Tailwinds Blog

Big Aviation Sale This Weekend at Tailwinds.com

Administrator — Fri, 25 May 2012 23:27:42 +0000

Sale – Sale – Sale
Now through Monday, Memorial Day. Save an extra 10% on all merchandise. No order minimum. Enter coupon code MMDS when ordering online.

Egyption Girl Invents New Spacecraft Propulsion Device

Administrator — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:54:38 +0000

Another girl makes a contribution to aviation.

Personalized Wood Airplane Signs

Administrator — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:01:40 +0000

At Tailwinds we’ve just added a new line of vintage wooden aviation signs. They are all handcrafted in the U.S.A. and are absolutely stunning airplane decor. The airplane signs are printed on planks of western hemlock and alder woods that are joined together with a tongue and groove method. The natural imperfections of distressed wood and knots add to the antique style of the signs. All can be personalized to make each a truly unique aviation gift. A fun, attractive gift idea for the man who has everything!
Wishing you Blue Skies & Tailwinds!™

Click here to see our collection of airplane signs & pilot plaques

DC-3 Airplane Weathervane

Administrator — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:54:06 +0000

We couldn’t resist this bit of aviation trivia. An Airplane Weather Vane is vying for the title of world’s largest weather vane in the Guinness Book of World Records. A retired Douglas DC-3 sits atop a swiveling support at the Yukon Transportation Museum which is right next to the Whitehorse International Airport. Amazingly, even as large as it is, the DC-3 windvane only requires a 5 knot wind to rotate. Worth a flyby if you’re in the area.
At Tailwinds, we don’t have weather vanes that are this large but we do offer a fine selection of Airplane Weather Vanes. Tailwinds has a variety of airplane weather vanes that are suited for installation on top of an aircraft hangar, cupola, gazebo, or roof. The smaller airplane windvanes also make a good focal point in a garden setting or mounted on a deck railing. We offer only top quality weather vanes that are handcrafted from the finest copper or heavy duty 14-guage steel. Don’t forget to look for our selection of Made In the U.S.A. weather vanes.
Wishing you Blue Skies & Tailwinds!™

General Aviation Pilots Who Volunteer

Administrator — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:01:32 +0000

There are many worthy organizations where pilots can donate their skill set to help make a difference in the world. One of those organizations is LightHawk. Volunteer pilots in North America donate their skills, plane and fuel to conservation partners. As pilots we know that seeing the land from the air provides a unique perspective of this magnificent country and its resources. If interested in learning more contact LightHawk.org. FYI, the image shown is from Point Reyes National Seashore in Northern California which is about an hour north of the Tailwinds office via land transportation.
Wishing you Blue Skies & Tailwinds!™

Airplane Balance Sculpture

Administrator — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:04:04 +0000

Our Flying Ace Balance Sculpture is one of the more unique airplane décor items that Tailwinds offers for sale. We like it, not only because it is attractive aviation décor, but also because it is educational. The Flying Ace Sculpture is an actual reproduction of a Victorian era balance structure that was designed to teach the science of balance through the use of a counter weight. We also like the fact that it is crafted from recycled metal.
Wishing you Blue Skies & Tailwinds!™

Hypersonic Aircraft Flies Out of Skin

Administrator — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 01:17:04 +0000

The cause of the crash of the hypersonic aircraft that flew into the

Pacific Ocean last August was announced today. DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, believed that the Hypersonic Technology Vehicle (HTV-2), literally flew out of its skin. Apparently larger than anticipated portions of the aerostructure peeled off the aircraft. The HTV-2 can travel of speeds up to Mach 20, which means it can fly from New York to Los Angeles in only 12 minutes!
Wishing you Blue Skies & Tailwinds!™

Space Shuttle Discovery

Administrator — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 22:11:56 +0000

Today, April, 17, 2012, Space Shuttle Discovery took it last flight in the wild blue yonder. Piggy-backed on a modified NASA 747 the shuttle flew from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral to its soon to be resting place at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. The Discovery shuttle’s maiden voyage was on August 30, 1984 and final space flight was on March 3, 2011. With 39 successful missions, the Discovery was in space for a total of 365 days, 22 hours, 39 minutes and 29 seconds.
Wishing you Blue Skies & Tailwinds!™

Playing with jet airplanes.

Administrator — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:17:38 +0000

Going on vacation to St. Maarten’s? Apparently there is a new thrill for tourists. You stand at the end of the runway and hang on to the airport fence to see if you can withstand the take-off jet blast. With a wind force of up to 100 mph many tourists are literally blown away. A restaurant lists daily flights on a surf board and instead of music the patrons listen to ATC. Hmm. I think creating a jet blast is more in line with what I think of as fun.
Wishing you Blue Skies & Tailwinds!™

Passenger Safely Lands Plane

Administrator — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:24:09 +0000

I have always believed that if someone is a frequent passenger when you fly they should learn the basics of flight. Last night an occurrence of this type in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin proved to be the perfect example. An 81 year old pilot, who happened to be the husband, lost consciousness during the flight. Flying a twin-engine aircraft, the 80 year old wife took control of the plane and declared an emergency. A CFI was able to fly alongside the plane and help to coach the wife to land. Even when she lost the right engine due to fuel exhaustion she was able to land with only minor injuries at Cherryland airport. Kudos to the wife, you just passed part of the multi-engine flight test by landing with just one engine.
Wishing you Blue Skies & Tailwinds!™