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March
23, 2012 Volume 12,
Number 12 |
TORA!
TORA! TORA! RE-ENACTMENT TO MAKE AIRVENTURE DEBUT
 The
"Tora! Tora! Tora!" aerial re-enactment of the events of
December 7, 1941 - one of the most dazzling warbird air show
performances flying today - will be part of the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
afternoon warbird shows for the first time this summer. Performances are
scheduled for Friday and Saturday, July 27-28, the final weekend of EAA
AirVenture. It is part of a weeklong schedule of the world's finest air
show performers showcasing their abilities in all-star displays that
many air show fans put on their aviation "bucket list." Read
more and watch video
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BAUMGARTNER
INITIAL TEST JUMP A SUCCESS
 Austria's
Felix Baumgartner and the Red Bull Stratos project are fixing to break
the longstanding altitude record for skydiving held by Joe Kittinger,
and last week the team took a big leap toward that goal when Baumgartner
jumped out of a specially made pressurized capsule for the first time
from 71,580 feet over New Mexico. During the 13-mile, eight-minute and
eight-second drop back to Earth, he reached a new record speed of nearly
365 mph, enduring temperatures as cold as minus 94?F. The team plans a
120,000-foot drop later this year to establish a new altitude
record. Read
more
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THIRD-CLASS MEDICAL AND FAA
ELOS
 The
FAA routinely issues a ruling of equivalent level of safety
(ELOS) when certifying airplanes, equipment and various flight
operations. An ELOS is the FAA’s finding that an aircraft or
aviation operation delivers the same level of safety that the
rules require even if what has been approved does not meet the
letter of the law. EAA and AOPA are asking the FAA to make an
ELOS finding on the requirement for pilots to have a third-class
medical for recreational flying.
I believe the objectives of the
medical certification system are good and necessary. But the
EAA/AOPA petition to use a driver’s license in place of a
third class medical for recreational flying purposes is an ELOS.
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EAA
PREPARES FOR SUN 'N FUN - BRING YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD!
 EAA
is making final preparations for its participation in the 38th annual
Sun 'n Fun Fly-In at Lakeland, Florida, which takes place next Tuesday,
March 27, through Sunday, April 1. Once again this year's event will
include expanded participation from EAA member volunteers, chapter
members, forum presenters, and HQ staff from Oshkosh. If you're planning
to attend this year, don't forget to bring your EAA membership card to
get discounted admission! Read
more
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LYCOMING
ANTICIPATES APPROVAL FOR UL 91 UNLEADED AVGAS FOR EUROPE
Lycoming Engines announced this week it has submitted ASTM D7547 UL
91 unleaded avgas for approval in Europe on numerous engine models
across the 233, 235, 320, and 360 families. The 540-series engines will
follow as Lycoming completes additional validation. UL 91 is being
distributed in Europe largely to serve engines approved to operate on
automotive specification fuels. European Aviation Safety Administration
(EASA) Safety Information Bulletin 2011-01R1 provides aircraft level
approval on the basis of engine approval. Read
more
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AVIATORS
CLUB: AN AIRVENTURE OASIS RETURNS
 Last
year's debut of the EAA Aviators Club at AirVenture was successful
beyond anyone's expectations! The flightline oasis that allowed EAA
members to add additional hospitality to their AirVenture experience was
sold out throughout the week, so it's coming back in an expanded way in
2012. The Aviators Club, again sponsored by Shell Aviation, is a place
to relax, cool down, and watch the air show from some of best seats on
the field. It is an additional opportunity beyond the basic AirVenture
admission for EAA members, located this year in a prime spot - on the
flightline adjacent to the Flightline Pavilion. Read
more
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REQUIREMENT
TO CARRY SPECIAL ISSUANCE MEDICAL LOA ENDS IN JULY
The FAA issued a direct final rule n Thursday (Docket
No. FAA-2012-0056; March 22, 2012) that eliminates the need for
pilots with special issuance medical certificates to carry their FAA
letter of authorization (LOA) on their person, or have it readily
available, while exercising their pilot privileges. In the direct final
rule the FAA states that this action will reduce the burden on
approximately 28,000 airmen with special issuance medicals. It will go
into effect on July 20, 2012. Read
more
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SPORT
PILOT INSTRUCTOR: SIGN UP ON UPGRADED ONLINE DATABASE
 EAA's
online database of sport pilot instructors has been rejuvenated. Sport
pilot instructors who are accepting sport pilot students can fill in
their information and automatically have their names added to the online
list available on the Sport
Pilot website. Previously, sport pilot instructors had to contact
EAA with their information, which would be handled by at least two
separate departments to be included on the site. EAA encourages any CFI
who provides sport pilot instruction to take a few minutes and add his
or her name to the list.
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SPOTS
STILL AVAILABLE IN EAA AIR ACADEMY BASIC CAMPS
 There
are still a few remaining spots left in the EAA Air Academy Basic Camps
being held in June and August at the beautiful Air Academy Lodge in
Oshkosh, Wisconsin. This popular camp introduces youth ages 14-15 to the
exciting world of aviation through educational and hands-on activities.
Campers will build, fly, and participate in aviation demonstrations
throughout the week, including experiencing the thrill of flight in both
a Cessna 162 SkyCatcher and Bell 47 helicopter. For many, the EAA Air
Academy Camps become an important steppingstone for personal development
and appreciation for aviation. Read
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
 The
Piper J-3 Cub is one of the most recognizable and iconic airplanes ever
to grace the sky. Now, you could be the rightful owner of a beautifully
restored 1940 Piper J-3 Cub as the grand prize winner of EAA's 2012
"Win the Cub" Sweepstakes. The Cub even comes equipped with a
pair of TrickAir Snow Skis and an optional $2,500 worth of free flight
training. In addition to the grand prize, sweepstakes entrants will also
have the chance to win a bunch of other great prizes like a Sea-Doo
Watercraft, a Bose Home Entertainment System, 750 square feet of tile
hangar flooring, and more. Enter now.
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B-17
ALUMINUM OVERCAST HEADS WEST FOR SPRING TOUR
 Spring
is finally here, and next month EAA's restored B-17 Aluminum Overcast
will kick off an eight-city tour of the West Coast. The tour starts with
an April 20-22 stop in Torrance, California, at Zamperini Field Airport,
followed by an April 27-29 stop at Van Nuys Airport. The Flying Fortress
will work its way up the West Coast before making its last tour stop
June 7-10 at Denver's Centennial Airport. Read
more
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EAA
FORD TRI-MOTOR JOURNEYS ON IN SUNSHINE STATE
 Continuing
on its tour of Florida, EAA's 1929 Ford Tri-Motor is at Plant City's
Municipal Airport until March 25. Next up is a March 26-28 stop in
Sarasota at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, before the Tin
Goose heads to Naples Municipal Airport for a March 29-April 2 tour
stop. To find out how you can take a ride in this historic aircraft and
to see the full tour schedule, visit the Fly the Ford website.
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HONOR
AN AVIATION LEGACY WITH A PLAQUE ON EAA'S MEMORIAL WALL
 Located
on the edge of Pioneer Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, EAA's Memorial
Wall provides a dignified place for families and friends to honor those
special individuals whose support and passion for aviation has made a
positive impact on their lives. If you would like to remember a friend
or loved one with a personalized plaque on EAA's Memorial Wall, please
e-mail development@eaa.org or call 920-426-6563 or 800-236-1025. To have
your special tribute recognized for the dedication ceremony at
AirVenture Oshkosh 2012, please
place your order by Monday, April 9, 2012.
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EAA
MERCHANDISE: SAVE UP TO $75 ON HISTORIC AIRCRAFT MODELS AND RECEIVE A
FREE GIFT
 Hand-painted
with authentic markings and mounted to a solid mahogany display, EAA's
B-17 Aluminum Overcast and Ford Tri-Motor models bring aviation
nostalgia to any office, room, or hangar. Pick one up before March 22,
2012, and save up to $75, plus receive a free B-17 in Action book or
Ford Tri-Motor model kit with your order. Shop
online or by calling toll-free, 800-564-6322.
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WEBINARS: ALL
ABOUT ALTERNATORS
Maintenance
expert and EAA Sport Aviation columnist Mike Busch, A&P/IA,
presents an informational webinar about alternators, including
principles of operation, major components, installation, failure modes,
troubleshooting, repair options, TBO, 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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KICK OFF
SPRINGTIME WITH EAA'S FAMILY FLIGHT FEST THIS WEEKEND IN OSHKOSH
 Springtime
has officially arrived, and along with warm weather and longer days, it
also means the return of EAA's Family Flight Fest, held this Saturday,
March 24, and Sunday, March 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the EAA
AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh. This popular family event introduces
people of all ages to the exciting world of aviation through educational
and hands-on activities. Lunch will be available for purchase each day
between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. As always, EAA members are admitted
free to the EAA AirVenture Museum. For general public rates, a list of
activities, and more information, visit the AirVenture
Museum website or call 920-426-6135.
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Monthly Photo Contest
Enter your pictures now for the June 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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Electric
Aircraft Sets New World Records |
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Three
new world records for an electric aircraft were claimed by an MC-30
Luciole in February 2012. For this microlight sub-class, the MC-30
Firefly quietly averaged more than 84 mph during its flight of 31.17
miles at an altitude of 7,877 feet. |
Fun
Pre-Flight on iPad for Safer Trip |
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"Passive
RADAR altimeter technology" in WingX Pro7 can help make your
flight safer as well in addition to being fun to use on your iPhone or
iPad. The program is meant to lessen the chance of CFIT (controlled
flight into terrain) and the possibility of a runway incursion.
Displaying terrain elevations and your aircraft's AGL during your
virtual trip, you can view your route on Google Earth and pre-fly your
entire flight including the approach into an airport. |
Quieter
Booms Ahead for Russian Supersonic Jet |
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Sukhoi
and Tupolev are in the design stages for a supersonic business jet.
Tupolev has already created and flown the 190-foot-wingspan TU-160
Blackjack bomber, the largest combat aircraft in the world and the
largest flying supersonic plane. The sleek airframe will be designed
to greatly reduce the ground level noise this jet creates when
breaking the sound barrier. |
Air-Elf
Has Magical Multi-Mode Wings |
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This
compact two-seat concept design VTOL aircraft has a very
unconventional appearance with "many small wings" that
transform for the different flight modes of takeoff, landing, and
cruise. The Air-Elf designer uses the term "Air Caterpillar"
for the unique wing technology, with the "small wings" able
to move both circularly and horizontally. |
Search
for Futuristic AMELIA |
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AMELIA
(Advanced Model for Extreme Lift and Improved Aeroacoustics) is a
blended-wing body aircraft concept that is in the scale model
prototype stage. The 10-foot-wingspan model is being tested in a wind
tunnel that can subject the prototype to blasts of up to 300 knots as
engineers search for the optimum aerodynamic design for AMELIA. |
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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: NPT FITTING BASICS
 ANational
Pipe Thread (NPT) fittings are often used to carry fuel and brake fluids
through your aircraft. In this video, Dick Koehler explains how to size
these fittings and demonstrates how to install them. Dick is a Technical
Counselor for EAA Chapter 186, A&P aircraft mechanic with inspection
authorization (IA), and EAA SportAir Workshops instructor. Watch
the video.
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TIMELESS
VOICES OF AVIATION: MIKE WHALEN
 Mike
Whalen was an Aviation Cadet pilot trainee in the U.S. Army Air Corps
when he was washed out due to airsickness during aerobatics. He was sent
to radio operator and gunnery schools and assigned to a B-24 Liberator
crew. Once overseas, the crew was assigned to the 506th Bomb Squadron of
the 44th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force based at Shipdham, England. They
began flying missions in August of 1944. Mike finished the war with 43
combat missions, including two low-level supply drops during Operation
Market Garden and the Rhine Crossing. Watch
the video
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Where
Are You Flying This Weekend?
There are 31
fly-ins and other
aviation events over
the next two weekends
listed in the EAA
Events Calendar. Find one near you or add your event! |
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Q&A:
If a person takes and passes the LSA
repairman/inspection course can he then perform an
annual condition inspection and log maintenance on
an experimental category glider that falls within
the LSA paramaters?
Answer:
Unfortunately no, that is not the case. The 16-hour,
2-day course taught by Rainbow Aviation is entitled
"Repairman (LSA) - Inspection/Airplane"
and its graduates are limited to inspect aircraft
that are airplanes with an E-LSA airworthiness
certificate owned by the person that completed the
course.
Gliders are a
different category than airplane, so taking the
course will not allow you to perform annual
inspections on them.
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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AVIAT HUSKY FITTED WITH SHOCK-ABSORBING
GEAR
Aviat Aircraft has received FAA approval for a new shock-absorbing
landing gear for the A-1C Husky. The gear will be standard equipment on
all three versions of the aircraft: those equipped with the 160-, 180-,
and 200-hp engines. The 180- and 200-hp models have also been granted a
50-pound gross weight increase. According to the company, the new
landing gear virtually eliminates landing bounce, and dampeners inside
the fuselage prevent the bungee cords that are attached to the gear from
snapping back after hard landings. For more information, click
here.
AIRCRAFT SPRUCE FEATURES GRIME-OFF
CLEANING PRODUCTS
Aircraft Spruce & Specialty has introduced a new line of
100-percent biodegradable cleaning products that are ideal for GA
aircraft. The product line includes cleaners for the exterior, surfaces,
windshield, carpet and upholstery, and brakes; degreasers; lubricants;
rust and corrosion removers; and more. For more information, click
here.
LIGHTSPEED TO ANNOUNCE GRANT FINALISTS
AT SUN 'N FUN
The Lightspeed Aviation Foundation will announce on March 28 at 11
a.m. the names of 20 charities that will benefit from grants to be
awarded this year. The announcement will be made from the Nikon Media
Center at the Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In and Expo in Lakeland,
Florida. The foundation is in its third year of partnering with the
aviation community to identify and support worthy aviation causes. All
aviation enthusiasts will be invited to vote in the Pilot's Choice
Awards online. The top five charities, as chosen by the aviation
community, will each receive a check for no less than $10,000. For more
information and to vote, click
here.
SEMINAR ON NEW ROTAX ENGINE TO BE HELD
AT SUN 'N FUN
Phil Lockwood will present a seminar on the new Rotax 912iS at Sun 'n
Fun, on March 28 at 10 a.m. in Forum Room 10. Along with the latest
information about the new engine, Lockwood's talk will include
information on Rotax engine operation, care, and maintenance. After his
presentation, there will be a Q&A session. To learn more about
Lockwood aviation companies, visit the headquarters at the Sebring,
Florida, airport; call 863-655-5100; or e-mail lockwood@digital.net.
PREORDER ROTAX 912IS FROM CPS
The new fuel-injection Rotax 912iS is available for preorder from
California Power Systems. The engine is a four-cylinder, four-stroke
liquid/air-cooled engine that, according to the company, consumes 21
percent less fuel than the carbureted version. Other benefits include no
manual choke, no carburetor icing, and no need to synchronize two carbs.
For more information from California Power Systems, click
here.
RECORD FLIGHTS WITH NFLIGHTCAM VIDEO
CAMERAS
The NFlightcam is a compact and portable HD camera that makes it
possible to record a landing at a unique airport, preserve the memory of
a first solo, or share an aerobatic flight on YouTube. Flight
instructors and students can use the camera to review a flight lesson,
including all flight deck audio. Both models, the NFlightcam Sport and
NFlightcam Plus, include one-button operation to record 1080p video,
along with a custom aviation headset interface to record all audio. The
camera can be mounted at any angle, and it comes with video editing
software. For more information on each model, visit the Sporty's
website.
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2012
Experimental Aircraft
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