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June
12, 2009 Volume 9,
Number 24 |
A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES
WITH EAA FLY-IN THEATER
Harrison Ford, famed pilots among presenters
 Bring
your blankets and lawn chairs and watch a great aviation movie during
AirVenture at the EAA Fly-In Theater, presented by Ford Motor Company
and supported by Hamilton Watches. Movies are shown nightly, from
Sunday, July 26, through Saturday, August 1, and each flick is
introduced by a celebrity presenter, including Wednesday night when
Harrison Ford does the honors for Six Days, Seven Nights. The Theater is
located just north of EAA's Camp Scholler At the end of Doolittle Drive,
and the program each evening begins at 8:30 p.m. Read more
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BIG PLANS FOR LITTLE
PLANES DOWN ON 'THE FARM'
Ultralight area expands AirVenture
offerings
 New
highlights and fresh activities will give AirVenture visitors even more
reasons to head to the south end of the flight line this year-more
commonly known among ultralight aficionados as "The Farm." For
the first time this year, ultralight/light-plane pilots can camp next to
their aircraft near The Red Barn ultralight headquarters. Enthusiasts
will also be celebrating the Year of the Antique Ultralight - welcoming
the early models of ultralights from the 1970s and 1980s, when this form
of flying was taking shape. Plus they'll be poring over the new
ultralight parts consignment area, the Ultralight Aeromart. Read
more
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AVIATION GROUPS WANT
SPORT PILOT TRAINING TIME CLARIFICATION
A simple question: Does the time invested in
your sport pilot training, as provided by a sport pilot instructor;
apply towards private pilot certificate requirements? The answer isn't
so simple. In a joint letter (link) from EAA, the Aircraft Owners and
Pilots Association (AOPA), and the General Aviation Manufacturers
Association (GAMA) the aviation groups ask that question to John Allen,
director of FAA Flight Standard Service. "To further the growth of
sport pilot, our associations believe it is imperative that prospective
private pilots be able to apply training they have received for a sport
pilot certificate towards the requirements to obtain a private pilot
certificate," the letter reads. Read more
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POBEREZNY SPEAKS AT
WICHITA AERO CLUB FUND-RAISER
EAA helps raise more than
$31,000 for aerospace workers
 The
broad spectrum of aviation was represented at the first-ever Wichita
Aero Club Ball held last weekend in Kansas. EAA President and Chairman
Tom Poberezny provided the keynote address to about 220 attendees, plus
had a hand in helping raise $31,800 for the more than 10,000 area
aerospace workers who have suffered layoffs due to the economic
recession. Read more
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SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION TO
NEW FAA ADMINISTRATOR
 We're
interested in learning what questions EAA members have for the newly
appointed FAA administrator, Randy Babbitt, for the traditional
"Meet the Administrator" Q&A session held annually at
AirVenture. Babbitt, confirmed by the Senate as FAA Administrator late
last month, has been invited to AirVenture and is expected to appear at
the on annual forum on Thursday, July 30, 11:30 a.m. at the Honda Pavilion.
To get an idea of what's on the minds of EAAers, we're asking that
questions be pre-submitted via email to asktheadministrator@eaa.org.
(Questions will also be taken from the floor as time permits.) Please
submit your questions no later than July 10, 2009.
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EARNING HIS WINGS
Class C Airspace
 Jason
and I flew a short cross-country to Green Bay so I could experience
flying into and landing at a Class C airport. The workload is definitely
increased in Class C airspace. There was more traffic to deal with and I
had to contact approach before calling the tower, but it wasn't too
difficult. In fact, it was nice to know somebody had me on radar and was
helping me keep an eye out for traffic.
With several Class C airports near
Oshkosh I'm glad I had this training. Normally it's not included in
sport pilot training.
During the flight I learned several tips
and tricks on how to help manage increased workloads and would love to
hear some of your advice as well on
the blog.
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GOLDEN WEST FLY-IN
WELCOMES CHUCK YEAGER
Free admission offered for children and
accompanying adults on Friday
 Aviation
legend Gen. Chuck Yeager will be special guest on Friday, opening day of
the annual Golden West Regional Fly-in & Air Show this weekend (June
12-14), at the Yuba County Airport near Marysville, California. Gen.
Yeager, the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound, will
speak about his many experiences and aviation safety at 7 p.m. Friday.
Opening day is also Kid's Day, meaning that children and teenagers
through age 17, and two accompanying adults, get in for free. Read
more
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PRE-AIRVENTURE TICKET DISCOUNTS END MONDAY
 So,
you've decided to attend AirVenture Oshkosh next month…but still
haven't pre-purchased your tickets? You should act soon, as valuable
discounts on admission expire at midnight (CDT) on Monday, June 15, 2009. Buy now
and save $5 per weekly adult ticket and $2 per daily adult ticket! To
get your tickets today, visit
the AirVenture website.
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FLY FOR LIFE: PROFILES IN
CARING
 "Fly
For Life" at EAA AirVenture 2009 will recognize and celebrate the
breadth and depth of good works by those who offer aviation services for
the benefit of their fellow citizens of the world. Public Benefit
Aviation (PBA) - volunteer pilots and aviation enthusiasts who
dedicate their time, skills, and
resources to help people; and Mission
Aviation (MA) - Christians working to bring the transforming
message of Jesus Christ to people living in remote, difficult-to-access
places; provide vital humanitarian and spiritual support that would
otherwise go unserved. For more information, visit www.Fly4Life.org. 
In our continuing series profiling
benevolent flyers we feature Larry Pecorella, of Glen Ellyn,
Illinois, who got his pilot certificate to watch his kids play sports in
college. After they had all graduated, he searched for another purpose
to fly and discovered "helping someone else out seemed like the
perfect solution." Read
more
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NEW GA CAUCUS PROVES
EFFECTIVE
Caucus, GA-backed amendment included in
final TSA funding bill
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) Authorization Act (H.R.2200) on June 4, including a
GA-friendly amendment aimed at reining in TSA policymaking-by-decree
practices like the controversial Security Directive 08F. That directive
required background checks and badges for general aviation pilots and
aircraft owners operating at airports with any form of commercial
service. The final vote came following an exhaustive and united advocacy
effort by numerous general aviation groups and the newly formed
Congressional General Aviation Caucus.
Read more
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AVIATORS MARKETPLACE,
EAA'S NEW SEARCHABLE ONLINE DIRECTORY, GOES LIVE
 EAA,
in partnership with MultiView Inc., has launched the Aviators
Marketplace, a unique online search tool that will give EAA members
quick access to an extensive directory of aviation-specific products and
services. It's a one-of-a-kind tool specifically geared to aviators and
their online search needs.
The Aviators Marketplace is accessible at
www.aviatorsmarketplace.com
or from www.eaa.org. Within the
Aviators Marketplace, users can easily locate products and services
unique to the aviation industry - without the clutter of a general
Internet search engine. Read
more
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HOMEBUILDING HINT OF THE
WEEK: FORMING FABRIC AROUND A TIGHT RADIUS
 You
might think it's difficult to form fabric around a tight curve, but in
this segment Carah Durell shows you how easy it can be done with the
proper technique. Carah is a an EAA member and former Chapter 1 Young
Eagle that works for Poly-Fiber at Flabob Airbort. Watch
now.
Now available - DVD, Hints for
Homebuilders - Sheet Metal - Volume 1 - now you can view 19 helpful
hints from experienced builders anywhere-on a big-screen TV, at chapter
meetings, or on a computer with a DVD drive. They're available for a
members' special price of $9.95 through
the EAA online store or by calling 800-564-6322.
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MANY WILL DISCOVER THE
WONDER OF FLIGHT ON INTERNATIONAL YOUNG EAGLES DAY
 EAA
volunteer pilots provide Young Eagles flights throughout the year, but
this Saturday more will be flown that at any other time as EAA
celebrates the 16th annual International Young Eagles Day. More than 125
special events will be held around the world, including one in Oshkosh
sponsored by EAA headquarters staff. Children ages 8-17 can receive a
free airplane ride at Wittman Regional Airport. Flights are available on
a reservation basis. To schedule a flight, please e-mail the following
information: Child's name, address, city, and preferred flight time (9
a.m., 10 a.m. or 11 a.m.) to youngeagles@eaa.org, and we'll send a return e-mal confirming your request. Parents will
need to accompany children and complete a registration/release form.
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YOUNG EAGLES RAFFLE TOP
PRIZE: THE ALL-NEW MUSTANG GT CONVERTIBLE
Unleash the Dream!
 Question:
How do you obtain a chance to win a brand new Mustang GT Convertible
while simultaneously helping ensure the future of aviation? Answer:
Enter the 2009 Young Eagles Raffle, which has as its Grand Prize the
sleek, new 2010 Mustang GT Convertible! By entering you will also help
support EAA's youth education outreach activities, including the Young
Eagles program. Read more
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BIPLANE EXPO'S GRAND
FINALE
 Earlier
this year it was announced that after 23 years, this would be the last
year for the National Biplane Expo at Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The people
who showed up for the last hurrah last weekend made sure it was "a
grand finale and not a somber event," as Charlie Harris, NBA
chairman and president described. Grand it was, as about 120 biplanes
were on the field and more than 150 other planes had arrived to join in
the festivities. Read Earl
Down's report.
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THIRTY-EIGHT AVIATION SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED IN TEXAS
The Tony Bingelis Scholarship
Fund - formerly The Texas Fly-In - recently concluded a two-year effort
to provide funds to deserving Texas young people aspiring to careers in
aviation. The effort resulted in 38 recipients receiving financial
scholarships, mostly used for flight training and some for tuition and
Civil Air Patrol and NASA encampments. Qualifications for the applicants
were based on class standing/grade point average; community service; and
Scouting and Civil Air Patrol experience. "Even those not selected
were very well qualified, and this made the work of the Scholarship
committee very demanding," said Norris Warner, committee chairman.
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'FLY THE FORD' MIDWEST
TOUR CONTINUES THIS WEEK
 Now
through June 14 EAA's
meticulously restored and maintained 1929 Ford Tri-Motor is at the
Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the
second leg of the spring-summer mini-tour. Tour stop host is EAA Chapter
145. Although advance bookings for this location are over, walk-ups are
welcome, and you can still book in advance at the five other stops that
will follow, including June 18-21 at Louisville, Kentucky's Bowman Field
on June 18-21. The tour gives passengers an opportunity to experience air
travel as it was in aviation's "Golden Age" - low and slow (90
mph), and with a spectacular view. To learn more, or book a flight,
visit www.FlytheFord.org.
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ENROLL TODAY IN EAA BELL 47 FANTASY CAMP
 Thoroughly
explore the Bell 47 helicopter, one of the more recognizable rotorcraft
ever built, at EAA's Bell 47 Fantasy Flight Camp September 11-13. The
Bell 47 has been a major part of our history and popular culture, thanks
to TV shows Whirlybirds and M*A*S*H. This weekend ground school will
explore the unique aircraft with segments on rotorcraft aerodynamics,
Bell 47 systems, utility helicopter operations, and a Bell 47 flight
experience. To learn more about this and other EAA Fantasy Flight Camps,
visit www.fantasyflightcamp.org.
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PILOTS SET LIGHT-SPORT
AIRCRAFT SPEED RECORD
 On
June 8, pilots Matt Hansen and Jessica Scharle successfully completed a
transcontinental flight in a Peregrine FA-04 from Jacksonville, Florida,
to El Cajon, California. Departing Cecil Field at 6:01 a.m. EDT, they
made five stops along the way and touched down at Gillespie Field near
San Diego at 10:22 p.m. PDT. Total flying time was 17 hours plus. The
duo is hoping the flight will qualify as a Guinness World Record. Read
more
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WHERE ARE YOU FLYING THIS
WEEKEND?
 EAA
Chapter 146 Spring Fly-In Breakfast, Kline Kill Airport, Ghent, NY
Everyone is welcome, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., on Saturday, June 13. We put on a
great pancake and egg breakfast at one of the most picturesque grass
airfields in the Northeast. (Rain date in Sunday, June 14.) Visit the
chapter website for more information, or contact Cliff Allen,
877-322-1463
EAA Chapter 1484 Breakfast Fly-In,
Williston Airport, Williston, Florida
New EAA Chapter 1484 will hold its first Fly-in breakfast this Saturday,
June 13, from 8-11 a.m. Cost s $5 per person. Rain or shine, fly-in,
walk-in, drive-in, we will feed you. Grand raffle is a 30-minute flight
in a Stearman, with a 50/50 raffle to follow. The city will provide a
10-cent per gallon discount to visiting aircraft. For more information
visit contact Lynn Gardner, 386-235-1447
To learn more about calendar events, or
to find/submit others, visit www.EAAcalendar.org.
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EAA 'TIMELESS VOICE OF
THE WEEK': BRENDA CURTIS
 Brenda
Curtis had her first airplane ride when she was 8 years old, but it
wasn't until she was 22 that she decided to make a career out of flying.
Brenda learned to fly while attending Central Texas College, and after
11 years as a flight instructor and flying as a corporate and charter
pilot, she applied for her dream job with Southwest Airlines. Today she
serves as a 737 Captain with Southwest and mentors young women pursuing
a career in aviation. Watch
the video.
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SAVE UP TO 25% ON
TOP-SELLING DVD COLLECTIONS
 Two
of our top selling DVD collections just got even hotter. The WWII: Air
War DVD set contains five documentary films with unedited footage direct
from the national archives. Memphis Belle, Army Air Force, plus many
others are included in this two-hour DVD. Now only $14.99, a savings of
25 percent off the regular price.
Just released in February 2009, the Top
Gun Air Power 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.). Get all 4 for only $22.99, a $7
savings off the regular price. But hurry - these special offers end June
17. Order
online or call toll-free, 800-564-6322.
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Q
& A:
Question of
the Week
For EAA
Information Services
Where can I
find information about FAA or EAA inspection
requirements for experimental amateur-built
aircraft?
Answer:
The only
inspections required by the FAR's for an E-AB
aircraft are for the initial Airworthiness
certification inspection by a DAR or FAA
representative from your local FSDO or MIDO, and the
Annual condition inspections. After obtaining the
airworthiness certificate, you may apply for the
Repairman Certificate which you need to conduct the
annual condition inspection and certify the aircraft
for return to service, or any A&P may conduct
the Annual condition inspection.
During the
construction phase, you may want to have someone
look at your project and offer some advice or
expertise, particularly before closing a part for
good. That is where the EAA Technical Counselor
program comes in. EAA Technical Counselors are EAA
members who have built their own aircraft and have
agreed to help other EAA members with their
projects, volunteering their time to help you build
a safe aircraft. These inspections are not mandatory
in any way, but it's always a good idea to have
another set of eyes look at your work!
Visit the EAA Members
website, http://members.eaa.org,
log in, then click on the picture next to the
heading "Homebuilders Headquarters" - all
the information can be accessed by categories listed
in the banner at the top of the page.
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.
June
2009
EAA
Desktop Calendar
Mike
Smith's Pitts S-1T, whose paint scheme pays homage
to the late Art Scholl and his Pitts biplane, was
photographed over the Gulf of Mexico by EAA's Jim
Koepnick.
Download
this wallpaper image at 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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STOL CH 750 NOW AVAILABLE
AS S-LSA
AMD recently unveiled the STOL CH 750 LS, the factory-built
special-light sport aircraft (S-LSA) version of the popular STOL CH 750
design from aeronautical engineer Chris Heintz. The rugged, all-metal
"light-sport utility" plane is powered by Teledyne-Continental
Motors' (TCM) new O-200-D lightweight engine, which boasts a dry weight
of less than 200 pounds while still providing a true 100-hp, according
to a company news release. Equipped with a robust tricycle gear (with
steerable nosewheel) the aircraft boasts a takeoff roll of just 100
feet, and cruises at 100 mph. For more information contact John Degonia
at 478-374-2759 or visit www.ZenithAir.com.
FAA ISSUES COA FOR
AEROSONDE
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a Certificate of
Authorization (COA) on Monday, June 8, for Flint Hills Solutions'
Aerosonde, an unmanned aerial vehicle. The COA allows the Aerosonde to
fly over Crisis City, part of Great Plains Joint Training Center, located
next to the National Guard's Smoky Hill Weapons Range in Kansas. It is
the result of the combined efforts of Kansas State University, Flint
Hills Solutions, and the Salina Airport Authority. Until now, the
Aerosonde has been limited to flying in the restricted airspace over the
Smoky Hill Weapons Range. The ability to fly over Crisis City opens the
door to more extensive training in search and rescue operations through
the use of training sites that include a rubble pile, vehicular rescue,
and a disaster-struck city. Learn more at www.Salina.k-state.edu/uas.
WATHEN 'AVIATION HIGH
SCHOOL' GRADUATES 11
Eleven students graduated from Wathen Aviation High School after four
years in an aviation-rich environment. The students were each presented
with a white silk scarf, signifying the school's welcome to the world of
aviation. This fall, the charter school expects to attract 100 students
and will offer seventh and eighth grade classes for the first time. For
more information, call Kathy Rohm at 951-683-2309, ext. 104 or visit www.Flabob.org.
PIPER PROMOTES TWO
SENIOR EXECS
Piper Aircraft Inc. has promoted two of its senior executives. Kevin J.
Gould, Piper's vice president of operations, will become Piper's chief
executive officer, and John Becker, Piper's vice president of
engineering, will become president of the company. Effective, June 26,
2009, Gould and Becker will take on the duties of James K. Bass, who
will resign his position as Piper president and CEO. "All things
come to an end," Bass said in remarks to Piper employees today.
"I have successfully completed my mission at Piper and am leaving
the company in very capable hands. What I was brought in to do has been
done, and it is now time for me to move on to other challenges."
For more information about Piper Aircraft visit www.Piper.com.
WICKS EXPANDS AIRCRAFT
GRADE SITKA SPRUCE
Wicks Aircraft Supply has received a fresh shipment of aircraft grade
Sitka spruce, suitable for spars, cap strips, and T-stringers. They now
offer spars up to 1.5 inches thick by 9 inches wide with lengths up to
25 feet. Most common spar orders can be shipped in a week or less. For
those who need spars with tapers, bevels, routing, or all three
adjustments, Wicks can customize any piece of aircraft grade Sitka
spruce to a homebuilder's specs. For more information call 800-221-9425,
or access their online catalog at www.WicksAircraft.com.
SPORTY'S 2010
SWEEPSTAKES PLANE: CESSNA SKYCATCHER
Sporty's Pilot Shop again teams up with Cessna Aircraft Company and
Garmin to award a lucky customer a new Cessna 162 SkyCatcher equipped
with Garmin G300 avionics for its 2010 Sweepstakes. 'We chose the
SkyCatcher for our next Sweepstakes because it is the ultimate personal
airplane," said Michael Wolf, Sporty's president. "Plus, its
glass panel avionics makes the airplane state of the art." Any
order placed with Sporty's until May 10, 2010 will enter the customer as
a potential winner of the Sweepstakes airplane. The winner will be
officially announced at Sporty's annual Fly-In, scheduled for May 15,
2010. Visit www.Sportys.com to
learn more.
AMT AND PILOT TRAINING
PRODUCTS FROM ASA
ASA'S AMT Graphics-Textbook Images CD is a CD-ROM of Microsoft
PowerPoint slides that includes all the figures, tables, and charts
found throughout ASA's AMT textbooks by Dale Crane. The full-color
images offer a visual training tool for aviation maintenance technician
(AMT) classroom instruction. More than 2000 slides illustrate the entire
span of AMT FAA knowledge requirement subjects. The Aviation Maintenance
Technician Series: Curriculum Guide, also by Dale Crane, provides A
& P instructors course outlines, graphics, color transparencies, and
test to create training curriculum for their students.
ASA also offers FAA Aviation Weather
Services Advisory Circular (AC), updated with the latest National
Weather Service procedural changes and now includes Change 2, effective
March 2009. The Aviation Weather Services AC is a resource for those
studying for pilot certification exams. It features full-color
illustrations throughout and coverage of weather-related tools to assist
pilots with flight planning and in-flight decisions. Both books are
available at www.ASA2Fly.com or by
calling 800-272-2359.
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