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February 11, 2010 Volume
11, Number 6
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AIRVENTURE
TO CELEBRATE 75TH YEAR OF THE LOCKHEED MODEL 12 ELECTRA JUNIOR
 One
of the world's classic airplanes, the Lockheed Electra Junior Model 12,
flew for the first time on June 27, 1936 - 75 years ago this year - and
that milestone will be celebrated at AirVenture Oshkosh 2011. Les
Whittlesey, of Chino, California, owner of an award-winning Model 12A
NC18906, is leading an effort to get as many L-12 owners as possible to
bring their airplanes to Oshkosh this summer. Read
more
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GA-FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS
OFFERED TO SENATE FAA BILL
Volunteer pilots, through the fence, vintage aircraft data Several
amendments worthy of support from aviation enthusiasts have been offered
to the Senate FAA reauthorization bill S.
223 including measures to protect volunteer pilots, authorization
for through-the-fence agreements, and release of abandoned type
certificate and STC data. EAA encourages members to contact their U.S.
Senators to urge their support of these GA-friendly amendments. Read
more
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SKYMASTER REFURBISHED ON EXTREME
MAKEOVER SUNDAY
 This
Sunday's episode of the popular ABC program Extreme Makeover: Home
Edition will have a special aviation component. In addition to
refurbishing a home damaged by a burst water pipe, the show will feature
significant upgrades to a 1970 Cessna Skymaster owned by Joe and Cindy
Hurston, who operate Air Mobile Ministries. Read
more
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SHOULD
I WORRY ABOUT GPS JAMMING?
 I
have been flying GPS-based LPV approaches for a few years. But
now I am flying them for real because the LPV is the best
approach, and the only approach with precision glideslope
guidance, at my homebase at Muskegon, Michigan. LPV stands for
"localizer precision with vertical guidance," or
something like that. LPV requires a WAAS-capable GPS, because an
additional satellite is required to broadcast a correction
factor that brings LPV up to the precision of ILS. The
combination of widespread use of GPS by the general public in a
wide range of devices and the coming roll-out of the new 4G
standard for cellular service may cause serious problems for GPS
accuracy at the most critical time: during an instrument
approach. Read more and subscribe to Mac's Blog
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GA
GROUPS: SPORT PILOT INSTRUCTION SHOULD COUNT TOWARD ADDITIONAL RATINGS
EAA, AOPA, GAMA, and NAFI have collaborated to formally request that the
FAA initiate a process that would change the rules that currently
prevent instruction time received for sport pilot training from being
applied toward additional certificates and ratings. The groups submitted
a petition that asks the FAA to begin a rulemaking process. When it was
created, the sport pilot certificate was intended in part as a less
expensive entry into the world of general aviation, and for some pilots
a stepping-stone to higher certificates. Read
more
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FUEL
TAX INSTEAD OF USER FEES APPROVED TO FUND AIRPORTS AND NEXTGEN
The Senate Finance Committee has approved a proposal to raise taxes on
jet fuel used by GA aircraft 65 percent to help fund FAA priorities like
NextGen. The hike, which has been proposed in previous funding bills,
has the support of the GA community, including EAA, which has long
advocated fuel taxes rather than user fees as the most efficient way to
fund aviation. Currently the tax is 21.8 cents per gallon and will rise
to 35.9. The committee also approved a surcharge of 14.1 cents per
gallon that will be applied to jet fuel used by fractional aircraft.
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NEW
GULFSTREAM G650 CROSSES THE COUNTRY AT MACH .91
 The
new Gulfstream G650 that will be the fastest civilian jet when it is
certified later this year dashed across the country at speeds ranging
from Mach .91 to .92 on February 8. At a cruise altitude of 43,000 feet,
that Mach number is faster than 525 knots true airspeed. Average
groundspeed for the flight was faster than 550 knots. Read
more
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CONGRESS
AND GA - YOU CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
The General Aviation Caucus
The GA Caucus provides a vehicle for congressmen to learn about
general aviation and legislative issues affecting the community. With
the current environment, it has never been more important to have our
legislators educated on the issues affecting GA. It is open to all
members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Read
more
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CAFE
ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT SYMPOSIUM LAUNCHES NEW AGE OF FLIGHT
The 5th Annual CAFE Electric Aircraft Symposium (EAS V), set for April
29-30 in Santa Rosa, California, will reveal how safe, emission-free,
two- to four-seat electric aircraft could soon make a
doorstep-to-doorstep round trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles on a
single battery charge - and at nearly twice the overall trip speed of
airline travel. Read
more
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FROM
LIGHT PLANE WORLD: MY FIRST (REAL) GLIDER FLIGHT
 In
the February issue of Light Plane World, Corey Cassavant tells us
a story about his first glider flight - the first flight that wasn't
preceded by a sudden stoppage of the engine. "I love flying, but
it's never been anything like the free-as-a-bird,
gentle-breeze-in-your-hair feeling I dreamt about as a kid," Corey
wrote. "I've always wondered if the feeling of peace and serenity
I've longed for could be captured by glider flying. Then last July my
wonderful wife bought me a gift certificate for a glider intro flight as
my birthday present." Read
Light Plane World
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7-YEAR-OLD
BUYS HARRIER ON EBAY
 In
December we reported the final retirement of the Harrier from active
service in the British Royal Air Force. Now the retired jets are in
great demand as former Royal Air Force mechanic Chris Wilson has done a
brisk business selling the surplus jets. So far he has sold seven Sea
Harriers, which is the second generation of the VTOL aircraft. A rare
first-generation tandem-seat version (T2) used mostly in training was
put up for sale recently by Wilson on eBay for $113,000 when a
7-year-old in London hit the "Buy It Now" button. Read
more
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WASHINGTON
STATE AIRCRAFT EXCISE TAX PROPOSAL REVIVED
The Washington state legislature is once again proposing a 1/2-percent
excise tax on aircraft based in the state to fund other areas of state
operations. HB 1847, which is similar to a proposal that was defeated in
April 2010, seeks to eliminate tax preferences that the bill's sponsors
say are obsolete and inefficient. The tax revenues would be used to fund
Washington's basic health care plan. According to a communication
circulated by EAA Chapter 79 in Spokane, only minor changes have been
made to the previous bill, and the House describes the situation as an
"emergency" that warrants raising taxes. Read
more
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EAA
OBJECTS TO PROPOSED NOAA CONTROL OF AIRSPACE
EAA submitted comments this week expressing concern about a proposed
rule that would give NOAA unprecedented authority to regulate how and
where pilots operate their aircraft, essentially usurping the FAA's
authority to regulate the National Airspace System (NAS). Read
more
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2010
COLLIER TROPHY NOMINEES ANNOUNCED
 The
Collier Trophy, known as the "Greatest Award in Aviation," has
been the benchmark of aviation and aerospace achievement for more than
100 years. Awarded annually "for the greatest achievement in
aeronautics or astronautics in America," and has been awarded to
both individuals and aerospace projects that have significantly impacted
aviation in the United States. The 2010 nominees include The Automatic
Ground Collision Avoidance System Fighter Risk Reduction Program Team,
General Aviation: Saving Thousands of Lives in Haiti, MC-12W Project
Liberty Team, Orion Launch Abort System Development Team, Sikorsky
Aircraft Corporation and the X2 Technology Demonstrator Team, The Boeing
Company C-17A Globemaster III Team, and the X-51A WaveRider Team. Read
more
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SEE
LATEST ADDITIONS TO AIRVENTURE AIR SHOW LINEUP
 The
air show lineup for EAA AirVenture 2011 continues to grow with the
addition of notable performers. Check out the latest update, featuring
Greg Shelton, debuting in his Wildcat and a pair of P-51s; Scott Yoak's Quicksilver;
and Doug Rozendaal in Red Tail, painted in a scheme honoring the
Tuskegee Airmen. See the latest performers here.
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ILLINOIS
LIGHT PLANE SAFETY SEMINAR FEBRUARY 26
See the latest ultralight and sport/recreational aircraft at the 31st
annual Illinois Ultralight & Light Plane Safety Seminar on Saturday,
February 26, at the Illinois Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds
in Springfield, Illinois. Registration begins at 8 a.m. with the program
running 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and attendance is free. See aircraft on static
display along with dealer and manufacturer exhibits, several
presentations, door prizes, and a raffle. Credit in the FAA WINGS
program is available. For more information, including sponsorship
opportunities, click here.
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 Last
week, we reported on the resurgence of rumors about a hidden cache
of Spitfires in Australia. While we're sure that most all of you want to
believe, it seems that a majority of you don't: When asked, 60 percent
of our readers said the airplanes just don't exist.
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION is about
something that definitely happened, and we can prove it - with video
from the Internet! We're talking about a video showing a Piper Cub on
floats landing in a spot that might charitably be described as
"wicked small." So, like we said, this really happened - but
should it have? Watch the video and cast
your vote.
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WEBINARS: FLYING
AFTER 50 AND KEEPING YOUR CHAPTER FISCALLY HEALTHY
Join us for an informative session focused on how to maintain your
chapter's non-profit status, file annual tax information to stay
compliant with the IRS and state requirements, and proper record-keeping
for your chapter. Also included will be tips to make your life as a
chapter treasurer easier.
Plus, Dr. Jack Hastings will discuss
conditions that affect all pilots as they age and how to best maintain
your medical certificate. Dr. Hastings is a senior aviation medical
examiner, senior consultant to the FAA, and chairman of the EAA
Aeromedical Advisory Council.
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
ADVANCED CAMP FULL; OPENINGS FOR YOUNG EAGLES, BASIC CAMPS
 You'll
have to get on the waiting list for the EAA Air Academy Advanced Camp,
but aspiring aviators can still sign up for Young Eagles and Basic
Camps. EAA's annual aviation camps explore the exciting world of
aviation for all experience levels. Young Eagle campers spend five days
and four nights, and Basic Campers spend six days and five nights at the
EAA Air Academy Lodge, completely immersed in aviation. There is simply
no better place to experience aviation than in Oshkosh, Wisconsin!
Openings still available in:
EAA Young Eagles Camp - Ages 12 and 13
Session 1: June 13-17; Session 2: July 12-16
EAA Basic Air Academy - Ages 14 and 15
Session 1: June 19-24; Session 2: June 26 - July 1; Session 3: July 5-10
Find out more here.
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YOUNG
EAGLES FLIGHT PLAN: A FIVE-STEP PROGRAM FOR FUTURE AVIATORS
 The
Young Eagles introductory flight is now Step 1 in a five-step journey we
call the Young Eagles Flight Plan. The plan includes programs that
encourage young people to keep flying after their initial ride and
pursue aviation careers. Step 2 is a free EAA Student Membership,
providing the tools for a successful aviation journey. Step 3 is the
Sporty's Complete Flight Training Course, a free two-part ground school
that preps students for flight training. Once students complete part 1
of the ground school, they can take their First Flight Lesson, Step 4 of
the program. More than just a ride, this free introductory lesson puts
the student at the controls. If students decide a career in flying is
for them, Step 5 offers flight training scholarships to support their
professional dreams. Click
here to find out more about EAA Student Membership and the Young
Eagles Flight Plan.
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ENTER
YOUR VALENTINE IN EAA'S SHARE THE SPIRIT SWEEPSTAKES
 No
donation required to participate
Share your love of aviation by entering your valentine in the
2011 EAA Share the Spirit Sweepstakes. Your sweetheart will have a
chance to win a Cessna 162 Skycatcher, plus enough fuel for an entire
year courtesy of Shell Aviation. Or you might win a 2011 Coleman Travel
Trailer, a HotSeat Flight Simulator, or other great prizes. Every
donation to the EAA Sweepstakes directly supports EAA programs, which
allow members to share the spirit of aviation among fellow enthusiasts
and the next generation of aviators. It could be a Valentine's Day to
remember! Click here for more
details.
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JOIN EAA'S VOLUNTEERS CORPS AT SUN 'N FUN 2011
 The
year's first major fly-in of 2011, the 37th annual Sun 'n Fun Fly-In at
Lakeland, Florida, is just around the corner - March 29-April 3 - and
EAA staff is again making preparations to help usher in the start of the
flying season. As is the case every year, EAA is looking for volunteers
to help out with the many tasks and activities planned at Lakeland. Read
more
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DEAL
OF THE WEEK: BEST-SELLING DVDS ON SALE; UP TO 20 PERCENT OFF
 Save
up to 20 percent on our best-selling DVDs including The Legend of
Pancho Barnes, Happy Bottom Riding Club, and Tailwheel 201. Click
here to find out how you can receive up to 20 percent off EAA's
best-selling DVDs.
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EAA MERCHANDISE: SAVE UP TO 50 PERCENT ON SELECT MODEL KITS
 Check
out our selection of aircraft models now on sale. Choose from the space
shuttle, Ford Tri-Motor, warbirds, and more including the F4U Corsair
Eggplane Model Kit. Thanks for showing your EAA colors proudly, and
building the future of aviation. Because when you purchase anything from
the EAA online store, you're supporting EAA programs that help grow
participation in aviation. Shop
online now or by calling 800-564-6322.
JUST ARRIVED: PEARL:
THE STORY OF PEARL CARTER SCOTT
 A
spunky 12-year-old Pearl befriends world-renowned pilot Wiley Post, who
introduces her to a love for flying and helps her on her journey to
becoming the youngest pilot in American aviation history. Raised in the
late 1920's in Marlow, Oklahoma, Pearl encountered her share of
obstacles. This Chickasaw girl rises above adversity, takes on
responsibility, and, with the guidance of her father, holds fast to her
'never give up' attitude. Order
your copy at the EAA web store today.
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EAA Sport Aviation
Magazine
Can you help?
Join the Discussions!
Post of the Week!
Our online community manager was looking
at some YouTube videos the other day, and, after watching one of our
favorites from AirVenture 2010 (a compilation by someone called
"Mr. Serious"), he had kind of a breakdown, yelling about how
he wished it was summer already, and that there were only 166 days until
AirVenture 2011. He posted the video on our AirVenture Facebook page and
asked if anyone else was feeling as impatient as he was. Click
to watch the video and see what kind of responses he got.
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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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Electric Taxi Option for A320s |
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Airbus has developed an environmentally friendly, fuel-efficient taxiing system with electrically driven wheels. For short flights of 60 – 90 minutes, up to a third of the trip time can be spent taxiing to and from runways. The new system is expected to use five times less fuel than when the jet engines are providing taxi power, so fuel usage, air emissions, and engine noise are all significantly reduced with the new system.
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X-47B Drone Seeks Carrier Qualification |
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The X-47B killer drone designed for launching from and landing on U.S. aircraft carriers had its first flight at Edwards Air Force Base in California, with a carrier launch expected by 2013. The blended wing body stealth aircraft, capable of being on station for 50 hours at 1,500-plus nautical miles from the carrier, will provide a much larger shield around U.S. Navy ships than carrier-based F/A-18 fighter jets. |
| Ground-Skimming Israeli Turbojet |
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The Israeli company Urban Aeronautics has applied modern aircraft technology and creative aeronautical solutions to make its revolutionary urban aircraft operate in ways that were impossible 50 years ago. The turbojet aircraft flies “close to the ground and above complicated terrain,” using drive flaps at the internal rotor air duct openings for stability and flight control and having front and rear flow-through fuselage openings to increase speed. |
Cuddle Class Airline Seating |
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Your next commercial flight could have unconventional seating, designed to reduce fuel costs and emissions, to fit more people into the same space, and, in some cases, even to make flights more enjoyable. Air New Zealand’s “cuddle class” seating may win an award for the most marketable new seating style. |
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Robotic lunar lander technology is being developed by NASA for exploration on the moon and on asteroids relatively close to Earth. The current prototype lander has a total of 16 thrusters: 12 for attitude control, three for descent/altitude control, and a big “gravity-canceling” one to simulate operation in the low-gravity situations on the moon and asteroids. |
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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: TIRE
REMOVAL
 Dick
and Bob Koehler show the proper way to remove an aircraft tire from a
split rim. Dick and Bob are both Technical Counselors, A&P aircraft
mechanics with Inspection Authorization (IA), and SportAir Workshop
instructors. Watch
the video
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TIMELESS VOICES OF
AVIATION: GAIL HALVORSEN
 Gail
Halvorsen grew up during the Great Depression working in the sugar beet
fields of his father’s farm in Utah. It was back breaking work, and
Gail longed to take to the sky in the airplanes he would see flying
overhead on occasion. He had his chance when the Civilian Pilot Training
Program offered a ground school and flying lessons to non-college
applicants in the Salt Lake City area in 1940. Gail earned his private
ticket and began accumulating flight time and experience. After the U.S.
entered the war, Gail joined the Air Corps’ Aviation Cadet program and
became a multi-engine pilot. Assigned to the Ferry Command, he would fly
various bombers and transports throughout the continental U.S. and in
the South Atlantic Theater of Operations. He remained in the Air Force
after the war, and when the Soviet Union began the blockade of Berlin in
June 1948, Gail began flying C-54 transports full of food into Berlin’s
Tempelhof Airport as part of the Berlin Airlift. After seeing starving
German children in the city, Gail began dropping chocolate and chewing
gum tied to handkerchief parachutes out of his airplane to the children
below. He became forever known as the Candy Bomber. Watch
the video
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Where
Are You Flying This Weekend?
There are 32
fly-ins and events over
the next two weekends in the EAA
Events Calendar. Find one near you or add your event! |
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Q
& A: I'm
ready to purchase an ELT for my homebuilt. Can I
still use a 121.5 MHz unit, or do I need a 406 MHz
unit? Price is a concern.
Answer: For
flights within the borders of the United States, the
121.5 MHz unit is legal for installation and use. If
you wish to fly your homebuilt outside the U.S.,
you'll need to check the regulations of the country
you wish to fly in to make sure you're in
compliance. This would also include any over-flight
of foreign airspace, as well as landing/takeoff
operations.
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
February
2011
Using a mounted, remote control camera, EAA Chief
Photographer Jim Koepnick captured an in-flight shot
of Dave Scott in his Pitts S-1S over the Shawano
Airport, Wisconsin. Read about Scott, who runs the
country’s only full-time R/C aircraft flight
school, in the February edition of Sport
Aviation.
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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CALL FOR ENTRIES: CH 650 PAINT SCHEME DESIGN COMPETITION
Zenith Aircraft is soliciting paint scheme designs for its new low-wing CH 650 B demonstrator plane to be featured at the Sun ‘n Fun fly-in beginning on March 29, 2011. The 650 B features a larger canopy and swept-back vertical tail, but shares the overall look of the Zodiac design. The company says it would like the new paint scheme to highlight the fact that this is a new airplane, and that the paint scheme needs to be relatively simple to paint and maintain. Zenith Aircraft will post the top submissions on its website and allow visitors to vote for their favorites. Paint schemes must be submitted no later than February 25, 2011. A paint scheme submission form can be downloaded here. Download the outline here. Completed forms (scanned in color) should be sent
via e-mail.
BENDIX/KING AV8OR 2.5 SOFTWARE NOW AVAILABLE
The AV8OR 2.5 software and firmware is now available for download for the Bendix/King AV8OR ACE. Release 2.5 includes new features such as High Resolution Approach Plates, a Graphical Weight and Balance Utility, Smart Airway Flight Planning, and XM Radio Tuning. The AV8OR 2.5 upgrade for the AV8OR Handheld will be released in the near future. For more information, or to update your AV8OR, click here.
EICOMMANDER PROVIDES ELECTRONIC IGNITION INFORMATION
The EICommander is a new device that serves as a cockpit display/control head that can be used to monitor and manage the 114 P-mag ignitions (or any combination of the out-of-production 113 series E- and P-mags) on the ground or in flight. The device can display more than 50 different screens, including the Timing Divergence Alarm (TDA), which reports the status of the ignition timing, the current advance of each ignition, and the health of the ignition harness. In addition to monitoring the ignition, the device can be used to adjust the timing configurations of the ignition to flight to a pilot’s flight requirements. With the ability to save three timing configurations, pilots can optimize their aircraft to run auto fuel and then switch the timing to burn 100LL when on a trip. For more information, click here.
PRACTICAL IFR FLYING CD-ROM COURSE FROM AIRCRAFT SPRUCE
The Practical IFR Flying CD-ROM Course provides information on methods and techniques to make single-pilot IFR flying simpler and safer. The course includes instruction from Master CFI Chuck McGill on how to use current technology that can reduce your risk in an IFR flight. For more information, including how to request a complimentary copy of the company’s 800-page Pilot Shop catalog, click here.
FLIGHT DESIGN CTLS FLOATPLANE ASTM CERTIFIED
ASTM certification for the amphibious CTLS Floatplane was accepted by the FAA January 15, 2011, and made its public debut at the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, Florida, a week later. The company announced that it is now ready to accept orders for the CTLS Floatplane, which has become the first light-sport aircraft to be equipped with amphibious Clamar Floats. For more information, click here.
NEW BOOK ABOUT PRE-WWII AIRCRAFT MECHANICS
Pioneer Mechanics in Aviation, a new book that chronicles the exploits of airplane mechanics up to the start of World War II, includes 24 chapters that tell the fascinating stories of the men and women who kept Wright Flyers, Bleriots, Curtiss Pushers, and other wood-and-fabric aircraft flying. Beginning with the Wright brothers’ mechanic, Charles Taylor, author Bradley Koontz reveals the life stories and contributions of these unsung heroes of aviation. The book also includes dozens of vintage photographs and illustrations as well as an index of aircraft, engines, and people. For information on pricing and availability,
click here. |
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