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MaxFlight Simulator Officially Opens Next Week at AirVenture Museum

A MaxFlight Simulator--one of only three in North America--will begin operating next week at EAA's AirVenture Museum. The simulator recreates flight of an F-16 with three-axis, full 360-degree movement. The simulator was made a permanent fixture of the museum thanks to the generous support of board member David Lau. Read a review of the MaxFlight Simulator that appeared in AirVenture Today.
  

Attention Rotorcraft Fans: EAA Helicopter Weekend Set For September 22-23

Historic helicopters and gyrocopters from EAA AirVenture Museum’s collection plus others from military, corporate, emergency medical and the media will be on display at Helicopter weekend Sept. 22-23 at the EAA Aviation Center.
(read more)
  

SWRFI, MERFI Preparing For Annual Fly-Ins

Two of the longest-running EAA regional fly-ins take place in September: the EAA Mid-Eastern Regional Fly-in on Sept. 7-9 in Marion Ohio, and the EAA Southwest Regional Fly-In (SWRFI), Sept. 21-22 at Abilene, Texas. The SWRFI will hold its 37th annual event at the Abilene, Texas, Regional Airport (ABI). Meanwhile the MERFI is poised to hold its 36th event Sept. 7-9 at Marion, Ohio, Municipal Airport (MNN).
(read more)
  

National Park Service Advises Pilots to Ask For TFRs With Flight Briefs

New Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) are issued on a daily basis, especially this time of year as authorities battle numerous wildfires in the Western US. To make sure you know where such operations are taking place--and how to avoid them in your flight plans--ask for TFRs in your briefings.
(read more)
  

The second annual "Great Chute-Out on the Prairie" and "World Powered Parachute Competition" was held August 16-19 at the Greenville, Illinois, airport, and EAA was there to spend some time with powered parachute enthusiasts.
(read more)
  

On The Flight Line ---
Canadian Home Rotors Opens Second Factory
Canadian Home Rotors, Inc., makers of the Safari helicopter, has opened a second North American facility, in Marianna, Florida. The new facility is currently manufacturing composite blades and conducting flight training operations. Over the coming months, office, inventory control, manufacturing and builder work areas will be completed with the full operation coming on line in late fall. CHR is headquartered in Ear Falls, Ontario, Canada. Visit www.acehelicopter.com 
 
Investment Company Pumps $100 Million Into Cirrus 
Crescent Capital Investments, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, has purchased a 58 percent stake in Cirrus Design, makers of the SR-20, SR-22 and the still-in-development diesel-powered SR-21. Cirrus, based in Duluth, Minnesota, received shareholder approval for the financing package worth $100 million, it reported. The financing package virtually eliminates company debt in favor of equity and allows Cirrus to ramp up production to meet growing demand for its aircraft, as well as continue new product development. During AirVenture Oshkosh 2001, Cirrus announced delivery of its 200th aircraft.
Cirrus’ shareholders will also receive a cash capital distribution dividend. 
Crescent Capital is the US arm of the First Islamic Investment Bank of Bahrain.
www.cirrusdesign.com

SAIB Announced For Faulty Replacement Crankshafts on –360 Engines
The FAA has issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) on Textron Lycoming –360 engines that contain crankshafts installed at the factory between May 1, 1997, and April 30, 2000. SAIB 549 applies to engines that were shipped from the factory new, repaired, overhauled, or rebuilt and to engines with crankshafts that were purchased as Textron Lycoming spare crankshafts.
According to the company, a heat-treat operation was omitted on the shipped crankshafts. Five shaft failures and one nonconforming shaft were found in the field and eight more non-conforming shafts were found at Textron. If left undetected, a faulty crankshaft could fail, resulting in an engine seizure and an in-flight shutdown.
The FAA recommends that owners/operators of affected –360s in accordance with SB-549 to prevent failure of the crankshafts.
The complete SAIB can be seen at www.lycoming.textron.com/main.html

Phillips 66 Launches e-Store
Phillips 66 aviation oil can now be purchased online through the company’s new e-store at www.phillips66aviationoil.com.
The company announced earlier this month that oil could be purchased online and delivered in 3-5 business days. Price for a 12-court case of Phillips X/C 20W-50 oil is $23.50 plus shipping and handling costs.
The e-store also features a directory of Phillips aviation oil distributors in the US and Canada and technical support via e-mail. The site can also be access from the Phillips website at www.phillips66.com.
  

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