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November
26, 2009 Volume 9,
Number 55 |
CALLING ALL ZODIAC
601XL/650 OWNERS . . .
 Earlier this month, the FAA
halted the issuance of new airworthiness certificates to Zodiac 601XL
and 650 aircraft because of its concerns regarding in-flight structural
failures. EAA is continuing to work with FAA on solutions for
builders, owners, and operators of these airplanes, and joins Zenith
Aircraft in urging owners of the 601XL or 650 to make the recommended
modifications to their aircraft. Read
more
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PILOT DIES IN CRASH AFTER
FRANTIC ATTEMPT TO EJECT
A tragic story occurred in South Africa last week during the Overberg
Air Show at Bredasdorp when test pilot Dave Stock perished in a crash
while performing in an English Electric Lightning fighter jet. When the
aircraft developed engine trouble, he was unable to eject before it
impacted the ground. His chilling last words heard over the radio:
"I have ejector seat failure." The Cape Argus newspaper website
gives an account of the events leading up to the accident in the
Cold War fighter.
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FAA WITHDRAWS 'OUTDATED'
1995 PILOT DUTY PROPOSAL
In the wake of several accidents and incidents, such as this year's
Colgan Air crash in Buffalo, New York, and the "distracted
flying" incident by a Northwest Airlines flight crew, the FAA has
withdrawn a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) addressing fatigue it
first issued in 1995. The move is part of a new FAA effort was launched
last June by Administrator Randy Babbitt to examine flight time and rest
rules in part to find ways to reduce risk in regional airline
operations. Read
more
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'CANDY BOMBER' TO SHOWER
CHILDREN WITH CHOCOLATE
 Gail
Halvorsen, whose place in history will always be as the Berlin Airlift
pilot who dropped candy bars to German children during the Soviet
Union's blockade of Berlin in 1948, will return to the skies over
Elizabeth City, North Carolina, next week where he'll drop tiny
parachutes laden with chocolate to children below. On December 5, Col.
Halvorsen will fly the Spirit of Freedom, a restored 1945 Douglas
C-54 aircraft operated by the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation, over
Elizabeth City and make two separate drops as part of the First In
Flight Festival that also features EAA Young Eagles rides. Read
more
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EPIC'S SAGA HAS INTEREST
- FOUR BIDDERS
 As
the courts sort out the mess in the aftermath of the Epic Aircraft
bankruptcy, at least four parties are interested in purchasing the
aircraft company. Interim CEO Christopher Sanders told AVweb
this week that several bidders, including some who are well known in
aviation circles, have expressed interest in the company. Sanders is
busy managing the transition of the company while keeping happy the 15
owner/builders who still have partially completed projects at the EPIC
facility in Bend, Oregon. The six-place turboprop kit sold for $1.8
million and early successes led to trouble as the company ceased
operations and the owner of the leased facility locked its doors and all
the aircraft inside.
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CREATE THE 'MUST-HAVE'
T-SHIRT FOR AIRVENTURE 2010!
Got an original idea for a new T-shirt slogan or design for AirVenture
2010? We’re collecting your ideas on Oshkosh365
now through Friday, December 18, so visit the site for details, then
post your idea to the thread. Who knows? Your idea could be the
inspiration for next year’s best-selling T-shirt! All EAA members who
post an idea will be entered into a drawing for a $50 EAA Merchandise
gift card, to be drawn on Monday, December 21. Post
your idea here.
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SKILES TO SPEAK AT EAA
WRIGHT MEMORIAL BANQUET
 Jeff
Skiles, Young Eagles co-chairman and First Officer of US Airways Flight
1549, will be the keynote speaker at EAA's 7th Annual Wright Brothers
Memorial Banquet scheduled for Friday, December 18, at the EAA
AirVenture Museum's Eagle Hangar in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The dinner
celebrates the 106th anniversary of Orville and Wilbur Wright's first
successful powered flight on December 17, 1903. Read
more
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EAA Sport Aviation Magazine Photo
Contest!
Can you help?
Join the Discussions
Post of the Week!
The goal of Oshkosh365 is, as the name
implies, to capture some of the things that happen here for one week
every summer and use the power of the web to keep them going the rest of
the year. Members sharing information and finding ways to help each
other out are a big part of that ... this week's PoTW comes from Ron
Wanttaja and it's a perfect example. Click
here to have a look.
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If you have a suggestions and/or submission for EAA’s weekly AeroInnovations column, please send to
AeroInnovations editor Bob Waldron at aeroinnovations@eaa.org.
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Combination
Turbine and Scramjet Seen As Way to Reach Orbit
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NASA's Glenn Research Center in Ohio is
building a turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) engine test rig as the
next step in developing an advanced propulsion system for next-gen
aircraft or spacecraft. The NASA/DARPA TBCC combines a high speed turbo
engine with a simulated hydrocarbon-fueled scramjet.
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Laser
Shoots Down Five Aircraft
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A trailer-mounted laser sponsored by the US
Air Force Research Laboratory shot down five UAVs at a test center in
California. Developed by Boeing, the MATRIX and Laser Avenger
ground-based weapon systems demonstrated the capability to shoot down
aircraft with lasers.
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Lead
Acid Batteries Use High Energy Density Microcell Foam
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Next-generation microcell foam lead acid
batteries have the potential to match the energy density of lithium or
nickel batteries. Firefly Energy in Peoria, Illinois, received a
contract extension from the U.S. Army to continue development of its
carbon graphite foam grid for advanced technology lead acid batteries.
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Saving
Electricity on Electric Vehicles
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Researchers at the Power Electronic Systems
Laboratory of ETH Zurich have developed lower cost power electronics for
electric vehicles. Hanna Plesko's hybrid vehicle power system combines
the functions of the inverter, the DC/DC converter, and the electric
motor, reducing both the size and cost of these components.
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Ground
Based F-104 Fighter Uses GPS to Go 800 MPH
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A Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is using GNSS
technology (global navigation satellite system) in its attempts to reach
800 miles per hour in November 2009-on the ground. The F-104 fighter jet
with wheels (not training) uses 20 GNSS signals per second from as many
as 14 satellites at a time to track and help control the test runs in
the Black Rock Desert of Nevada.
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| 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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B-17
TOUR RESUMES IN TEXAS
 The
B-17 tour takes a break for the
Thanksgiving holiday, resuming December 1-2 at Corpus Christi, TX,
hosted by EAA Chapter 191. 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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HOMEBUILDING HINT OF THE
WEEK: TAP AND DIE SET BASICS
 In
this week's segment, Richard Koehler walks you thru the basics of using
a tap and die set. "Dick" is a Technical Counselor for Chapter
186, A&P aircraft mechanic with Inspection Authorization (IA), and
SportAir Workshop instructor. Watch
the video.
P Lead Fabrication
Brian Carpenter of Rainbow Aviation Services demonstrates how to
fabricate a P-Lead for a magneto. Brian is an A&P aircraft mechanic
with an Inspection Authorization rating (IA), a DAR for light-sport and
amateur built, a Sport Pilot Instructor Examiner, an FAA Certified
Flight Instructor, and an EAA Technical Counselor and Flight Advisor.
Watch the video
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EAA 'TIMELESS VOICE OF
THE WEEK': PAUL BEAUCHAMP
 At
twelve years old, Paul Beauchamp saw the movie “All Quiet on the
Western Front,” and he knew then that he would never serve in the
infantry. At age twenty-one he enlisted in the U.S. Navy on August 14,
1941. Trained as a fighter pilot, he initially flew F4F Wildcats before
transitioning into the F6F Hellcat. Assigned to fighter squadron VF-19,
Paul boarded the USS Lexington (CV-16) at Enewetak Atoll. He flew sixty
combat missions during his four month tour, participating in both air
and ground attack sorties. His last day aboard the Lexington was
Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 1944.
Watch
the video.
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LOOKING
FOR HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS?
 Check out our new Stocking
Stuffers page on Aeronautica, the official EAA merchandise store. Follow
the adventures of Artie the Airplane when he gets a call from the North
Pole on a stormy Christmas Eve in The Year Artie Saved Christmas.
A delightful, entertaining holiday story the whole family will enjoy,
this soft cover book can be yours for only $6.95. Or add a bit of the
“good ol’ days” to your rec room or hobby garage with one of these
throwback openers, reminiscent  of the wall mount bottle openers from
years ago. Made in Wisconsin, these bottle openers are cast in durable
zinc with a custom EAA bottle cap appliqué that measures 1.5”. Only
$21.99 for EAA members, a savings of $3 off the regular, non-member
price. For that special lady in your life, this Airplane Necklace with
clear stones is sure to please. A gold tone hoop slide encompasses a
gold low wing airplane accented with rhinestone wings. Available for
only $23.99. Order
online or call toll-free, 800-564-6322.
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WHERE ARE YOU FLYING THIS
WEEKEND?
 EAA
Chapter 1326 Fly-In Breakfast, Shelbyville Municipal Airport,
Tennessee
Come and join us for a great breakfast from 7:30-10 a.m. on
Saturday, November 28. Hot biscuits, gravy, and eggs - and there's
pancakes, too. For more information, visit http://shelbyvillesportflyers.com,
or contact Susie Henderson, 931-619-0010.
Friday Lunch - Central County Airport,
Iola, Wisconsin - A sumptuous noon lunch is served at the
Central County Airport (68C) every Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., throughout
the year in an amazing clubhouse/hangar. For all the details, including
this week's (November 27) menu, visit http://netnet.net/~wjknjan/lmenu.html.
Contact: Bill Kinsman, 920-244-7808.
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
What are the specifications for a metal-cutting band
saw?
Answer: A
woodworking blade of at least 18 teeth per inch will
give you good results for cutting aluminum, but do
not use this blade for cutting steel. Lubricating
the blade with candle wax will help it last longer,
too.
Added tip: If you use
a Scotch-Brite wheel on one side of your grinder,
you can deburr the edges in a snap - much easier and
quicker than filing or even using a hand-held edge
deburring tool.
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.
December
2009
EAA
Desktop Calendar
We wrap up 2009
with the Sorensen BF9-2, Unfinished Business,
designed and built by Danny Sorensen of EAA Chapter
23, Salt Lake City, Utah. Construction began in
October 1995 and 13 years later, October 2008,
Sorensen received the airworthiness certificate for
his aerobatic biplane. Photo credit: Bonnie Kratz,
shot during AirVenture last summer in a Piper Lance
piloted by Walt Dorlac.
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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LOCKWOOD
AIRCRAFT UPDATES SUPER DRIFTER KIT AIRPLANE
After buying the rights to the Drifter series of light aircraft kits,
Lockwood Aircraft has been delivering kits but also evaluating the
design. Lockwood has made changes to the horizontal tail that improves
flight handling for the floatplane versions.
"The new horizontal stabilizers and
elevators add approximately two feet to the span of the tail," said
Phil Lockwood, president. "They are designed to increase pitch
stability and elevator authority on float-equipped Super Drifters."
The company reports that the new horizontal stabilizers will be
available as a retrofit kit for existing float-equipped Super Drifters
and standard on new kits going on floats. "We expect to complete
the testing and engineering this winter. Providing testing continues to
go as expected, the new parts should be available by March 2010,"
said George Weber, Lockwood Aircraft manager. Learn more at www.LockwoodAircraft.com
or call 863-655-4242.
CIVIL AIR PATROL TO
CELEBRATE 68TH ANNIVERSARY
The 58,000 citizen volunteers of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) will mark
the organization's 68th anniversary on December 1. The celebration
commemorates the history of service provided by today's CAP throughout
the United States and Puerto Rico, including disaster relief efforts,
search and rescue missions, and aerospace education. "This occasion
provides citizens across America the opportunity to honor Civil Air
Patrol and its members," said Maj. Gen. Amy Courter, CAP's national
commander. "Be sure to say 'thanks' to these unsung heroes in your
communities who provide such vigilant service." For more
information, visit www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com.
GET YOUR CAMGUARD AT
WICKS
Wicks Aircraft Supply has added CamGuard lubricant to its list of
product offerings. CamGuard is an additive liquid formulated to address
the problems of corrosion, wear, deposits, and seal degradation in
piston engines. It can be used with all oils and is useful for
infrequently used engines including aircraft, marine, motorcycles, and
seasonal equipment. Get more information at www.WicksAircraft.com
or call 800-221-9425.
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