 |
 |
 |
March
12, 2010 Volume 10, Number 10 |
DIGGING
DEEPER ON HOMEBUILT SAFETY
Extracting accurate statistics for amateur-built accidents can be an
exhausting exercise in numbers, especially since the FAA and NTSB often
use different statistics to report the homebuilt aircraft fleet size and
the accidents that occur each year. Some reports are based on data that
may give a misleading impression of amateur-built accident and
fatal-accident rates. It takes some digging to get beneath the surface
for actual totals and comparisons. Read
more
|
DC-2
TO JOIN OSHKOSH DC-3 CELEBRATION
 A
rare Douglas DC-2, the predecessor to the DC-3, will join the July 26
mass arrival of 40 airplanes at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2010. The
aircraft, owned by the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Wash., will lead the
group flight of DC-3s just before the opening day air show to usher in
the DC-3's 75th anniversary celebration. Read
more
|
AIRVENTURE
UPDATE WEBINAR SET FOR MARCH 18
Reserve your spot for a special EAA AirVenture Update Webinar next
Thursday, March 18, beginning at 7 p.m. CDT. Join Steve Taylor, EAA
facilities manager, as he talks about the continuing improvements on the
AirVenture convention grounds. Adam Smith, vice president of membership,
will then discuss some of the features and attractions - interesting
aircraft, people, and programs - that are in the pipeline for 2010. All
you need to participate is a computer and an Internet connection
(broadband recommended). Space is limited, so register
here today!
Don't Forget -
Homebuilders' Webinar Tonight!
Tonight (Thursday March 11) join Joe Norris, EAA Homebuilders Community
Manager, for Weight and Balance for Your Homebuilt Airworthiness
Inspection. There's still time to sign up by clicking
here.
|
SPRING TOUR SCHEDULE, EAA
B-17 TOUR
 Aluminum
Overcast, EAA’s restored B-17 bomber, returns to the sky on
Friday, April 2, in Deer Valley, Arizona, to launch the 2010 national
tour. Tour host is EAA Warbird Squadron 20. This year also marks the
75th anniversary of the B-17’s first flight - July 28, 1935.
The tour’s first segment includes 19
stops in six states. (See the tour
schedule.) Following a 100-hour inspection after the June 10-15 stop
in Denver at the Wings Over the Rockies, the tour resumes for another
month before preparations for the big week at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
2010, July 26-August 1. (Flights during Oshkosh are now available - click
here to book a flight at Oshkosh.) Read
more
|
WASP FINALLY GET THEIR
DUE
 They’ve
had to wait a long time. More than 60 years, in fact. But today,
the Women Air Force Service Pilots, or WASP, finally received the
recognition and honor they deserved. The World War II women pilots, who
were the first to fly military aircraft under the direction of the
United States Army Air Forces, received a Congressional Gold Medal in a
ceremony in the U.S. Capitol. Read
more
|
EAA, FAA WORK TO EXPAND
EXPERIMENTAL, LSA AIRCRAFT TYPE DESIGNATORS
Member's suggestion gets ball rolling Those of you who have experience
filling out a flight plan know that you're required to enter an aircraft
type designator in block 3. For many years experimental aircraft owners
were required to enter one of the standard experimental type designators
in that block: HXA (airspeed less than 100 kts); HXB (airspeed between
100 and 200 kts); or HXC (airspeed greater than 200 kts). Now, thanks to
an EAA member's urging, several experimental and light-sport aircraft
have received type designators to identify their specific make and model
to air traffic controllers, with the goal of having designators for all
aircraft types. Read
more
|
EAAER LANDS SAFELY ON
INTERSTATE IN NEW MEXICO
 A
Quickie Q-2, owned and piloted by Jonathan (Jon) Finley (EAA 394580),
made an emergency landing Saturday morning, March 6, on Interstate
Highway 25, parallel to Mid Valley airpark (E98) in Los Lunas, New
Mexico. Jon's plane is powered with a direct-drive, Subaru automobile
conversion and was featured in the March 2009 issue of Experimenter,
EAA's homebuilder e-newsletter. Read
more
|
AFGHAN HOMEBUILDER FLIES
OWN DESIGN
 We
don't know much about Afghan welder Mohammed Asef Nabizada, but we do
know he built a twin propeller-driven ultralight in Afghanistan and flew
it. Nabizada, 25, test-flew the craft in the Karakh district; which is
in western part of the country. The test flight ended sooner than
planned due to stability problems. EAA Senior Aviation Specialist Tim
Bogenhagen, remarked, "Looks like the spirit of aviation and the
desire to design, build and fly one's own flying machine is alive in one
of the most desolate and war-torn countries of the world." Read
more
|
WHITE
HOUSE TABS RETIRED INTELLIGENCE OFFICER TO HEAD TSA
 The
White House announced Monday that President Obama will nominate Major
General Robert A. Harding, U.S. Army (Ret.) as Assistant Secretary for
the Department of Homeland Security to head the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA). General Harding served for 33 years in the US
Army, retiring in 2001 as the Army's Deputy G2 (Intelligence). From
1996-2000, he was the Director for Operations at the Defense
Intelligence Agency (DIA), the Department of Defense's senior Human
Intelligence (HUMINT) officer. Read
more
|
OLDEST 'FLYING CAR'
AUCTION THIS WEEKEND
 What's
billed as the oldest original flying car in existence will be sold this
weekend at the Georgia-based auction company, Red Baron, in Atlanta.
According to OldCarsWeekly.com's sister website, AntiqueTrader.com,
the flying car is Frank Skroback's stab at a roadable
"aircraft" (it never flew), built in 1935. Skrobach was a
retired industrial technician and electrician from Syracuse, New York,
who got the idea for a flying car while studying the concepts of the
French furniture-maker-turned-aircraft-designer Henri Mignet, inventor
of the tandem wing monoplane. Read
more
|
NTSB: SPECIFIC TRAINING
WOULD IMPROVE GLASS COCKPIT SAFETY RECORD
 The
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released results of a
five-year study that concludes glass cockpit avionics do not improve the
safety record of light aircraft. Nearly all new piston-powered light
airplanes are equipped with primary digital flight displays and a
growing number of older aircraft are undergoing retrofits. The NTSB says
that training; especially on specific equipment, is needed to maximize
the safety potential of glass cockpit technology. Read
more
|
EAA
SEEKS COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
Can you take 2,000 words of sometimes-technical text and create a
200-word message that is easily understood? Do you like helping the
media and public, and creating better understanding of an event or
issue? If so, we'd like to talk to you about our full-time opening on
the EAA communications staff. Learn more about the position here.
|
EXPERIENCE
INDOOR FLIGHT AT EAA FAMILY FLIGHTFEST
The weekend of March 20-21 will be a busy time at the EAA AirVenture
Museum for the annual EAA Family Flightfest. The celebration of flight,
indoor-style, happens all over the museum. Featured displays and
activities include static model airplanes built from plastic or paper,
children's activities at various skill levels - from paper airplanes to
flight simulators - and more. Radio control and free flight model flight
demonstrations will take place on both days. In fact, if you're a free
flight indoor flyer interested in participating in either or both days, e-mail
H.G. Frautschy, editor of Vintage Airplane magazine and avid
free-flighter. (Registration for the R/C demonstration area is closed
for 2010.)
|
EAA
AIRVENTURE CONCERT BAND SETS FOURTH ANNUAL PERFORMANCE
For the past three years, the EAA AirVenture Concert Band, under the
direction of Elton Eisele, delighted many EAAers with evening
performances at the Theater in the Woods. This summer approximately 90
volunteer musicians will do it again, extending their love of flight to
share their love of music during a Wednesday, July 28, performance to
open that evening's program. Those wishing to be a part of the band can
register now through April 30, 2010, by completing the registration form
located here.
Read
more
|
ELECTRIC
AIRCRAFT INNOVATION ON DISPLAY AT AIRVENTURE
 The
innovation and technology of the emerging era of electric-powered
aircraft will be a major part of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, with a full
schedule of events throughout the week. Among the scheduled activities
are afternoon showcase flights each day; evening flight demos; and
displays and forums in AirVenture's Aviation Learning Center. Read
more
|
FAA
SAFETY NEWSLETTER CHANGING NAME WITH RELEASE OF SPRING ISSUE
 Starting
with the March/April 2010 issue, FAA Aviation News is changing
its name to FAA Safety Briefing. "We're changing the name to
more accurately reflect the magazine's mission: safety," said John
Allen, Director, FAA Flight Standards, who was in Oshkosh this week
participating in the EAA/FAA Winter Recreational Aviation Summit.
"Briefings are used in health care, in the military, and in
aviation, and are essential to get crucial information before the
flight. That's the point of FAA Safety Briefing: Providing
pilots, aviation maintenance technicians, and more across the general
aviation community with valuable safety information." Read
the issue.
|
NASA
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY IN A DC-8 FLYING LAB
NASA is looking for some motivated advanced undergraduate and early
graduate students to participate in a six-week, paid research program
this summer using a DC-8 flying laboratory based in Southern California.
The Student Airborne Research Program, or SARP, is managed by the
National Suborbital Education and Research Center (NSERC). Students
selected will acquire hands-on Earth sciences research experience in all
aspects of a scientific campaign. Read
more
|
NEW EAA ONLINE STORE
LAUNCHED!
 EAA
is pleased to introduce a new version of its Aeronautica online store,
offering many new features that will make your shopping experience more
enjoyable. You'll find enhanced product search capabilities, product
reviews, and immediate order confirmations. Shoppers now have the
ability to search by dollar amount, save a "Shopping Cart" for
checking out later, and viewing order subtotals while shopping. You can
also set up an account to streamline the ordering process on future
visits. Watch for upcoming online store offers later this month. Click
here to experience the new EAA online store.
|
SAVE
20% OR MORE ON SELECT B-17 MERCHANDISE
 View
our vast selection of t-shirts, golf shirts, and other accessories
highlighting EAA’s B-17 Aluminum Overcast. You can save 20% or more on
select B-17 merchandise! To see our entire line of B-17 merchandise,
visit EAA’s new web store. Order
online or by calling toll-free, 800-564-6322.
|
|
|
|
EAA Sport Aviation Magazine
Can you help?
Join the Discussions!
Post of the Week!
Matthew Long, a microlight pilot with
an itch to build an inexpensive light airplane, raised a question that
might just result in a whole new design: "Where are the
Pietenpols and Volksplanes of the 21st Century?" Matt went on to
suggest a design contest of sorts, and fellow member Michael Johnson
jumped on that and started a new thread that's already buzzing with
ideas for an "open source aircraft" (see the link above). As
Michael said, "All good things in life start from an idea …"
and, in this case, the idea was Matthew's so he gets this week's
semi-coveted "Post
of the Week" award!
|
 |
|
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.
|
Eye of the Phantom |
|
The Phantom Eye developmental aircraft from Boeing will be powered by liquid hydrogen and is designed to remain aloft for four days between refuelings. The unmanned vehicle will have a 150 foot wingspan and a ceiling of over 60,000 feet. |
| Advanced Wings for Solar Aircraft |
 |
A new solar-powered aircraft wing design has been developed by the company behind the solar version of the Daedalus aircraft. The wing is constructed entirely of composites, solar cells and lightweight plastics. |
| X-45C Comes Back To Life |
 |
Boeing Phantom Works has brought the X-45C experimental aircraft program back to life in the form of the Phantom Ray prototype - a flying wing designed for unmanned combat with a stealthy exhaust system and a 1000 nm flight capability. |
Elastic Birds Save Energy |
 |
Birds can provide lessons to aircraft designers regarding efficient use of energy for flight. French researchers have shown that birds have elastic wing structures that deform when propelling forward then return to the original shape before the next cycle of flight. |
Electrifying Swift Hang Glider |
|
MLB company primarily develops and sells UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), but it recently completed first flights in an electric-powered manned ultralight. The Swift hang glider flew at up to 60 mph, climbing at 335 feet per minute, and cruising on 4.6 kW of power. |
|
| 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. |
|
|
BONUS MULTIMEDIA
• Member
Submitted Video: B-17 Fly-by
EAA’s
Aluminum Overcast flies by on a fine winter’s day.
• Video:
Win a Plane in the EAA Sweepstakes
Why be satisfied just goin’ ‘round the patch when you can fly
to places that will take your breath away? Win an Aviat Husky A-1C plus
free fuel for a year -- the Grand Prize of EAA’s Share the Spirit
Sweepstakes – and other great prizes. No donation is required but all
donations support EAA’s youth and historic preservation programs
helping us grow aviation through participation. Visit www.WinaPlane.com.
• Photo
Gallery:
Hops and Props 2010
• Video:
Hops and Props 2010 Highlights
|
HINTS FOR HOMEBUILDERS:
TIG WELDING SAFETY
 Scott
Skrjanc of Lincoln Electric, provides some basic safety tips for TIG
welding. Scott teaches TIG Welding Workshops at AirVenture each year. Watch
the video
|
EAA 'TIMELESS VOICE OF
THE WEEK': B-17 BALL TURRET GUNNERS
 In
honor of the restoration of the ball turret on EAA’s B-17G Flying
Fortress “Aluminum Overcast,” this week’s Timeless Voices video
features a compilation of combat stories from three B-17 ball turret
gunners. Fred Zurbuchen served with the 861st Bomb Squadron of the 493rd
Bomb Group. Bob Strehlow flew with the 728th Bomb Squadron of the 452nd
Bomb Group, and June Paul Longley flew with the 366th Bomb Squadron of
the 305th Bomb Group. All three were based in England with the 8th Air
Force. Watch
the video.
|
|
|
|
WHERE ARE YOU FLYING THIS
WEEKEND?
 EAA
Chapter 172 Fish Fry FlyIin-Pea Patch Aerodrome, Blythe, Georgia
Head to Blythe this Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., for some great catfish
and meet some great people! Food served starting at 12:30, with the
chapter business meeting at around 1:15. Learn more at here,
or contact John Magnan, 706-547-3607
EAA Chapter 1156 Pancake Breakfast -
Etna Airport, Arkansas
Come eat some good cooking from the gals and guys of Chapter 1156,
from 7-11 a.m. Saturday, March 13. We're located approximately eight
miles south of Ozark - visit http://eaa1156.com/
for coordinates, or contact Robert Zolliecoffer, 479-667-4459, for more
information.
To learn more about calendar events, or
to find/submit others, visit www.EAAcalendar.org.
|
|
|
|
|
Q
& A:
Question of
the Week
For EAA
Information Services
My Zodiac, built by AMD, is currently undergoing the
modification required for the wing. Once it's
complete, do I have to do anything with the FAA or
is completion of the repair considered getting it
back to an airworthy status?
Answer: Since
your aircraft was built by AMD, we're assuming that
it is the special light-sport aircraft (S-LSA)
version. As such, you must comply with the Safety
Alert/Safety Directive issued by AMD on November
7, 2009. Corrective action steps begin on page 3. In
addition to corrective action re: the upgrade kit,
you'll find requirements there for ground and flight
testing, modification of POH and maintenance manual,
and several other tasks - some which need to be done
prior to each future flight. Read the document
carefully, and become familiar with all of the
changes. Once you have done this, we encourage you
to talk with the personnel responsible for the
upgrade to ensure that the procedures and
documentation are in compliance with the safety
alert/safety directive.
March
2010
EAA
Desktop Calendar
Spencer Air
Car
The March 2010 issue of EAA Sport Aviation
features a story by Budd Davisson on Doug Palmer’s
beautiful Spencer Air Car, seen here flying past the
Golden Gate Bridge. The air-to-air photo was shot by
Tom Seawell. See a photo
gallery of the Spencer Air Car.
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. |
|
|
 |
ROTAX-OWNER.COM
RELEASES NEW E-LEARNING VIDEO
Rotax-Owner.com now offers a new video detailing the correct procedure
for performing a Direct Compression Test on the 912/914 Series Rotax
engines. This video covers an alternate method of checking compression
that can also be checked using the Differential or "Leak-Down"
method, which is covered in a previous e-Learning video release. Visit www.Rotax-Owner.com
to learn more.
FAA ISSUES SAIB:
EXHAUST SYSTEMS CHECK
Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) CE-10-19, dated March
10, 2010, advises the owners and operators of general aviation aircraft
of the need to inspect and properly maintain the exhaust system to
prevent carbon monoxide leakage into the cabin. The SAIB also calls for
installation of a commercially available carbon monoxide detector in the
cabin. Read the SAIB
here.
FAA FORECASTS GROWTH
The Federal Aviation Administration is forecasting that key airspace
safety and efficiency modernization efforts will play a vital role in
spurring long-term sustained growth in air travel and the nation's
overall economic health. The FAA's
20-year forecast for fiscal years 2010-2030 predicts domestic
passenger enplanements will increase by 0.5 percent in 2010 and then
grow an average of 2.5 percent per year during the remaining forecast
period. Total operations at airports are forecast to decrease 2.7
percent to 51.5 million in 2010, and then grow at an average annual rate
of 1.5 percent reaching 69.6 million in 2030. At the nation's 35 busiest
airports, operations are expected to increase 60 percent from 2010 to
2030.
KERSHNER LEGACY IN ASA
TEXTBOOKS
The legacy of flight instructor
and Flight Instructors Hall of Fame member William K. Kershner lives on
in ASA's new 10th anniversary edition, The Student Pilot's Flight
Manual, edited by his son, William C. Kershner. The book is a gathering
of material used in preflight and postflight briefings and in-flight
instruction. Its 472 pages cover the fundamentals of flying in a
methodical yet informal manner that a student can easily absorb. Visit www.ASA2Fly.com
or call 800-272-2359 to learn more.
CESSNA CALLS FOR
INDUSTRY TO DEFEND BUSINESS AVIATION
Robert Stangarone, Cessna vice president of corporate communications,
told attendees of the British Business and General Aviation Association
(BBGA) Annual Conference in St. Albans, UK, that the industry needs to
keep communicating the value and benefits of business aviation and the
strength of unity. "Everyone in our industry should consider
themselves ambassadors," he said. "Business aircraft are used
in so many valuable ways and have truly become essential to the global
transportation system. We need to take every opportunity to spread that
message to the world." Read the full announcement here.
FLIGHT DESIGN'S
SYLLABUS HELPS TRANSITION TO LSA
The Syllabus for Transition to
a Flight Design CTLS Light-Sport Airplane (LSA) is a comprehensive,
lesson-by-lesson approach that is available to ensure that new buyers
are well-trained to operate their new LSA. Five hours of instruction are
offered with the purchase of a CTLS - the number of hours recommended by
multiple insurance companies. All distributors, dealers, and
CT-qualified flight instructors have been provided a copy of the
flight-training supplement. Learn more at www.FlightDesignUSA.com.
SPORTY'S HELPS PILOTS
STAY CURRENT
Sporty's programs Flight Review and Instrument Proficiency Check
are designed for busy pilots who need to polish their skills and review
the basics. The latest editions of these programs feature dozens of new
graphics and real world video segments that cover the latest regulations
and avionics. An MP3 audio file is also included on the disc, so pilots
can learn on the go, reviewing regulations, airspace, weather,
communications, and more on an iPod, iPhone, or MP3 player. Learn more
at www.Sportys.com, or call
800-776-7897.
|
|
|
