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December 10, 2010 Volume
10, Number 56
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FULL
CHARGE
Electric Waiex Achieves First Flight
 A
proof-of-concept electric-powered Waiex aircraft achieved its first
flight December 3 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Piloted by Sonex Founder John Monnett, N270DC made an intentional short
hop on Runway 27 to break ground-effect and analyze in-flight system
performance as the next step in testing. The uneventful flight was the
culmination of four years of development for the Sonex Aircraft, LLC,
E-Flight Initiative. Read
more
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EAA
MOURNS LOSS OF DIRECTOR EMERITUS MAL GROSS
 Malvern
J. "Mal" Gross Jr., who served on the EAA Board of Directors
for more than two decades, passed away Sunday, December 5, at his home
in East Windsor, New Jersey, after a courageous battle with multiple
system atrophy, a degenerative neurological disorder. He was 77. Read
more
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AIRCRAFT
COLLECTOR REMEMBERED FOR HEROIC QUEST TO SAVE HISTORIC AIRCRAFT
 Carpenter
Walter A. Soplata, known for his rare and unusual airplane collection,
died November 5 at age 87. Walter was a one-of-a-kind individual in his
heroic quest to save many historic aircraft. Though Walter's formal
flying training was limited to soloing a J-3 Cub, he nevertheless
collected a variety of aircraft, including Corsairs, B-25s, F-82 Twin
Mustangs, a P-51, and other piston warbirds, plus a number of early
jets. His son, Wally Soplata (EAA 85601), served in the Air Force and is
now a pilot for a major cargo carrier. Growing up, Wally was an
assistant on many aircraft recovery expeditions and sends this
remembrance. Read
more and view the collection
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EAAER'S
AIRCRAFT CHRISTMAS DISPLAY LIGHTS UP URBANA
 Rick
Rademacher, EAA 224249/VAA 27370, has been a pilot for more than 40
years. He is also the longtime proprietor of a computer store called The
Hackerey in Urbana, Ohio, and this year he decided to combine business
with pleasure when putting up his Christmas decorations. Read
more
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R/C
FLIGHT VIDEO OVER NYC YIELDS COOL IMAGES, CONCERN
 A
group calling themselves “Team Black Sheep” filmed many of New York
City’s most famous landmarks from a radio-controlled Ritewing Zephyr
aircraft, which is often used by R/C enthusiasts. The video shows the
aircraft zooming over such landmarks as the Brooklyn Bridge and the
Statue of Liberty. While the pictures are stunning, some of the footage
shows the aircraft flying within feet of apartment buildings, waterborne
vessels, and the torch of the Statue of Liberty. That has raised
controversy within the modeling community, which says the video could
harm access to airspace. Read
more and watch the video
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MAJOR
GATHERING OF RUTAN-DESIGNED AIRCRAFT EXPECTED AT AIRVENTURE 2011
 Paying
tribute to an aviation legend responsible for many unique aircraft
designs, EAA AirVenture 2011 will salute Burt Rutan with a special day
of recognition along with dedicated programs and attractions. The 59th
annual edition of "The World's Greatest Aviation Celebration"
will be held July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. Read
more
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REMAINS
OF AMERICAN BALLOONISTS FOUND
 The
remains of missing American balloonists Richard Abruzzo and Carol Rymer-Davis,
found in their balloon's gondola, were discovered by a fishing vessel
off the coast of Italy in the Adriatic Sea on Monday, December 6. The
two, who competed in the 2010 Gordon Bennett Balloon Race, were last
contacted by the Italian Coast Guard on September 29 when they reported
their hydrogen USA2 balloon had run into severe thunderstorms over the
Adriatic. Read
more
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EAA
WORKS TO END TEST-FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS IN CALIFORNIA
 A
nearly three-year ban on experimental amateur-built aircraft test
flights at Placerville Airport (PVF) was rescinded recently by the
Sacramento, California, Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) after
extensive work by EAA to resolve the issue. The ban dated to January
2008, when the EAA government relations team was notified by
then-president of EAA Chapter 512 Kay Morgan, EAA 450518, about a
memorandum from the FSDO prohibiting test flights by homebuilts at PVF.
Then this past June, the FSDO issued another memo that expanded the
number of airports where new amateur-built aircraft would be prohibited
from conducting test flights. Read
more
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AMBITIOUS
PLAN TO BUILD A DOZEN SPITS IN UK
 Paul
Fowler, owner of the Enstone Flying Club in the UK, is looking for
builders - and lots of them - to participate in his dream to build 12
Supermarine Spitfire Mk26b 90-percent replicas. He wants the aluminum
kitplanes built in time for the 2012 Farnborough Air Show, then to
conduct flying tours around the UK to promote aviation. It certainly is
an ambitious plan, and here's how Fowler lays it out on the Enstone
Flying Club website. Read
more
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F-104
STARFIGHTER TO BE USED FOR LAND SPEED RECORD
 We
bring you another story of EAAer ingenuity when it comes to speed
records on land. Ed Shadle, EAA 662442, has been racing cars at the
Bonneville Salt Flats since 1989 and holds a 275-mph record in the
Lakester class. Now he is chasing a record in the Unlimited category and
has enlisted the historic airframe of an F-104 fighter, which served as
a chase plane in the halcyon days of flight test, in his quest. Read
more
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'MERCURY
13' ASTRONAUT CANDIDATE WALLY FUNK TO RIDE SPACESHIPTWO
 Wally
Funk has a ticket to ride SpaceShipTwo when Virgin Galactic starts taking
passengers on flights to space. Funk was one of 25 women who volunteered
for astronaut screening in the early 1960s and did very well in the
rigorous physical and mental tests, often with better scores than the
men. The process, although supported by NASA, was a private experiment
and never part of the official screening program. While the women were
all very experienced pilots, they were not military test pilots, which
ultimately excluded them from the astronaut program. EAA Radio's Fareed
Guyot talks with Funk about flying into space and how she never stopped
trying to get there. Hear the
interview
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MECHANIC, AIRLINE
BLAMED FOR CONCORDE CRASH
 A
French judicial panel has found Continental Airlines and one of its
mechanics, John Taylor, guilty of criminal negligence in the crash of an
Air France Concorde Jet in 2000. The crash that killed 113 people was
found to have been caused by a strip of titanium that was left on the
runway from a Continental jet that had departed prior to the Concorde.
The court ruled that mechanic incorrectly manufactured and installed the
part and assigned 70 percent of the blame to Continental and Taylor. The
crash occurred on the first day of AirVenture 2000, a year a Concorde
jet was slated to visit Oshkosh. Read
more
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WIN
A CESSNA 162 SKYCATCHER OR OTHER GREAT PRIZE IN 2011 EAA SHARE THE
SPIRIT SWEEPSTAKES
 Help
support EAA programs and receive a chance to fly away in a Cessna 162
Skycatcher or win other great prizes by entering the 2011 EAA Share
the Spirit Sweepstakes. You can enter
online now. Entries can also be made through special coupons
included in the November 2010 issue of Sport Aviation as well as
upcoming January, March, and May 2011 issues, or during the convention.
Sweepstakes drawings are held the last day of AirVenture, July 31, 2011.
Read
more
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 The
results from last week's poll about Terrafugia's work on the DARPA
project shows you're pretty skeptical about the idea of the U.S. armed
forces getting flying jeeps any time soon.
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: A group of
R/C modelers recently mounted a camera on a Ritewing Zephyr and shot
some spectacular footage of buildings and other landmarks in lower
Manhattan, New York. As far as we know, they broke no laws, but may have
been operating in contradiction to the safety guidelines established by
the Academy of Model Aeronautics.
Was this a fun use of technology or an
unnecessary black eye for model aviation? Vote
now!
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WRIGHT
BROTHERS MEMORIAL DINNER ONE WEEK AWAY, RESERVE YOUR SEATS ONLINE
 On
December 17, EAA will celebrate the 107th anniversary of the first
successful powered flight at the 8th annual Wright Brothers Memorial
Dinner. The evening's keynote speaker is most famous for making perhaps
the most incredible unpowered flight; Joe Kittinger, Jr. Reserve your
copy of Colonel Joe Kittinger's book, Come Up and Get Me: an
Autobiography of Colonel Joe Kittinger, when you order
your tickets. Colonel Kittinger will autograph books after the
dinner. Read
more and listen to an EAA Radio interview with Joe Kittinger
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INTRODUCING
CANADA'S NEW CHOICE IN AVIATION INSURANCE
 Canadian
EAA Members can now enjoy affordable, extensive liability and aircraft
hull coverage through C-PLAN, a new offering within the EAA Aircraft
Insurance Plan. Underwritten by Global Aerospace, C-PLAN has coverage
for standard, ultralight, amateur-built, and kitplane aircraft. Get
a free, no obligation quote today or call 855-736-3407.
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WEBINARS: CHARLES
MANLY THE FIRST POWERED FLIER? FIND OUT IN THIS WEBINAR!
Were the Wright brothers really the first to fly? In this presentation,
Adam Smith will investigate some of the alternative claims.
All webinars begin at 7 p.m. CST. To find
out more about upcoming EAA Webinars and to register, visit the webinars
page.
EAA gratefully acknowledges the
support of Aircraft Spruce and Specialty Co. for their generous
sponsorship of our webinar programs.
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EAA MERCHANDISE: FREE SHIPPING ON DOMESTIC ORDERS $30 OR MORE, 30%
OFF SHIPPING ON INTERNATIONAL ORDERS
 It's
easy, just enter coupon code FREESHIP3 on page 2 of checkout.
International orders receive 30% off shipping using coupon code FREESHIP3.
Offer excludes 4' and 6' wooden propellers. Propellers receive a special
shipping rate of $12. But hurry, free shipping offer only valid through
December 13, 2010. Order online or
by calling toll-free, 800-564-6322.
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SAVE
$20 ON TANIS ENGINE PREHEAT SYSTEM FOR ROTAX® 912/914
 The
Tanis Engine Preheat System for ROTAX® 912/914 from Leading Edge Air
Foils applies heat to strategic locations on the engine including the
cylinder heads, crankcase, and oil tank. Comes complete with heating
elements, heavy duty wiring harness with 120 volt plug, instructions,
and documentation. Originally $649. Now only $629. Mention you're an EAA
member when ordering. Offer good from December 9, 2010 through January
7, 2011. Click here
or call 800-532-3462 to find out how you can save $20 on Tanis Engine
Preheat System for ROTAX® 912/914. For more Leading Edge Air Foils
products, check out LEAF's
digital catalog.
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EAA Sport Aviation
Magazine
Can you help?
Join the Discussions!
Post of the Week!
"Pilot training versus flight
training": That's the title of this
week's featured post from Frank Giger, a sport pilot student from
Alabaster, Alabama, who describes himself as "45, bald, and
motivated." Frank offers some terrific insight on "what makes
a CFI a teacher rather than an instructor," and we think that
anyone on either side of the student/CFI equation should give some
thought to what he has to say.
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If you have suggestions or
submissions for EAA’s weekly AeroInnovations column, please send them to
AeroInnovations editor Bob Waldron.
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Boeing 747 Telescope |
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An international research team of engineers and scientists cut a hole as big as a two-car garage door in the side of an airplane and flew the plane with that hole open. The team used innovative computer modeling and construction techniques to make the opening in the 747 fuselage aero-acoustically stable and to provide a vibration-free environment for a telescope larger than the Hubble to be used at 41,000 feet, above 99.8 percent of the earth’s atmospheric vapor. |
Mysterious X-37B Space Plane Returns |
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The enigmatic USAF X-37B space plane recently completed 225 days in orbit around the Earth, followed by the first U.S. fully-automated reentry and runway landing from low earth orbit. The X-37B is a smaller automated version of the U.S. space shuttle and made at least four major course changes during its time in orbit. |
| Rutan Space Research Prompts NASA to Restart Programs |
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The success of Burt Rutan’s innovative aeroengineering on SpaceShipOne apparently convinced NASA that a single-stage reusable space vehicle is technically and economically feasible. Two X-34 NASA space planes were taken out of storage to be refurbished and refueled prior to resuming research and relaunching of a program that was shut down before the first flight of an X-34. |
500-hp Diesel Aircraft Engine |
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A new 500-hp diesel aircraft engine successfully took to the air on its first flight. The RED A03 is a 12-cylinder, 6.1 liter, diesel/Jet-A engine in which each cylinder bank has an independent exhaust, cooling, air induction, and fuel system. |
Aerobatic Autopilot With Honeybee Horizon Detection |
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An autopilot system developed in Australia allows “planes to guide themselves through extreme maneuvers, including the loop, the barrel roll, and the Immelmann.” Modeled on the visual horizon detection method used by honeybees to guide their flight, cameras on the aircraft determine its position relative to the horizon and provide safer and more accurate control than gyroscopes. |
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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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HINTS FOR HOMEBUILDERS: ADJUSTING
A GROUND-AJUSTABLE PROPELLER
 Brian
Carpenter of Rainbow Aviation Services discusses how to adjust the pitch
on a ground-adjustable prop. 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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TIMELESS VOICES OF
AVIATION: HENRY "HANK" HEIM
 Hank
Heim grew up in a coal mining community in northern Pennsylvania. After
graduating from high school, he joined his father working in the mines.
Hank was caught up in a cave in, and after his father dug him out, he
insisted that Hank join the Army and make a better life for himself.
Hank enlisted in the Army Air Corps in July 1940 and was sent to Hickam
Field near Pearl Harbor. He eventually became an armorer/gunner on a
Douglas B-18 crew with the 31st Bomb Squadron. On the morning of
December 7, 1941, Hank was writing a letter to his brother when he heard
an airplane fly over and then a tremendous explosion. Fearing an
accident, Hank rushed to the window of the barracks to see a Japanese
dive bomber buzz by the building. The attack on Pearl Harbor had begun. Watch
the video
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Where
Are You Flying This Weekend?
There are 16
fly-ins and events this weekend in the EAA
Events Calendar. Find one near you or add your event! |
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Q
& A: I built
an aircraft that is registered as an experimental
light-sport aircraft (E-LSA) and also have the
repairman certificate for the airplane. What are the
paperwork requirements to change to a different
engine and propeller?
Answer: Look
at the operating limitations document issued with
the airworthiness certificate that was signed by the
FAA inspector or DAR. A paragraph tells you what to
do when incorporating a "major change,"
such as replacing the engine and propeller.
At minimum, the
operating limitations will direct you to make a
logbook entry of the change, notify your local FSDO
with a letter describing your changes, and re-enter
Phase 1 flight testing for a minimum of five hours,
or possibly more, as directed by your FSDO.
Have a question?
To ask a question regarding government issues,
e-mail EAA Government Relations.
For questions about registration, airmen, aircraft
and medical certification, safety records,
performance, or any other matter, e-mail EAA
Member Services.
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EAA
Desktop Calendar
December
2010
Hot air balloons rise above their ultralight
brethren as the fog lifts over the ultralight area
during AirVenture 2010 Sunday morning. Photo by
Steve Cukierski.
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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CIRRUS PARTNERS WITH FBO TO SUPPORT GA IN
CHINA
Cirrus Aircraft partnered with Zhuhai City and Airport authorities to complete an FBO and storage/maintenance building in Zhuhai, China. The 2,806-square-meter hangar and facility will be based in Aviation Industrial Park in Jinwan District and will provide key services to more than 50 airplanes. The facility will offer traditional FBO services and will also be a Cirrus Aircraft Sales Center. For more information, click here.
CONCORDE LIGHT-SPORT AIRCRAFT BATTERY SHIPPING
NOW
Concorde is now shipping the new, lightweight, sealed-valve light-sport aircraft battery to its distributors. The 12-volt battery, for experimental and new type-certified aircraft, incorporates Concorde’s recombinant gas technology, designed to be maintenance-free and non-spillable, with no electrolyte or water replenishment. For more information, click here.
EUROCOPTER’S X3 HYBRID HELICOPTER REACHES SPEED OBJECTIVE
On November 29, Eurocopter’s X3 high-speed hybrid helicopter demonstrator reached the program’s Step 1 speed objective: attaining a true airspeed of 180 knots (333 km/hr) in level flight at a reduced level of engine power. In flight testing performed thus far, the X3 has reached an altitude of 12,500 feet (3,810 meters) and performed maneuvers with left and right turns at bank angles of up to 60 degrees. To read more about the X3 and to see a video, click here.
ROTAX RELEASES REVISED SERVICE INSTRUCTION
Rotax released a revised Service Instruction SI-912-020/SI-914-022 Revision 4, which lists running modifications on Rotax 912- and 914-series aircraft engines. Of note in the revision is the introduction of an alternative spark plug for the 914-series engines. The new 914 spark plug is DPR9EA-9; spark plug X27EPR-U9 is still valid, but any mixing of the plugs should be avoided. To see this document, click here.
CGS AVIATION OFFERS SPORT PILOT TRAINING
Early next year, CGS Aviation will offer immersive sport pilot training at the CGS facilities in Grand Bay, Alabama. In the Hawk Factory Training Program, students will stay locally and train daily in the factory’s Hawk Arrow S-LSA, with the goal of returning home with their sport pilot certificates. New Hawk purchasers will receive a substantial discount on the program, and an abbreviated version of the course is available for Hawk Ultra pilots who intend to fly under FAR Part 103 ultralight rules. For more information, click here.
REPLACEMENT ALTERNATOR AVAILABLE FOR ‘RESTART’ CESSNAS
Plane Power Partners Ltd. announced the availability of its latest FAA-PMA-approved lightweight alternator kit for installation on “restart” (1996-present) Cessna 172 and 182 aircraft. The alternator is approved for installation on most 360- and 540-series Lycoming engines on 28-volt Cessna 172 and 182 aircraft with multigroove belt/pulley systems. According to the company, the new alternator runs cooler, produces more output, offers better reliability, and produces more consistent power than heavyweight OE alternators. For more information, click here.
SPORTY’S MAKES FLIGHT-READY BACKPACK
Sporty’s Flight Gear Backpack is designed just for flying so pilots no longer have to adapt a regular backpack as a flight bag. It has room for two headsets, a GPS, plus a pocket designed for an iPad. Along with other dedicated pockets for cell phones, flashlights, fuel testers, and more, the backpack can be customized through the MyBag system to include detachable accessories for a radio, sunglasses, and more. For more information, click here.
NEW WELDING HELMET SERIES FROM LINCOLN ELECTRIC
Lincoln Electric has updated its VIKING auto-darkening helmet line with two new series: the 1840 series, featuring a 1.8-inch viewing area height, and the 2450 series, featuring a 2.4-inch viewing area height. The 1840 features externally controlled continuously variable 9-13 shade control for quick changes without helmet removal; the 2450 series offers a protected internal control. Both series are solar-powered and include an integrated grind control. For more information, click here.
WOMEN IN AVIATION TO BE HONORED AT KITTY
HAWK
During activities surrounding the week of December 17, Women in Aviation will be honored by the First Flight Society through the dedication of a pillar in the Century of Flight Monument. In addition, WAI Pioneer Hall of Fame member Betty Skelton, who holds 17 individual land and speed records, will be inducted into the First Flight Society’s Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine. Tickets are available for a December 16 banquet and a luncheon honoring WAI on December 17 from the Outer Banks Community Foundation, 252-261-8839. For more information, click here. |
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