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35th Sun 'n Fun Fly-In Under Way The Sun 'n Fun Fly-In at Lakeland, Florida, the annual harbinger for America's flying season, welcomed attendees to its 35th opening day today at Linder Regional Airport. The weather outlook through Sunday looks ideal for the many and varied aircraft expected, including homebuilts, light-sport aircraft, production planes, rotorcraft, ultralights, warbirds, air show planes, and more. For all the details on what's happening throughout the week, visit www.sun-n-fun.org.	Spring Break for Aviators  Opening day of the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In at Lakeland, Florida, presented a "target-rich environment" for EAA photographers Jim Koepnick, Brady Lane, and Jim Miller. View their images taken from throughout the campus in a special Sun 'n Fun photo gallery. The fly-in runs through Sunday, April 26.

April 21, 2009    Volume 9, Number 16 ADMISSIONS GATE REMINDER FOR EAAERS EAA members attending Sun 'n Fun always receive the best admission rates available, but those heading to Lakeland this week are reminded that there's no separate EAA membership tent at the main gate. Those who may need their membership number to receive the discounted admission should instead visit the service center located at the gate. On the grounds, you can visit the EAA exhibit to join or renew an EAA membership, learn about EAA member benefits, purchase advance admission to EAA AirVenture, or enter the EAA Aircraft Sweepstakes - the two major EAA Sweepstakes prizes - the Flight Design MC and RotorWay Talon A600 helicopter - will be on display (See story below.) 'HINTS FOR HOMEBUILDERS' DVD LAUNCHES AT SUN 'N FUN Since its introduction in March 2008, EAA's online video series Hints for Homebuilders has become one of the most popular offerings on www.EAA.org, and until now, online was the only place you could view them (provided, of course, you had a broadband connection to the Internet). This week in Lakeland, EAA is launching Hints for Homebuilders - Sheet Metal - Volume 1, a new DVD featuring 19 helpful hints from experienced builders you can watch anywhere - on a big-screen TV, at chapter meetings, or on a computer with a DVD drive. They're available while supplies last for a members special price of $9.95 at the EAA exhibit at Sun 'n Fun. Not in Lakeland this week? Order online or call 800-564-6322. MEET FELLOW CHAPTER MEMBERS, EAA STAFF AT OPENING DAY ICE CREAM SOCIAL EAA chapter members are invited to a special ice cream social today in the EAA Publications tent area (just south of Cessna's large outdoor exhibit). No reservations needed and the event is open to all chapter members, so stop by and enjoy some ice cream and camaraderie. EAA President Tom Poberezny will have a short presentation and will also be joined by Hal Shevers of Sporty's Pilot Shop for a special announcement of interest to all chapter members. SEE YOU AT THE FORUMS PLAZA EAA has always played a leading role in Sun 'n Fun forum presentations and workshops and this year is no different as staff and representatives will be hosting more than 40 sessions this week. The wide variety of topics covered include amateur-built aircraft; aircraft insurance; sport pilot/light-sport aircraft; ultralights; legal requirements when buying an aircraft; flight training; aerobatics, and more. For the complete forums schedule, visit the Sun 'n Fun website. SEE EAA's SWEEPSTAKES AIRCRAFT AT LAKELAND Another reason to stop by the EAA exhibit at Sun 'n Fun: get an up-close look at what you could win in the 2009 "Share the Spirit" Sweepstakes! On display are the grand prize Flight Design MC light-sport aircraft and the second prize RotorWay A600 Talon helicopter kit. The airplane also comes with $10,000 worth of aviation fuel credit, while the helicopter includes $20,000 worth of student credit at RotorWay's Flight Training Facility. Other sweepstakes prizes include a John Deere tractor, a Canon Digital Camera, a Bose Wave music system. By entering EAA's 2009 Share the Spirit Sweepstakes you not only have a chance to win any of these, but you're also helping support EAA programs, which allow members to share the spirit of aviation among fellow enthusiasts and the next generation of aviators! Sweepstakes drawings will be held on August 2, 2009, during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. To enter get your entries click here. Sporty's SP-200 NAV/COM Horizon Hobby Bose Aviation Headsets ASPEN INTRODUCES FLUSH MOUNT DISPLAYS Aspen Avionics has announced several upgrades to its product lines, including a flush mount kit for the Evolution flight display. The new system is expandable and comes in 1-, 2-, and 3-tube versions. The kit will be available beginning June 15, starting at $390 for the single-tube personal flight display. In addition, the company introduced a new analog converter unit (ACU) that will be available in several configurations. The first version (available by the end of the year) will add analog XYZ heading synchro outputs to support legacy traffic, weather, and other systems requiring analog heading inputs. A second version expected in early 2010 will add support for dual analog ADF and DME receivers. Aspen has also announced it is developing an optional upgrade to enable the EFD1000 AHRS to serve as the autopilot attitude reference source and replace the mechanical gyros driving many autopilot systems. The first version is being designed to replace the KI-256attitude indicator and is also expected to be available in early 2010. www.AspenAvionics.com CIRRUS: VISION JET R&D MOVES FORWARD; SRS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED In a noon press conference today, Cirrus officials announced the company has completed its initial flight test program on the Vision Jet, with more than 238 engine hours and 150 flight hours recorded. Company CEO Brent Wouters stated that the company is continuing research and development efforts on the jet, but based on data gained from flight testing, does not expect to make significant design changes. Cirrus also announced that research and development on the SRS light-sport aircraft has been temporarily suspended. Of interest to SR20 and SR22 owners was news that Cirrus' new known icing system recently completed certification. www.CirrusAircraft.com AVIDYNE ENTEGRA NEWS Avidyne announced completion of the certification process for the Entegra FMS900w system, which reduces pilot workload in single-pilot instrument flight rules operations. The company also announced the availability of the Avidyne DFC100, digital autopilot retrofit that is a plug-and-play drop in for the S-TEC 55X unit. www.Avidyne.com Unsubscribe me | Send me the text version instead | Change my e-mail address To ensure that you continue to receive EAA e-Hotline, please add mmreturn@magnetdev.com to your e-mail address book, personal white list, or buddy list today. 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