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September
21, 2012 Volume 12,
Number 45 |
MORE
THAN 16,000 COMMENTS ON EAA/AOPA MEDICAL EXEMPTION REQUEST
A late flurry of public comments to the joint EAA/AOPA third-class
medical exemption request pushed the total number of comments to more
than 16,000, one of the largest totals for any public comment period
involving GA activities. The public comment period for the proposal had
been extended in July and ended on Sept. 14. Read
more
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LUCKY
WINNER CLAIMS HIS CUB
 Just
10 days after discovering he had won, Jeff Parnau arrived in Oshkosh
Thursday to pick up his completely restored 1940 Piper J-3 Cub grand
prize in the 2012 EAA Win the Cub Sweepstakes. "Sure is a lot
better looking in person than it is in pictures," he said while
walking around the airplane parked in the EAA Kermit Weeks Hangar.
Parnau, editor-at-large at World Airshow News magazine, has a flight
school located at East Troy Municipal Airport. "I've already
received calls from several people wanting to train in or rent the
airplane," he said. One of the three flight instructors is also
anxious to get started as he did all his training in a Cub back in the
day. Read
more
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WEATHER FORECASTS REALLY ARE
BETTER
 The
other day I was talking with a friend whose company designs and
manufactures advanced navigation systems for personal airplanes.
His company's navigation systems are becoming ever smarter and
easier to use including airway entry and "nomination"
of logical next fixes along the route.
But when my friend shows his new
navigators to pilots, most of them ask immediately how to use
the basic raw data VOR function. Here is a system that stores in
memory every navigation fix and terminal procedure in the
country and beyond and pilots want to know how to tune a VOR. We
both wonder what is the fixation with VORs?
Continue
reading | Subscribe to Mac's Blog
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TRIBUTES
PAID TO RENO VICTIMS, HEROES
 The
2012 Reno National Air Races concluded a safe, successful week last
Sunday at Stead Airport. Poignant tributes were held to honor the 11
people who perished, the more than 60 injured, and the heroic efforts of
people on the ground in the wake Jimmy Leeward's horrific crash in 2011.
On Thursday, race organizers and attendees honored the medical
personnel, law officers, firefighters and other emergency responders. On
Sunday, a tribute was paid to the 11 victims, as white balloons were
released with the reading of each victim's name. Read
more
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FAGEN
FIGHTER MUSEUM PLANS GRAND OPENING NEXT WEEKEND
 A
new museum featuring some very well-known flying warbirds as well as
several significant military vehicles holds its grand opening next
weekend in Granite Falls, Minnesota. The Fagen Fighters World War II
Museum opens officially to the public Saturday, September 29, on the
Lenzen-Roe Memorial Airport (Granite Falls Municipal - GDB). The
museum has in its collection a number of well known flying warbirds,
including the P-38 Ruff Stuff and a pair of P-51s - Sweet
Revenge and Twilight Tear. Read
more
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EAA
DIRECTOR RELEASES SECOND CHILDREN'S BOOK
 Kermit
Weeks, founder and owner of the Fantasy of Flight museum in Polk City,
Florida, has released his second children's book, The Spirit of Lindy.
His first book, All of Life Is a School (2008), was awarded a
bronze IPPY (Independent Publisher Book Awards) in the Children's Books,
Ages 7 and Under category, but Weeks feels The Spirit of Lindy has even
more potential. "It's a great story based on the famous flight
Charles Lindbergh made from New York to Paris to win the Orteig Prize in
1927," he explained. "I came up with the concept, wrote the
story, and had two incredibly talented Disney-trained artists, Dominic
Carola (pencils), and Ryan Feltman (paint), do the artwork." Read
more
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HIGHTOWER
TO ATTEND ZENITH OPEN HOUSE
 Zenith
Aircraft Company's Open Hangar Day and 20th anniversary celebration
takes place this weekend at company headquarters in Mexico, Missouri.
Events kick off Friday night with a banquet, followed Saturday by Open
Hangar Day activities at Mexico Memorial Airport. Special guest EAA
President/CEO Rod Hightower will attend the 20th anniversary banquet on
Friday evening. Among the door prizes at the Friday night banquet is a
Dynon D1 Pocket Panel portable EFIS. Hightower will also present a
seminar on Saturday morning on experimental amateur-built (E-AB)
aircraft safety, including a discussion about the causes of E-AB
accidents, a summary of the NTSB's recommendations to the FAA (as it
relates to new E-AB regulation), and first flight best practices. Read
more
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EXPERIMENTALS
EXPERIENCE DEADLY MONTH
After a relatively quiet mid-summer, the experimental aircraft community
has unfortunately seen a sharp uptick in fatal accidents over the past
month. Since August 26 there have been 15 fatal accidents in
experimental aircraft, representing 21 percent of the segment's total
for the fiscal year, which ends September 30.
This rash of accidents has placed the fiscal year's total at 70, just
one shy of the not-to-exceed mark set by the FAA for the year with a
little more than a week to go. The FAA includes all categories of
experimental aircraft in that total, including amateur-built, E-LSA,
exhibition, air racing, research and development, market survey, and FAR
compliance. Read more
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THE
AVIATORS SEASON 3 NOW AVAILABLE
 Season
3 of the popular TV series The Aviators is now
available on iTunes, with Episode 1 available for free. The series,
which boasts 10 million viewers worldwide, also began airing on many PBS
stations across the country beginning this week (check
your local listings). Developed and produced by Canada's FourPoints
Television Productions, The Aviators features people in all walks of
aviation, aircraft, cool aviation tech, fly-in destinations, safety, and
more. The producers premiered Season 3 at AirVenture this year. The
series is also now
available on DVD, and for the first time on Blu-ray. Learn
more about the series. See
the Season 3 episode guide.
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SPORT
AVIATION CLASSIC EVENT TO HONOR TUSKEGEE AIRMEN
The first Heart of America - Sport Aviation Classic is scheduled for
October 4-7 at the University of Central Missouri Aviation Department's
airfield, Skyhaven Airport (KRCM), in Warrensburg. Featured attractions
include a tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen; experimental, light-sport, and
ultralight aircraft on display; historical aviation re-enactors; a
1940s-themed hangar dance; and technical workshops on composite repairs,
tube and fabric, 3-D CAD, and laser scanners. Also attendees to the free
event can enjoy a good old-fashioned Kansas City barbecue. To learn
more, visit the Sport Aviation Classic website or contact Christopher
"Doc" Bailey, event coordinator, at 816-282-8635 or via
e-mail.
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LEARN
TO BUILD YOUR OWN PLANE WITH SPORTAIR WORKSHOPS
 EAA
SportAir Workshops offer comprehensive and intensive two-day aircraft
builder programs. Pre-registration is required for all workshops.
Aircraft Spruce and Specialty and Poly-Fiber are major sponsors of EAA
SportAir Workshops programs, providing tools, materials, and special
discounts for workshop attendees.
Upcoming workshops:
For more information, visit the SportAir
website or call 800-967-5746, or register
now. See the courses in action on the EAA
Video Player. Learn
details on each course. View the complete
SportAir schedule.
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MAKE
A PIECE OF THE AIRVENTURE GROUNDS YOUR OWN
Plant a tree in your name
 Over
the past several years, investments in the AirVenture convention
grounds, such as clearer signage, updated restrooms, and improved
drainage, have helped improve visitors' experiences. This year, we hope
to plant about 200 trees to bring much-needed shade to provide relief on
those long, hot summer days at the fly-in. We invite you to join us in
this effort! Read
more
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EAA'S
B-17 MAKES FINAL TOUR STOPS FOR 2012
 EAA's
B-17 Aluminum Overcast will stop September 26-30 at Richard B.
Russell Airport in Rome, Georgia, hosted by EAA Chapter 709. Then, on
October 5-7, the Flying Fortress will make its last stop for the year at
Dothan Regional Airport, courtesy of EAA Chapter 1358.
Tours cost $10 per individual or $20 per
family (including children up to 17 years old), and active military or
veterans can tour for free. Visitors can also book a mission flight on
Aluminum Overcast; passengers can save by pre-booking, but walk-ups are
always welcome. For more information including the full tour schedule,
history of the aircraft, and to pre-book the flight of a lifetime, visit
the B-17 website.
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FORD
TRI-MOTORS MAKE LAST STOPS BEFORE HIATUS
 This
weekend, September 20-23, EAA's 1929 Ford Tri-Motor will stop in Racine,
Wisconsin, at John H. Batten Airport. The Kalamazoo Air Zoo's Tri-Motor
will be at Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington, Illinois.
The Tri-Motor tour is scheduled to resume in late October. For more information about the aircraft, visit
the
Fly the Ford website.
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CHECK
OUT ALL THE GREAT MEMBER MERCHANDISE!
 EAAers
save $5 on the EAA member quarter-zip navy sweatshirt, plus receive free
shipping! Visit ShopEAA.com for more great deals on merchandise for
members including caps, T-shirts, golf shirts, and more, all featuring
the EAA member logo. Just use the promo code MBRSHP on the second page
of checkout to receive free shipping. Offer ends September 30, 2012.
Free shipping is valid on standard domestic orders only. You must be a
current EAA member to receive free shipping. International orders
receive 30 percent off shipping quote. Order
online or by calling toll-free 800-564-6322.
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WEBINARS: AIRCRAFT INSURANCE - MUMBO JUMBO
Bob Mackey, senior vice president
of Falcon Insurance Agency, which administers the EAA Aircraft Insurance
Plan, presents the basics of aircraft insurance, how aircraft insurance
works, and ways to save money and still buy the right aircraft
insurance.
All webinars begin at 7 p.m. CDT 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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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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| Learning
How to Glide From the Albatross |
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Using
dynamic soaring and its 12-foot wingspan, the albatross can glide for
more than 1,000 miles without flapping. A German aerospace engineer
has been studying albatross flight patterns to learn how they stay
aloft without seeming to use much energy. While not appropriate for
commercial air travel, the energy-efficient flight methods of the
albatross may be very useful for sport gliding or for ocean research
and surveillance UAVs that need to stay aloft for long stretches. |
| Hot
New Technology to Combat Wing Icing |
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A
new conductive but non-metallic composite material from Germany is
being used to build aircraft wings. This wing material can be heated
electrically to either prevent ice from forming or to remove ice
build-up. Metals in composites can cause weak points, so the new
material is less likely to have structural problems than composites,
which incorporate metals for lightning protection or to heat the wings
to mitigate icing. Researchers also are developing wing construction
materials that change shape when an electric current is applied, and
water-repellent coatings for aircraft wings. |
| Cri-Cri
and Broussard Stick Together |
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The
tiny, 172-pound, electric-propulsion Cristaline Cri-Cri launches into
the air strapped to the top of a 3,373-pound MH-1521C-1 Broussard
powered by a 985-cubic-inch radial engine. While the connected combo
is in the air, the straps are released and the Cri-Cri separates from
the Broussard, then flies alongside of it. A father/son duo pilots
this interesting contrast of old, proven technology and aviation
innovation from the 21st century. |
| Gomolzig
Mufflers Reduce Noise and Complaints |
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Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University has installed Golmolzig mufflers on its fleet
of training aircraft in Daytona, Florida, to address community
concerns about noise. The German exhaust system reduces the sound to
about 70 decibels, which ERAU states is the same level "as normal
conversation from a few feet away." Researchers will also gather
data on new propellers to determine if a quiet design can justify
replacing all the training aircraft propellers. |
| A
Thousand Miles in C-Wing Electric Airliner |
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An
electric commercial airliner that carries nearly 200 passengers with a
range of 1,600 miles is on the drawing boards of a German research
group. The Ce-Liner has an unusual C-wing designed to minimize drag.
It incorporates the horizontal component of a conventional aircraft
tail and is predicted to reduce drag by up to 11 percent. The
futuristic design also incorporates movable folding passengers seats
and propulsion battery packs that can be swapped out in less than 30
minutes to minimize downtime between flights. They estimate
development by 2040. |
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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: SOLDERING
TIPS-HOLDING WIRES
 Holding
a pair of wires together for soldering can be a challenge, especially if
they are underneath your instrument panel. Mitch Zehr from the EAA
aircraft maintenance staff shows how to use the plastic top from a spray
can to help make the task easier. Watch
the video.
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TIMELESS
VOICES OF AVIATION: KENNETH HOFFMAN
 Kenneth
Hoffman enlisted in the Army Air Force in the spring of 1942. After
going to armorer school in Denver, Ken was accepted into the Aviation
Cadets program and shipped to Corsicana, Texas, for primary flight
training in the PT-19. After a bad experience with a cranky flight
instructor, Ken washed out of flight training just prior to leaving for
Basic Flight Training. He bounced around in the military system for a
while before ending up at a gunnery school in Florida. He earned his
aerial gunner wings and was assigned to a B-17 crew in Nebraska. The
crew flew a new B-17 to Italy, where they joined the 816th Bomb Squadron
of the 483rd Bomb Group in July 1944. Ken spent a month in a field
hospital after being hit by a piece of flak in the back of the neck on
his fifth mission. During that time his crew was reassigned to a special
operations group in Africa and Ken finished his tour flying as a fill-in
tail and waist gunner for other crews. He completed his 35th mission in
April 1945. Watch
the video.
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Where
Are You Flying This Weekend?
There are 92
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: I
have a RANS S12XL (two-place) with a Rotax 503
powerplant. Do I need an ELT? I'm not sure there is
enough electrical to run it.
Since your aircraft
has two seats, an ELT definitely is required, per FAR
91.207. Electrical system power is not an issue,
since all ELTs are battery-powered so they will
still operate in aircraft if the electrical system
fails, if it has to be shut down, or if the aircraft
normally operates without an electrical system.
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
September 2012
Brittany
Lueth, EAA 1086282, captured this photo of a 1936
Lockheed Model 12 Electra Junior at Thunder on the
Lakeshore in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Of the 126
Electra Juniors built, there are only approximately
eight still flying. Brittany calls this photo
Amelia's Vision as this airplane stood in for
Earhart's Model 10E Electra in the 2009 film Amelia.
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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ASA
- 5TH EDITION DICTIONARY OF AERONAUTICAL TERMS
The ASA Dictionary of Aeronautical
Terms is now in its fifth edition, offering more than 11,000
aviation-specific terms and definitions. The new edition updates and
gathers all the terms in 14 CFR Part 1 and other CFR sections, the
pilot-controller glossary from the AIM, glossaries from government
handbooks and manuals, as well as definitions not found in government
publications. Nearly 500 illustrations further define and aid visual
recognition of the terms, and tables and lists are included in
appendices.
CESSNA OPENS CITATION SERVICE CENTER
IN SPAIN
Cessna Aircraft Company opened a
100,400-square-foot regional Citation Service Center at Valencia Airport
in eastern Spain. The center offers comprehensive repair, completion,
fulfillment, maintenance, and customization services. Cessna now
operates three factory-owned Citation Service Centers in Europe,
including facilities in Paris, France, and Prague, Czech Republic.
FLIGHT DESIGN'S 'EUROPEAN ADVENTURE'
DELIVERY PROGRAM
With Flight Design's new
"European Adventure" delivery program, when customers purchase
a new Flight Design CTLSi, they can elect to take delivery at Flight
Design's European Delivery Center in Germany. They can then plan a trip
to their favorite European destinations with expert guidance and
preflight briefings from carefully selected, experienced, and
multilingual tour guide pilots. Following the trip, Flight Design will
arrange to carefully ship the aircraft back to the U.S., or assist
customers in planning and executing their own flights home across the
Atlantic.
PIPER, ATP REACH AGREEMENT FOR FUTURE
MAINTENANCE DATA
Beginning December 5, access to all Piper
maintenance publications and regulatory documents will be available
exclusively through the ATP Aviation Hub
online service and ATP's NavigatorV desktop platform. ATP's single
integrated solution offers several advantages for users including
learning one simple software platform for publication access, daily
revision updates to all content, and eliminating the cost of installing
and managing software. Until that time, Piper customers can access
Piper's manuals and technical publications through Avantext.
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