 |
|
|
July
29, 2011 Volume 11,
Number 36 |
FLOATING THE GRUMMAN DUCK
AMPHIBIAN ONCE AGAIN
 How
do you make a duck float? If you said, "Add two scoops of
duck…" you're at the wrong venue, but you still get style
points. Chuck Greenhill will tell you it takes a lot of work,
and the serendipity to find a spare fuselage float in use as a
fishing boat. Chuck flew his pristine Grumman J2F-4 Duck
amphibian from Mettawa, Illinois, to Oshkosh for AirVenture
2011. A prewar acquisition by the Navy, this particular Duck was
on hand at Pearl Harbor's Ford Island during the Japanese attack
on December 7, 1941. Surviving that brush with combat,
Greenhill's Duck migrated to the Solomon Islands later in the
war. Read
more
|
SWORDFISH
LANDS AT OSHKOSH AFTER MONUMENTAL EFFORT
 They
were known as "Stringbags" and the origin of the nickname is
uncertain. Some fans of the Fairey Swordfish torpedo bomber say it
refers to the mass of flying wires and leather stitching that held it
all together. The Royal navy's Swordfish dropped not only torpedoes, but
bombs, rockets-even leaflets-when they flew interdiction missions over
occupied France. There are only two Swordfish still flying, and Rob's is
the only one on this side of the Atlantic. It took a monumental effort
to get it here to AirVenture. Read
more |
 |
|
THE FAA DOESN'T TAKE AWAY
 We
blame the FAA for a lot of things we don't like in aviation, and
sometimes we're right. But as I was standing there looking at
the beautiful brand new Wacos here at AirVenture I realized the
FAA isn't in the business of obsolescence.
The FAA and its certification
procedures take a lot of heat from many of us for retarding
progress. New materials, new configurations, new engines, and
new aerodynamics all must prove their safety before
certification. But once an aircraft, its structure, and its
flying qualities are accepted, they stay that way until and
unless a defect is found.
Continue
reading | Subscribe to Mac's Blog
| Recent posts |
|
'BEAST'
IS BUM RAP FOR HELLDIVER
 The
Beast is a beauty in the eyes of Curtiss Helldiver pilot Ed Vesely. Ed
flies this huge single-engine SB2C dive bomber with the unofficial
nickname of "Beast." You can't miss it in the Warbirds area.
The big Curtiss has suffered an image problem ever since World War II
when pilots spoiled by the docile Douglas Dauntless were jolted by the
rigors of flying the Helldiver. Even Curtiss called its baby the Beast
in a wartime brochure intended to educate newbies how to tame it. Read
more |
KOLB
FIRESTAR SIDE-BY-SIDE TRICYCLE CONVERSION
 AirVenture
attendees visiting the Ultralight Display area might walk right past
this new design thinking it is just another Kolb Mark 3. Some do not
even notice the nose wheel at first. It is actually the new Firestar 2
SS. Bryan Melborne from Kolb said the side-by-side configuration and
tricycle gear were the most requested features, so they put them both on
this new design. Existing Firestar owners will be able to purchase a
fuselage kit to convert their Kolb to the new configuration. Read
more |
AFFORDABLE
STEARMAN LOOK-ALIKE
 Bob
Alden had the desire to fly a Stearman, but didn't have the bank balance
to match. So he's in the process of doing the next best thing; with the
help of Jim Robinson of Erie Airpark in Illinois, Bob is building his
own mini-Stearman replica. It's a Fisher Celebrity kit, but with a few
differences-including a dummy front cockpit that looks like the student
"classroom" in a Stearman. He's also added stringers to the
fuselage to give it a rounder shape, making it look more like a Stearman.
Jim calls it "tubbing it out." Read
more |
THE
N3N BIPLANE: SEEN ON LAND, SEA, AND SNOW
 Bill
Hirzel is on a mission to display the durable Naval Aircraft Factory N3N
biplane at Oshkosh in all three of its guises: landplane, seaplane, and
skiplane. For AirVenture 2011, Hirzel and his team from EAA Chapter 582
of Millbury, Ohio, have surrounded their landplane N3N with the kit
needed to convert it to sea or ski. Next year, Bill vows just shy of a
promise that he intends to deliver three full-up N3Ns in all the
configurations. Read
more
|
ULTRALIGHTS
LONG - AND GREEN - THIS YEAR
 Five
years ago Bob Coombs built his Titan light airplane with intentions to
travel long and far. And over the short life of the plane Coombs has
accumulated 630 hours on the airframe with trips to Idaho and California
in the logbook. But when Arty Trost, another Oregonian, called
indicating her intent to fly into EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2011, asking if
Coombs wanted to fly along, his first response was, "You want to go
where?" Seven days and some 25 flight hours later Coombs, Trost,
B.J. Moore of Memphis, Tennessee, and Wayne Eckerpson of Eugene, Oregon,
landed here. Read
more |
CHAOS
OR NOT, PILOTS, JET TRUCK HAVE FUN
 It
may look like chaos, but the two pilots and jet-truck driver who make up
the Team Chaos show say it is scripted and safe. The team made its debut
at EAA AirVenture 2011 earlier this week. Randy Harris, who flies a
Skybolt 300, Gary Ward flying his MX2, and Neal Darnell, of Flash Fire
Jet Truck, make up the group and are sometimes joined by Darnell's son,
Chris, in the jet truck. Read
more |
READ
TODAY'S ISSUE OF AIRVENTURE TODAY ONLINE
 The
official newspaper of EAA AirVenture, as found around the grounds. Check
the highlights of the day with this interactive
online edition.
|
CINDERELLA
DC-3 FROM 2010 RETURNS
 Last
year AirVenture attendees were captivated with the Cinderella story of a
derelict DC-3 that was restored to airworthy condition in time to attend
the 2010 commemoration of the type's 75th anniversary. But with little
attention paid to the aircraft's cosmetics during the restoration,
N74589 hardly looked like the belle of the ball. This year's journey to
AirVenture may have involved less drama, but for Zipkin, who piloted the
C-47 and has been coming to the fly-in since the 1980s, the arrival was
still an emotional highpoint. Read
more
|
100LL
REPLACEMENT? WORKING ON IT…
For decades, the general aviation industry has been working to find a
viable alternative to the leaded gasoline filling the fuel tanks at EAA
AirVenture Oshkosh 2011. During that time, a variety of ideas for
unleaded fuels have come and gone. Their demise usually is based on
economics, toxicity equal to or greater than leaded fuels, or other
factors. And there has been little real incentive to replace 100LL, or a
sense of urgency. Read
more
|
HIGHLIGHTS
FOR SATURDAY, JULY 30
- Ultralight area: Mass hot air
balloon launch (6 a.m.)
- Runway 5K run/walk (7 a.m.)
- Nature Center Pavilion: World
Symposium on Electric Aircraft (8 a.m. - 1 p.m.)
- Afternoon air show featuring
warbirds from various eras (3:30 p.m.)
- Da BLOOZE Bros: Blues Brothers
tribute band, Ford Hangar (6 p.m.)
- Theater in the Woods: Aaron
Tippin & the "Red, White & Loud Tour" (6:45 p.m.)
- Rockwell Collins Night Air Show
featuring Daher-Socata Fireworks and "Wall of Fire" (8:30
p.m.)
- Fly-In Theater feature film: The
Dam Busters supported by Hamilton Watches (9:30 p.m.)
|
ELECTRIC
AIRCRAFT WORLD SYMPOSIUM 2011
 The
second annual World Symposium on Electric Aircraft began Friday at
AirVenture. The goal is to offer a platform to all those who are
interested in this form of environmentally friendly propulsion
technology. The World Symposium is sponsored by GE Aviation and is
featuring influential industry leaders discussing electric aircraft
propulsion and offering what they envision as the future of flight. Read
more
|
TYPE
CLUBS TALK TRANSITION TRAINING, MORE
Safety studies routinely show that pilots who are actively engaged in
type clubs suffer fewer accidents when compared to pilots who are not.
With that knowledge in mind, along with a strong desire to improve
safety among all general aviation operators, leaders from aircraft type
clubs and pilot associations met earlier this week at EAA AirVenture
Oshkosh 2011 to discuss forming a coalition that will work to improve GA
safety. Read
more
|
LUCAS
DEBUTS RED TAILS TRAILER AT GATHERING
 Aviation
leaders, world-renowned celebrities, and those with a shared concern for
aviation's future gathered Thursday night for the annual EAA Gathering
of Eagles fundraising gala in the museum's Eagle Hangar. A major
highlight of the evening was an exclusive preview of film icon George
Lucas' latest project set for release in 2012, Red Tails, about
the famed Tuskegee Airmen. Read
more
|
|
FROM
OREGON TO AIRVENTURE-ON A BIKE
 It
took Bill Kornrumpf 50 days to get to AirVenture. Why so long? Well, it
takes a little extra time when you travel 3,000 miles on a bicycle.
Kornrumpf, 69, from Schenectady, New York, started his trip solo in
Ocean City, Oregon. And after AirVenture, he'll ride 1,200 miles more to
Cape Cod, Massachusetts. For the past five years, Kornrumpf has volunteered as a
hospitality cart driver at AirVenture. He gives about 100 rides a day,
and loves the opportunity to meet people. "I meet a lot of kind
people," he said. "I get to sit and talk with them as I'm
driving." Read
more
|
SUN
'N FUN INTRODUCES NEW PRESIDENT
 John
R. Leenhouts (left) was announced as the new president of Sun ’n Fun.
Former President John Burton (right) has accepted a position as
president of Sun ’n Fun’s Florida Air Museum. Photo by Ric Reynolds
In a year that marks the 100th anniversary of naval aviation, Sun ’n
Fun chose a 27-year naval aviator to lead the organization. John R.
Leenhouts, a carrier fighter pilot, was introduced Friday as Sun ’n
Fun’s new president to AirVenture media representatives. Read
more |
AGUIRRE'S
DREAMS TAKE FLIGHT TO AIRVENTURE
 If
you ask Joaquin Aguirre he'll tell you Disney World is not the only
place dreams come true. For Aguirre the dream started here at AirVenture
19 years ago. And it finally came true here this week: He flew his own
Lancair ES to AirVenture from his home, Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Aguirre
said he had always been interested in airplanes, and built model and
remote-controlled airplanes as a boy. Read
more
|
|
DEAL
OF THE WEEK: RESERVE YOUR COPY OF THE OFFICIAL EAA AIRVENTURE 2011
DVD AND RECEIVE FREE SHIPPING
 Pre-order
your AirVenture 2011 DVD today and get free shipping (domestic orders
only). International shipping is $3 for the first DVD and $1 for each
additional DVD purchased. Offer good through August 18, 2011. Click
here to find out how you can save on shipping when you order your
AirVenture 2011 DVD.
|
EAA MERCHANDISE:
THE EAA HERITAGE COLLECTION. MERCHANDISE THAT HONORS THE HISTORY OF EAA
AND OUR FOUNDER
 Check
out our selection of apparel and collectibles with the cool retro look
that's more popular than ever. And remember, when you shop at the EAA
online store, you support EAA programs that help grow participation in
aviation. Order
online or call us toll-free at 800-564-6322. Going to AirVenture? Stop
by the EAA Wearhouse to see our collection for yourself. And don't forget
to visit Authors' Corner, also at the EAA Wearhouse.
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
EAA
Desktop Calendar
August
2011
This
Curtiss-Ely Pusher replica, built by Bob Coolbaugh
(EAA 307903/Vintage 15150) of New Market, Va., with
assistance from Andrew King (EAA 275985/Vintage
10739) of Vienna, Va., resembles the one that made
the first carrier landing on the deck of the U.S.
Navy’s USS Pennsylvania in the San Francisco Bay
on January 18, 1911 - beginning the era of naval
aviation. It will be on
display at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.
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.
|
|
|
 |
LOCKWOOD
BECOMES BERINGER'S FIRST U.S. SERVICE CENTER
Lockwood Aviation and Beringer Wheels & Brakes jointly announced
their agreement for Lockwood Aviation to become the first U.S. service
center for Beringer Wheels & Brakes. Based in Tallard, France,
Beringer Wheels & Brakes represents the high-performance braking
solution, from light-sport aircraft and Formula One racers to large and
fast machines like the four-seat Lancairs. Beringer makes systems for a
wide range of aircraft from light GA aircraft up to its now-standard STC
for the Pilatus PC-6, and complete kits include everything for a bolt-on
conversion: master cylinders and reservoirs, braided stainless/Teflon
hoses and fittings, axles and nuts, brakes, wheels, and mounted,
pressure-tested tires. Phil Lockwood, president of Lockwood Aviation,
says, "We are pleased to be working with Beringer Wheels &
Brakes. We have adopted their system on our AirCam and are extremely
pleased with the results." Gilbert Beringer, president of Beringer
Wheels & Brakes, adds, "The reputation of Lockwood Aviation is
well-known around the world, and we are happy that they will be
providing service to our U.S. customers." For more information,
visit Beringer-Aero.com or Lockwood-Aviation.com.
MEMBER RECEIVES WRIGHT BROTHERS MASTER
PILOT AWARD Dwain Munyon, EAA 867696, of Viroqua, Wisconsin,
received the FAA's Wright Brothers Master Pilot award this week at
AirVenture, awarded for his 50-plus years of safe, accident-free flying.
He soloed on November 28, 1959, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and continues
to be an active pilot, with more than 11,000 flight hours logged. He
also has 6,000-plus flight hours as an instructor.
CMC'S SMARTDECK TRIES TO FLATTEN THE
GLASS-PANEL LEARNING CURVE
This year, in its first appearance at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, CMC
Electronics is displaying a Cirrus SR22 fitted with a SmartDeck panel.
As implemented in the SR22, a central control unit separates two large
screens equipped with soft keys. An avionics control panel mounted in
the center console between the seats mounts all buttons and switches
necessary for selecting the appropriate frequencies, autopilot/flight
director modes, and for operating the transponder. A synthetic vision
system forms the PFD's background, while conventional vertical tapes
present airspeed, altitude, and vertical speed information. Superimposed
on the terrain in the background are an HSI (canted forward to enhance
the synthetic vision's utility) and glass-panel-standard symbology
depicting aircraft attitude and flight director cues, if any. The
avionics control panel is where flight plan information is selected or
entered. But, the real "smarts" in the SmartDeck system is its
simplicity. For example, CMC says the system's user interface-based on a
"three-clicks-or-less" philosophy-results in SmartDeck's
ability to deliver the same information and features of other integrated
glass panel systems from, say, Garmin or Avidyne-but without nearly as
many button pushes or knob twists. |
|
|
