EAA news, upcoming programs, general aviation news  |  View this email online December 14, 2012   Volume 12, Number 57     T O P   S T O R Y A Treasured Catch Last Friday's raising of a Grumman (Eastern Aircraft) FM-2 Wildcat, which had been sitting at the bottom of Lake Michigan for about 68 years, went off with no squawks, according to Taras Lysenko, co-owner of A&T Recovery. The story, featured on EAA.org last week, has gone viral with coverage locally and regionally. Interested enthusiasts are invited to see the historic airplane at the Kenosha (Wisconsin) Airport (ENW). Read more >> M U L T I M E D I A December Experimenter Now Online Don Stewart designed the Headwind in 1961, but it's a design that's still being built, often by builders planning to fly it as a sport pilot because it meets the LSA requirements. Read about this LSA for the ages and ULPowers' new four- and six-cylinder engines in the December issue of Experimenter. If you haven't subscribed to receiving this free EAA publication to your e-mail inbox, be sure to sign up.   |   Read Issue >> Timeless Voices – Gene Sherrill, electronic countermeasures operator on RB-36s and B-52s Hints for Homebuilders - Two-Stroke Exhaust Maintenance MAC'S BLOG: Good Intentions, Bad Results The FAA's overall rulemaking objectives are first and foremost to protect the public from aviation accidents to the greatest extent possible while still keeping aviation practical and efficient. The second goal of the rules is to help protect the safety to individuals flying their own airplanes. It is with these objectives in mind that the FAA created the rules that govern flying in experimental aircraft. Read more >>   |   Recent posts >> NOTE: If you were at one time subscribed to this blog but do not receive e-mail notifications of new entries, please re-subscribe by entering your e-mail address in the field provided. Thanks. Thunderbirds Coming to Oshkosh! The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds team released its 2013 schedule this week during the annual International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) convention in Las Vegas, and for the first time, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is listed among the events. 2013 is not only the Thunderbirds' 60th anniversary, but also EAA's 60th year as an organization. Details of the team's activities at AirVenture are still being finalized, but the appearance will be early in the week to fit the team's regular air show schedule. EAA staff at the ICAS convention is meeting with performers and industry groups as we begin preparations for AirVenture's air shows. More details coming very soon! ZENITH 750 BLOG: Skinning the Right Wing No one anticipated participants in EAA's Zenith STOL CH 750 E-LSA staff building project would be skinning wings before Christmas, but they are! Consistent participation has led to faster acquisition of building skills, resulting in the project's being well ahead of schedule. Read more >>   |   Recent posts >> EAA Spirit of the Holidays Online Auction Raises $50,000 EAA thanks all those who graciously participated in the annual Spirit of the Holidays Online Auction, which concluded Monday with a grand revenue total of $50,427 - more than double the amount raised in 2011. These funds will be used to support EAA programs that support historic preservation and engage young people in aviation. Read more >> B-29 FIFI Faces Long Winter of Repairs The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is facing a winter of repairs on its crown-jewel aircraft, the B-29 FIFI, after the airplane's No. 2 engine suffered damage on its last air show flight of the season. Read more >> Cherokees to Oshkosh Registration Opens January 1 Attention Piper Cherokee owners: Registration for the 2013 Cherokees to Oshkosh mass arrival at AirVenture Oshkosh is set to begin on January 1, 2013. A mass arrival of 50 aircraft is again planned for this year, and all Piper Cherokee clubs and owners groups are invited to participate. For more information and to register, visit the group's website. American Pickers' EAA Visit to Air Monday EAA received word this week from Cineflix, the production company behind the American Pickers TV series, that the episode featuring footage taped at EAA last July will premiere next Monday, December 17, at 8 p.m. CST on The History Channel. EAA's Jeff Skiles and Ron Twellman worked with the crew and show host Mike Wolfe in looking through EAA's archive and artifact building for potential hidden treasures. The show appropriately airs on the 109th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first successful powered flight. Tickets Now On Sale for EAA's Hops & Props 2013! Hops & Props, EAA's annual fine food- and beverage-tasting event, will be held on Saturday, March 9, at the AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample from among more than 250 different extraordinary beverages provided by microbreweries and distributors from around the world. Read more >> EAA Tie to NFL Fly-By Sunday Before the Chicago Bears-Green Bay Packers NFL game at Soldier Field this Sunday, December 16, pre-game festivities will include a thunderous fly-by conducted by a pair of United States Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets. Lead jet will be piloted by Adam Jackson, a former Young Eagle and son of Dave Jackson, EAA 272361, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Dave volunteers on the flightline during AirVenture. The No. 2 pilot will be Joel Nogle, nephew of EAA Warbirds of America Treasurer Jud Nogle, of Champaign, Illinois. While the two pilots will be rooting for different teams (Adam for the Packers, Joel for the Bears), they're both on the same team - the Navy's oldest continuously active fighter squadron,VFA-11, aka The Red Rippers. NORAD Set to Track Santa on Christmas Eve For the 54th year, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will track Santa Claus as he makes his annual rounds on Christmas Eve. With its radars, satellites, Santa Cams, and airborne fighters, NORAD can pinpoint the jolly old elf's position at any given time. And if you figured "there's an app for that," you're right; visit the NORAD Santa website and download apps on a variety of smartphone and tablet platforms. Watch a special video from NORAD commanders describing this year's flight. Read more news at EAA.org. • Solar Impulse Confirms Flight Across America Next Year • 'Secret Shuttle' X-37B Shot Into Orbit • Women in Aviation Annual Conference Set for Nashville • Dynon SkyView 5.0 Includes ADS-B Weather, TFRs, Traffic • Epic Eyes Expansion in Oregon • Garmin Releases European VFR and IFR Charts for aera 795/796 • Tecnam Offers New, Low-Cost P92 Echo Classic Light • NAFI Elects New Chairman • Agreement Ensures Piper's Continued Operations in Florida • Lightspeed Aviation's Holiday Promotion Ends January 7, 2013 Heads Up: Select EAA Hats Now 25 Percent Off! Avoid the headwinds in style with an EAA hat. Order from our selection that was just marked down 25 percent! But hurry, these special savings are only good through December 19 or while supplies last. Call 800-564-6322 or Shop online >> A place to learn, share, and chat with other members. • Pober Jr. Ace - Heavy Ailerons • Radio Problems • Old Sheet Metal Cross Reference • Winter Ultralight Flying Advice • Homebuilt Serial Number More forums >> December 2012: 1940 Rearwin Cloudster This 1940 Rearwin Cloudster, now part of the EAA AirVenture Museum collection, was donated to EAA by Ed McKeown, EAA 212386/Vintage 32087, of Village of Lakewood, Illinois. Only 125 Cloudsters were built, and Ed said his (S/N 828) is one of only a few known airworthy examples. It took seven years for Ed and Roger Shadick, owner of Noble Aviation in Eagle River, Wisconsin, to restore the airplane. Get wallpaper >> AirVenture Museum Special Events Dec. 14: Wright Brothers Memorial Banquet - Event honors the 109th anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first powered flight at Kitty Hawk. Features Frank Christensen, innovative pioneer in the homebuilt movement, with a dedication of his Christen Eagle II. Learn more >> March 9: Hops & Props - A food and beverage-tasting event where you'll sample over 250 extraordinary beverages provided by micro-breweries and distributors from across the world. Learn more >> 2013 SportAir Workshops—Two-day aircraft building programs featuring: Composite Construction, Electrical Systems, Fabric Covering, Sheet Metal Basics, Gas Welding, Fundamentals of Aircraft Building, Repairman Inspection, TIG Welding, and What's Involved in Kit Building. (courses vary by location) Course details >> Jan. 26-27: Oshkosh, WI Feb. 9-10: Chesapeake, VA March 2-3: Griffin, GA (Tig Welding only) March 23-24: Watsonville, CA View complete schedule >> Register today or view details by location. You may also call 800-967-5746. Pre-registration is required for all workshops. Webinars: Free to all aviation enthusiasts Dec. 13: Flight Testing Safety Seminar: Chad Jensen, EAA Homebuilders Community Manager, explores best practices and decision making while flight testing homebuilt aircraft. View all Webinars. Webinars begin at 7 p.m. Central unless noted. Pre-registration required. Win a Fully Restored Stearman Model 75! EAA's iconic Stearman prize plane, once owned by Curtis Pitts, has a long list of features, starting with the 300-hp Jacobs R755 A2M engine, 24-volt electric system, and dual basic instrumentation. Members who renew their membership receive 50 entries. Members who sign up for automatic renewal (AutoPilot) receive 100 entries, while those who join as Lifetime Members receive 250. Entry coupons are also available and will be included in select issues of EAA Sport Aviation. You may also make a donation with your entry, which supports EAA programs that educate and empowers people to take the next step in aviation. 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