EAA news, upcoming programs, general aviation news  |  View this email online December 21, 2012   Volume 12, Number 58   On behalf of the EAA board and employees, I wish you a very Merry Christmas, a happy holiday season, and a wonderful New Year ahead. It has been an eventful 2012 for both EAA and aviation. We know, however, that the diversity and strength of EAA members, volunteers, chapters, and staff working together will give us great opportunities in 2013. At this time of year, when we find ourselves thinking of family and friends, I'm often reminded of the close community we are in aviation. We share a common passion that is only fully understood by those who have experienced it. One hope for the New Year is that we can invite and welcome even more people into this community. Finally a word of thanks to each of you who have participated in EAA activities in 2012, whether you built or restored and aircraft, flew a Young Eagle, hosted an Eagle Flight, flipped pancakes at a chapter event, or joined us at AirVenture in Oshkosh. Each of us and all of us make EAA the unique organization that is one of the best hopes for aviation's future. May your holidays be joyful and your New Year prosperous! Best regards, Jack J. Pelton EAA Chairman of the Board Timeless Voices Felix Cecot (1918-2002) enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1941. He flew SBD divebombers with Marine Squadron VMSB-132 as part of the "Cactus Air Force" at Guadalcanal and later flew F4U Corsairs with VMF-323 during the Battle of Okinawa. Watch video >> Hints for Homebuilders: Mounting a Single Carburetor on a Two-Stroke Brian Carpenter from Rainbow Aviation shows how the mounting position of the carburetor can affect operating characteristics. Brian is an A&P/IA, a DAR for LSA and EAB, sport pilot instructor examiner, CFI, and EAA Tech. Couns. and Flight Advisor. Watch video >> MAC'S BLOG: Turboprops Yes, Jets No I have believed there will always be a market for turboprop airplanes. Despite the significant advances in turbofan jet engine technology, the turboprop still has significant advantages in fuel efficiency and operating costs on many trips. Although being pushed aside for a time by jets, who could have guessed that, at least in the case of the King Air, a turboprop could catch up and pass a jet? 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. ZENITH 750 BLOG: Skinning the Wings Continues In our latest update, EAA staff Zenith project leader Chad Jensen reports the team continues to make progress on the repetitive task of skinning the wings. "It's not as bad a building wood ribs, or banging out metal ribs on a forming block (which is a different kind of fun), but repeating anything can be a chore at times." Read more >>   |   Recent posts >> Top Online Stories of 2012 It's been a busy year at the Experimental Aircraft Association, judging by the variety and number of news stories and features that were posted on EAA.org. The top clicked-on story this year was about the buried Spitfires discovered in Myanmar (Burma). That story generated 31,775 page views, about 9,000 more than the second-most-read story - the announcement of Rod Hightower's resignation as EAA president/CEO. Read more >> Type Club Coalition Launches Web Page The Type Club Coalition (TCC) launched its new home on the Internet this week. The Web page, which is a precursor to a more complete online presence this spring, contains background information about the initiative and a listing of its 19 member organizations. Read more >> Young Pilot Benefits from Young Eagles, CAP Programs Alex Agosti, EAA 1047817, of Kenai, Alaska, took advantage of two well-established youth aviation programs en route to earning his private pilot certificate on his 17th birthday this past March: the Civil Air Patrol and EAA's Young Eagles. Read more >> Gibson to Be Inducted Into National Aviation Hall of Fame Robert L. "Hoot" Gibson, EAA 219551, is one of four people who will be inducted onto the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) class of 2013 in October 2013. The announcement was made by NAHF Enshrinement Director Ron Kaplan on the 109th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight this past Monday, December 17. Read more >> Grunloh, Severen Join EAA Ultralight & Light-Sport Aircraft Council EAA welcomes two new members to the EAA Ultralight & Light-Sport Aircraft Council, Dan Grunloh, EAA 173888 and Scott Severen, EAA 181476. Grunloh attended his first EAA convention in 1981 and made his first solo flight in a hang glider in 1982. Severen began flying hang gliders in 1973. He founded the Lone Star Airpark and has served as president of several organizations. Read more >> First Winner of New Flight Scholarship Named William Everett, 16, of Xenia, Ohio, received the inaugural Mitchell Cary-Don Gum Memorial Aviation Scholarship on Monday, December 17 - exactly 109 years after the Wright brothers' first powered flight. The scholarship pays for up to $1,500 of instruction toward a sport or private pilot certificate. Read more >> New Mexico Shelves Seaplane Ban EAA and EAA members helped make a difference in New Mexico, where state officials have apparently decided not to implement a ban on seaplane operations in state parks. This determination came after the aviation community voiced strong opposition to the plan because of safety and operational reasons. Read more >> Track Santa on Christmas Eve With NORAD 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. Regarding the Jolly Elf's journey on Christmas Eve, the FAA reported Thursday it has cleared Santa for flight. Read more news at EAA.org. Tecnam Introduces P92 Classic Light, Announces 12-Plane P2008 Order Italian manufacturer Tecnam announced its P92 aircraft is now available in the Classic Light ultralight/microlight version, priced at the "flyaway" price of $74,900 U.S. Read more >> Geared Drives Assets Now Part of New Auto PSRU's LLC Stuart Davis, of Fort Worth, Texas, has acquired the assets of Geared Drives, and will offer the well-known gear-driven prop speed reduction units (PSRU) through Auto PSRU's LLC, located on Hicks Airport (T67) northwest of Fort Worth. Read more >> • NAFI Seeks Study of Future Pilot Shortage • TAG Earns First European STC For Cirrus Control Quadrant Upgrade • X-47B Completes Sea Trial off USS Harry S. Truman Model Hobbyists: Have We Got a Deal for You Starting today, we are offering 25 percent off select models for the aviation hobbyist. Ground yourself for hours while you assemble any of our seven airplane models. Call 800-564-6322 or Shop online >> Discount good until December 26, or while supplies last. A place to learn, share, and chat with other members. • Angle of Attack • Uninterrupted Fuel Supply at High Bank Angle, Negative G • Old Sheet Welding - Torch Tip Question • Heel Brake for an 11AC • Aerocomp Floats on a Champ/Defender? 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 >> 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 Jan. 2, 8 p.m.: Principles of Reliability Centered Maintenance: Mike Busch explains the fundamentals of RCM, and how it applies to piston-powered GA airplanes to obtain better maintenance at less cost. Jan. 10: EAA Chapter Chat: Chapter Video Magazine: Jeff Skiles, Trevor Janz, and Brady Lane are now creating a monthly chapter video magazine to be viewed at chapter meetings. View all Webinars. Webinars begin at 7 p.m. Central unless noted. Pre-registration required. Webinars posted online this week: • Flight Testing Safety Seminar 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 Those who join as Lifetime Members receive 250 entries 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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