Visitors Focus on Aircraft Modeling  Next Weekend

Aviation modeling hits center stage next weekend at EAA AirVenture Museum. Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., visitors can examine displays, view demonstrations, and take part in instructional sessions.  See plastic model kits and dioramas; radio-controlled airplanes; paper aircraft modeling; and a special focus on indoor free-flight airplanes conducted in the Eagle Hangar.
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Insurance Tips Upcoming Aviation Events Sport Air Workshops EAA Flight Planner    Sport Pilot/Light-Sport Aircraft EAA Air Academy Camps Young Eagles Program National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI)    EAA AirVenture Museum Ford Tri-Motor Tour Schedule Vintage Aircraft Association Warbirds of America    Aeromedical/Legal Advisory Autogas STC Government & Industry

The vast, fascinating world of flight is opening to all ages, but especially young people, because of a brand new website, www.youngeagles.org unveiled by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).

The new website builds on EAA’s highly successful Young Eagles program, which has flown more than 1.1 million young people since its inception in 1992. During that time, EAA Young Eagles has become the world’s largest youth aviation education program. The website, developed after a year of research and development, will be a portal to the world of aviation for young people.

We’ll See You at Sun ’n Fun!
Dozens of EAA-led forums, presentations scheduled
Sun ’n Fun, the traditional opening to the spring and summer flying season, is just around the corner, April 12-18, at Lakeland, Florida’s Linder Regional Airport. EAA staff members are busily preparing for the 31st annual event, whose theme for 2005 is, “Come Fly With Us.” More than two-dozen EAA-led forum presentations are planned on subjects ranging from sport pilot/light-sport aircraft and homebuilding to the EAA Insurance Plan, chapter operations, legal and medical issues, and flight instruction. And, taking a page from last year’s EAA AirVenture Oshkosh celebration, an EAA Member Village will be on the Sun ’n Fun grounds.
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More FAA Sport Pilot Examiners Complete Course
The ranks of appointed sport pilot examiners continue to grow as the FAA Light-Sport Aviation Branch appointed seven new SPEs who completed the training course on March 26 in Sebring, Florida. Newly appointed examiners/sport pilot flight instructor examiners (SFIEs), all of whom are EAA members, include: Jim Leon, Illinois, powered parachute; Jim MacLeay, Tennessee, powered parachute; Sean Curry, Wisconsin, Airplane; Charles Burgoon, Texas, weight-shift control; Earl Downs, Oklahoma, airplane; Ben Methvin, Georgia, airplane; and John Ballantyne, Maryland, weight-shift control.
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Museum Program Honors Steve Wittman Tuesday
EAA celebrates the 101st anniversary of Steve Wittman’s birth with a special program on Tuesday, April 5, at the EAA Aviation Center, Oshkosh. Join us as Wittman researcher and author Dr. Aaron King speaks at 6:30 p.m. in the Vette Theater. Dr. King is author of the definitive biography-an extensive article, “Steve Wittman-World's Greatest Race Pilot,” contained in the book The Golden Age of Air Racing. Dr. King is also currently working on a full-length book about Wittman. No advance reservations are required and admission is free to the public.

Powrachute Reduces Staff; Not Taking New Orders
Sale of Company Possible
Powrachute owner Bill Amyx confirmed to EAA Thursday that the sale of the company is imminent and the staff, reduced from 14 employees down to five, is currently only filling parts orders for the Powrachute line of powered parachutes. The company is not taking new orders. Amyx was quick to clarify that the company is not filing bankruptcy. “No one will be left hanging,” Amyx said.
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NAHF To Honor Whirly-Girls
The Whirly-Girls (International Women Helicopter Pilots) will receive the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) 2005 Milton Caniff Spirit of Flight Award at the NAHF President’s Reception and Dinner in Dayton on July 15. The award, named after noted artist and aviation enthusiast, the late Milton Caniff, was created in 1981 to annually acknowledge a group or organization for significant contributions to aviation. Its previous recipients include the Tuskegee Airmen, Flying Tigers, Mercury Seven Astronauts, and Civil Air Patrol. The Whirly-Girls number over 1,300 members from 43 countries, representing a cross section of international, well-educated, non-conformist, free-thinking women so long as they are rated helicopter pilots. For information on the NAHF visit www.nationalaviation.org.

'Aviation Century' Available From Aircraft Spruce
A three-volume set of books chronicling the first century of flight is now available from Aircraft Spruce & Specialty. “Aviation Century” includes “The Early Years” (1900 to 1939), “The Golden Years,” focusing on record-setters obsessed with speed during the golden age of air racing, and “World War II”, from the German blitzkrieg and Battle of Britain through the end. The hardcover volumes sell for $39.95 each, plus shipping. Visit www.AircraftSpruce.com or phoning: 877-4 SPRUCE for more information.

Chelton Autopilot Receives STC For Mooney M20A-J
Chelton Aviation’s digital AP-3C autopilot has STC approval for installation in Mooney models M20A-J. Approval is also expected by the end of April for models K and above. Chelton is proceeding with certification for single and twin-engine aircraft, and a nationwide dealer program. The AP-3C has three components designed to eliminate adjustment and minimize maintenance issues. It is the first autopilot to offer Mooney owners and other general aviation aircraft vertical nav steering, or VNAV, when coupled with an EFIS, WAAS GPS or FMS. STC applications are pending for the V35 Bonanza, Bush Hawk, Rockwell Commander, Aerostar and Aero Commander. For more information, call 940/320-3330 or visit www.cheltonaviation.com.

Aerocomp Prepares For Sun ‘n Fun
Aerocomp will have its Comp Air 12 kit-built single-engine jet available for viewing at Sun ‘n Fun April 12-18 in Lakeland, Florida. The 8-place Comp Air 12 cruises at 320 kts with a 1,300 nautical mile range. Aerocomp will also have on the grounds the new SS52XT turbine. Aerocomp division Forward.Vision will also display its FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) Camera System for General Aviation. For more, visit www.aerocompinc.com. 

Quest Kodiak Nears 100 Test-Flight Hours
Quest Aircraft’s 10-place turboprop Kodiak continues its flight-testing program toward FAA certification, approaching 100 hours in as many flights. “The aircraft has performed extremely well and has shown great reliability,” said Tom Hamilton, Chief Technical Officer. The aircraft will debut at the Alaska State Aviation Trade Show in May, with a formal announcement of the product and its performance capabilities. Headquartered in Sandpoint, Idaho, Quest was established in 2001, and currently employs more than 45 personnel. For more information, please visit www.questaircraft.com.

National Air Races & Air Cruise Entries Open
“Cattle Country to the Carolinas” is the theme for the 2005 U.S. Air Races, scheduled from September 23 to September 29. Races include the 1,800-mile Marion Jayne Air Race, from Texas to North Carolina; the 300-mile Cowhand Air Race in Texas, and the 300-mile Carolinas Air Race in the Carolinas. Pilots are welcome to race or cruise. The Air Cruise option provides a chance to fly where U.S. Air Race handles ground arrangements and team gatherings. A free entry kit is available at www.us-airrace.org.

Multitaskiing GPSGate Runs Many Simultaneous GPS Applications
Franson Technology’s GpsGate is a Windows and PocketPC utility that allows many GPS applications to run simultaneously using a single GPS. You can create any number of virtual serial ports, simulate a GPS, and log and replay GPS data. Serious GPS users often have several applications that they want to run simultaneously. Without Franson GpsGate, it's necessary to shut down one application before beginning another. With Franson GpsGate, you can share one GPS among several applications. Simply create additional virtual serial ports, and most NMEA-enabled GPS applications can connect to them. GpsGate Standard for Windows 98/Me/NT4/2000/XP or for PocketPC is priced at $29.95 for a single-user license. Franson GpsGate Express, a light version of Franson GpsGate Standard, is available for $14.95(US) for either platform. A 14-day trial version is available for download at http://franson.com/gpsgate.