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March
2, 2012 Volume 12,
Number 9 |
SIGNATURES NEEDED ON NO-USER-FEE LETTER
IN SENATE
EAA members should urge lawmakers to sign
The leadership of the Senate General Aviation Caucus is asking fellow
senators for their support and signature on a letter to President Obama
urging the White House to remove GA user fees from its Fiscal Year 2013
budget proposal. Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK) and Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE),
the co-chairs of the Senate GA Caucus, are circulating the letter. It is
similar to a letter by the House GA Caucus that has already collected
more than 180 co-signers as of Wednesday evening - far more than the 119
signatures when a similar letter was circulated in the House last year. Read
more
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HIGHTOWER TO SPEAK AT ILLINOIS UL, LIGHT
PLANE SEMINAR
 EAA
President/CEO Rod Hightower will give the keynote address at this
weekend's 32nd annual Illinois Ultralight and Light Plane Safety Seminar
scheduled for Saturday, March 3, in the Illinois Building and Auditorium
on the Illinois State Fairground in Springfield, Illinois. Hightower's
address, "LSA and General Aviation," occurs right after the
lunch break. There is no charge to attend. Also featured at the seminar
are aircraft displays, dealer and manufacturer exhibits, and
presentations on EFBs and LSA, powered paragliders, Rotax engines, and
more. This seminar is presented by the Illinois Ultralight Advisory
Council (IUAC), Illinois Department of Transportation Division of
Aeronautics, and the FAA's Springfield FSDO. To learn more, click
here.
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A KINDER FAA, OR A MORE
EFFECTIVE FAA?
It has been fashionable at various times for the FAA to bill
itself as being "kinder and gentler" when it comes to
rule enforcement. The concept sounds good, but does it make
sense? The people in charge of Flight Standards, the group
within FAA that oversees the rules and rules compliance, don't
really think so.
The reality is that the FAA -
along with all other parts of government - is being squeezed to
do more with less. A long-term FAA budget was finally passed by
Congress and signed into law, the first in several years, but
the budget puts a strict cap on FAA resources. The FAA needs to
be sure it gets more bang for each buck.
Continue
reading | Subscribe to Mac's Blog
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AIRCRAFT
SPRUCE & SPECIALTY NOW OFFERS EAA SPORT AVIATION
 Single
issues and subscriptions of the award-winning EAA Sport Aviation
magazine are now available through Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co.,
extending the stories of EAA and its membership into broader aviation
segments and audiences. "We want those who are on the outside to
get a peek into the passionate community of aviators that comprises
EAA," said EAA President/CEO Rod Hightower, who announced plans
last spring for expanding Sport Aviation's reach to even more aviators.
"Thanks to this partnership with Aircraft Spruce & Specialty,
the EAA story and message will reach even more people as we grow
participation in aviation." Read
more
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EAA
REAFFIRMS OPPOSITION TO LIGHTSQUARED WITH OFFICIAL COMMENTS
FCC extends deadline to March 16
EAA's comments opposing the Federal Communications Commission's
Conditional Waiver for LightSquared's proposed wireless broadband
terrestrial operations were submitted this week ahead of the March 1
deadline, and the FCC gave those still wishing to comment more time by
extending the comment deadline to March 16. Since the public comment
period opened on February 15, 2012, more than 5,600 comments have been
submitted, the vast majority of which oppose the LightSquared proposal.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
concluded recently the LightSquared proposal would interfere with
millions of GPS devices in use today - including those used for aviation
navigation. Read
more
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ICE
PILOTS NWT STARTS MONDAY ON WEATHER CHANNEL
 Many
of you have seen the popular Canadian reality TV series Ice Pilots NWT,
either in Canada or during its run on The History Channel. Next Monday,
March 5, the series begins airing on The Weather Channel starting at 8
p.m. CDT (9 p.m. EST). Ice Pilots is about the people who operate
Buffalo Airways, an airline that still uses DC-3s to haul people, fuel,
and supplies to remote outposts in the Canadian North. Buffalo Airlines,
which participated in the 75th anniversary celebration of the DC-3 at
AirVenture 2010, is featured in this
EAA video produced prior to that convention.
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2012
GA AWARD WINNERS TO BE HONORED AT AIRVENTURE
The General Aviation Awards program announced this week its 2012
national winners who will receive their awards this summer at EAA
AirVenture Oshkosh 2012. They include Marvin Hornbostel, of
Junction City, Kansas, Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) of the
Year; Rick Ochs, of Gahanna, Ohio, Avionics Technician of the
Year; MCFI Hobart Tomlinson, of Huntington, Vermont, Certificated
Flight Instructor (CFI) of the Year; and Jeanne Willerth, of
Lee's Summit, Missouri, FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year. Read
more
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HIGHTOWER
MEETS WITH HOUSE AVIATION SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
 U.S.
Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI), who is chairman of the House Aviation
Subcommittee and a key member of the House General Aviation Caucus, was
at the EAA Aviation Center on Thursday to meet with EAA President/CEO
Rod Hightower as well as Sean Elliott and David Oord from EAA's
government advocacy staff. Petri, who represents the eastern Wisconsin
district that includes Oshkosh, has long been an aviation supporter. He
is a regular visitor to the EAA AirVenture Museum and the AirVenture
fly-in. Read
more
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AD
ISSUED ON LYCOMING ENGINE CARBURETORS
The FAA has issued an airworthiness directive (AD) on carburetors
installed on many Lycoming engines. The AD targets only 409 carburetors
- but 10,700 engines must be inspected to determine if they have one of
the defective carbs. Effective date for the AD is March 27, 2012. (Click
here to view the AD.) The problem is with Marvel-Schebler carburetors
built with a "machined-from-billet" body instead of the more
common die-cast body. In some of the defective machined body carbs the
mixture control has failed, blocking fuel to the engine and causing
power loss. Read
more
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ENROLLMENT
OPEN FOR 2012 EAA AIR ACADEMY 'YOUNG EAGLES' CAMP
 The
EAA Young Eagles Camp is designed to introduce youth ages 12-13 to the
wonderful world of aviation. Presented in a "science camp"
format, campers will enjoy a unique combination of fun and discovery as
they participate in hands-on activities, flight simulation, museum
tours, and actual flights in a Cessna 162 SkyCatcher and Bell 47
helicopter. Registration fee includes all camping materials, meals, and
lodging in the EAA Air Academy Lodge located on the world-famous EAA
AirVenture Museum campus in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Learn
more
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CLASSIC
J-3 CUB, EAA 2012 AIRCRAFT SWEEPSTAKES GRAND PRIZE
Giveaway part of Cub's 75th anniversary celebration at AirVenture
 There's
nothing like flying 500 feet AGL - low and slow - admiring the landscape
below. When you enter the 2012 EAA "Win the Cub" Sweepstakes,
you'll have the opportunity to do just that, with the one lucky winner
becoming the rightful owner of a beautifully restored 1940 Piper J-3
Cub, TrickAir Sport 1500 Snow Skis included. Not a pilot? No problem. In
addition to the Cub, the grand prize package includes the option to take
$2,500 worth of flight training. All prizes will be awarded in random
drawings at EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh at 5 p.m. on September 10,
2012. Enter now.
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EAA,
AOPA PRESSING FORWARD WITH THIRD-CLASS MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS
EAA and AOPA are continuing to press forward with their joint effort to
expand the use of a driver's license and medical self-certification in
lieu of an FAA third-class medical certificate, with a goal of
submitting a formal exemption request to the FAA in March. The GA
organizations remain steadfast in their effort, which was formally
unveiled at the AOPA Summit last September. EAA and AOPA have petitioned
the FAA numerous times over the past 25 years regarding changes to the
third-class medical requirements. Read
more
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UL
POWER FIREWALL FORWARD KIT AVAILABLE FOR ZENITH CH 750
 Zenith
Aircraft Company and UL Power North America LLC have announced
availability of the UL Power complete firewall forward kit for the Zenith
STOL CH 750 light-sport utility kit aircraft. The complete firewall
forward (FWF) engine package includes the modern, direct-drive,
air-cooled, lightweight, and fuel-efficient UL350iS aircraft engine from
UL Power. This 130-hp, horizontally opposed four-cylinder/four-stroke
engine has FADEC (full authority digital engine control) and multipoint
electronic fuel injection with automatic altitude and temperature
compensation. The full firewall forward kit includes everything builders
would need to install the engine in their Zenith airframe, including
engine mount, oil cooler, fuel pumps, propeller and spinner, and a newly
refined fiberglass cowl. Read
more
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ONLINE
TRAINING FROM AMERICAN BONANZA SOCIETY
 The
American Bonanza Society (ABS) has rolled out a new online version of
its highly regarded Bonanza Pilot Proficiency Program (BPPP) that will
greatly reduce cost and provide flexible scheduling. The new plan allows
pilots to complete a 13-module course online. Read
more
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FLTPLAN.COM
AND CORPORATE ANGEL NETWORK NOW COORDINATE
 FltPlan.com
is the leading online flight planning and flight plan filing service for
the nation's fleet of business airplanes, and it is now cooperating with
Corporate Angel Network to make the transportation of cancer patients to
care facilities more efficient. Business airplane operators who use
FltPlan.com to plan and file their flight plans can check a box online
to indicate that they have empty seats available to carry cancer
patients on the trip. Read
more
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DISCOVER
THE EXCITEMENT OF AVIATION AT EAA'S FAMILY FLIGHT FEST
 Kick
off springtime by discovering the exciting world of aviation with an
interactive, educational family experience at EAA's Family Flight Fest,
scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, March 24-25, at the EAA AirVenture
Museum in Oshkosh. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, the museum's younger
visitors can enjoy a variety of aviation-related activities that will
educate and spark their curiosity in flight. Read
more
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LIMITED
NUMBER OF TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE FOR EAA HOPS & PROPS 2012
 This
Saturday the EAA AirVenture Museum will welcome more than a thousand
guests for a special evening of beer and food sampling at EAA Hops &
Props 2012, March 3 from 6:30-10 p.m. in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Guests will
have the opportunity to meet master brewers from around the world and
learn the distinguishing characteristics of specialty beers as they
enjoy live music and delicious food from area restaurants. Prices are
$60 for general admission or $55 for EAA members. You must be at least
21 years of age to attend. Order
tickets online or call 800-236-1025.
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WEBINARS: ALL
ABOUT BATTERIES
Maintenance expert and EAA Sport Aviation columnist Mike Busch
presents an informational webinar about battery types, chemistries,
construction, flooded-cell versus sealed (AGM), charge, discharge,
self-discharge, sulfation, when to retire/replace, how to install,
instructions for continued airworthiness, battery chargers and
conditioners, and more.
All webinars begin at 7 p.m. CST unless
otherwise noted, and they require registration. 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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TERRAFUGIA
SET TO APPEAR AT NEW YORK AUTO SHOW
 Terrafugia's
Transition Roadable Aircraft will make its auto show debut next month,
April 6-15, at the 2012 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), held
at New York's Jacob Javits Convention Center. NYIAS attendees will get a
close-up look at the company's prototype, which will qualify as a
light-sport aircraft. EAA members have followed the Transition's
development since the first prototype appeared at AirVenture Oshkosh
2008. First deliveries of the Transition are expected in late 2012.
Learn more about Terrafugia here.
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EAA
MERCHANDISE: SMALL-SCALE BUILDING LEADS TO LARGE-SCALE DREAMS
 Ignite
someone's interest in aviation, or simply add a beautiful model aircraft
to your own collection, with one of the many models now available for up
to 70 percent off at ShopEAA.com. Choose from a variety of aircraft
including the B-17G Flying Fortress, F4U Corsair, P-51 Mustang, F-22
Raptor, Wright Flyer, and more. Sale prices are only good through March
31, so pick one up today and enjoy some large-scale fun at a small-scale
price. Shop online
or by calling toll-free, 800-564-6322.
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'Q' IS FOR QUALITY…AND YOU CAN BE THE
BENEFICIARY
A message from EAA partner Ford Motor Company
 World-class
quality is at the foundation of all we do at Ford. In the recently
announced J.D. Power and Associates' 2012 U.S. Vehicle Dependability
Study, Ford Motor Company has six vehicles ranked in the top three for
long-term durability in their segment: the Ford Fusion, Ford Explorer,
Ford Ranger, Ford Taurus, Lincoln MKZ, and Lincoln MKX.
And we continue to go further. For
instance, Ford has a patented error-proofing system in place at our North
American assembly plants, and uses industry-exclusive virtual tools to
evaluate and test early vehicle designs - before a single unit is built.
You can benefit from this continued focus
on quality, dependability, and reliability as EAA members are eligible for
special pricing on Ford Motor Company vehicles through Ford's Partner
Recognition Program. To learn more on this exclusive opportunity for EAA
members to save on a new Ford vehicle, click
here.
Stop by your local Ford or Lincoln
Dealership and check out the quality in every detail on their full line-up
of vehicles.
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Monthly Photo Contest
Enter your pictures now for the May Photo Contest!
Can You Help?
Ongoing Discussions
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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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Futuristic
Flying Shark Also Roadable |
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A
moving shark was the designer's inspiration for this vehicle, the
futuristic "flying shark." A concept two-seat personal
transport has a movable tail that provides propeller power in flight
and wheel power in ground mode. |
Closer
Look at Flying Wing Airliner |
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Northrop
Grumman's quiet and efficient flying wing entry in the Environmentally
Responsible Aviation program from NASA is roughly 1.5 times as big as
the B-2A bomber. The article provides details of the PSC flying wing
airliner and cargo aircraft concept designs, including a slew of
intriguing graphics. |
Warthog
UAV Conversion for Battlefield Air Support |
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DARPA
(Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) has a project to develop
an unmanned Warthog (A-10 Thunderbolt II), which will provide
battlefield-controlled close air support. The goal is to have the
Warthog on target within six minutes of the request for support. DARPA
expects that the control system could be used in the future for
aircraft other than just the Warthog. |
New
and Improved Kind of STOL |
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Robert
Englar's circulation-controlled wing (CCW) design has a co-efficient
of lift more than 2.5 times greater than what a conventional STOL
aircraft generates. The CCW has high-pressure airstreams directed over
specially designed airfoils to create the high lift. Refining his
design and applying it to GA would enable quieter, smaller municipal
airports. |
High
School Students Design Electric LSA |
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A
team of high school students convinced their school district to buy
high-end video game computers to help design an electric aircraft for
the NASA-sponsored Real World Design Challenge (RWDC). The first
computer the district bought to run the wind tunnel simulations took
20 hours to run just one test, so the students found liquid-cooled
gaming computers, which should be able to decrease the simulation time
to four hours. The RWDC goal was to design an LSA that can fly 200
miles in less than two hours at 1,000 feet. |
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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. |
HINTS
FOR HOMEBUILDERS: PIANO HINGES
 Piano
hinges are used extensively on aircraft, for everything from ailerons to
cowlings. In this episode, Dick and Bob Koehler, both A&P mechanics
and EAA SportAir Workshop instructors, explain the different types of
piano hinge material used on aircraft. Watch
the video
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TIMELESS
VOICES OF AVIATION: WALLY FUNK
 Wally
Funk was a member of the Mercury 13 - a little known program in which 25
women were selected to undergo astronaut screening at the Lovelace
Clinic in Albuquerque, New Mexico, during NASA's Mercury space program
in the early 1960s. Thirteen women passed the intensive testing, but the
program was a private experiment and never part of the official NASA
screening program. Although disappointed that women were excluded from
the space program at the time, Wally continued to pursue a career in
aviation. She has been a flight instructor, FAA inspector, and NTSB
accident investigator. Watch the
video.
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Where
Are You Flying This Weekend?
There are 72
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
am trying to rebaffle my Cardinal from the 1974
style to the 1975-and-later style. What material
should I use, 2024-T3, 6061-T4, 6061-T6, or
something else? Also, is there a place that I can
learn about different types of aluminum and its
workability and uses?
Answer:
Normally .025- or .032-thick aluminum is used for
baffles, in either 2024-T3 or 6061-T6 alloys. The
6061 will be easier to form, lighter, less prone to
cracking, and less expensive, and is usually the
alloy of choice.
For a listing of
articles about aircraft aluminum and building with
it, click
here.
EAA also has an
excellent DVD of hints and tips for sheet metal
building. You can learn more about it and order it here.
(Scroll down about halfway on the page.) Also, the
book Sheet Metal Building Basics is available here.
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
March 2012
Lynn Cromer, EAA
1040774, captured this photo of a Beechcraft SNB-5
with a Nikon D300. He was driving in to the Denton
Airshow in Texas last June to shoot the static
aircraft at sunrise when he noticed the rays of
sunshine poking through the clouds. "I thought
I would get arrested for my driving trying to get to
the flightline," Lynn said.
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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GAMA ADDS FOUR NEW COMPANIES
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) announced new
members this week, Avfuel, Extant Components Group, ForeFlight, and
Thrush Aircraft, bringing its membership to 77. Avfuel, established more
than 40 years ago, is a global supplier of aviation fuel and services.
Extant Components Group supports product licensing, obsolescence
management, and lifecycle extension services for aging, non-core
avionics and electronics systems. ForeFlight builds intelligent
applications for pilots, including the award-winning ForeFlight Mobile
iPad app. Thrush Aircraft provides aircraft for agricultural spray
operations and fire control. For more information about GAMA's
membership, click
here.
CMI EXPANDS OPTIONS FOR CIRRUS SR22
Continental Motors expanded turbo normalized engine options for Cirrus
SR22 aircraft. Current owners now have the opportunity to have the same
turbo performance as a new SR22T aircraft. "Passing through 12,000
feet, you are still climbing at 1,000 feet per minute, getting you to
the flight levels faster than you ever have before," said Keith
Chatten, director of product development and applications engineering at
Continental. "Flight tests show that the TSIO-550-N1B reaches
25,000 feet in just over 23 minutes and is quieter due to the 200-rpm
reduction." For more information, click
here.
CPS CARRIES ROTAX 912 FIVE-YEAR RUBBER
REPLACEMENT KITS
California Power Systems now carries Rotax 912 fiver-year rubber
replacement kits, which are furnished with the parts most commonly
needed for the five-year service requirement. The kits were developed by
Roger Lee for the Flight Design CT, but will work for other aircraft.
For other aircraft, re-measure the fuel, oil, and coolant lines for
lengths needed on different installations. If other lengths are needed,
contact CPS before ordering as the parts will need to be ordered
individually. For more information, click
here.
CNC HAS PRE-CUT 4130 STEEL TUBES FOR
'CLASSIC' ACES
Ace Aircraft is now selling precision-cut steel tubing for the Baby Ace
Model D and Junior Ace Model E fuselages and tailfeathers. The company
also offers tack-welded and fully welded fuselages and tailfeathers to
further reduce build times. CNC manufacturing processes can cut steel
tubing to incredibly high tolerances of .005-inch, eliminating
measuring, cutting, grinding, and fitting tubes one at a time. Each set
of tubes is labeled, packaged, and ready to weld right out of the box.
For more information, click here.
FLYING CIRCUS AIRSHOW PREPARES FOR
42ND SEASON
Virginia's longest continuously running air show kicks off its 42nd
season on Sunday, May 6, at an aerodrome near Bealeton, Virginia. The
Flying Circus Airshow, founded by John King Sr. in 1970, continues under
the leadership of his sons John D. King, president, and wing walker John
E. King II. Featured aircraft - Stearmans, WACOs, Fleets, Cubs, Champs,
and others - perform formation flying demonstrations, world class
aerobatics, wing walking, and classic comedy routines. Airplane rides
are also available before and after the 2:30 Sunday afternoon
performances May through October (weather permitting). The field opens
for airplane rides at 11 a.m. and continues until sunset. For more
information including admission, airplane ride prices, and a detailed
schedule of events, click
here.
FAR/AIM IN PLAIN ENGLISH
AVAILABLE AT AIRCRAFT SPRUCE
Aircraft Spruce is carrying a new book, FAR/AIM in Plain English. The
book has omitted everything you don't need to know for your sport or
private pilot certificate. The balance of the traditional FAR/AIM
reference book has been translated into plain conversational English
that pilots and students can apply to their everyday flying. For more
information, click here.
TWO NEW AEROSTAR DEALERS IN ARIZONA
Jansick Consulting, based out of Deer Valley Airport in Phoenix, and
Sport Planes of Glendale are new authorized dealers of the Aerostar
Festival R40S GP LSA. The R40S GP is a low-wing metal aircraft with two
flight posts in side-by-side configuration. The aircraft is offered
ready-to-fly as an S-LSA, and will be available shortly in kit form as
an experimental amateur-built. For more information, click
here.
VOICEFLIGHT APP MOVES FLIGHT PLANS TO
GARMIN 430W, 530W
VoiceFlight Systems released Connected Talker, a free iPad app that
allows pilots to quickly transfer flight plans from their iPad into
VoiceFlight-enabled Garmin 430W or 530W GPS units. According to J. Scott
Merritt, president and founder of VoiceFlight, the app can transfer an
entire flight plan in seconds by generating synthetic speech. A custom
audio cable, available from VoiceFlight for $25, transfers the synthetic
speech to the pilot microphone jack, where it is recognized by the
VFS101 system. For more information, click
here.
EVEKTOR PICKS ESTERLINE CMC
ELECTRONICS SMARTDECK
Evektor selected the Esterline CMC SmartDeck integrated avionics suite
for the multipurpose EV-55 Outback aircraft. The FAA-certified SmartDeck
system supports scalability to various types of aircraft and provides
the growth capability to meet continuously evolving air traffic
management requirements and support maintainability. SmartDeck
integrates navigation, communication, surveillance, synthetic vision,
electronic charts, and moving map functions. For more information, click
here.
TEMPEST INTRODUCES NEW KITS FOR BENDIX
MAGNETOS
Twelve new magneto repair kits, including six deluxe kits, for Bendix
magnetos are now available from Tempest. A repair kit is generally used
for 500-hour inspections, where a deluxe repair kit is for major repairs
and overhauls. All Tempest magneto parts are manufactured under FAA/PMA
guidelines and approval processes. New kits include capacitor part
number AB-349276, which complies with the new mounting configuration
versus the old-style AB-357281 capacitor. For more information, click
here.
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2012
Experimental Aircraft
Association, Inc.
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