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EAA's B-17 in the 'Sunshine State' for Tour's Duration

In the upcoming week, EAA's B-17 bomber Aluminum Overcast wraps up its Tallahassee tour stop at TLH (October 10-12), then hops over to Ocala International Airport - Jim Taylor Field (OCF) October 14-15. From there it's over to St. Petersburg - Clearwater International Airport (PIE) October 18-19, and Sarasota/Bradenton Int'l Airport (SRQ) October 21-22. Aluminum Overcast will be in Florida for the remainder of the tour, wrapping up at Cecil Field Airport (VQQ), Jacksonville from November 14-16. See the entire schedule or reserve a flight today at www.b17.org.

Q & A: Question of the Week
Question for EAA Aviation Information Services: I’ve been thinking about building a Van’s RV-7A, which I know doesn’t fit into the sport pilot category. Or I may wait and buy a nice, shiny, new, 100 percent complete, sport pilot “ready-to-fly” aircraft.

In the current Popular Mechanics issue (October 2003, p. 80) it states, “The regulations will also make it easier to complete a homebuilt kit. Current rules require owners do at least 51% of the work. When the DOT signs off on the revised rules…you will be able to buy a kitplane that is 95% complete. And yes, painting counts toward the owners contribution to construction.”

Does this rule apply to experimental aircraft, or just sport pilot aircraft? And if it applies to sport pilot aircraft only, why would I want one only 95 percent complete? Why not buy a 100 percent complete airplane? Please clarify this.

Answer:
The implementation of the new sport pilot/light-sport aircraft (SP/LSA) rule does not affect the rules governing amateur-built aircraft. A person who wants to certificate an aircraft in the amateur-built category will still need to document that he/she has done the major portion (e.g., 51 percent or more) of the fabrication and assembly tasks.

Under the new LSA rules, a manufacturer will have the opportunity to have a kit approved as an LSA kit. These kits will be licensed in the experimental/LSA category when completed by the builder. There will be no major portion requirement for these kits, so the kit vendor may choose to offer an aircraft in kit form that’s 80% or 90% complete. These kits will need to be approved under the same industry consensus standard as are the ready-to-fly special/LSA aircraft. There will be no requirement for the builder to do any specific portion of the construction, and there will be no requirement for the builder to do any fabrication. Thus, these kits will not be “homebuilts” as are amateur-built aircraft. (By the way, painting does not count toward the required fabrication and assembly tasks on an amateur-built aircraft.)

As far as why you might want to build one of these new LSA kits, it would depend on what the cost difference is between the LSA kit and the comparable ready-to-fly special/LSA aircraft. If the kit vendors find that they can’t really offer the kit aircraft at a substantially lower cost than the comparable special/LSA, there may not be a kit version of that particular aircraft. However, some firms may choose to offer an aircraft in LSA kit form instead of as a ready-to-fly special/LSA, so there may not be a ready-to-fly version of some kits.

How can we help you?
To ask a question regarding government issues, e-mail govt@eaa.org. If you have a question about registration, airmen, aircraft and medical certification, safety records, performance, or any other matter, e-mail infoserv@eaa.org.

We are pleased to provide this info to EAA members as a membership benefit. To ensure that this service continues, renew your membership or join EAA today by calling 800/843-3612 or 920/426-5912.


Upcoming Workshops

October 18-19
Boston, MA
Topics: Sheet Metal Basics, Composite Construction, Fabric Covering, Electrical Systems and Avionics, Gas Welding, and What's Involved in Kitbuilding?

November 7-9
Griffin (Atlanta area), GA
Topics: TIG Welding

November 8
Griffin (Atlanta area), GA
Topic: Test Flying Your Project

November 8-9
Griffin (Atlanta area), GA
Topic: Fabric Covering, Finishing and Spray Painting, Gas Welding, and What's Involved in Kitbuilding?

October 2003
EAA Desktop Calendar


Take a 1940s SNJ, insert a 1960s OSH VOR in the background and mix in the fact this photo was taken at the 21st Century AirVenture Oshkosh and you have a photo for the ages. You can put this on your desktop in no time - just visit the EAA website.

EAA's Official Electronic Newsletter
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2004 July 27-August 2

THE COUNT TOWARD 1 MILLION YOUNG EAGLES: 980,847!

October 10, 2003 Volume 3, Number 49

News You Can Use ---

EAA AirVenture Special on Discovery Wings Premieres October 22

The Discovery Wings Channel will premiere Oshkosh 2003: Centennial Edition, a one-hour special focusing on this year’s EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, on Wednesday, October 22, at 9 p.m. ET, (8 p.m. CT). The special, originally scheduled to air in September, is an EAA TV-produced recap of the recently held EAA AirVenture Oshkosh convention. The program explores the world-changing impact of a century of powered flight, as seen through extensive insider coverage of EAA AirVenture, the world’s largest annual general aviation gathering.
(read more)

Jet Engine: ‘Greatest Aviation Innovation'

Eclipse Aviation announced this week that the jet engine is the people’s choice as the greatest aviation innovation of powered flight’s first 100 years...but not by much. Since April 2003, more than 16,000 people voted online or in person at one of six Countdown to Kitty Hawk pavilion tour stops, and the jet engine won by three tenths of a percent—37.4 percent to 37.1 percent—over the aircraft that started it all, the 1903 Wright Flyer.
(read more)

Poberezny Meets New Phillips GA General Manager

EAA President Tom Poberezny and newly appointed Phillips 66 General Aviation Manager Steven McCullough (ConocoPhillips) discussed future cooperative efforts between the two organizations Wednesday morning at the 56th annual National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Convention in Orlando, Florida. Poberezny briefed McCullough on EAA’s plans for the First Flight Centennial celebration December 12-17 in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, and the two discussed ways in which Phillips, a long-time EAA supporter, could participate and be recognized for their support of EAA and general aviation.
(read more)

Flight Centennial Celebration’s Final Day Sold Out

If you planned to attend the final day of December 12-17’s First Flight Centennial Celebration at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, and have yet to order your tickets, you might want to try eBay. Organizers have declared December 17 a sell out and expect 35,000 people to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the world’s first manned, powered flights by Orville and Wilbur Wright. EAA’s 1903 Wright Flyer authentic reproduction will recreate those first flights at 10:35 a.m., precisely 100 years later to the minute (weather permitting).
(read more)

EAA’s Countdown to Kitty Hawk Helps Usher in 56th NBAA Convention

At a special ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of EAA’s 1903 Wright Flyer authentic reproduction, EAA President Tom Poberezny joined FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey and Congressman John Mica (R-FL) and other luminaries to open EAA’s Countdown to Kitty Hawk touring pavilion at the National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA) 56th annual meeting and convention Tuesday morning at the Orlando/Orange County Convention Center, Florida. The Flyer and pavilion grace attendees as they enter the convention center.
(read more)

Operation Migration Ready to Start Third Mission

The pilots and ground crew for Operation Migration (OM) are poised to begin their third annual migration trip with whooping cranes. The group had set October 8 as their target date for leaving the Necedah (Wisconsin) National Wildlife Refuge en route to the Chassahowitzka (Florida) National Wildlife Refuge, however strong southwest winds have delayed their departure. Heather Ray, spokesperson for the OM, said Thursday afternoon that the pilots will attempt to depart every day, but “it doesn’t look like the winds will be favorable until Sunday morning (October 12).” Meanwhile, the OM team is in need of two aircraft radios and hopes someone out there can help.
(read more)

First Quarter SportAir Workshop Schedule Announced
EAA’s SportAir Workshops, where current and future homebuilders can learn from the experts, has eight sessions scheduled for the first quarter 2004. Locations include Corona, California (2); Oshkosh, Wisconsin; Denver, Colorado; Griffin, Georgia (2); and Dallas, Texas. Subjects range from RV-building, TIG welding, and aircraft construction methods to electrical systems and avionics.
(read more)

Polish Pilots' Flew Bravely for Britain
Authors Tell Their Story at EAA Museum Saturday

A little-known segment of World War II history, featuring expatriate Polish pilots flying in the Battle of Britain after the fall of their country in 1939, will be explored on Saturday, October 11, during a special presentation at the EAA AirVenture Museum. Lynne Olson and Stanley Cloud, authors of the just-published, A Question of Honor - The Kosciuszko Squadron: Forgotten Heroes of World War II, will discuss this long-ignored segment of World War II at 2 p.m. in the museum’s Eagle Hangar. (read more)

31st Copperstate Regional EAA Fly-In Under Way

Copperstate Regional EAA Fly-In, the year's final regional event and the largest EAA event in the southwestern United States, is under way at Phoenix Regional Airport (A39) through Sunday, October 12. Visitors can enjoy Saturday and Sunday air shows, educational forums and hands-on workshops, Young Eagles flights, aircraft judging, a wide variety of aviation vendors, hundreds of airplanes, and much more. For complete details on the 31st annual event, visit the Copperstate website at www.copperstate.org.

Interested in Becoming an NDPER?
Attention: Vintage and Warbird DPEs, PPEs, and CFIs
If you are already an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE), a Pilot Proficiency Examiner (PPE), or a Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) in vintage multi-engine aircraft, it would not take much more to become an FAA National Designated Pilot Examiner (NDPER) and/or a National Designated Flight Engineer Examiner (NDFEER).
(read more)

EAA Centennial Homebuilt of the Week

Adam Bruss, EAA 403146, Phoenix, Arizona, used the nights-and-weekends method to build his EAA Centennial Homebuilt Europa Classic/XS. Over the course of his eight-year project, he ‘s been married, had two children, bought two homes...and learned a lot. “A monumental task in patience,” he called building N8XS. “What a wonderful way to commemorate the 100 years of flight.” Read more about Adam's project. EAA now has nearly 200 registered centennial homebuilts featured on the EAA website. To read all about them and the program, visit www.eaa.org/homebuilders/centennial.asp.

Timeless Voice of the Week
Jay Carter, Jr., EAA 69123, Burkburnett, Texas, is the president and founder of CarterCopter LLC, maker/developer of the promising CarterCopter autogyro rotorcraft which debuted before the public at AirVenture 2002. Jay’s career has taken him from near multi-million dollar business deals to bankruptcy, but he has never lost sight of his goals. His team's efforts are keenly focused now on making aviation history with his potentially revolutionary rotorcraft. Read more about Jay's intriguing story on the Timeless Voices website, www.timelessvoices.org.

On The Flight Line ---

FHI to Build Wing Assemblies For Eclipse 500
Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) will manufacture complete wing assemblies for the Eclipse 500 jet, the companies announced at the National Business Aircraft Association Conference in Orlando, Florida. As a part of the agreement, Eclipse will license its friction stir welding process to FHI for use in the Eclipse 500 wing assemblies as well as other potential applications within FHI’s manufacturing operations. FHI is a global manufacturer of transportation and aerospace-related products as well as Subaru automobiles. “The relationship with Fuji Heavy Industries marks an important milestone in our program as we not only partner with an aerospace leader to manufacture a major sub-assembly for the Eclipse 500, but also gain significant validation for the friction stir welding process we pioneered,” said Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation. “I am pleased that Fuji Heavy Industries has recognized the value of this next-generation joining process and is embracing it across its business.” For more information, visit www.eclipseaviation.com and www.fhi.co.jp/english/index.html.

Carter Delays Mu-1 Attempt
Carter Aviation Technologies (CAT) delayed its attempt to break the elusive Mu-1 barrier for rotorcraft, originally scheduled for November 22 at the Organization for Sport Aviation Competition’s (OSAC) Air Games at the Texas Motor Speedway, Ft. Worth, Texas. (Mu is the ratio between the forward speed of the aircraft and the tip speed of the rotor on a rotary winged aircraft. Most helicopters fly with a Mu of .5 or less, and it was thought that exceeding an Mu of 1 was not possible.) Carter President, Jay Carter, Jr., said the critical flight-testing schedule was interrupted by the CarterCopter prototype’s wheels-up landing incident earlier this year that caused extensive damage to the engine compartment. Along with repairs to the fuselage, Carter installed a new turbocharged 400 hp, engine, upgraded systems that were causing intermittent problems, and upgraded their patented landing gear. “Our basic technology has been proven with almost 100 hours of successful flight-testing,” Carter said. “We are now progressing to the next level and conquering Mu-1 is the first step in expanding the scope of our technology. There are risks involved and our approach has always been one of safety first. If exceeding Mu-1 was an easy process the barrier would have been broken long before now.” CAT hopes to make the Mu-1 attempt in spring 2004. For more information, visit www.CarterAviationTechnologies.com.

Feik, Wood-Kelly Named 'Stinson' Winners
Mary S. Feik, military pilot and aircraft mechanic, and Ann Wood-Kelly, military pilot and airline executive, were named winners of the 2003 Katherine and Marjorie Stinson Award by the National Aeronautic Association. Feik, EAA 102696, has been flying, fixing and restoring airplanes for 60 years. She served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and later became the first female engineer in research and development for the Air Technical Service Command at Wright Field in Ohio. After retirement, she joined EAA and began aircraft restoration projects, including a Northrup Alpha for the National Air and Space Museum. Wood-Kelly also got into aviation early in life, learning to fly and teaching others before famous aviatrix Jacqueline Cochran recruited her to serve as one of 24 women U.S. pilots to join the British Air Transport Auxiliary, whose mission was to ferry war planes from factories to air bases during WWII. She flew more than 900 planes. She went on to work for Northeast and Pan Am Airlines and served more than 30 years in airline management. Both women will receive their awards at NAA's fall awards banquet on November 10 in Arlington, Virginia.

Chambliss Joins Elite Pilot Group With Third USNAC Title
Kirby Chambliss won his third United States National Aerobatic Championship at the recent competition in Denison, Texas. Chambliss, flying an Edge 540, placed first with an overall score of 86.69 percent followed by Michael Racy with 84.64, and Zach Hefley, 83.89. He won all three flights (known compulsory, freestyle, and unknown). Chambliss, who won the same title in 1998 and 2002, became the fifth three-time winner of the prestigious title, joining such notable pilots as Gene Soucy, Leo Loudenslager, Clint McHenry, and Patty Wagstaff. USNAC competition was held September 21-26 at Grayson County Airport (GYI). For complete USNAC results, visit www.usnationals.net.

Be A Pilot Results Dip Slightly, But Remain Strong
In late September, pilot prospects generated by the Be A Pilot program in 2003 stood at 26,683, down just 3.2% from 2002’s strong pace. The pilot-starter’s president/CEO Drew Steketee reported that despite the Iraq war and a difficult economy, “The program recovered from a very rough spring to near 2002 levels.” Steketee addressed the National Business Aviation Association's annual meeting this past week in Orlando, Florida. “Despite the Iraq war and a difficult economy this year," he said. Comparing the FAA registry against only Be A Pilot prospects from September 2000 through May 2003, the research found that an average of 7.1% of new pilots or student pilots had come to aviation through Be A Pilot. Among those Be A Pilot prospects who had registered with the program at least 12 months prior to a given month of new FAA data, the proportion of Be A Pilot prospects among new pilots or student pilots was as high as 15%. Read the complete news release at www.beapilot.com/NR317.pdf.
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