Pilot Clifford Gurske of Goodyear, Arizona, had no idea he had won the AOPA Sweepstakes Cessna 170B.

It all started with a phone call from AOPA colleagues Richard McSpadden and Dave Hirschman one hot, spring day: “Do you know of an A&P that could do a prebuy on a Cessna 170 near Auburn, Alabama?” asked McSpadden.

Thousands of race fans flocked to the Reno/Stead Airport in Reno, Nevada, September 13 through 17 to witness history as the Reno Air Racing Association closed out its 59-year-long run in “the Biggest Little City in the World.”

A young warbird pilot who inspired others was among four people killed in two separate accidents involving three aircraft on July 29, the final Saturday of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023 in Wisconsin.

Nearly three months have passed since the Reno Air Racing Association gave official notice that 2023 would be the last year of air racing at the Reno/Stead Airport in Nevada. Since then, we have heard very little regarding the future of the races and what is next for this storied aviation event.

When I was originally tasked with managing the restoration of the AOPA Sweepstakes Cessna 170B, I knew a couple things—one being that I wanted the engine upgrade to happen at the Barnstormer’s Workshop at the Peach State Aerodrome in Georgia. The second was that I wanted Gardner Lowe Aviation Services at Atlanta Regional Airport/Falcon Field, also in Georgia, to handle the panel upgrade.

Acme Aero, a manufacturer of backcountry and short takeoff and landing aftermarket products, received supplemental type certification for its Black Ops (main gear) and Stinger (tailwheel) shock absorbers for Piper PA–12, PA–14, PA–18, J–3, and PA–11 and CubCrafters CC–18 aircraft.