

Mar 8, 2013 - The good folks at RedStar Pilots (and we know many CJAA members are also RPA members) have extended an invitation to particiate at the Apr 25-28 All Red Star 2013 event.

Mar 5, 2013 - Code 1 Aviation will be sponsoring a Midwest Warbird Fly-In over the April 25-28 weekend. Code 1 Aviation owner Nathan Jones, who has long supported jet warbirds in his region, is extending an invitation to any CJAA member who wants to participate.

For more information:

Feb 21, 2013 - Meeting at the 2013 CJAA Convention, members thanked outgoing directors Karl Kunze, Kay Eckardt and Richard Cooper for their years of service as directors on the CJAA Board. Replacing them are full directors Pierre Wildman and Mike Mangold, as well as alternates Darrell Gary and Scott Glaser.

2013 officers selected at the subsequent board meeting were Doug Matthews, President; Joe Scheil, Vice President, Bob Arnold, Treasurer and Phil Wood, Secretary.

Feb 13, 2013 - CJAA's 2013 convention is only a week away and reservations continue to pour in. It's not too late if you haven't made your reservation. Get on the phone now! (Note: The hotel is getting full. You may need to talk to them in person to get a room and the CJAA rate.)

For those still wondering what, where and how, here's our Ultimate Convention Reference:

Convention Date:

Feb 12, 2013 - The National Championship Air Races (NCAR) won't take place until September but planning activity is already underway. Our sister organization, Racing Jets Incorporated, has published their February Newsletter and interested parties are encouraged to follow their activities.

Feb 11, 2013 - CJAA's 2013 Convention schedule has been firmed up with a number of exciting topics and speakers. The full list includes:

• Doug Benjamin, Boeing Chief Pilot
• Mike Mangold, World Champion Air Race Pilot
• Kirk Kleinholz, CFII and Sales Manager, Dynon Avionics
• Rob Mitchell, Former Snowbird Pilot
• Doug Matthews, CJAA Safety Committee Chair
• Scott Glaser, Virgin Galactic Flight Test Engineer

The full agenda can be downloaded here:

Feb 9, 2013 - Last September we featured a "Jet Blast - USAF Style" video. In the interest of fairness, a video of US Navy F/A-18 Carrier Ops was submitted. This particular video follows Carrier Strike Group 8: F-18 E/F Super Hornet flight operations from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Enjoy!