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News You Can Use
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FAA Approves New Two-Place
Ultralight Trainer Exemption
EAA supported petition submitted in
2000
EAA’s nearly two-year effort to
amend weight limitations for some two-place ultralight trainers has been
successful, as FAA has approved such a exemption for ultralight training
aircraft that carry certain safety devices, amphibious gear or outrigger
floats. EAA joined with Aero Sports Connection and the United States
Ultralight Association in June 2000 to petition FAA for the weight
limitation amendment. EAA cited public safety as the primary reason for
the petition and worked with FAA to finalize details of the exemption.
(read
more)
Bruce Bohannon Unofficially Sets
Altitude Record (Barely)
 It’s
not official yet, but it appears as though Bruce Bohannon and his Exxon
Flying Tiger have broken another altitude record at Sun ‘n Fun. On
Tuesday, April 9, Bohannon flew the turbocharged Tiger to 37,536 feet,
according to preliminary calculations by the National Aeronautics
Association (NAA). He had to rise above 37,300 feet to set the record.
Immediately after the flight, Bohannon was not
very confident. It all depended on the temperature at altitude: if it was
higher than standard, he likely had the record. If it was calculated to be
lower than standard, even by one degree Celsius, he would have fallen just
shy.
(read
more)
Microsoft to Create Wright Flyer Simulator For EAA’s Touring
'Countdown' Pavilion
 Microsoft, Corp., will develop a computer model of the Wright brothers’ 1903 Flyer for EAA’s traveling Countdown to Kitty Hawk exhibit. Visitors will have the chance to recreate the first flight themselves and find out how difficult it was to fly the real airplane through Microsoft’s popular “Flight Simulator” software.
EAA President Tom Poberezny made the announcement with Flight Simulator business development manager
Bruce Williams on opening day of Sun ‘n Fun in Lakeland, Florida.
(read
more)
EAAers Help Preserve Some Iowa Aviation Programs
A total of $500,000 in state general funds was ultimately approved to fund Iowa state aviation programs and services, which is a far cry from zero but well shy of the $2.2 million that was requested. As with most governmental funding issues, there were some wins and some losses, according to Michelle McEnany, Aviation Division Director, who thanked EAA members and chapters for their collective efforts in informing their local state representatives of the importance of aviation within the state. When the debate started, state aviation programs were completely unfunded.
(read
more)
Hundreds Attend Grassroots Gatherings at Sun ‘n Fun
 EAA President Tom Poberezny held a Grassroots Gathering on Sunday evening (April 7) at the Sun ’n Fun EAA Fly-In, attracting hundreds of EAAers to the International Sport Aviation Museum Amphitheater.
He traced the history of EAA, from its founding in 1953 by his father, Paul Poberezny, and a handful of others at Milwaukee’s Curtiss Wright Airport, to Oshkosh, where the home of Recreational Aviation will celebrate its 50th AirVenture this summer.
(read
more)
Chicago TFR Finally Ends
The Temporary Flight Restriction area over much of Chicago terminated on April 9 as the city and FAA Great Lakes Regional Office came to terms on the informational campaign intended to help ease post-September 11 public fear of airplanes flying in perceived close proximity to large city buildings. The dual campaign—one for the general public and one for pilots—will publicize what GA is and where it flies, while the pilot campaign will supply advisory information on recommended routes and flying etiquette, as well as asking pilots to spread the word among their own ranks.
EAA considers this a significant step forward to return general aviation to sensible regulations while maintaining important security considerations. EAA was part of the working group that was involved in easing the TFR while creating a information program for both the general public and pilots in that city.
Harrier Coming To Oshkosh
 One of AirVenture’s most favorite attractions of all time, the U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B “Harrier II” jump jet, returns for the 50th EAA convention. The unique fighter aircraft, which last appeared in 1999, will perform demonstrations of its unique vertical takeoff and landing ability.
The Harrier, manufactured by McDonnell Douglas and based at the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Arizona, is scheduled to appear July 26-28.
(read
more)
On-Line Poll Seeks to Find
Favorite Recreational Planes
There have been many different kinds of
recreational airplanes created and flown since the first Experimental
Aircraft Association Convention and Fly-In in 1953. This year in
commemoration of EAA’s landmark 50th convention, EAA wants to know which
are your favorites through the decades: from the 1950s to the present. So
we're conducting a poll on the AirVenture website for the next five weeks to
determine the favorites in the five decades since that first convention.
Go to the AirVenture
website, then click on the decade of the week located on the left side
of the screen and make your selection (one per decade, please). A new
decade will be added weekly so make sure you return to vote for your
favorite plane of each decade.
There
are plenty of examples from which to choose. Check back at a later date to
view the results of these surveys.
Uniforms From Korean War Sought For Re-Creation
We’re doing our best to put together the pieces of the past to recreate EAA’s first convention in 1953 for AirVenture’s celebration of the 50th EAA convention. To help illustrate the military tone of the times, volunteers are trying to locate various military uniforms from the Korean War era, 1952-53. These uniforms will be a part of the "First Fly-In Flight Line" area. If you have or know of any uniforms, please contact Carol Stadler at 920-303-5582, or 817-265-3405.
‘Wings On Strings’ Kite Weekend April 20-21 At EAA AirVenture Museum
One of man’s oldest flying devices, the kite, will be the featured flying object on April 20-21 during “Wings on Strings” weekend at the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh.
During the event, which recognizes April as National Kite Month, there will be expert demonstrations of kites featuring some of the biggest kites in the world, as well as “traction kites” and specially shaped kites. In addition, all Museum visitors are invited to participate in kite-making workshops, where they can design, decorate and fly their own kite
(read
more)
DOT Web Upgrade Slows Sport Pilot Comments
EAA encourages use of its site to speed comments to FAA
This week the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Docket Office has been upgrading its public web site, which is used when searching for the status of regulation proposals, as well as make or review comments on specific proposals. EAA is concerned about that upgrade, since a large number of comments regarding the Sport Pilot/Light-Sport Aircraft NPRM are expected to arrive at the Docket this month. A number of EAA members have noted problems with the new upgrade, as often occurs when new information software is installed.
(read
more)
On The Flight Line ---
Sonex Has Fifth Record Quarter
in a Row
First quarter 2002 was the fifth consecutive record sales quarter for Sonex, ltd, reports General Manager Jeremy Monnett. He credits the performance with increasing sales of Sonex kits plus the addition of two engine lines last year--Jabiru and the newly released AeroVee 2002. Sonex is the exclusive distributor for Jabiru Engines for the Sonerai Sport Aircraft Family. It offers Jabiru 2200 engines for $7700 and a complete Sonerai Firewall-Forward Package for $2500. A new,
45-minute AeroVee 2002 Assembly Video and Information Package is available for $25.
The video explains AeroVee 2002 the assembly process and will be included with all AeroVee 2002 Engine Orders.
www.sonex-ltd.com
Jeppesen Releases FliteStar/FliteMap V8.5
Newly released version 8.5, of Jeppesen’s FliteStar/FliteMap flight planning and moving map applications feature enhancements to its GPS-direct router, a more intuitive organization of chart features, and newly added weather animation capabilities. FliteStar/FliteMap users who are subscribers to one of its update services receive program updates automatically along with their NavData updates. Users of earlier versions who do not subscribe to an update service can upgrade to v8.5. Jeppesen offers a 30-day preview and a $239.40 annual subscription.
www.jeppesen.com.
Old Rhinebeck Prepares for 43rd Season
June 15 marks the beginning of the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome’s 43rd season of vintage airshows featuring aircraft from 1909-1940. Included in their collection is the oldest flying airplane in the U.S. – a 1909 Bleriot, powered by a 35 hp “Y” Anzani engine. A Bleriot was the first airplane to cross the English Channel.
Saturday shows focus on the history of flight, while Sundays are reserved for the World War I era, featuring dogfight reenactments with Old Rhinebeck’s Sopwith Camel and Fokker DR-1. Also this year, Old Rhinebeck is busy completing its exact replica of Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis Ryan NYP, which it plans to feature in commemoration activities for the 75th anniversary of Lindbergh’s New York-to-Paris flight.
Rhinebeck, New York, is located about 100 miles north of New York City. For more information, visit them on the web at
www.oldrhinebeck.org.
NAA Seeks Harmon Aeronaut Trophy Candidates
The most outstanding achievement in the art and/or science of ballooning is recognized annually by the National Aeronautic Association and its Harmon Aeronaut (Ballooning) Trophy. The NAA is seeking nominations for this esteemed award, whose past recipients include Charles Rosendahl (1927), Joseph Kittinger , Jr. (1959), and Steve Fossett (1998). Award emphasis is placed on the art of flying.
Nominations must be received at the NAA no later than May 31, 2002. To learn more, call 703-527-0226 or e-mail
awards@naa-usa.org.
Q & A:
Question of the Week
Question For EAA
Aviation Information Services:
Must an aircraft with flaps meet both stall speed limits? In other words, does an aircraft
with flaps have to stall at or below the "no flaps" stall speed limit w/o flaps, as well as meet the w/ flaps stall speed limit
with flaps extended?
Answer: The stall speed limits for light-sport aircraft should be applied in the following fashion:
ALL aircraft must meet the first limit - 39 knots (45 mph) in landing configuration. If the aircraft does not have flaps or other "lift enhancing devices" then it's landing configuration is without these devices. It still must stall at or below 39 knots in this landing configuration.
For aircraft that do have some form of lift enhancing devices, BOTH limits must be met. That is, the aircraft must stall at 39 knots or less in landing configuration AND 44 knots "clean" (without the use of lift enhancing devices).
From last week ...Our response to a member's question concerning the
Mooney Mite and its suitability for operation as a light sport
aircraft generated a tremendous response from Mite owners. In researching the answer, we could find no published number which matched the "max level flight speed at max continuous power (Vh)" requirement called out in the definition of light-sport aircraft (LSA). We did, however, find a published "max" speed, which was 138 mph. Unfortunately, no one at EAA headquarters has "hands-on" experience with the Mite, so we only had the published number to go by. We now know that this "max" speed for the Mite is not quite in line with what the aircraft will actually do in "real world" conditions.
According to what Mite owners have told us, the aircraft will fit nicely into the speed envelope specified for LSA. Unfortunately, there is still the issue of retractable landing gear. As the sport pilot/light-sport proposal currently stands, only amphibious aircraft will be allowed to have "repositionable" landing gear. Land aircraft with retractable landing gear, even a simple system such as on the Mite, won't qualify for operation by sport pilots. Thus, the speed issue is moot.
We appreciate the input from all the members who took time to write in on this issue. We now have a much better understanding of the performance capabilities of this aircraft.
- Joe Norris, Aviation Information Specialist
How can we help you?
To
ask a question regarding government issues, email govt@eaa.org. If you have a question
about registration, airmen, aircraft and medical certification,
safety records, performance or any other matter, email infoserv@eaa.org.
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