Sport Pilot Update: FAA Responding to OMB Questions on Economic Impact

The FAA is gathering additional information for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which recently responded with additional questions regarding the proposed Sport Pilot/Light Sport Aircraft rule's economic impact. Despite the slower-than-anticipated process, FAA's Sue Gardner assured EAA this week that the proposal is "alive and well."
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S-M-T Programs - Flight Site and Wild Blue Wonders - Ready For Takeoff!

Beginning this fall, elementary schools and other youth-oriented groups can purchase EAA’s S-M-T Flight Site, which are ready-made educational kits designed to help 3rd, 4th and 5th graders learn about science, math and technology. FS grads progress to the Wild Blue Wonders program for Middle School students.
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Major Phone Upgrade This Weekend at EAA Offices

Offices at EAA headquarters in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, are undergoing major phone system maintenance this weekend, beginning Friday evening, Sept. 7 and continuing through Sunday, Sept. 9. During this time, telephone access to the EAA Aviation Center, EAA AirVenture Museum and other associated numbers will not be available. You may receive a busy signal or no answer if you attempt to contact EAA offices during this period. The telephone system will be fully operational once again on Monday morning, Sept. 10. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
  

NAA Unable to Confirm Keyt’s Record Flight at AirVenture 

An apparent mix-up at the Chicago Center inadvertently erased the radar data that the National Aeronautics Association needs to confirm Dick Keyt’s record 500-km flight in his Polen Special on July 26. Without the data, the flight can’t be declared a record.
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U.S. National Aerobatic Championships Press On Through Bad Weather

Gray Skies in Grayson County, Texas: The U.S. National Aerobatic Championships in Denison, Texas, has had to battle unseasonably rainy weather since opening on Sunday. Read the full daily reports on the IAC website, where continuous updates have been posted throughout the week.
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Marshfield, Wisconsin’s EAA Chapter 992 has successfully partnered with the local school district in a student summer Space Camp, while Adrian, Michigan's Chapter 1190 provided needed volunteer support at AirVenture 2001.
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Collectors: 2001 AirVenture Pennants now available

You can now purchase the actual “Aviation Firsts” pennants that were flown this year above the main entrance to AirVenture 2001. Just visit EAA’s Aeronautica on-line store for all the details, then order your own 3 x 5-feet, silk-screened red or blue pennant. Supplies are limited so don’t delay!
  

On The Flight Line ---
National Park Service Reminds Pilots to Check TFRs
It's that time of year again -- time for thousands of brave men and women to risk their lives fighting wildfires around the country. A lot of this work involves high levels of flight activity as specially equipped aircraft drop retardant chemicals and water on fires. It also involves temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) that can pop up pretty much any place. Often, real-time information regarding TFR locations can be difficult to find. However, a new web site established by the U.S. Forest Service's Bureau of Land Management aims to take much of the guesswork out of your pre-flight chores. The site is focused on the Pacific Northwest, but also has links to similar information maintained on TFRs for the rest of the U.S. Please visit ...
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/fire/aviation/airspace/ 
  
Superior Named Worldwide Sales Rep For TAE 110 and 125 Engines
Superior Air Parts, Inc., Dallas, Texas, is the newly appointed exclusive worldwide sales rep for Thielert Aircraft Engines (TAE) 110 and 125 Jet A piston aircraft engines. The 4-cylinder, 4-valve diesel engines are turbocharged, direct injected, liquid-cooled and specifically designed for GA.
The TAE 110 is JAA 145 certified and the 125 is installed in a Piper PA 28 in Germany with over 1000 flight hours. The engine may be installed in a Cessna 172 later this year.
Features of the engines include FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control); Turbo with no power loss to 12,000 feet; 3,000-hour TBO; and it runs on Jet A1 Fuel
Superior is the largest manufacturer of FAA-approved replacement parts for Lycoming and Continental aircraft engines and is a leading manufacturer of aftermarket and new replacement engines. Visit www.superiorairparts.com. 
  
Diamond Air Receives IFR certification
Diamond Aircraft's 4-place DA-40 Diamond Star has received FAA Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) certification and just four weeks after its first North American deliveries, which were announced at AirVenture. The all-composite aircraft features the Lycoming 180hp IO-360 engine, a choice of Bendix King or Garmin avionics, and is priced at $189,900, equipped for IFR flight. For further information call 888-359-3220, or visit www.diamondair.com. 
  
MCR 4S Revolution #2 Makes First Flight
American Ghiles Aircraft (AGA), Orlando, Florida, announced the first flight of its second MCR 4S Revolution (serial # 002) kitplane. The MCR 4S is powered by a Rotax 914 115 hp turbocharged engine and a two blade constant speed MT-Propeller. Newly designed winglets where tested on the initial flight.
AGA features a line of one single-place, six two-place, and one four-place kit airplanes with more than 500 flying. For more information, visit www.aircraftkit.com/. 
  
Large Turnout For SkyStar Aircraft Open House
SkyStar Aircraft experienced the best turnout yet for its fifth annual open house at its Caldwell, Idaho, headquarters. The Kitfox folks welcomed 35 airplanes and 135 attendees, among them featured guest speaker, the FAA’s Sport Pilot/Light Sport Airplane project manager Sue Gardner. The event included technical seminars from representatives of Continental Engines and Rotax in addition to a two-day cover and painting program using Poly Fiber products. Kitfox pilots demonstrated their flying skills in several competitions including dropping flower bombs, shooting down balloons, taking off in less than 200 feet and landing on the spot.
And, what about next year? SkyStar President Ed Downs was looking forward to 2002. “Our folks are already working on some new ideas,” he said. “We expect attendance at future open houses to expand well beyond just Kitfox owners.”
www.skystar.com.
  

Q & A: Question of the Week