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Upcoming 
Aviation Events

Young Eagles Rallies

EAA AirVenture 
Museum Events

EAA Countdown to Kitty Hawk Centennial Coverage

Century of Flight - Aviation Edition Monopoly


Same great Monopoly fun, only you can buy the 1903 Wright Flyer or an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and place them on hangars and airports. "Chance" and "Community Chest" are now "Jets" and "Prop" cards, with hot-air balloon, an airship, a monoplane, a helicopter and other aircraft as game pieces. Buy the famous P-51 Glamorous Glennis, or your own Concorde. The special aviation edition is priced at $35.95. See this and more on the Aeronautica website, http://shop.eaa.org.

Q & A: Question of the Week
Question for EAA Aviation Information Services:
Where can I get a look of the proposed sport pilot/light-sport aircraft rule that was sent over to the White House Office of Management and Budget?

Answer:
The sport pilot/light-sport aircraft final rule will not be a public document until it is published in the Federal Register, which will not happen until OMB completes their review and sends it back to the FAA. Thus, nobody outside of the FAA, DOT, and OMB, is allowed to see the contents of the final rule until that time.

The only public document at this time is the original NPRM, which is available through our sport pilot web site at www.sportpilot.org. Keep watching that site for updates as we move toward the implementation of the sport pilot rule.

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 

February 27-29
Corona (LA area), CA
Topic: RV Assembly

March 6-7
Dallas, TX 
Topics: Introduction to Aircraft Building, Sheet Metal Basics, Composite Construction, Fabric Covering, Electrical Systems and Avionics, Gas Welding and What's Involved in Kitbuilding? 

March 19-21
Griffin (Atlanta area), GA
Topic: TIG Welding

March 20-21
Watsonville, CA 
Topics: Introduction to Aircraft Building, Sheet Metal Basics, Composite Construction, Fabric Covering, and What's Involved in Kitbuilding? 

February 2004
EAA Desktop Calendar

January's EAA Skiplane Fly-In provides February's EAA Desktop Calendar. Bill Weber, Belvidere, Illinois, has a novel way to keep his Champ's prop protected from the elements: a two-headed fox prop cover! Visit the EAA website and select one of four resolutions for your computer desktop.

EAA's Official Electronic Newsletter
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2004 July 27-August 2
"Launching the Next Century of Flight"

February 20, 2004   Volume 4, Number 7

On Monday morning, February 23, the FAA begins its on-line public meeting regarding the National Air Tour notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). This “meeting” is for supplementing traditional comment periods for the NPRM governing commercial air tours and sightseeing flights throughout the United States. FAA’s Internet forum gets under way at 9 a.m. EST and runs through 4:30 p.m. on March 5. To participate, visiting the FAA website. Under the “View Docket/Comments” column, click on “Enter Public Meeting.” Follow the instructions to participate in the discussion.

High demand has led the FAA and Transportation Safety Institute to schedule a third amateur-built designated airworthiness representative (AB-DAR) course for March 30-April 1 at the Transportation Safety Institute in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Marine One helicopter pilot Lt. Col. Lindy Kirkland, organizer of Operation Centennial Angel, reports that plans for a March 16 special fund-raising flight for Angel Flight East are progressing well. Kirkland and fellow pilot Maj. Rob Krieg plan to set an NAA-sanctioned (National Aeronautic Association) U. S. national record by landing on 100 Virginia runways in a single day. Starting and ending at Dulles International Airport, they plan to land at all 67 public-use runways in Virginia along with selected military and private fields.

Make your plans now to attend EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2004 on July 27-August 4! One item you'll need is the EAA AirVenture Planning Guide. In the planning guide, you'll find useful information about the many lodging options, handicapped services, driving directions, commercial flight information, vehicle rental, ground transportation services and more. View on-line or print the four-page pdf file and you'll be well on your way to mapping your AirVenture adventure!

The EAA AirVenture Museum commemorates a historic era in military aviation and welcomes a special new aircraft for display during a “Salute to Tuskegee Airmen” on Wednesday, February 25. The aircraft, a North American T-6 trainer on long-term loan from a private owner in Delaware, is believed to be just one of two T-6 aircraft known to exist that were used by the Tuskegee Airmen, the African-American pilots who battled discrimination to become one of the top American flying units in the European Theater. EAA will also welcome two original Tuskegee Airmen, Richard Macon and Robert Martin, to the museum for a special presentation on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the museum’s Eagle Hangar.

The amateur-built aircraft accident rate has taken a major decline over the past year, with Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) programs playing a major role in the remarkable reduction in accidents and fatalities. Figures released by the FAA indicate that the homebuilt aircraft accident rate has dropped 25 percent for the 12-month period ending Sept. 30, 2003. Over that same period, the fatal accident rate has dropped an even more remarkable 36 percent. These figures are especially impressive because registrations of amateur-built aircraft have reached record numbers. Over that same 12-month period, total homebuilt aircraft registrations grew to more than an all-time high of 25,000 in the U.S. alone.

In recognition of Black History Month, this week’s “Voice” was a significant contributor toward the success of the famed Tuskegee Airmen during WWII. Charles Alfred “Chief” Anderson (1907-1996) overcame prejudice and discrimination to become the first black aviator to earn an Air Transport rating in the United States. He was chief flight instructor for the Civilian Pilot Training Program at the Tuskegee Institute in the late 1930s. Under Chief’s direction, his Tuskegee pilots became the 99^th Pursuit Squadron, and later the highly successful 332^nd Fighter Group – famous for never losing a bomber to enemy fighters while under their protection. Chief’s interview by EAA’s Vintage Division came during the 1992 Oshkosh Fly-In/Convention. Read about his extraordinary experiences on the Timeless Voices website.

Klein Tools Continues Sponsorship of Mancuso Airshows
Klein Tools recently announced its fourth consecutive year of major sponsorship of Michael Mancuso Airshows. Mancuso, a 15-year aerobatics pilot, has performed in more than 400 air shows. He will perform at selected air shows this season in his Klein Tools Extra 300L, including AirVenture Oshkosh 2004 and will also serve as official air show of the Indy Racing League, performing at selected race events during the year. For more information, visit www.kleintools.com.

Be A Pilot Has Modest Growth in 2003
Be A Pilot generated 34,056 pilot prospects in 2003, a 1.3 percent increase over the previous year and 4.3 percent higher than 2001. CEO Drew Steketee noted that since 1997, about 200,000 prospects registered for the introductory flight certificate, 40,000 took the flight, and two-thirds of those people continued flight lessons. On the web, more than 880,000 users visited www.beapilot.com in 2003, an 11 percent increase. 85 percent of those who registered for the introductory flight certificate did so via the website. More than 2,100 flight schools in the U.S. and Canada participate in Be A Pilot, which offer an introductory flight for $49.

Sporty’s Again Surpasses 100 Certificates
For the third consecutive year, Sporty’s Academy issued more than 100 certificates and ratings to pilots at its Clermont County/Sporty’s Airport facility in Batavia, Ohio. Sporty’s instructors also endorsed 57 student pilots who made their initial solo flights. Through its FBO affiliate Eastern Cincinnati Aviation, Sporty’s Academy offers complete flight training, in a fleet primarily featuring new Cessna 172 aircraft. For more information, visit www.sportysacademy.com or call 513-735-9500.

Hot Props From Oregon Aircraft Design
Oregon Aircraft Design LLC recently added Hot Props, an efficient ground adjustable propeller from Kiev, to their array of products. The propeller, which works on all Rotax and Hirth engines, offers an average 10 to 20 percent increase in performance, an increased climb rate, and faster cruise at a lower RPM. Additionally, it there’s less fuel burn and you enjoy a smoother, quieter flight. Available in a three- or five-blade configuration and ranging in diameter from 63.4 inches to 74.8 inches, the Hot Prop runs between $695 and $1,120. Contact the company at 503/267-1486 or visit www.oregonaircraftdesign.com.

Jeppesen To Launch New JAA Training Products
Beginning in the third quarter of 2004, Jeppesen will introduce a fully integrated line of new JAA (Joint Aviation Authority) training products. The strategy also includes the introduction of new training products over the next three years in support of other JAA licenses and certifications, including the commercial pilot license (CPL), instrument rating (IR) and private pilot license (PPL). Jeppesen will also introduce a full line of supporting products, which may include test preparation; study guides; maneuvers manuals; JAA-approved syllabi; lesson plans; instructor’s manuals; and specialty aviation texts. Developed is in in partnership with a respected JAA training expert and will replace the current Jeppesen ATPL manuals. For more information, visit www.jeppesen.com.

Power Flow Trims Price On 180 HP Mooney Exhaust Systems
Power Flow Systems has reduced its STC’d tuned exhaust system for 180 hp Mooneys $500 to $3,990 through the end of June. The system substantially increases exhaust gas evacuation resulting in more efficient operation and enhanced performance numbers. For the M20 B, C, D, and G models, owners can expect up to 11 mph and a 300-fpm rate-of-climb increases. The engine runs cooler and with lower fuel flows at the same speeds. (Earlier models of the Mooney may require an exhaust strap and support rod heat shields, which are also available through Power Flow.) Power Flow is developing an exhaust system for 200 horsepower Mooneys and expects to complete certification by summer. For more information, visit www.powerflowsystems.com or call 386/253-8833.
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