Free Shipping on EAA Merchandise
Through February 28, 2005, EAA offers free shipping on merchandise orders of $40 or more. Whether you shop online at EAA at http://shop.eaa.org, or order through the Aeronautica catalog via our toll-free number 800/843-3612, the shipping is on us for qualifying orders. Take advantage of this limited-time offer! (Free shipping is for items shipped within the U.S. only. Orders must be placed on or before February 28, 2005.

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Sport Pilot News New Sport Flying Guide Hits Shelves With Foreword by EAA President Tom Poberezny A popular series of beginner’s books recently added aviation to its repertoire as The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Sport Flying (Alpha) hit the bookshelves on February 1. Although not an EAA publication, it’s the first nationally released book on the topic of sport flying and draws heavily on EAA’s expertise and knowledge. EAA President Tom Poberezny provides the foreword, in which he writes, “By picking up this excellent book, you’ve taken your first step toward a great adventure in aviation. These pages will provide the right information, use the right language, give the right advice, and point you in the right directions to get your wheels off the ground.” (read more) Examiners Listed Online by Aircraft Category The FAA’s Light-Sport Aviation Branch in Oklahoma City has posted the current sport pilot examiner list by aircraft category on its website, reports branch manager Marty Weaver. “We have been receiving letters from Flight Standards District Offices (FSDOs) around the country extending sport pilot examiner privileges to existing designated pilot examiners (DPEs),” he said. “There seems to be a growing interest by DPEs to get involved with the program.” (read more)

EAA’s B-17 Tour Stops Announced
‘Allied Victory Tour' Salutes 60th Anniversary of WW II's Conclusion
It’s been 60 years since the end of World War II, and the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is commemorating the end of that conflict and honoring those who sacrificed during that time. EAA’s salute to the men, women and aircraft of that time includes a national “Allied Victory Tour” by one of the greatest military airplanes ever built, a B-17 “Flying Fortress” bomber, which begins April 8 in San Diego.
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SpaceShipOne Team Wins 2004 Collier Trophy
Burt Rutan and the SpaceShipOne team, creators of the first-ever privately financed, manned spacecraft, was named winner of the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy Monday by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA). The Collier trophy, awarded since 1911, honors the greatest advances in aviation history.
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Attendees Praise New RV Workshop Format
EAA SportAir Workshops’ first two-day RV Assembly workshop struck a chord with course attendees January 29-30 in Denver, Colorado. While downsized from 2-1/2 days, the new format has no drop-off in content, as attendees discovered in Denver. It’s packed solid with information, instruction, and ample hands-on skill development time.
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NAFI Assists in Embry-Riddle Safety Study
The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI), underscoring its commitment to flight safety and aviation education, is assisting Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in a current study of spin training techniques. Surveys were mailed out to NAFI members this week regarding their experience and opinions on spin training.
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Donated Beech Starship Up For Bid on eBay
For those who’ve always wanted to own an actual Raytheon Beech Starship, this may be your chance. EAA Young Eagles contributor, The ISTAT Foundation, charitable giving arm of the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading, has an actual 1991 model of the Burt Rutan-designed aircraft up for bid on eBay through Thursday, February 17. There is one catch, however.
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Camp Scholler to Open Gates on June 24
Beginning this year, EAA opens EAA AirVenture Camp Scholler 31 days prior to opening day, instead of the traditional July 1. That means campers who like to get in early can do so beginning June 24. This new format helps would-be campers plan since the campground’s opening day will always be on a Friday, not mid-week as is usually the case. Camp Scholler is open to all EAA members.
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Aircraft Models From ‘The Aviator’ For Sale
Just before deadline this week, EAA received word from Initial Entertainment Group, Inc. (IEG) that it is selling the aircraft models it created for the Academy Award-Best Picture nominated movie, “The Aviator.” IEG has several models for sale, including mock-ups of Hughes Aviation designs Hercules (The Spruce Goose); the XF-11; and the Hughes H-1; as well as the Sikorsky S-38.
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Bunce Named GAMA’s New President-CEO
Peter “Pete” J. Bunce is the new President and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) effective April 1, 2005. Bunce currently works at the Pentagon as Director of the Air Force Congressional Budget and Appropriations Liaison. He also spent five years as the Department of Defense representative to the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) Board of Directors and Safety Committee. A career aviator, Pete served with the F-15 Squadron Command tasked with fielding and first operational use of Fighter Data Link. He also commanded a 2,200-plus personnel flying operation in Arizona, flying A-10s and Specialized C-130s. For more information, visit www.gama.aero. 

Ninety-Nines To Meet at May Regional Fly-In
San Fernando, California’s Ninety-Nines will hold their regional fly-in, Wright on to Mars,” May 13-15 at Van Nuys Airport and the AirTel Hotel. Organizers expect 245 members, plus their guests, to attend. A silent auction is planned for May 14, with monies raised used to fund the aviation scholarship fund. With over 85 members, the San Fernando comprises one of the larger local groups in the international organization. Organized in 1929 by Amelia Earhart, the Ninety-Nines has more than 6,000 women pilots as members located throughout the world. For more information, visit www.sfv99s.org.

Sensenich Launches New Composite, Ground-Adjustable Prop
Sensenich says its new, ground-adjustable composite propeller can improve performance on Rotax-powered 912 and 914 series aircraft. The result of five years of research, development and testing, the new prop is manufactured hollow and made of the latest carbon fiber prepreg fabrics in a high-temperature, internal-pressure molded system. This process yields a low-inertia propeller with superior performance and durability. Available in 66- to 70-inch diameters, Sensenich’s new ground-adjustable prop comes with or without a co-cured nickel leading edge.
For more information, call 813/752-3711, or visit www.sensenich.com.

Robinson R44 Makes South Pole Landing
The first Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter landed at the South Pole on January 18, 2005. Pilot Quentin Smith and co-pilot Steve Brooks also flew the first R44 to the North Pole in June 2002. Departing from Buenos Aires on December 29, 2004, they flew to Ushuaia, Argentina, past Cape Horn and across the Drake Passage and across the Argentina Antarctica base in Jubany. On January 18 they received permission to fly to the pole and did so in bright, cold sunshine (-26C - about –15 Fahrenheit). They used an avgas-cooking stove to warm the engine before starting up. Robinson is the world’s leading manufacturer of civil helicopters. For more information visit www.robinsonheli.com.

Aspen Avionics Ships AT300 Hazard Display
Aspen Avionics’ AT300 Multifunction Hazard Awareness Display is now available through its expanding dealer network. The AT300, announced at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2004, uses a high-resolution 2.5 inch, 240 x 480 active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) to provide brilliant, full-color moving-map multifunction display (MFD) technology in a standard 3-inch instrument format. Because it includes a vertical speed indicator, can easily replace the legacy VSI. At $3,495, the AT300 is one of the most affordable multifunction displays available today. Aspen seeks FAA certification, is projected later this summer. A certified AT300 display will be priced at $3995. For more information, visit www.aspenavionics.com.