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May
9, 2008 Volume 8,
Number 25 |
VOTE TO END FAA FUNDING
DEBATE FAILS TO PASS IN SENATE
 Back
to square one?
Partisan politics are being blamed for a
failure to close off debate in the Senate today on FAA reauthorization
legislation (HR 2881) Senators voted 49-42 in favor of the motion to
invoke cloture, but a three-fifths majority is required, which means the
long-awaited legislation remains stalled forcing the FAA to continue
operating on a continuing resolution that will expire on June 30, 2008.
Read
more
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PLANS PROGRESSING FOR
NANCHANG CJ-6 OWNERS 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
 The
RedStar Pilot's Association's (RPA) plans to celebrate the 50th
anniversary of the Nanchang CJ-6 Chinese military trainer in Oshkosh
this summer are rapidly progressing. RPA will mark the golden
anniversary of the aircraft's production with a series of formation
flights and other events at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008.
Jim Goolsby, an RPA national director,
said planning for the event started a year ago and 77 aircraft are
already signed up to participate, including 61 CJ-6s and 16 Yaks. Read
more
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EAA AIRVENTURE 2008 NOTAM
BOOKLET NOW AVAILABLE
 Hot
on the heels of the digital release last week - and hot off the presses
- printed copies of the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008 Notice to Airmen
(NOTAM) are now available. EAA Membership Services has started mailing
nearly 1,000 of the free 28-page booklets to those who ordered in
advance. To order yours today, call 800-564-6322, or you can order
online here. The NOTAM contains the Special Flight Procedures in
effect for Wittman Regional Airport and alternate airports from 6 a.m.
CDT on Friday, July 25, to 11:59 p.m. CDT Sunday, August 3, 2008. EAA
AirVenture Oshkosh runs from July 28-August 3. For additional EAA
AirVenture Oshkosh 2008 information, including advance
ticket purchasing, visit www.airventure.org.
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GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HOLD
AIRVENTURE PLANNING SESSION IN OSHKOSH
 Representatives
of the International Federal Partnership (IFP) met in Oshkosh Thursday,
May 8, to make plans for the Federal Pavilion at EAA AirVenture 2008.
This year's slate of participants includes 15 agencies from the United
States, Canada, and the Bahamas, including a new participating agency
this year, Canada Border Services (the equivalent of U.S. Customs).
They're all housed in the Pavilion, located along the flight line north
of the control tower. AirVenture visitors can visit the pavilion and ask
questions of the participating agencies, as well as attend
demonstrations and presentations held there throughout the week. Read
more
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COMEDY SENSATION (AND EAA
MEMBER/HELICOPTER BUILDER) JEFF DUNHAM TO PERFORM AT EAA AIRVENTURE
2008!
 Jeff
Dunham and his wild cast of characters have entertained thousands of
comedy fans in concert and tens of millions more through his DVD, online
and television appearances. Now Dunham, an aircraft builder and pilot in
his own right, is bringing his hilarious performances to EAA AirVenture
2008!
Dunham will be performing at EAA's
Theater in the Woods on Wednesday evening, July 30, presented by
Rotorway International. Rotorway is proud to bring Dunham to EAA
AirVenture - The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration - as he has built
Rotorway helicopters and is a helicopter pilot. Read
more
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MAKE THAT OSHKOSH TRIP
FOR LESS $$$
AirVenture-bound traffic receives fuel
discounts throughout U.S.
 Throughout
the entire U.S., there are friendly FBOs ready to welcome pilots and
aircraft flying to and from EAA AirVenture. Even better this year, many
of these FBOs are offering discounts on fuel prices if you're heading
toward Oshkosh or on your way home from "The World's Greatest
Aviation Celebration."
These businesses, in 21 different states,
are helping you lower the cost of flying to Oshkosh this summer. Along
with a friendly hello and fuel-price discounts, many of these FBOs also
offer such amenities as free overnight camping, wireless Internet
access, snacks and courtesy vehicles. These businesses support EAA
members and AirVenture, and are excellent places to make that overnight
stop, or get fuel and stretch your legs.
Incorporate these FBOs into your flight
plan by checking the current list at http://www.airventure.org/2008/flying/alternate_airports.html.
If you own or operate an FBO and wish to participate in this program,
we'd love to add you to the list! Contact us at webmaster@eaa.org
with your information and special offers for AirVenture-bound pilots.
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RV FORMATION FLIGHT AT
AIRVENTURE 2007 WAS A WORLD RECORD!
 There
was a new Guinness world record set at AirVenture Oshkosh 2007, it's
just that nobody knew it was official until just recently. Kristian
Teufel of the Guinness records management team verified in
a
letter dated April 25, 2008, that the 35-airplane formation flights
by a group of Van's RVs set the Guinness World Record for "Largest
civilian formation flight." The formation flights were led by Stu
McCurdy, EAA 244579, of Round Rock, Texas, and took place July 24-25 at
last year's convention. Congratulations to all the world record holders
who took part!
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WOMEN AVIATION
PROFESSIONALS OF TOMORROW…BEGIN TODAY!
 Attention,
young women who are undecided about their future career: Apply now to
attend one of the most recognizable and successful aviation conferences
available to you - EAA's Women Soar You Soar, at AirVenture Oshkosh
2008!
Women Soar You Soar is continuing to accept applications to its fourth
annual conference, scheduled for July 28-29 at the EAA Aviation Center
in Oshkosh at the start of The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration -
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh! We're aiming to help up to 150 young women
explore a variety of aviation and aeronautical activities, including
flight simulation, wide-ranging workshops, and aviation mentoring
sessions. Read
more
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EAA MEMBERS' CHOICE: MEMPHIS
BELLE
 The
votes are in for the 2008 EAA Members' Choice Movie Poll. One aviation
film stood out above the rest. Memphis Belle (1990), a story about a
B-17 Bomber crew during World War II, will be shown during the week of
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008 at the EAA
Fly-In Theater, presented by Ford Motor Company and Eclipse
Aviation. Stay tuned for a full movie schedule and list of celebrity
presenters to be announced soon. Read
more
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WANTED: AIRCRAFT FOR
AFFORDABLE FLIGHT CENTER DISPLAY
EAA is looking to hear from EAA members who
have (1) achieved their dream of flight in particularly cost-effective
ways and (2) would like to tell the aviation world how they did it. The
recently announced Affordable Flight Center (AFC) at AirVenture Oshkosh
2008 will feature numerous examples of low-cost flight, from homebuilts
to bargain vintage aircraft, light planes to ultralights. "If you
have economically built or restored an aircraft, or found a unique,
affordable way to own an aircraft, we want to hear your story,"
says EAA's Ron Wagner. Read
more
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AIRVENTURE VOLUNTEER
SPOTLIGHT:
The 'Diaper Lady,' Peggy McDowell,
Tomahawk, Wisconsin
 Peggy
McDowell says she has the "cushiest" volunteer job at EAA
AirVenture Oshkosh complete with air conditioning and ice water. But
that wasn't what she was looking for in 1988 when she came to the fly-in
convention with her one-month-old son.
She just wanted a quiet,
cool place to care for her baby. She found the Mother/Baby Nursing
Hangar and started volunteering there the following year. Read
more
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HOMEBUILDING HINTS OF
THE WEEK
'Jig for Drilling Tubing' and 'Basic
Layout using a Rivet Fan'
 Our
first Hints for Homebuilders video this week comes from EAA's
Timm Bogenhagen, senior aviation specialist, who demonstrates how to
make a handy tubing-drilling jig from angle-iron. It can be challenging
to drill a hole directly thru tubing. Timm shows how to make drilling
these holes a piece of cake. See
the video.
Hint #2: Laying out lines of
rivets is a normal part of all sheet metal projects. In this week's
second Hint for Homebuilders, Jack Dueck, of High River, Alberta,
Canada, walks you thru this process, demonstrating the use of a rivet
fan. Jack is a Technical Counselor and EAA SportAir Workshops Instructor
as well as a member of both the EAA Homebuilt Aircraft Council and
Canadian Council. See
the video
If you have a hint to share with your
fellow EAAers, we'd love to hear from you! Drop us a note at Info@EAA.org,
and please put "Hints" in the subject line.
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WHERE ARE YOU FLYING THIS
WEEKEND?
Doolittle Raid Commemoration, Camarillo,
California
 There
are 76 activities listed on the EAA Aviation Calendar of Events for this
weekend, including a commemoration of Doolittle's Raid on Saturday, May
10, at the Camarillo Airport, Camarillo, California. Here's the
description:
The Commemorative Air Force Southern
California Wing is commemorating the Doolittle Raid. Speaker at 1
p.m.; flyovers at 2 p.m. Special exhibits, light refreshments, photo
opportunities. Admission donation requested.
Find out
more about this event, or find/submit others at www.eaacalendar.org.
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ASSURE AUTO FUEL SAFETY
WITH EAA'S ALCOHOL TEST KIT
 With
all the recent state legislation regarding ethanol in auto fuel
throughout the U.S., it’s more important than ever for pilots who use
auto fuel in their airplanes to be absolutely sure that the fuel is safe
for flight operations. That’s why EAA is helping pilots stay safe when
they use auto fuel by offering an easy-to-use alcohol test kit. EAA’s
auto fuel Alcohol Test Kit allows a pilot or aircraft maintenance
technician to make preventative tests on auto fuel, even before fuel is
purchased for an aircraft. Simply pour water, then auto fuel, in the
included test tube and shake it to mix the contents. Read
more
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'ONE SIX RIGHT' SHOWING ON
PBS
Another Avenue For EAA Community to Reach
Out to the Public
 The
documentary, One Six Right, has had a close affiliation with the EAA
community ever since the film's theatrical tour kicked off with showings
at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2006. With Sunday's début broadcast on public
television, the aviation film is now reaching out to a much broader
audience and will steer viewers to EAA.
"As local public
television stations continue to broadcast this film over the course of
the next two years, this is an opportunity for the EAA community to
promote a positive message about general aviation, and to connect with
viewers whose interest in aviation the film may have stimulated,"
said Steve Buss, EAA's director of chapter relations. Read
more
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EAA 'TIMELESS VOICE OF
THE WEEK': JOHN MCLAUGHLIN
 John
McLaughlin learned to fly in a friend's Piper Cub in 1938. With the
draft board hot on his heels, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1941 prior
to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He took an exam to join the Air
Corps and became a mechanic and line chief at Mather Field, California.
With some encouragement from the pilots there, he took an exam to join
the Aviation Cadets. After graduating from flight training on November
3, 1943, John went through B-17 transition school and was sent to
England and assigned to the 418th Bomb Squadron of the infamous 100th
Bomb Group, better known at the "Bloody Hundredth." The 100th
earned a reputation as a hard knock group after suffering major losses
of seven or more bombers to flak and enemy fighters on eight different
missions. John made it through two of those devastating missions. This
is his story.
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NEW FORD "PARTNER
POST" NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE
 Ford
Motor Company's new Partner Post newsletter (1st Quarter-2008) is now
available for download on the EAA website. In it you'll discover news
and information on the best-selling full-size pickup, Ford's F-Series;
the all-new 2009 Lincoln MKS; two new Sync features, and more. Download
your copy today from the EAA website.
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B-17 TOUR WRAPS UP
CALIFORNIA LEG THIS WEEK
On to Oregon!
 EAA's
Salute to Veterans Tour featuring the B-17 Aluminum Overcast visits EAA Chapter
52 in Sacramento, California, May 9-11, which represents the final stop
in the Golden State in 2008. From here it's on to the Great Northwest,
with a stop at Medford, Oregon, May 13-14 (Chapter 319) followed by a
visit to Portland, Oregon, May 16-18 (Chapter 105). For information on how you can reserve
a once-in-a-lifetime flight mission aboard Aluminum Overcast, or to see
the entire tour schedule, visit the EAA
B-17 website.
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INTRODUCING CAMP DAVID
APPAREL AT EAA AERONAUTICA
 Camp
David garments aren't manufactured, they are crafted. New for AirVenture
2008, this EAA - The Spirit of Aviation Since 1953 t-shirt by Camp David
is a must-have for every aviation enthusiast. Available in four colors,
this 100 percent cotton jersey tee sports a rib neck and two-needle
finish at the hems. Get yours today by ordering
online or call toll-free, 800-564-6322. For a look at the complete
line of new Camp David apparel and other great clothing items, visit EAA
Aeronautica.
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Q
& A:
Question of
the Week
EAA Aviation Services:
I’m a flight
instructor considering purchasing a Titan Tornado
that has been qualified as experimental light-sport
aircraft (E-LSA). Can I instruct and rent the
aircraft to sport pilots?
Answer:
Whether
or not a particular E-LSA can or can’t be used for
hire for flight instruction depends on how the
operating limitations were issued for that aircraft.
Most E-LSA airworthiness certificates do NOT have
the for-hire training limitation. A quick way to
tell if a particular aircraft has the for-hire
training provision is to simply look at the
airworthiness certificate. If it shows an expiration
date of 01/31/2010 then it has the training
provision. If the expiration on the airworthiness
certificate says “unlimited”, or “none”, or
is simply blank, the aircraft does NOT have the
for-hire training provision.
Have a question?
To ask a question regarding government issues,
e-mail govt@eaa.org.
For questions about registration, airmen, aircraft
and medical certification, safety records,
performance, or any other matter, e-mail infoserv@eaa.org.
May 2008
EAA
Desktop Calendar
One very
early morning during last month's Sun 'n Fun Fly-In,
EAA's photo team set out on an air-to-air mission
Southeast of nearby Barstow. With a lingering fog
serving as a backdrop, EAA photographer Bonnie Kratz
was able to capture this haunting image of Michael
Amble of St. John's, Florida, floating above the
mist in his Stearman PT-17.
Download
this wallpaper image at the EAA
website, where you can choose among several different
resolutions to suit
your screen...or select an image from the archive.
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OSH TOWER GETS GLASS
INSTALLATION THIS WEEK
The new air-traffic control tower at Wittman
Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is making noticeable progress as
glass is being installed this week in the tower cab. Sixteen 7-foot
by 7-foot panels weighing between 750 and 775 pounds each are being
lifted by crane 120 feet to cab level. The glass arrived from Denver,
Colorado, last week, after making frequent stops en route to ensure
proper depressurization. Without multiple stops, the insulated thermal
panes could squeeze together, causing rub marks and distorted views for
air-traffic controllers. Manufactured by Oldcastle Glass in Denver, the
specialty glass is laminated to keep the glass from falling to the
ground if damaged once installed. Read
more
FIRST FLIGHT OF
PRODUCTION CESSNA SKYCATCHER
Cessna Aircraft Company
completed the first flight of its initial production model SkyCatcher on
May 1 - about eight weeks after the first prototype flew. The
30-minute flight consisted of flight maneuvers evaluating the
controllability and stability of the aircraft, Cessna reported. The
flight returned to Cessna Field as scheduled where the airplane will continue development
testing. In addition to having two aircraft in the test program, Cessna
is set to begin static and fatigue testing on a separate airframe in
mid-May. More information is available at www.cessna.com.
ECLIPSE 500 JET
RECEIVES FIRST FOREIGN APPROVALS
Eclipse Aviation has
received certification to register and operate the Eclipse 500 in India
and Australia, the company reported. The Director General of Civil
Aviation (DGCA) in India granted the first foreign country Eclipse 500
certification on April 7, 2008 and the Civil Aviation Safety Agency
(CASA) in Australia approved the Eclipse 500 on April 22. These
certifications expand Eclipse Aviation's global reach and allow its
customers to register and operate Eclipse 500 jets in these two
countries.
"These
accomplishments mark the first of many worldwide Eclipse 500
certifications," said Vern Raburn, Eclipse Aviation president and
CEO. "We are experiencing a tremendous amount of interest for the
Eclipse 500 outside of the United States, and these certifications in
India and Australia position us to meet the strong demand for this
innovative aircraft in these countries." For more information,
visit www.EclipseAviation.com.
STUDENTS MAKE
LONG-DISTANCE CALL TO SPACE STATION
Students from One Stop
Richmond Hill Community Center, Richmond Hill, New York, and Valley
Christian Elementary School, Bellflower, California, will have the
opportunity to make an out-of-this-world call to the International Space
Station on Monday, May 12, from 11:20 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. CDT. The
schools are part of a 20-minute, in-flight education downlink, allowing
students from to share in this unique collaborative experience.
The downlink will air
live on NASA Television and be streamed on the NASA Web site at: www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/.
For information about NASA's education programs on the web, visit: www.nasa.gov/education.
ICAS FOUNDATION
AVIATION SCHOLARSHIPS
The International Council of
Air Shows Foundation offers seven scholarships to assist pilots,
performers, and flight instructors of the future to complete the
necessary training to reach their goals. To be considered for the 2008
scholarships, email John Bowman at jbomez@aol.com
by July 1, 2008. Scholarship application forms may be found online at www.icasfoundation.org.
AMERICAN LEGEND
AIRCRAFT OFFERS FREE OPTIONS ON FLOAT CUB
American Legend Aircraft
Company is offering $2,000 in free options with the purchase of its
acclaimed Legend FloatCub certified light-sport aircraft. The offer
allows customers to purchase a new Legend FloatCub ready-to-fly at a
base price of $121,025, plus a choice of $2,000 in optional equipment at
no extra cost. Available through May 2008, the options can enhance the
comfort, convenience, and safety of the aircraft. For more information,
call 903-885-7000 or log on to www.legend.aero.
AIRCRAFT SPRUCE
INTRODUCES MAG-IT PICK-UP TOOL
Aircraft Spruce has added a
useful tool for removing metal chips and debris from machinery and work
areas or inside your aircraft's cowling. Manufactured by SteelMax, the
Mag-It magnetic pick-up tool comes with 10-inch and 15-inch wands. Order
the tool at www.AircraftSpruce.com
or call 877-477-7823.
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EAA
SportAir Workshops
