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May
15, 2009 Volume 9,
Number 20 |
ARE 35 NM PRESIDENTIAL
TFRS BECOMING THE STANDARD?
On April 29, a notice to airmen (NOTAM 9/6257) was issued for President
Obama's visit to St Louis, Missouri, but the Secret Service and
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) threw aviators a curve ball
when the "standard" 30-nautical mile temporary flight
restriction (TFR) was expanded to 35 nm. When EAA inquired about the
expanded radius, a spokesperson replied without elaborating, "...it
was determined that a viable threat existed in the St. Louis area and
the secure airspace had to be increased."
This past Monday another 35 nm
presidential TFR was announced via NOTAM 9/8386 (#12) for May 13-14 in
Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the president's scheduled town hall meeting
there Thursday morning. EAA is concerned that this is the new
standard. Read
more
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WHITEKNIGHTTWO EXCEEDS
EXPECTATIONS
 While
in Southern California last week, EAA President/Chairman Tom Poberezny
visited Scaled Composites in Mojave where he and a group of EAA members
had the opportunity to see WhiteKnightTwo, the "Mothership"
that will carry SpaceShipTwo tourists to suborbital space. "I have
seen photos of WhiteKnightTwo , but after seeing it personally, it was
larger and more dramatic than I ever imagined," Poberezny said.
"It exceeded my expectations! Photos can't share the impact and
emotion you feel when you see WhiteKnightTwo personally." Read
more
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ONLY 30 DAYS LEFT TO SAVE
ON ADVANCE AIRVENTURE TICKETS
 Everyone
knows that getting your AirVenture tickets online will get you to the
fun faster. But when you purchase your tickets online by midnight June
15, 2009, you'll save $2 on every daily adult ticket and $5 on every
weekly adult ticket. So hurry! Oshkosh is coming fast. When you purchase
your tickets online, you'll also save on exclusive AirVenture
merchandise and save $2 on the advance purchase of the AirVenture
Commemorative Souvenir Program. Click
here to buy now and save!
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INTERNATIONAL FEDERAL
PARTNERSHIP PREPS FOR AIRVENTURE 2009
 Members
of the International Federal Partnership (IFP), who represent 17
government agencies from the U.S., Canada, and the Bahamas, gathered at
EAA headquarters for an on-site planning meeting last week to plan for
AirVenture Oshkosh 2009. They received updates on the site and its
changes, visited the Federal Pavilion building, and prepared for the
July gathering. Read
more
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'CHALKIE' UNOFFICIALLY
BREAKS 70-YEAR-OLD AVIATION RECORD
 EAA
salutes Charles "Chalkie" Stobbart, EAA 273568, of
Johannesburg, South Africa, who according to his website landed safely
at Cape Town, South Africa, at 1422 Zulu Monday, after flying to London
and back in (unofficial) record-breaking fashion. In "The Henshaw
Challenge," Chalkie flew an Osprey GP 4 homebuilt airplane for 3
days, 15 hours, 17 minutes - some 20,000 km (12,427 statute miles) - to
break the 70-year-old aviation record set in 1939 by Alex Henshaw
(1912-2007). The final entry on the team website's News Ticker reads
simply: "2009-05-11 14h22 GMT And he's landed!!!" Henshaw's
70-year-old record - set flying flight in a modified Percival Mew Gull
from London to Cape Town and back - was 4 days, 10 hours, 16 minutes.
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PILOTS AIM TO ESTABLISH
COAST-TO-COAST LSA SPEED RECORD
 An
Able Flight scholarship recipient and her flight instructor will embark
on a coast-to-coast flight next month in hopes of establishing a
Guinness world speed record for light-sport aircraft flown within the
sport pilot regulations (daylight, VFR flight). Instructor Matt Hansen
and sport pilot Jessica Scharle, who earned her certificate in 2008
through an Able Flight scholarship, plan an early morning departure from
Cecil Field in Jacksonville, Florida, destined for Gillespie Field in
San Diego, California, by nightfall. The record attempt will occur
during the window of June 8-11, with the actual date of the flight
determined by weather. June 10 has 17 hours, 20 minutes of official
daylight from the beginning of civil twilight to the end of civil
twilight. Their purpose: to demonstrate that an LSA is a viable mode of
transportation for long distance flying. Read
more
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HOMEBUILDING HINTS OF THE
WEEK: RIBSTITCHING - SEINE KNOT;
CUTTING INSTRUMENT HOLES WITH A HOLE SAW
 One
of the more challenging aspects of fabric covering an aircraft is
learning to tie the Seine knot. Taking up from where she left off last
week (Ribstitching-Starter knot), Carah Durell demonstrates the proper
procedure in her own unique way. She is a former Chapter 1 Young Eagle
that works for Poly-Fiber. Watch
now.
Bonus Hint: First featured in the
April Experimenter e-newsletter, our second hint this week is
"Cutting Instrument Holes with a Hole Saw," and features Earl
Luce, who demonstrates a great technique for cutting accurate and
perfectly aligned instrument panels holes. Earl is an EAA SportAir
Workshop instructor and offers plans for the Wittman Buttercup. Watch
now.
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EAA'S B-17 TOUR CONTINUES
IN THE NORTHWEST
 EAA's
B-17 Aluminum Overcast will be in Portland, Oregon this weekend
(May 15-17) for a tour stop hosted by EAA Chapter 105. From there the
tour heads to the World War II bomber's birthplace - Seattle, Washington
- for what has traditionally been the years biggest tour stop. Hosted by
EAA Warbird Squadron 2, Aluminum Overcast is there through the
Memorial Day weekend (May 20-26). The tour will then make its way to
Ogden, Utah (May 29-31) for a tour stop hosted by EAA Chapter 23. You
can book your reservation for an unforgettable flight or find a list of
future events at www.B17.org, or call
800-359-6217 for more information. Watch
video.
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YOUR EAA POWERED
PARACHUTE AND WSC TRIKE INSURANCE PLAN
By Bob Mackey, Representative for
the EAA Aircraft Insurance Plan, Administered by Falcon Insurance Agency
 Powered
parachutes and weight-shift control (WSC) trikes provide EAA members and
others with endless hours of fun flying. EAA has always been committed
to working with the insurance industry to make insurance coverage for
all segments of recreational aviation through the EAA Aircraft Insurance
Plan and Falcon Insurance Agency. With the growth of the Sport
Pilot/Light-Sport Aircraft category, the EAA plan developed an avenue
offering valuable insurance coverage for these types of flying. Read
more
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SOME SPACE REMAINS IN EAA
AIR ACADEMY YOUNG EAGLES AND BASIC CAMPS
 Slots
are going fast, but there is still room to sign up for the EAA Air
Academy Young Eagles and Basic Camps this summer. The EAA Young Eagles
Camp introduces ages 12-13 to the wondrous world of aviation, while
EAA's Basic Camp offers students ages 14-15 intermediate aviation
experiences. Small group activities and close counselor relationships
present aviation material through a unique combination of fun and
discovery in a science camp format. For more information, visit www.AirAcademy.org.
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EAA 'TIMELESS VOICE OF
THE WEEK': HAROLD E. "HAL" FISCHER
 Hal
Fischer enlisted in the Navy's V-5 Cadet Program at the age of 17 during
World War II, but the war ended and he was released from service. Hal
then joined the Army, but soon transferred into the Air Force because he
wanted to fly. He was trained as an F-80 pilot and then sent to Japan
where he was assigned to the 80th Fighter-Bomber Squadron during the
Korean War. After 105 missions in the F-80 Hal joined the 39th
Fighter-Interceptor Squadron to fly the F-86 Sabre Jet, in which he flew
another 75 combat missions. Credited with 10 victories, he was shot down
himself on April 7, 1953, and was a POW in Mukden, China, for the next
27 months. In early 1955, Hal was tried in a mock court and falsely
accused and found guilty of germ warfare. He was released from captivity
and deported to the U.S. in May 1955. After the ordeal Hal stayed in the
Air Force, retiring with the rank of Colonel in 1978. Sadly, Hal
passed away on April 30, 2009 at the age of 83. He was one of the first
participants in the Timeless Voices program back in the summer of 2002.
Watch
the video.
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TOP GUN AIR POWER DVD SET
ON SALE
 Just
released in February 2009, this four-DVD box set is a collector's
edition with jaw-dropping footage of military aircraft from B-52s to
F-15s. See heart-pounding combat footage directly from the cockpit! DVD
1 - Fighter Planes: Friend and Foe (Approx. 60 min.), DVD 2 - War over
Iraq (Approx 60 min.), DVD 3 - Gunships, Tankers, and Trainers (Approx.
50 min.), DVD 4 - Past, Present, and Future (Approx. 55 min.). Color,
DVD-Video, Widescreen, and NTSC. Not rated. On sale for only $22.99-a
savings of $7 off the regular price. Order
online or by calling toll-free, 800-564-6322.
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Q
& A:
Question of
the Week
For EAA
Information Services
I am A&P
with Inspection Authorization, building an RV-6. Can
I do my own inspections up until the sign-off for
flight?
Answer:
Yes, you may, since the FAA no longer requires any
inspection prior to the final Airworthiness
Inspection. The EAA Technical Counselor Program has
been so successful in guiding amateur builders
during the build process that the FAA eliminated
pre-cover inspections by its personnel back in the
early 1980s. Find out more information about the EAA
Tech Counselors program here,
Who knows? You just might want to join the
ranks!
Clarification:
Regarding our answer to last week's question, "Would
I be allowed to fly into Canada with a US Light
Sport Aircraft or an Experimental. Do any
restrictions apply?": S-LSA and E-LSA
pilots also need to receive written permission from
Transport Canada prior to flight in Canadian
airspace, in addition to this
information. Pilots flying Experimental
Amateur-Built aircraft are not required to do this.
Sorry for the omission.
Have a question?
To ask a question regarding government issues,
e-mail govt@eaa.org.
For questions about registration, airmen, aircraft
and medical certification, safety records,
performance, or any other matter, e-mail infoserv@eaa.org.
May
2009
EAA
Desktop Calendar
Our featured
calendar image for May is Tom Wathen's beautiful
replica of the Rider R-4 Schoenfelt Firecracker, a
plane that won many races during the Golden Age of
air racing. The plane is also featured in EAA's
World of Flight 2009 Calendar. (Photo by EAA
Chief Photographer Jim Koepnick.)
Download
this wallpaper image at the EAA
website, where you can choose among several different
resolutions to suit
your screen - including three new wide-screen
sizes...or select an image from the archive.
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FAA ISSUES RUDDER STOP
'AD' ON SWEPT-TAIL CESSNA 150/152
Despite comments from the Cessna Pilots
Association and other interested parties, the FAA has issued AD
2009-10-09, effective June 17, 2009, requiring the installation of a new
rudder stop modification kit on all models of the slant-tail versions of
the Cessna 150 and 152, or, in lieu of the kit's installation, the
aircraft must be placarded against intentional spins and other acrobatic
maneuvers. The AD must be complied with within 100 hours Time In Service
(TIS) after June 17, 2009, or within the first 12 months, whichever
occurs first. Read
more
ZLIN'S SAVAGE CUB
During the AERO Friedrichshafen 2009 Expo in Germany, Zlin Aviation
unveiled its latest model, the Savage Cub, with a redesigned look
similar to that of a Super Cub. To learn more about this aircraft, call
Savage Aircraft Sales at 920-726-5260, or visit www.SavageAircraftSales.com.
CAFE FOUNDATION SEEKS
YOUR INPUT
The CAFE Foundation encourages all interested parties to examine its downloadable
PDF draft of the rules for the 2011 NASA/CAFE Challenge flight
competition and to post suggestions and comments on its
official comment blog. The main rules are summarized in Appendix A
of the document. Please visit promptly; comment period ends soon.
CESSNA'S PELTON SAYS
'GLASS IS HALF FULL'
Jack J. Pelton, Cessna chairman, president, and CEO said this week the
current meltdown in business aviation activity, while the most profound
in many years, is best kept in perspective when discussing the global
role of business aviation and of Cessna.
"Rather than focus on what we aren't
producing, Cessnans have chosen to focus on what we are producing. It is
true that we will not produce at the levels anticipated a year ago, but
we are going to deliver about 300 Citations in 2009, slightly fewer than
in 2010, and these are numbers that in years past would have been cause
for celebration," Pelton said. His comments came on the opening day
of the annual European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE)
in Geneva, Switzerland. Learn more at www.Cessna.com.
BRANSON AIRPORT OPENS
The Branson Airport (BBG), the first privately developed and operated
commercial service airport in the U.S., officially began operations this
week by welcoming its first commercial flight. Sun Country Airlines
flight SY509, with passengers from Minneapolis/St. Paul, touched down at
9 a.m. To mark the occasion, arriving passengers were presented with
gift bags from the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber Convention and Visitors
Bureau, and a ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the gate area of the
airport's terminal. The airport's general aviation facilities include a
3,600 square foot executive terminal with pilot lounges, briefing rooms,
waiting space, and a kitchen and vending area. Learn more at www.FlyBranson.com.
LANCAIR AND ICS
PARTNER WITH LIQUID ROBOTICS
Lancair International Inc. of Redmond, Oregon, a manufacturer of
high-performance aircraft kits, announced that it has collaborated with
Innovative Composite Structures (ICS) to leverage its composite
expertise and has entered into a long-term relationship with Liquid
Robotics of Palo Alto, California, a marine technology company.
ICS is a new company that provides
composite manufacturing expertise to multiple markets. Lancair is
providing composite technology for Liquid Robotics new "Wave
Glider," a revolutionary, energy self-sufficient, autonomous ocean
vehicle. All composite components of the Wave Glider will be
manufactured by ICS. Learn more at www.Lancair.com
or www.LiquidR.com.
AIRPRO AVIATION IS NEW
HUSKY DEALER
Aviat Aircraft has signed a dealership agreement with Steve Landers of
Airpro that covers the states of Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota,
Iowa, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Founded in
October 2006, Airpro is located at Saline County Airport in Bryant,
Arkansas. For more information, visit www.TeamAirpro.com
or www.AviatAircraft.com.
ASA'S MULTI-ENGINE
TEXTBOOK UPDATED
The third edition of The Complete Multi-Engine Pilot, by Bob Gardner, is
now available from ASA. The book presents the fundamentals of flying
multi-engine aircraft, with review questions and illustrations
throughout, along with a flight and ground training syllabus. The
soft-cover, 184 page book is available at www.ASA2Fly.com.
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