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October
2, 2009 Volume 9,
Number 47 |
EXCITING
CHANGES AHEAD FOR EAA'S PUBLICATIONS
This January, EAA Sport Aviation will be re-launched with a new
look and re-tooled content to better serve EAA's diverse membership -
builders, restorers, pilots, and enthusiasts. Extensive member surveying
led to the development an all-new Sport Aviation. As a result of
this new direction, Sport Pilot & Light-Sport Aircraft
magazine will no longer be published as content from that magazine will
be incorporated into Sport Aviation. Sport pilot/ultralight
content also will be covered in the upcoming Light Plane World,
one of many EAA special interest eNewsletters. Click
here for more details and FAQs.
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A
DAY IN THE LIFE OF ONE LOCAL AIRPORT
AIP project enriches community
 Recent articles published by USA Today have been highly critical of
the federal government for its funding of local airports that don't
offer commercial air-carrier operations, alleging that it robs funding
that would be better spent for larger commercial facilities. (See EAA's
reaction.) The following example - Padgham Field (35D), the local
airport in Allegan, Michigan - will help illustrate the importance of
our local community airports. Read
more
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SEARCH
FOR LAST MISSING WASP AIRCRAFT RESUMES
 Divers,
explorers, and aviation archaeologists from the Missing Aircraft Search
Team (MAST) will launch a search in Santa Monica Bay off Los Angeles,
California, next week (October 5) for the wreckage of an aircraft
piloted by Gertrude "Tommy" Tompkins Silver, the last missing
member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of World War II.
Silver's aircraft was the last of a flight of three, factory-new P-51D
fighters to takeoff from Mines Field (now Los Angeles International
Airport) on October 26, 1944 on the first leg of a ferry flight that was
to eventually reach New Jersey. It was a typical foggy day near the
coast; however the two lead aircraft reached Palm Springs, California.
Silver's aircraft did not, and was not reported missing for three days
due to a mix-up in paperwork. Read
more
Underwater
Search for Wasp Aircraft Turns Up Missing 1950s USAF Jet Trainer
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NEW
ZEALAND AIRVENTURE VOLUNTEERS HEAD SOUTH FOR THE SUMMER
AirVenture 2009 ended in July, but some volunteers just didn't want to
go home. Rod and Arlene Smith have volunteered for three consecutive
years and for them, summer is never over. You see, the Smiths live in
New Zealand, and by keeping AirVenture in their plans, they are
guaranteed to have warm weather year-round. Read
more |
SEARCH
FOR BURIED COMBAT WINGS BRINGS HOME LIVING MEMORY OF FALLEN COMRADE
 On
July 7, 1944, Bernerd Harding found himself floating under a parachute
canopy after bailing out of his stricken B-24 bomber over eastern
Germany. He landed in a field near Klein Quenstedt, Germany, and was
immediately captured by local townspeople. He was held in the cellar of
a farmhouse for about an hour with other American airmen from downed
planes. It was there that he buried the wings off his uniform to conceal
his rank. Last month Harding returned to that village to search for his
wings after his stepson, Peter Kelley, encouraged him to go. Read
more |
NEW
RADAR SYSTEM WILL 'SEE' MORE AIRCRAFT-REDUCE ATC DELAYS IN MOUNTAINS
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) introduced a new radar system,
called Wide-Area Multilateration (WAM) that allows air traffic
controllers to track aircraft not covered by radar in remote,
mountainous regions. The new system is comprised of a network of
relatively small sensors deployed in remote areas. The sensors send out
signals that are received and sent back by aircraft transponders. No
other aircraft equipment is required. System computers are able to
determine the precise location of aircraft by triangulating the time and
distance measurements of those signals. Controllers are able to see
those aircraft on their screens as if they were radar targets. Read more |
SWEEPSTAKES
WINNER SAYS FLIGHT DESIGN MC WAS 'NICE SURPRISE'
 Robert
Vaughan, of Appomattox, Virginia, EAA 762472, was in Sebring, Florida,
recently to pick up his brand new Flight Design MC light-sport aircraft,
grand prize in the 2009 EAA Share the Spirit Sweepstakes.
“It was awesome!” Vaughan exclaimed,
describing the experience of picking up his new aircraft. “It was like
a dream come true, or like a dream.” Vaughn’s award could not have
come at a better time; the economy prevented his attendance at both Sun
’n Fun and AirVenture this year. Read
more |
WORLD
WAR I AIRCRAFT GATHER IN DAYTON
 Last
weekend, the Great War Aeroplanes Association, in partnership with the
National Museum of the United States Air Force, held their biennial Dawn
Patrol Rendezvous on the museum’s grounds at Wright-Patterson Air
Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Read
more
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NEW BILL AIMS TO CURB
DHS's 'ABSOLUTE POWER'
Several House members supportive of general aviation introduced a bill
Wednesday, September 30, that would reign in the Department of Homeland
Security’s (DHS) “absolute power” to issue security directives
that severely impact aviation. House
Bill 3678 (H.R. 3678) was introduced by John Mica (R-Fla.), Allen
Boyd (D-Fla.), Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.), and Thomas
Petri (R-Wis.). Read
more |
EAA SEEKS VOLUNTEER
PRODUCT TESTERS - GIVE EAA YOUR RATING, KEEP THE PRODUCT
EAA is seeking volunteers to test and rate new products. The products
will be related to different aspects of aviation and the requirements to
test a product will vary by item. The results of these tests will be
published in a new monthly feature in EAA Sport Aviation magazine
that will debut soon. Above all, volunteer testers get to keep the item
they evaluated! All you have to do is volunteer your time. Read
more |
SULLY AND SKILES REUNITED
- IN THE COCKPIT
 EAA
Young Eagles Co-Chairmen Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger
and First Officer Jeff Skiles have been "joined at the hip" in
the media spotlight since their Hudson River landing in January. But
Thursday morning marked the first time they were back together in the
workplace - the cockpit of a US Airways aircraft. They flew flight 1050
from Charlotte to New York City, which was somewhat of a surprise given
the fact that the airline had announced earlier that the two would
reunite on the New York-to-Charlotte flight later in the day. The New
York Daily News reported that applause erupted prior to take-off
in Charlotte when Sully announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is
Captain Sullenberger." Two days earlier Sully and Skiles were
introduced to the media in California as the new EAA Young Eagles
co-chairmen, succeeding Harrison Ford who stepped down after five years. |
VAN'S
DELIVERS 3,000TH RV-8 KIT
Van's Aircraft has announced delivery of the 3,000th RV-8 kit in its
latest issue of the company's RVator
newsletter. According to the story, Tom Carter of Big Fork, Montana,
flew to Oregon in his Cessna 180 to pick up an empennage kit for an
RV-8. "It will replace his F-16, which he had to give back to the
government when he retired," the story reads about the former Air
Force pilot. When Van's rang up the order, it indicated customer number
83000 - the 3000th RV-8 empennage kit delivered since the model was
introduced in 1996. That calculates to "a little less than one
(kit) per working day" since its launching, according to Van's.
Overall, the company claims there are 6,357 completed RVs.
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EAA
SPORTAIR WORKSHOPS HEADS TO THE NORTHWEST
 EAA
SportAir Workshops will be in the Seattle area this month with two of
our most popular classes: Sheet Metal Basics and Electrical Systems and
Avionics. The workshops will be October 24-at the Arlington Fly-In
facilities at Arlington Municipal Airport. Sheet Metal Basics presents
the essential elements of metal aircraft construction. You'll learn
about materials and fasteners and build a small sheet metal wing
section. All tools and materials are supplied. EAA member price: $289.
The Electrical Systems and Avionics
course covers the basics of antenna mounting, coax cable installation,
wiring of radio systems, soldering and crimping components, alternator
and electrical system requirements and the installation of electrical
systems. You will also complete several hands-on practice projects. EAA
member price: $289.
See
the courses in action on the EAA Video Player
Learn details on
each course
View the complete
SportAir Schedule
Learn more about the classes featured in
Arlington or register for a class today! Call toll-free, 800-967-5746,
or visit www.sportair.com for 24/7
information/online registration.
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EAA 'TIMELESS VOICE OF
THE WEEK': HANK
THIES
 After
the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Hank Thies, then
17, enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Initially trained as a mechanic, Hank was
accepted into flight training at Pensacola, Florida. After a short stint
in a carrier aircraft service unit, Hank went back to Pensacola and was
trained to fly OS2U Kingfisher floatplanes. He flew spotter missions for
island bombardment over the Pacific for nine months off the battleship
USS California. Returning to the U.S., Hank was retrained as an SBD dive
bomber pilot. Hank participated in the campaigns at Saipan, Tinian,
Guam, Leyte, Luzon, and Iwo Jima. Watch the video. Watch
the video.
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FREE
SHIPPING ON EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH 2009 DVD
 Order
your copy of the official EAA AirVenture Oshkosh souvenir DVD today,
featuring the best of the 2009 convention, for only $14.99. Plus,
receive FREE shipping on domestic (U.S. & Canada) orders.
International orders are charged $3 shipping, plus $1 for each
additional DVD. Shipping offer valid now through October 7. Makes a
great gift! Order
online, or call toll-free 1-800-564-6322.
GET YOUR 2010 EAA
WORLD OF FLIGHT CALENDAR AND SAVE $2
 EAA's
2010 World of Flight Calendar features stunning aircraft photographed in
the famous EAA style by Jim Koepnick and Bonnie Kratz, EAA's
award-winning photographers. Makes a great gift idea, and you can order
yours in plenty of time for the holidays! Order
online, or call toll-free 1-800-564-6322. |
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| Can you
help?
Join the Discussions
Post of the Week!
EAA's Charlie Becker is more than just
the Director of Member Programs - much more importantly, he's also a guy
building an airplane. He was looking for an inclinometer for his
project, and found a couple of great solutions in the EAA Sport
Aviation archives, and, in the tradition of members-helping-members,
he
posted the results on Oshkosh365. Thanks to Charlie for sharing the
results!
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If you have a suggestions and/or submission for EAA’s weekly AeroInnovations column, please send to editor Bob Waldron at aeroinnovations@eaa.org.
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Dynalifter
Airship: New Cargo Hauling Option?
 A
new aircraft being developed in Ohio is designed to provide the
cargo-hauling benefits of airships without the drawback of other
lighter-than-air vehicles. The Dynalifter is designed to have the
reliability of a plane but better fuel efficiency. This new type of
cargo carrier takes off like a regular plane and has design features
that improve handling in windy conditions compared to a standard blimp.
The 1000-foot Dynalifter design can carry 250 tons of cargo.
Students'
Autonomous Aircraft Reaches 7000 feet
 A
world record was set by Stanford University students who took their
class project to NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. Their autonomous
small battery-powered plane in the 'less than five kilogram' category
flew to more than 7000 feet and then went into landing mode, guiding it
to a safe landing. The foam and balsa aircraft were built by the
students for $500 each.
Hydrogenius
Fuel Cell Aircraft Construction Begins
The Hydrogenius team at Germany's Institute of Aircraft Design has begun
construction on a fuel cell-powered aircraft. They plan to enter the
Hydrogenius in NASA's Green Flight Challenge prize competition.
Professor Rudolf Voit-Nitschmann is the leader for this prize
competition project. He has relevant experience for this type of
bleeding-edge design competition, having participated in the design of
the solar-powered Icare II, which won the 1996 Berblinger prize.
Microchannel
Boiling Cools Integrated Circuits For Electric Vehicles
Researchers from Purdue University are working on advanced
cooling methods for control circuits for electric vehicles and for other
integrated circuits that generate a lot of heat. One application of the
Purdue development work is to prevent overheating in the switching
transistors for electric and hybrid vehicles, such as electric aircraft. |
| AeroInnovations aims to highlight developments that have potential to impact the future of aviation. EAA does not necessarily endorse the ideas, products, services or views contained therein. |
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NOT
TOO LATE TO SIGN UP FOR EAA'S FORD TRI-MOTOR, B-17 FANTASY CAMPS
Enroll by October 9, 2009, to participate in an EAA Fantasy Flight Camp.
The Ford Tri-Motor Fantasy Flight Camp (October 23-25) gives
participants an insider look at air travel as it was in 1929 through a
fascinating weekend at EAA headquarters - including loggable flight
time! At the weekend B-17 Fantasy Flight Camp (December 18-20),
you'll get up close and personal with one of the most famous airplanes
of World War II - including a 20-minute flight experience! Space is
limited, so secure your spot today at www.fantasyflightcamp.org. |
HOT-LANTA,
HERE COMES ALUMINUM OVERCAST!
 EAA's
B-17G, Aluminum Overcast casts its shadow over the Atlanta area
this weekend, October 2-4, as the tour visits Lawrenceville, Georgia,
hosted by EAA Chapter 690. Don't miss your chance to see or ride in this
excellent example of the Flying Fortress. Next week EAA Chapter 152
hosts the tour at Bessemer, Alabama, October 6-7; and EAA Warbird
Squadron 1 welcomes the tour at Camden, Tennessee October 9-11. Book a
flight or get more tour information at www.B17.org,
or call 800-359-6217.
Visit EAA's
Fly the Fortress multimedia gallery.
Become a fan of EAA's B-17 Aluminum
Overcast Facebook
page!
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ENJOY
FALL COLOR FLIGHTS IN EAA'S 1929 FORD TRI-MOTOR
 The
"golden age of aviation" meets fall's "golden season of
color" when you take a ride in EAA's 1929 Ford Tri-Motor October
10-11. A 20- to 25-minute flight will take you over Oshkosh and the
surrounding area for a great view of the rich reds, blazing oranges, and
brilliant yellows that paint the countryside below. Rides are $65 for
adults and $55 for children ages 17 and under. Flights depart from EAA's
Pioneer Airport every 45 minutes. Flight times are 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on
Saturday, and 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Sunday. Gift the flight for a
birthday or an early Christmas present! For more information or to make
reservations, click
here. To reach a museum staff member, please call 920-426-6880. |
HOMEBUILDING HINT OF THE
WEEK: CLOSING ALUMINUM ANGLE
 Kerry
Fores shows two ways to bend aluminum angle. Kerry built an AirVenture
award-winning Sonex and works at Sonex Aircraft providing technical
assistance.
Watch
the video.
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WHERE ARE YOU FLYING THIS
WEEKEND?
 EAA
Chapter 1055 Fly-In Breakfast, York, Nebraska
On Saturday, October 3, enjoy-cook-to-order omelets, breakfast
burritos, pancakes, and sausage. "If we have it, we'll cook
it!" Breakfast served from 8-10 a.m. Poker Run from 10:30 to 12
and free chili feed afterwards. For more information, contact Randy
Hall, 402-362-7582.
EAA Chapter 968 19th Annual Leaf
Peepers and Fly-In Breakfast
Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport, N. Clarendon, Vermont
With the world famous Green Mountain Flyers blueberry hotcakes,
sausage, Vermont maple syrup, and all the fixing's! For more
information, visit www.greenmountainflyers.org,
or contact Bud Seaman, 802-273-3444.
To learn more about calendar events, or
to find/submit others, visit www.EAAcalendar.org. |
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Q
& A:
Question of
the Week
For EAA
Information Services
I am a private pilot flying an amateur-built
tailwheel Kitfox. Do I need a tailwheel endorsement
to fly this airplane?
Answer: Your
Kitfox is certificated as an Experimental
Amateur-Built airplane, and as long as your Kitfox,
or any other certificated airplane, has a landing
gear in a tailwheel configuration, you must comply
with FAR 61.31(i), which clearly states, “Additional
training required for operating tailwheel airplanes.”
The exception is if you logged PIC time in a
tailwheel aircraft prior to April 15, 1991. The FAR
does not distinguish between Experimental or
type-certificated airplanes - if you have a
tailwheel, you do need a tailwheel endorsement
unless the exception applies.
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.
October
2009
EAA
Desktop Calendar
Let
Leon Welchel's award-winning de Havilland DH-82
Tiger Moth grace your desktop this month. EAA's
Bonnie Kratz shot the airplane over Iowa farmland.
Download
this wallpaper image from the EAA
website, where you can choose among several different
resolutions to suit
your screen - including three wide-screen
sizes...or select an image from the archive. |
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AERO FRIEDRICHSHAFEN 2010
ORGANIZERS PLAN FOR SUCCESS
Preparations for AERO Friedrichshafen 2010 are in full swing, and
project manager Thomas Grunewald is convinced that the air show, now an
annual event, will be another success. "The encouragement and the
feedback from the exhibitors have us feeling optimistic," Grunewald
said. The 18th AERO, to be held at Lake Constance April 8-11, 2010, has
already registered more than 100 exhibiting companies from 15 countries.
For more information, visit www.Aero-Expo.com.
CESSNA RELEASES
SPORT/PRIVATE PILOT TRAINING PROGRAM
Cessna Aircraft Company has released its new FAA-approved Cessna
Sport/Private Pilot Course to its Cessna Pilot Center network. "The
new training program is a key component of Cessna's effort to make
flying more accessible and to re-energize pilot training," said Tom
Aniello, Cessna's vice president of marketing. "This new training
program, coupled with the anticipated deliveries of Cessna's new
light-sport aircraft, the 162 Skycatcher later this year, makes this the
complete package for anyone who wants to learn to fly," Aniello
said. More information can be found at www.CessnaFlightTraining.com.
BLOG EXPLORES
'LAUNCHING COMMERCIAL SPACE FLIGHT'
October 4, 2009 marks the fifth anniversary of the Ansari X
PRIZE-winning flight of SpaceShipOne, which launched a new era in which
private human space flight became a reality. The X PRIZE Foundation is
commemorating this accomplishment by telling the personal stories of the
visionaries and heroes who made it all possible, as well as the
transformative impact these individuals had on lives around the globe
through a five-part blog series entitled, "Launching Commercial
Space Flight." Find the posts at The
Huffington Post, Next Prize,
or Launch Pad.
KING SCHOOLS TO
DISTRIBUTE REDBIRD FLIGHT SIM PRODUCTS
King Schools and Redbird Flight Simulations have entered into an
exclusive agreement offering Redbird products through King Schools'
marketing, sales, and distribution channels. "Redbird has created
the first affordable full-motion simulator with sufficient fidelity to
be truly useful to VFR pilots, not just IFR pilots," said John
King, co-chairman of King Schools. "This can reduce the cost of
training, allow training when weather prevents flight in the airplane,
and allow the demonstration of things you just shouldn't do in an
airplane," King added. To find out more, visit www.KingSchools.com,
or call 800-854-1001.
SPORT AIR RACING
LEAGUE COMPLETES SEVENTH RACE
The seventh air race in the National Championship Series of the Sport
Air Racing League concluded this week, with 23 racers from as far away
as Ontario and Louisiana. The race is a two-turn, 100-mile course at
speeds approaching 300 miles per hour. The overall winner in the
experimental class was Duncan Sutherland of Alto, New Mexico, who flew
his Swearingen SX300 at a speed of 285.7 mph, while Jack Peck of Pagosa
Springs, Colorado, took the production class win, flying a Mooney M20M
to a course speed of 221.9 mph. For more information contact Mike
Thompson at 512-663-2184 or visit www.SportAirRace.org.
TEMPEST REDUCES PRICES
ON VOLARE CARBURETORS
Tempest is offering a price rollback on its new, rebuilt, and overhauled
carburetor line, Tempest Volare. After acquiring the MSA carburetor
product line from Precision, Tempest manufacturing and engineering
initiated a complete audit of all processes and production tooling and
product test equipment. "As a result, we have initiated many
changes to not only improve the quality and reliability of the product,
but reduce manufacturing costs as well," said John Herman, vice
president of sales and marketing. "Because we have lowered our
manufacturing costs, we are passing that reduction on to the consumer in
the form of a price rollback." Prices are up to 25 percent lower
than the previous prices. Learn more at www.TempestPlus.com
or call 800-822-3200.
SEE LANCAIR EVOLUTION
AT LOCATION NEAR YOU
Lancair's Turbine Evolution will be at five locations in California and
Arizona during October. See the aircraft at Nut Tree Airport (VCB) in
Vacaville October 10-12; at the Parade of Planes event at Hayward (HWD)
on October 15-17 (with demonstration flights available the 18th); Santa
Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) on October 20; and at San Diego's
Montgomery Field (MYF) on October 21. The Evolution will also be
displayed at the Copperstate Fly-In at Casa Grande Municipal Airport (CGZ),
October 22-24. Those interested in flying the aircraft can arrange a
demo flight or get schedule specifics by calling Chelsea Welch at
541-604-6957, or by contacting sales@lancair.com.
GERMAN GROUP ENTERS
$30 MILLION GOOGLE LUNAR X PRIZE
Team c-base Open Moon, a German group that includes physicians,
businessmen, and engineers, has announced its official entry into the Google
Lunar X PRIZE, a $30 million competition that challenges space
professionals and engineers from across the globe to build and launch to
the Moon a privately funded spacecraft capable of completing a series of
exploration and transmission tasks as outlined in the competition's official
rules. Headquartered in Berlin, Germany, the team is comprised of
five members and is one of 20 teams from ten countries that are
competing for their share of the $30 million prize purse. For more
information about team c-base Open Moon, please visit www.OpenMoon.info.
ASPEN AVIONICS
RECEIVES STC FOR EFD1000 MFD
Aspen Avionics has received its Approved Model List Supplemental Type
Certificate (AML-STC) for the EFD500 Multi-Function Display (MFD); the
EFD1000 MFD; and the EWR50 Weather Receiver from the FAA. This
certification, combined with the TSO (Technical Standard Order)
certification granted to the company nearly two weeks ago, authorizes
installation of Aspen's MFDs and weather receivers into more than 650
airplane makes and models, representing the majority of single-engine
airplanes and light twins in the general aviation fleet. The EFD500 MFD
has a list price of $4,995, and the EFD1000 MFD has a list price of
$7,995. The EWR50 Weather Receiver is listed at $2,495. For more
information, visit the
Aspen website.
ICON WINS 'GOLD'
DESIGN AWARD
Congratulations to ICON Aircraft, which last weekend received one of the
most prestigious design awards in the world - the 2009 IDEA/BusinessWeek
Gold Award in the Transportation category - for its A5 amphibious
light-sport aircraft. The A5 was selected over cars, boats, planes,
motorcycles or any other transportation product designed in 2008. (See a
photo
gallery of the ICON A5, shot during its appearance at EAA AirVenture
Oshkosh 2009.)
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