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May
16, 2008 Volume 8,
Number 26 |
EAA STEADFAST IN DEFENSE
OF AMATEUR-BUILDING PRIVILEGES
Earl Lawrence, EAA's vice president of
industry and regulatory affairs, reports that the organization continues
its vigilant effort to protect the rules allowing for experimental
amateur-built aircraft. The EAA community has paid particular attention
to the regulatory privileges of amateur aircraft builders in the wake of
FAA announcements of forthcoming policy changes. Read
more
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SIKORSKY S-38 MAKES FINAL
FLIGHT
 The
SC Johnson Company's Spirit of Carnauba, a frequent visitor to EAA
AirVenture Oshkosh, made its final flight Monday, May 12, above the
shoreline of Lake Michigan in Racine, Wisconsin. The airplane is a
detailed replica of the Sikorsky S-38 amphibian flown by H.F. Johnson,
Jr., to Brazil in 1935 in search of a sustainable source of carnauba
wax. The airplane had been on display for several years in EAA Chapter
838's museum at the Racine Municipal Airport. It will be permanently
displayed at a new site being built at SC Johnson's headquarters in that
city beginning in the fall 2009. The chapter is now seeking to replace
the S-38 with an appropriately sized aircraft. If another EAA chapter
has such a potential aircraft, please contact Steve Myers at
262-716-3051, or e-mail smyers7558@aol.com.
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EAA AIRVENTURE NOTAM
BOOKLET AVAILABLE
 Get
your free EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008 Notice to Airmen
(NOTAM) booklet today by ordering from EAA Membership Services at
800-564-6322, or order
online here or
download
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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FLIGHT DESIGN'S PEGHINY
HONORED BY AERO CLUB
 EAA
member and light-sport aircraft pioneer, Tom Peghiny, president of
Flight Design USA, was recognized for achievement in the light-sport and
hang gliding field. The Aero Club of New England, the oldest
aeronautical club in the Americas and the second oldest in the world,
presented the award on May 9. The award recognizes those individuals
from New England who have made significant contributions to aviation.
Joe Gauthier, a member of the EAA
Homebuilt Aircraft Council and recipient of the award in 2004, presented
the honor “In recognition of your role as an industry leader in both
hang glider and LSA design and safety innovation. As co-chairman of the
ASTM's light-sport committee, Peghiny took on a major leadership
role in the development of the light-sport aircraft industry.
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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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TRI-MOTOR TOUR SCHEDULE
CHANGES
 There
have been a couple of changes to the Ford Tri-Motor tour schedule that
was originally announced last month. The scheduled stop in Detroit on
May 30-June 1 has been canceled for reasons outside EAA's control. In
addition, the July tour stop in Joliet, Ill., has been canceled. The
tour will now begin on June 5 in Davenport, Iowa, and include six stops
in four states through early July. More info is available at www.flytheford.org.
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AIRVENTURE VOLUNTEER
SPOTLIGHT:
Pat and Carl Tortorige, Quincy, Illinois
 Pat
and Carl Tortorige say it's contagious. That's the only way to explain
why, as of this year, they will have been volunteering during EAA
AirVenture Oshkosh for 27 years and 22 years, respectively.
The Tortoriges, of Quincy, Illinois, have
volunteered in many areas - Operation Thirst, transient aircraft,
maintenance, and Vintage aircraft, among others.
Read
more
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HOMEBUILDING HINTS OF
THE WEEK
'Drilling Sheet Metal' and 'Simple
Dimple Die'
 In
this video, Jack Dueck walks you thru the basics of drilling a sheet
metal assembly. Jack is a Technical Counselor, SportAir Workshop
Instructor and member of both the EAA Homebuilt Aircraft Council and EAA
 Canadian
Council. See
the video.
Hint #2: Dimpling sheet metal
occurs in many places on a sheet metal aircraft. In this video, Jeremy
Monnett of Sonex Aircraft demonstrates a simple way of dimpling. 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?
6th Annual Midwest Aeronca Festival
 Flying
season is definitely upon us! There are 114 aviation activities listed on the EAA Aviation Calendar of Events for this
weekend alone, with 1,257 listed in total. Our featured event is the 6th
Annual Midwest Aeronca Festival in Kewanee, Illinois, taking place May
16-18, Here's the
description:
Seminars, flying contests, food, camping
and music. Showers on field. Bring your tail draggers. All aircraft
welcome. Lot's of grass to land on and to park/camp.
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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ADVANCE TICKED PURCHASE
FOR AIRVENTURE ENDS JUNE 15
There's
only about a month left to take advantage of the "buy now and
save" offer for online AirVenture ticket purchases. Both daily and
weekly admissions are available, as is the ability to join EAA or renew
a membership to receive the best possible admission prices only to EAA
members. This new system created by ClicknPrint Tickets and supported by
Jeppesen, provides $2 discounts for daily admissions and $5 discounts
for weekly admissions…but you have to purchase by June 15 for advance
online purchases. To buy your advance AirVenture admission, click
here.
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EAA 'TIMELESS VOICE OF
THE WEEK': ROBERT 'SHORTY' RANKIN
 Sixty-four
years ago this week, P-47 pilot Robert “Shorty” Rankin found himself
in the dogfight of his life. On May 12, 1944, the 61st Fighter Squadron
of the 56th Fighter Group was participating in the first attempt at what
was dubbed the “Zemke Fan.” Col. Hub Zemke, Group Commander of the
56th, devised a plan for Allied bomber escorts to attack German fighters
as they were forming up in large groups to begin their attacks on the
bombers. The escorting fighters would rendezvous at a prominent landmark
ahead of the enemy planes and fan out in a 180 degree arc to catch the
Luftwaffe unaware. The plan worked like a charm and Rankin found himself
in the middle of a huge gaggle of German fighters. With his wingman
Cleon Thomton covering him, Rankin managed to shoot down five German
ME-109s on that day, earning “Ace in a Day” status. Watch as Shorty
tells the story.
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B-17 TOUR ROLLS ON IN
GREAT NORTHWEST
 EAA's
Salute to Veterans Tour featuring the B-17 Aluminum Overcast
visits EAA Chapter 105 in Portland, Oregon, May 16-18, then EAA Warbird
Squadron 2 hosts an extended tour stop (May 21-25) in Seattle at the
Museum of Flight. 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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WOOD AIRCRAFT BUILDING
TECHNIQUES BOOK/BASIC AIRCRAFT WOODWORKING VIDEO COMBO
 Woodworking
knowledge is essential to any homebuilding project. Wood Aircraft
Building Techniques is an excellent resource book on "how to"
build or repair wooden aircraft (136 pages). The Basic Aircraft
Woodworking video is a great starter tape that also discusses power tool
safety (30 min). The special EAA Member price, valid for one week only,
is $18.99 - a savings of $11.00 off the regular, non-member price. Order
online or call our toll-free number, 800-564-6322.
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Q
& A:
Question of
the Week
EAA Aviation Services:
If my Operating
Limitations has a date of 2010 on my experimental
light-sport aircraft (E-LSA), must I get a new
inspection prior to that date? Or is that date just
to allow training until then and the training part
will expire?
Answer:
If
you were granted the operating limitation that
allows for-hire flight training in your E-LSA your
airworthiness certificate expires on January 31, 2010. You will need to have your airworthiness
certificate and operating limitations amended prior
to that date in order to continue to fly your E-LSA
after January 21, 2010. Make sure you do not allow
the certificate to expire, as you will not be
able to get a new E-LSA airworthiness certificate
for your aircraft under any circumstance beyond that
date.
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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FAA APPROVES MASTER
INSTRUCTION TRAINING COURSE
The FAA has approved the
training course outline for flight instructor refresher courses offered
by Master Instruction, an aviation education corporation based in
Indiana. The courses will reportedly "provide stimulating and
informative schooling in matters of crucial interest to flight
instructors." Master Instruction's courses will be offered live,
rather than through an electronic online format, and will draw
instructors from the nation's cadre of NAFI Master Instructors. For more
information, visit www.MasterInstruction.com.
AEROLEDS INTRODUCES
AEROSUNLITE
AeroLEDs LLC of Boise,
Idaho, has just introduced AeroSUNLite, a smaller version of the popular
AeroSUN that was first introduced at AirVenture 2007. AeroSUN is a 100%
solid state, all-LED-based anti-collision/landing/taxi light system
specifically designed to target the popular Rotax 900 series of
Experimental and LSA engine aircraft. The smaller footprint AeroSUNLite
also utilizes the latest generation of high intensity LED's, which use
just 20-50% of the current of traditional filament or HID based lighting
while producing substantially more light per watt consumed. Product
pricing is at $224.95 per single light, or $399.95 per pair. Learn more
at www.aeroleds.com.
HX-2 WASP
TURBINE-POWERED HELO FLIGHT TESTING BEGINS
Flight-testing of the
improved kit-built, turbine-powered, two-seat Experimental HX-2 WASP
helicopter has begun, said Tony Pena, president of HeloWerks Co. Pena
said the turbine engine produced more than enough power to hover with
1200 pounds of helicopter, crew, full fuel, and 200 pounds of steel test
weights. Advanced carbon composite construction has reduced the empty
weight.
The new HX-2 WASP helicopter features design improvements based on
"lessons learned" from the HX-1 model, including easier
cockpit access, an integrated electrical system, high speed turbine
engine inlet, high impact landing gear, energy absorbing seats, and a
single sump engine lubrication system. For more information, visit www.HeloWerks.com.
SAVE UNTIL JULY 1 ON
POWER FLOW TUNED EXHAUST SYSTEMS
Power Flow has announced
that it must raise the price of its tuned exhaust systems for the Cessna
172 and 177 fixed gear. The new pricing, approximately an 8 percent
increase, takes effect on July 1, 2008. The company is giving customers
advance notice for those who may be "sitting on the fence."
For more information, visit www.powerflowsystems.com
or call 386-253-8833.
AEROLADDER FOR
HIGH-WING AIRPLANES
Sporty's AeroLadder is a
two- or three-step stool that can make preflight inspections and other
tasks easy to accomplish on high-wing airplanes. The AeroLadder unfolds,
offering a platform for both of your feet-perfect for checking fuel and
cleaning and performing light maintenance in hard-to-reach areas.
Aluminum construction means light weight-less than five pounds, yet the
AeroLadder is rated to hold up to 300 pounds. Its compact size allows it
to be stored in your airplane (and always on hand.) Sporty's products
may be ordered at www.Sportys.com
or by calling 800-776-7897.
DIAMOND REPORTS 101
FIRST-QUARTER DELIVERIES
Diamond delivered 101 units
in the first quarter of 2008, the company reported this week. That was
second only to Cessna, and achieved despite a 28 percent drop in piston
sales, according to the latest General Aviation Manufacturers
Association (GAMA) report. "Had it not been for a disruption of
supply of TAE engines, we would have produced a total of 118 aircraft in
Q1 and been able to claim number one spot in piston deliveries,"
explained Heike Larson, vice president of sales and marketing. "The
suitability of the DA40 as a leaseback airplane, combined with current
US tax incentives and low long-term financing make this the perfect time
to acquire a Diamond Star for leaseback or personal business use."
For more information, visit www.diamondaircraft.com.
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EAA
SportAir Workshops
Fabric
Covering
Composite
Construction
Electrical
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