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January 2016
www.inflightusa.com
3
Calendar of Events
To list your group’s event on a space available basis, please send your event notice with date, time, place w/city and state, contact name, and phone number to: Calendar, In Flight USA, P.O. Box 5402, San Mateo, Calif. 94402, or email 3rdavenue@embarqmail.com.
JANUARY
2
4—8 9 9 – 10 15 — 17 16
16 — 17 20 — 23 23 30
Q San Carlos, CA: Open Cockpit Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Hiller Aviation Museum, San Carlos Airport, (650) 654-0200. Q Hollister, CA: Antique Aircraft Display & Fly-In, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Frazier Lake Airpark, free, (831) 637-9822, www.frazierlake.com. Q Palm Springs, CA: Commemorative Series - For Love of Life & Country, 1 p.m., Palm Springs Air Museum, (760) 778-6262. Q San Diego, CA: SciTech 2016, Manchester Grand Hyatt, www.aiaa-scitech.org. Q Palm Springs, CA: Commemorative Series - F-104 Starfighter, 1 p.m., Palm Springs Air Museum, (760) 778-6262. Q Upland, CA: Cable Air Show, 8 a.m., Cable Airport, www.cableairport.com. Q Lake Havasu City, AZ: Balloon Festival & Fair, gates 6 a.m., Nautical Resort Golf Course, www.havasuballoonfest.com. Q Palm Springs, CA: Commemorative Series - France 1940, 1 p.m., Palm Springs Air Museum, (760) 778-6262. Q San Luis Obispo, CA: Vintage Aircraft Associate’s Airport Day, San Luis Obispo Airport, (805) 801-7641. Q El Cajon, CA: Warbirds West Air Museum Open House & Pancake Breakfast, 8 to 10:30 a.m., Gillespie Field, (858) 414-6258, www.wwam.org. Q Riverside, CA: Aircraft Display Day Fly-In, 8 a.m., Flabob Airport, (951) 683-2309, www.flabob.org. Q Santa Rosa, CA: Climb Aboard Weekend, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Pacific Coast Air Museum, Sonoma County Airport, (707) 575-7900. Q Sebring, FL: Sport Aviation Expo, gates 8 a.m., Sebring Regional Airport, (863) 655-6444, ext. 117, www.sportaviationexpo.com. Q Palm Springs, CA: Commemorative Series - Pre-War Movies: Hollywood at War, 1 p.m., Palm Springs Air Museum, (760) 778-6262. Q Palm Springs, CA: Commemorative Series - Military Flight Training, 1 p.m., Palm Springs Air Museum, (760) 778-6262.
FEBRUARY
6
9 — 11 13 — 14 14 19 — 21 20
20 — 21
22 — 24 24 — 26 27 29 — Mar. 3
MARCH
4—5 5
8 — 10 11 — 13 12 12 — 13
Q Hollister, CA: Antique Aircraft Display & Fly-In, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Frazier Lake Airpark, free, (831) 637-9822, www.frazierlake.com. Q Buckeye, AZ: Buckeye Air Fair, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Buckeye Municipal Airport, www.buckeyeairfair.com. Q Anaheim, CA: AeroCon West 2016, Anaheim Convention Center, aerocon-anaheim.designnews.com. Q Brownvsville, TX: CAF Rio Grande Valley Wing Air Fiesta 2016, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Brownsville/South Padre Island Int’l. Airport, (956) 5418585, www.rgvcaf.org. Q Laredo, TX: Stars & Stripes Air Show Spectacular, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Laredo Int’l. Airport, www.wbcalaredo.org. Q Puyallup, WA: NW Aviation Conference & Trade Show, Washington State Fair, www.washington-aviation.org. Q San Luis Obispo, CA: Vintage Aircraft Associate’s Airport Day, San Luis Obispo Airport, (805) 801-7641. Q El Cajon, CA: Warbirds West Air Museum Open House & Pancake Breakfast, 8 to 10:30 a.m., Gillespie Field, (858) 414-6258, www.wwam.org. Q Riverside, CA: Aircraft Display Day Fly-In, 8 a.m., Flabob Airport, (951) 683-2309, www.flabob.org. Q Santa Rosa, CA: Climb Aboard Weekend, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Pacific Coast Air Museum, Sonoma County Airport, (707) 575-7900. Q Vacaville, CA: Advanced Instrument Procedures Symposium, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nut Tree Airport, (707) 449-4647, WingsFlightSchool.com. Q San Antonio, TX: NBAA Leadership Conference, venue TBD, www.nbaa.org. Q Orlando, FL: Air Warfare Symposium & Technology Expo, Rosen Shingle Creek, www.afa.org. Q Plant City, FL: Planes, Trains & Automobiles, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Plant City Airport, (813) 754-3707, www.plantcity.org. Q Louisville, KY: 2016 HAI Heli-Expo (exhibits open Mar. 1), Kentucky Exposition Center, heliexpo.rotor.org. Q Casa Grande, AZ: Cactus Antique Fly-In, gates 8 a.m., Casa Grande Municipal Airport, www.cactusflyin.org. Q Hollister, CA: Antique Aircraft Display & Fly-In, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Frazier Lake Airpark, free, (831) 637-9822, www.frazierlake.com. Q Abu Dhabi, UAE: Abu Dhabi Air Expo, Al Bateen Executive Airport, abudhabiairexpo.com. Q Titusville, FL: TICO Warbird Airshow, Space Coast Regional Airport, (321) 268-1941. Q Mesa, AZ: A Night in the 40s Big Band Dance, doors 5 p.m., CAF Airbase Arizona Museum, (480) 924-1940, www.BigBandDance.com. Q El Centro, CA: NAF El Centro Air Show, gates 9 a.m., navylifesw.com Q Tucson, AZ: Thunder & Lightning over Arizona, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Davis-Monthan AFB, www.dm.af.mil, (520) 228-3406.
Continued on Page 7
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In Flight USA Celebrating 30 Years
ON
THE
SNOWBIRDS INCLUDE AIRVENTURE 2016
COVER...
January 2016
ON
SCHEDULE
Team’s First Appearance at Oshkosh Since Early 1980s
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds, one of the most popular military aerial demonstration teams in the world, announced EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016 as part of its schedule, which would be the first time the team would be back at Oshkosh in more than 30 years. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the 64th annual Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in convention known as World’s Greatest Aviation the Celebration, is July 25-31 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisc. The Snowbirds are currently scheduled to have a public practice over the grounds on Friday, July 29, with full performances as part of the daily afternoon air show on Saturday and Sunday, July 30-31. The Snowbirds, officially designated as 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, were created in 1971 and have a nearly 40-year connection to EAA, as they were the first military team to perform at Oshkosh when they flew over the EAA fly-in in the 1970s. They have not appeared at Oshkosh since 1983, as their primary schedule commitment each year is for Canadian air shows. “It is truly thrilling to have the
Snowbirds schedule an appearance at Oshkosh for the first time in more than 30 years, and we can now begin working through the logistics necessary to support the team,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member services, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “Longtime EAA members and Oshkosh attendees speak fondly of the elegant precision aerobatics that the Snowbirds brought to the EAA
(Photo courtesy of The Canadian Forces Snowbirds) fly-in, and have often asked when they es. During the show, the pilots fly at would return. We were very happy to disspeeds ranging from 110 to 465 mph cover that EAA AirVenture 2016’s dates (180 to 750 km/h) and in formation with and the Snowbirds’ schedule availability distances as close as four feet of wing aligned, and we could welcome them back overlap. Comprised of exciting loops, to aviation’s family reunion at Oshkosh.” rolls, and solo passes as well as graceful The Snowbirds fly Canadair CT-114 nine-jet formations, the Snowbirds’ show Tudor jets in approximately 60 air shows includes more than 50 different formaeach year. Experienced team members tions and maneuvers over each 35from the Royal Canadian Air Force pilot minute performance. the nine aircraft used in the performanc-
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TABLE Volume 32, Number 5
OF
CONTENTS January 2016
650-358-9908 • Fax: 650-358-9254 • E-mail: vickie@inflightusa.com • www.inflightusa.com
ON THE COVER COVER STORY
PHOTO FEATURE
SNOWBIRDS TO
AVIATION
APPEAR AT AIRVENTURE
PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD
2016 Page 28
Page 4 Cover Photo Courtesy Canadian Forces Snowbirds
NEWS FAA Releases Drone Registration Rule........................................8 Senate Passes Medical Reform ..................................................10 GAMA/Build-A-Plane Competition Registration Opens............11 Civil Air Patrol Celebrates 74 Years ............................................12 Checklist for Winter Flying Fun ..................................................16 GAMA Celebrates Signing Of Small Airplane Revitalization Act ......18 Wings Over N. Georgia Air Show To Host USAF Thunderbirds ........20 Embry-Riddle To Offer Free Online UAS Course ......................21 Airports Industry Partners with UNFCCC on Climate Action ..33 Pacific Av. Museum - Disney Collaborate Swamp Ghost ............34 The Hump: An Incredible Anniversary ......................................36 Tickets for Reno Air Races 2016 on Sale Now ..........................39 Northwest Aviation Conference on Course for 2016 ................43 Windecker Eagle Flies Again ......................................................44
FEATURES
COLUMNS
Editorial: General Aviation and National Security By Ed Downs ..................................................................6
Contrails: Grabbing the Mail
Interview: Flights of No Return Author Steven A. Ruffin By Mark Rhodes ............................................................13 Adventures of Glenn Curtiss: Aviation Museum By Annamarie Buonocore ..............................................21 Airman Helps Troubled Youth “Focus” By Staff Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla ........................................25 Documentary Review: Bob Hoover to the FAA..........23 95-Year-Old WWII Pilot Flies Aerobatics in L-39 Albatros By Joel Hargis, Courtesy EAA ........................................34 From Skies to Stars: Journey to Mars and Beyond ....................................................................................37
By Steve Weaver ................17
What’s Up!? The Burping Is Now Over By Larry Shapiro ................24 Flying With Faber: Discovering the Mendocino Coast By Stuart J. Faber ..............29 Homebuilders Workshop: Growing Older. Growing Old. By Ed Wischmeyer ............35 Goodies and Gadgets ........................................39 Safe Landings: The Ostrich and the Eagle ..................40 The Pylon Place: EAA and The Young Eagles Program By Marilyn Dash ................45
DEPARTMENTS Calendar of Events ..........................................................3 Classifieds ......................................................................48 Index of Advertisers ......................................................50
*Above Snowbird Photo courtesy of Canadian Forces Snowbirds, Sgt. Halinafolfas 19 Wing Imaging
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6
In Flight USA Celebrating 30 Years
GENERAL AVIATION AND NATIONAL SECURITY
Editorial
R
See us at Sun ‘n Fun • Booth N-75
January 2016
By Ed Downs
egular readers know that this writer’s December editorial dealt with the terrible terrorist attack in France, and my personal remembrances of working and living in France as both an aviator and business owner. Just days after the terrorist attack in Paris, our country witnessed the murderous assault by terrorists in San Bernardino, Calif. To be sure, the up-close and personal style of ISIS violence is now hitting home. It is time for recreational and business flyers to take a look at how our industry and passion for flying might fit into the picture of overall national security. Let me be clear, the following comments are not going to be a leap into the frenzied media world of imminent death and destruction, based upon theories, perceived plots, panic, and knee-jerk reactions. But General Aviation does have a role to play in national security, much more than most realize. Most readers deal with aviation professionals on a regular basis who are required to undergo annual TSA but never realize such training has taken place. Additionally, pilots upgrading their flight ratings, perhaps to multi-engine or IFR skills, fall under TSA identification requirements… but I am getting ahead of the story. Another “let me be clear,” is that this writer is not an expert on terrorism or of the potential of violent, criminal acts taking place in our flying world, but I am not without personal experience. This writer has instructed pilots flying for several Middle Eastern airlines (involving security awareness), and aviation related activities in Africa (a wonderful adventure) resulted in personal encounters with AK-47 wielding teenagers (seriously, maybe 12-14 years old), blinded by radical ideology and drugs (not a wonderful adventure!). Circumstances of the summer Olympics held in Los Angeles (1984) required this writer to undergo both antiterrorist and hostage negotiation training. As a FIRC (Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic) instructor, this writer regularly teaches TSA courses related to aviation. I promise to stick to facts and specific recommendations, injecting opinion only if substantiated by personal experience. First, and perhaps most important, let’s make sure that someone (especially the pilot of an armed F-16) does not think YOU are a terrorist! Can that actually happen? You bet it can, especially in today’s heightened condition of awareness. Just fly
into a Temporary Flight Restricted (TFR) area and find out how serious various enforcement agencies can be. The same can be said for flying into Prohibited and Restricted airspace. Fortunately, Prohibited and Restricted airspace is illustrated on sectional and low altitude IFR charts, so flying with your “head up and out” should do the job, but hundreds of improper penetrations are recorded every year. TFRs also get violated hundreds of times on an annual basis, with loss of license and significant fines involved. Remember, specifics regarding the effective times and altitude limitations of Prohibited, Restricted, and Military Operations Areas are located on the far left hand fold of a sectional chart but often not included in some electronic flight bag systems. Likewise, Military Operations Areas (MOA’s) are also shown on old-fashioned printed charts, but you can fly through a MOA. Of course, it is essential that FSS be contacted to see what kind of activity is going on in the MOA. In many cases, you will be assigned a control frequency, which allows you to coordinate your flight through hot spots. FSS is your key to current information regarding such airspace. In most cases, Prohibited and Restricted airspace is designed to protect non-participating aircraft from “invisible hazards,” but there are notable exceptions. Just try flying through the Prohibited area over Camp David, and the reader will quickly learn what it is like to be treated as a “hostile.” Of particular sensitivity, are the Washington DC Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and the Special Flight Rules that prevail. Even more critical, is the District of Columbia Flight restricted Zone (DC-FRZ), which contains the authority to use lethal force. One must undergo specific training (located at www.faasafety.gov) and must be certificated to operate in this airspace. Special charts are published (can be downloaded) and positive radar control is enforced. The bottom line is that a plane penetrating Prohibited or Restricted airspace will be treated as malicious, and you will be intercepted. Unauthorized flight into the Washington DC ADIZ is considered a hostile act, and your life will be in danger. You will have become the “terrorist,” and will be treated like one. Keep your sectional charts current by visiting www.durracharts.com. So, how about Temporary Flight Continued on Page 9
January 2016
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7
Calendar of Events Continued from Page 3 19
19 — 20
Q San Luis Obispo, CA: Vintage Aircraft Associate’s Airport Day, San Luis Obispo Airport, (805) 801-7641. Q El Cajon, CA: Warbirds West Air Museum Open House & Pancake Breakfast, 8 to 10:30 a.m., Gillespie Field, (858) 414-6258, www.wwam.org. Q Riverside, CA: Aircraft Display Day Fly-In, 8 a.m., Flabob Airport, (951) 683-2309, www.flabob.org. Q Palmdale, CA: Los Angeles County Air Show, gates 9 a.m., William J. Fox Airport, www.lacountyairshow.com. Q Tampa, FL: Tampa Bay AirFest 2016, gates 8 a.m., MacDill AFB, www.macdill.af.mil. Q Santa Rosa, CA: Climb Aboard Weekend, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Pacific Coast Air Museum, Sonoma County Airport, (707) 575-7900. Q Napa, CA: Vintage Aircraft Display, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Napa Airport, (707) 944-9236.
MODAERO PARTNERS WITH F3EXPO FOR “THE DRONE EXPERIENCE” AT MODAERO
NextGen Aero, Inc., organizers of the Modaero #NextGen Aviation Festival, have established a strategic partnership with the organizers of this year’s F3Expo, to produce “The Drone Experience at Modaero.” The announcement comes just six weeks after the Inaugural F3Expo held at the Georgia Dome and Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga. Modaero’s founder, Brian Columbus, initiated the partnership after witnessing F3Expo’s innovative events. “We were blown away by the quality of their event and knew this was something we wanted to do for Modaero 2016,” said Columbus. “Drones/UASs (Unmanned Aerial Systems) are not just a hobby, they’re a quickly growing segment of aviation. We feel it’s very important to integrate their responsible, practical, and entertainment use into the aviation industry. This is the dawn of a new consumer and commercial aerial revolution. There’s no better event to showcase their capabilities and invite pilot collaboration than Modaero.” The Drone Experience will be an integral part of the Modaero festival and will include a drone/UAS exhibitor expo, educational presentations, drone demonstration cage, and indoor drone racing. Although details of the event are being finalized, The Drone Experience will build upon the successes of the F3Expo, as well as, offer new content and exhibitions. It will also mark the first-ever drone-themed expo in Texas. F3Expo, was the first conference and expo specifically designed for drone hobbyists, bringing together all facets of this fast-growing community: prospective owners, novice to expert pilots, aerial photographers, technology enthusiasts, champion racers, retailers, and manufacturers.
F3Expo featured workshops, hands-on demonstrations, and an expo hall with the latest drones, gear, and components. It also featured educational content on drone regulation, flying, video and photography techniques, and safety topics. F3Expo hosted both FPV races and a freestyle competition featuring some of the world’s most well known drone pilots. “We are very excited to partner on ‘The Drone Experience at Modaero,” said Christine Hilgert, SVP of Meeting Expectations, Inc. producer of the F3Expo. “Modaero is focused on contemporary aviation and the industry’s future, so it was a natural match for us to bring the latest and greatest in drone content to the event. It’s going to be innovative, collaborative, and fun this March in Conroe, Tex.” Location: Lone Star Executive Airport (KCXO), 10260 Carl Pickering Memorial Dr, Conroe, TX 77303 Lone Star Convention Center, 9055 Airport Rd, Conroe, TX 77303 Glossary: FPV – First-person view is a method to control a radio-controlled vehicle from the pilot’s point of view. UAV – Unmanned aerial vehicle, commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without a human pilot aboard. About Modaero: The Inaugural Modaero #NextGen Aviation Festival is organized by NextGen Aero, Inc., a nonprofit corporation. The purpose of Modaero is to engage, educate, and empower the growth demographic in aviation; millennials ages 16-39. The inaugural event will be held March 16-19, 2016 at the Lone Star Executive Airport (KCXO) and adjacent Lone Star Convention Center 20 miles north of Houston in Conroe, Tex. Information on the event can be found at www.modaero.net.
To go or not to go Some people come to aviation later in life, often after they’ve achieved success in their careers and have the time and resources to fly. Others discover a passion long before they’re old enough to earn a certificate. Often, the difference is simple—exposure. Sometimes the decision is easy. Deciding to take off for some spot landing practice at your home airport on a day with no wind and clear skies is pretty much a no brainer. Go for it. Deciding to launch from a short runway with a full load on a hot day for a flight through unfamiliar mountain terrain in marginal VFR, also a no-brainer. Just don’t. But these aren’t the decisions we need help making. It’s the times when one or two factors seem off, when there’s a lot of uncertainty, or when conditions are changing that the decisions become more difficult. That can be especially true at this time of year when many of us fly a little less often and may face more variables in the air and on the ground. To make the decision a little easier, give you an objective point of view, and help you hone your own judgment about complex situations, the AOPA Air Safety Institute offers a great tool called the Flight Risk Evaluator. It’s available on AOPA.org and anyone can use it—you don’t have to be an AOPA member. The tool gives you the option to run through a variety of preprogrammed scenarios that let you test your judgment against its recommendations. But even better, it allows you to input the specifications for your own flight, including information about your skills and currency, the aircraft you fly, the weather, the terrain, and other details that can help you make the go/no-go decision. Based on the information you provide, the Flight Risk Evaluator tells you where your flight falls on a safety scale that runs from 0% to 100% safe. Of course, a tool is no substitute for your own good judgment and self-knowledge, but it can help give you the confidence you need to go or the justification you need to keep both feet firmly on the ground.
Mark R. Baker President & CEO, AOPA
*For more information on the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association HUK [OL PZZ\LZ [OH[ HɈLJ[ `V\Y Å`PUN NV [V www.aopa.org [VKH`
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8
UP FOR
FLYING CLUBS
In Flight USA Celebrating 30 Years
I
By Mark Baker
January 2016
t’s never been easier, or more costeffective, to start and operate a flying club, thanks to some great new benefits created just for flying clubs by AOPA. As many of you may know by now, I’m an enthusiastic supporter of flying clubs, and I’ve been a member myself. They give pilots a tight-knit community, a place to learn and share their love of aviation, and access to the pleasure of aircraft ownership at a fraction of the cost. Many even offer activities to get your non-flying family members involved.
At AOPA, we want as many people as possible to have access to that experience. That’s one reason we created the AOPA Flying Club Network, and it’s why we’ve developed some great new benefits and tools for clubs. AOPA Network clubs now have access to free scheduling software that allows them to schedule up to six “resources” such as aircraft and flight instructors. The software from Multi Service Technology Solutions even gives clubs the ability to create invoices and accept credit card payments, making it easy to manage assets and member accounts. We’re also making it easier for pilots to find the right club for them. We recent-
ly updated the AOPA Flying Club Finder with sophisticated new search filters that allow you to look for clubs not only by location but also by the types of equipment and services they offer. So, if you want to find a club that operates tailwheels and offers flight instruction, you can. Anyone can use the Flying Club Finder, and there’s no charge to list your club. If you can’t find a club that matches your interests, maybe you’d like to get together with some friends and start a club of your own. We’re making that easier too. We’ve added a brand new resource library to our website that will walk you through the steps you’ll need to take to get your club off the ground. Start with our
“checklist for starting a flying club,” then read through our collection of articles that will guide you through decisions about everything from what form your club should take to purchasing your first aircraft. We’ve even posted sample bylaws, articles of incorporation, lease agreements, and other documents to help you along the way. And of course our flying club experts are available to answer your questions and offer support along the way. Whether you want to join a club, start a club, or just learn more about how a flying club can make flying easier, more fun, and more affordable, visit AOPA.org or call our Pilot Information Center.
On Monday, Dec. 14, the FAA announced an Interim Final Rule requiring recreational users of small, unmanned aircraft (sUAS) to register their aircraft in a national database. All users who fly sUAS, including model aircraft, weighing more than 250 grams and less than 55 pounds, will have to register their aircraft. Further details on the new registration process include: • The FAA has made an online system available for registration. • Name, home address, and email address are required information. • The registration system will opened on Dec. 21, 2015. All sUAS bought or built before that date must be registered by Feb. 19, 2016. All sUAS must be registered before operation. • Registration costs five dollars, but the fee will be waived for those users who register their aircraft within the first 30 days the system is active. • Once registered, the user will be
given a number and certificate that will apply to all sUAS owned by that user. The registration certificate will last three years, after which it will have to be renewed for five dollars. • A user must always be able to present their registration certificate in either print or electronic format while operating their sUAS. Of particular note to the many EAA members who also enjoy the hobby of flying model aircraft, the regulation does not discriminate between traditional models and the more contemporary “drones” that prompted the rulemaking. All will need to be registered, over the objections of modeling organizations such as the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) that have successfully overseen the safe operations of model aircraft for decades. “We recognize the FAA’s goal to maintain safety of the National Airspace System. However, we are disappointed
that the AMA recommendation, which would allow AMA members to use their membership numbers for FAA registration, was not written into the rule,” said Sean Elliott, EAA’s vice president of advocacy and safety. “We believe that idea has merit and we encourage the FAA to continue working with the AMA to institute this provision. Such a plan would allow sUAS users to be in a community where safety, education, and responsibility are organizational priorities.” The final rule is the result of a fasttrack effort by DOT and FAA to create a “culture of accountability” within the recreational unmanned aircraft community. The effort spawned a DOT-FAA led task force that was comprised of representatives from the tech and retail industries, aviation industry organizations, and pilot unions. The task force created a comprehensive set of recommendations to guide the FAA in the rulemaking process. “Make no mistake: unmanned air-
craft enthusiasts are aviators, and with that title, comes a great deal of responsibility,” said DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Registration gives us an opportunity to work with these users to operate their unmanned aircraft safely. Though registration is the responsibility of the user and does not occur at point of sale, it is still mandatory. The FAA stated that failure to register could lead to civil and/or criminal penalties. EAA remains dedicated to ensuring all manned aircraft have priority over sUAS within the National Airspace System. Additionally, EAA strongly contends that no airspace restrictions for manned aircraft should be created as a result of sUAS integration and no new equipment for manned aircraft should be required outside of existing mandates. For more information on the FAA’s new sUAS registration rule, visit its Frequently Asked Questions page at www.faa.gov.
Last month, Congress passed a $1.1 trillion spending package that funds the federal government through next September. Included in the large omnibus spending bill was the approval of more than $16 billion in funding for the FAA. The bill also included several million dollars in tax breaks for aviation businesses. Several vital FAA programs will receive significant funding with very few cuts to the agency’s operations. Congress set
aside $2.9 billion for NextGen funding, a program that has experienced both cost overruns and congressional funding shortfalls over the course of its long implementation. Funding for hiring air traffic controllers, as well as more than $3 billion for the Airport Improvement Program, were also included in the bill. EAA was pleased that Congress also approved $7 million to continue funding the Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative, a program that seeks to find a
viable replacement for 100LL avgas and one in which EAA has been heavily involved. Though the FAA now has the funding to operate through fiscal year 2016, this “ appropriations” bill should not be confused with “ authorization.” The omnibus bill gives the FAA funding to pay for its ongoing operations and sign contracts, among other business, but Congress still must pass an overarching “ reauthorization” bill to set longer-term policies and
funding limits for the agency’s programs. The FAA’s last five-year authorization expired in Sept. 2015, which Congress extended with a six-month stop-gap measure. Work on FAA reauthorization will likely begin in early 2016 with a proposal to privatize the air traffic system being at the center of debate. EAA’s advocacy staff is gearing up for a busy year ahead, addressing FAA reauthorization and the proposals included within it.
President and CEO AOPA
FAA RELEASES DRONE REGISTRATION RULE
CONGRESS SECURES FUNDING
FOR
FAA
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January 2016
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Editorial: General Aviation
Continued from Page 6 Restricted areas (TFRs)? First, many are not “temporary.” But few of the permanent TFRs are shown on charts. You need to visit www.faa.gov and look up the TFR page to see where these are. Upon looking at the FAA website, you may be surprised to learn that there are always about 80 TFRs in effect and that number can easily jump to more than 150 during an election year… like 2016! Many TFRs are issued under the authority of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and not the FAA. The FAA can be caught by surprise, with current information not on the FAA website. Other websites (like www.aopa.org) and commercial alert services are available, but keeping track of TFRs is typically the job of Flight Service (FSS). TFRs are issued for all kinds of reasons, ranging from permanent locations (like Disney World) to moving security challenges, like the soon to be defined presidential candidates and their families. This writer’s local airport recently had a TFR tossed up around the airport due to a close-by prison riot, involving gunfire. TFRs related to political candidates are often invoked at the whim of political event planners, who know nothing (and do not give a hoot) about the “circle of public inconvenience” that follows them. The big law abiding drones, operated by the likes of law enforcement, military, and NASA, often carry a TFR with them, or at least require the issuance of a NOTAM. This writer estimates that it will be virtually impossible for one to take off from almost any airport and fly 300 miles without hitting a TFR. In this day and age, one must call FSS to check for NOTAM’s of TFRs, even if you just plan to shoot a few touch and goes. Those of you GPS fans who use the “kick the tires and light the fires” form of preflight planning, followed by selecting “direct to,” are cruising for trouble. And don’t be a “bad guy” by flying over an open-air sports stadium that seats more than 30,000 fans when it is in use. We call it the “Rule of Three,” stay at least three miles from the event and no lower than 3,000 feet above the event. You may wish to add FOX news and ESPN to your prefight checklist just to keep track of politicians and sporting events! An overtime game or extra innings can get you into a lot of trouble! Finally, if you do fly into a TFR, do you get shot down? Probably not (except the DC-FRZ), but you will be radar tracked and met on the ground by law enforcement or intercepted by a wide variety of aircraft. All types of law enforcement and military aircraft participate in intercepts, so it will not always be a fearsome F-16, but perhaps a
Border Patrol King Air, Army gunship, or some other agency flying machine. AOPA has a nifty “Intercept Guide” that you can download from their website (www.aopa.org). The short version of an intercept protocol is “go to 121.5 MHz and do as you’re told.” This writer experienced an intercept many years ago while flying in a formation of four light twins, south bound along the Florida coast. This was just as the CIA was failing in its bid to invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs, and we were perceived as unauthorized attack participants. It got very interesting! Did you know that all CFIs and FBO personnel that have direct contact with pilots are required by TSA Docket Number 2004-19147 Title 49 CFR Part 1552 to undergo Initial TSA Security Training and then take recurrent training once every 12 calendar months? In general, this training brings to mind a good “neighborhood watch” program, filled with common sense advice as to how to improve security and spot suspicious behavior. The following is just a sample of many TSA suggestions, but these are particularly applicable to local aviators: 1. Know what is going on at your airport, like security problems, theft, vandalism, and such. React with better locks, security cameras, and secure fencing. 2. Politely question strangers found roaming around planes, hangars, or the flight line. If in doubt as to the safety of personally confronting person, call 911. 3. Be suspicious of strangers who try “too hard” to sound like a pilot or use aviation terminology incorrectly. This writer has personally encountered this, and they were “evil doers.” 4. Be especially alert if there has been conflict between individuals (revenge potential) or you note very unhappy or recently dismissed employees. 5. Most important, “doubt equals danger.” If something seems odd, out of place, or simply wrong, act… NOW! Call 911 or the dedicated TSA General Aviation Security Phone number 1866/427-3287 and hit recording selection (1). This number offers other important selections regarding TSA issues affecting GA. (I have this set for quick dial). To go directly to the TSA Operations Center, call 1-866/289-9673. Realistically, what is the potential of a terrorist stealing a GA plane for destructive purposes? Slim, very slim. Radical Islamist (and losers subscribing to such ideology) favor surprise shootings of unarmed civilians, body bombs, and car bombs. They sue the “keep it simple” formula, making it hard to detect. A typical GA airplane is complicated and a poor terContinued on Page 17
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ON TO THE HOUSE! SENATE PASSES MEDICAL REFORM
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The U.S. Senate has passed the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 (PBOR2), which will now go to the House for consideration. The bill, which includes third-class medical reform, was passed by unanimous consent on Dec. 15, less than a week after it was reported out by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The House must also pass the bill before it can go to the President for his signature. “Working a bill through Congress is incredibly difficult and painstaking work, so we’ll take a moment to congratulate all involved in this major step forward for aeromedical reform, although we know the Senate’s approval guarantees us only more hard work ahead,” said EAA Chairman/CEO Jack J. Pelton. “First, we thank Senators Jim Inhofe and Joe Manchin, their staffs, and the other cosponsors of the bill to get to where we are now. The continuing communication between EAA members and their senators also played a major role, and we’ll need that again in the House. The goal is for tens of thousands of pilots to avoid the complexity and expense that is inherent in the current third-class medical certification process.” Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) introduced the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 in the Senate in February as a follow up to the original Pilots Bill of Rights measure he championed that became law in 2012. In addition to medical reform, PBOR2 legislation includes a number of protections for pilots facing FAA enforcement actions. Under the medical reforms of PBOR2, most pilots who have held a valid third-class medical, either regular or special issuance, within 10 years of the legislation’s enactment would never need to get another FAA medical exam. The rule would apply to pilots flying VFR or IFR in aircraft weighing up to 6,000 pounds and carrying up to five passengers at altitudes below 18,000 feet and speeds up to 250 knots. “A pilot along with that person’s individual doctor, who knows the patient best, can now have direct freedom and responsibility for best managing health decisions,” Pelton said. “The Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 frees pilots to work with their personal physicians to manage their own health, wellness, and fitness to fly.” Pilots who develop certain medical conditions, including a small list of specific cardiac, mental health, or neurological conditions, will have to get a FAA
January 2016
special issuance medical one time only, significantly reducing the time and money spent navigating the FAA’s medical bureaucracy. For pilots who have not had a valid medical in the past 10 years and those who have never applied for and received a medical certificate, a one-time thirdclass medical certification by an aviation medical examiner will be required. After a pilot has been medically certified once, either through the regular or specialissuance processes, he or she will also be able to fly indefinitely without needing to go through the FAA medical certification process again. After pilots have met these requirements, they will need to visit their personal physician once every four years for a medical exam. Pilots will need to fill out a form and provide it to the doctor performing the exam. The pilot must make a note of the visit and keep the signed form in his or her logbook. The form will include a short medical history questionnaire as well as a list of items the doctor must include in the examination. Following the exam, both the physician and the pilot must sign the form verifying that the items were examined and discussed. The process of bringing the bill this far has been one of compromise and negotiation. During deliberations prior to passage of the bill by the full Senate, language was added requiring the physician to certify that he or she is not aware of any medical condition that, as it is currently being treated, would interfere with the ability to fly safely. EAA and AOPA are committed to working with doctors and medical organizations to ensure that physicians understand the intent of the form and are comfortable with the requirements so they can keep their patients well and flying. Unlike today’s third-class medical, no information about the exam needs to be provided to the FAA unless it is specifically requested. The FAA can always request additional information from a pilot if it receives credible or urgent information, including information from the National Driver Register or the FAA Safety Hotline, that the pilot may not be able to safely operate an aircraft. In addition to the medical exam by a personal physician once every four years, pilots will be required to take a free online education course on aeromedical factors every two years. The course will Continued on Page 12
GAMA/BUILD A PLANE AVIATION DESIGN COMPETITION REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
January 2016
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and Build A Plane announced that they are sponsoring the fourth Aviation Design Challenge. Registration for the competition to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education among U.S. high school students is open to the first 100 schools that enter. In three years, the STEM curriculum upon which the competition is based has reached more than 150 high schools in 38 states and Washington, DC. Past winners have included Canby High School in Canby, Minn.; Saline High School in Saline, Mich.; Sunrise Mountain High School in Las Vegas, Nev.; and the CHEF Homeschoolers in Cuba City, Wisc. “As we continue to look for innovative ways to attract more young people into the aviation field–whether as pilots, engineers, maintenance professionals, or manufacturers–the Aviation Design Challenge has been a resounding success, which is why we are so proud to sponsor this competition for a fourth year,” GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce said. “Just this summer, two of the first-year winners
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who are now pursuing aerospace engineering degrees in college visited with us at AirVenture to update us about their career paths and how this life-changing contest continues to motivate and benefit them. There’s no better tribute to the value of this highly valuable and accessible educational program than that.” GAMA will provide those teachers who enter the competition with “Fly to Learn” curriculum, as well as five complimentary copies of airplane design and simulation software powered by X-Plane for their classrooms. The curriculum and software are used to teach the basics of aerospace engineering and design principles. Students will apply the knowledge they gain to modify and fly their own virtual airplane in a fly-off to win an exciting prize that allows them to experience general aviation manufacturing firsthand. “The GAMA competition has taught us the importance of teamwork, creativity, and critical thinking,” the CHEF Homeschoolers, who won the 2015 competition, wrote in an essay accompanying their application. “We learned a great deal about STEM, how to test our aircraft
consistently, and how to make very finite changes to our plane to get better results. The competition has been an excellent learning experience for us!” Only one team per school may enter, and must consist of four students, includ-
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ing at least one female student and one male student. To learn more about the competition and to register, please visit www.gama. aero/advocacy/aviation-education/stem. P.O. Box 5402 • San Mateo, CA 94402 (650) 358-9908 • Fax (650) 358-9254
Founder ..................................................................................................................Ciro Buonocore Publisher/Editor................................................................................................Victoria Buonocore Managing Editor..........................................................................................Annamarie Buonocore Production Editors ..............................................................................Anne Dobbins, Toni Sieling Associate Editors ........................ Nicholas A. Veronico, Sagar Pathak, Richard VanderMeulen Staff Contributors..................................................................................................S. Mark Rhodes, .........................................................................................................Larry Nazimek, Joe Gonzalez, Columnists ....................................Steve Weaver, Stuart Faber, Larry Shapiro, Ed Wischmeyer, ..................................................................................................................Marilyn Dash, Ed Downs, Copy Editing ............................................................................................................Sally Gersbach Advertising Sales Manager ........................................Ed Downs (650) 358-9908, (918) 873-0280 In Flight USA is published each month by In Flight Publishing. It is circulated throughout the continental United States. Business matters, advertising and editorial concerns should be addressed to In Flight USA, P.O. Box 5402, San Mateo, Calif. 94402 or by calling (650) 358-9908–fax (650) 358-9254. Copyright © 2008 In Flight Publishing. In Flight USA is not responsible for any action taken by any person as a result of reading any part of any issue. The pieces are written for information, entertainment and suggestion – not recommendation. The pursuit of flight or any action reflected by this paper is the responsibility of the individual and not of this paper, its staff or contributors. Opinions expressed are those of the individual author, and not necessarily those of In Flight USA. All editorial and advertising matter in this edition is copyrighted. Reproduction in any way is strictly prohibited without written permission of the publisher. In Flight USA is not liable or in any way responsible for the condition or airworthiness of any aircraft advertised for sale in any edition. By law the airworthiness of any aircraft sold is the responsiblity of the seller and buyer.
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CIVIL AIR PATROL CELEBRATES 74 YEARS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE
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In Flight USA Celebrating 30 Years
January 2016
The U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol turned 74 this December with its 58,000 members poised to celebrate their rich heritage of volunteer service. “What a year it has been!” exclaimed Maj. Gen. Joe Vazquez, CAP’s national commander and chief executive officer. “Last December, shortly after our 73rd anniversary, Civil Air Patrol was presented with a Congressional Gold Medal in honor of our World War II veterans from America’s Greatest Generation,” he said. “The Capitol Hill celebration of the extraordinary contributions of these founding members of CAP showcased our proud legacy of sacrifice and service.” CAP was founded on Dec. 1, 1941, less than a week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor led to America’s involvement in World War II. Its members quickly proved their worth by conducting aerial patrols on their own, heroism that discouraged and eventually stopped deadly German U-boat attacks along U.S. coastlines and waterways. The wartime service of CAP’s “subchasers” helped stop the loss of American and Allied merchant vessels, saving the lives of untold thousands of sailors and countless millions of dollars of war materiel destined for the battlefields in Europe and the Pacific. In addition to coastal patrols, CAP aircrews assisted with other essential wartime missions on the home front, such as search and rescue, disaster relief, border patrol, forest fire patrol, target towing
Medical Reform
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Continued from Page 10 be designed to increase awareness and understanding of medical factors that can affect a pilot’s fitness to fly. Under the bill, the FAA will have a year from the date the legislation becomes law to produce a final rule reflecting the legislation’s provisions. If the final rule is not ready within one year of the bill’s enactment, pilots will be allowed to fly under the guidelines set out in the legislation without facing FAA enforcement action. The legislation also directs the FAA to streamline the special issuance medical process and identify additional medical conditions that AMEs can issue medical certificates for without
for military practice and transporting critical supplies. Members also managed hundreds of airports and trained aviators––many of them cadets––for future service in CAP and the military. That legacy lives on in today’s allvolunteer force, which still contributes greatly to America’s defense by providing aerial reconnaissance for homeland security, giving Air Force fighter pilots practice in protecting America’s air space and helping train U.S. military troops for service overseas. CAP members also make a profound difference in more than 1,500 communities across the nation, saving lives through search and rescue and other emergency services and conducting aerospace education and youth programs that help develop the nation’s next generation of leaders. Civil Air Patrol’s contributions to national defense were recognized in August when the U.S. Air Force added the longtime Air Force Auxiliary to its Total Force team. Changes to Air Force doctrine officially made Civil Air Patrol a strategic partner of the Air Force and CAP members “Airmen” when conducting Air Force-assigned missions. The 74th anniversary observance includes an annual “CAP Sunday” activity in which chaplains, character development officers, and other members are encouraged to wear their uniforms to their place of worship. The activity is scheduled for the upcoming weekend, Dec. 4-6. requiring the pilot to go through the special issuance medical process. “As we’ve mentioned previously, EAA members have told us that this is their top priority for our advocacy team,” Pelton said. “While congressional legislation rarely is everything that we asked for, it is broad relief and reform for the vast majority of individuals who want to fly for fun and personal transportation. This is the furthest advancement ever made for this essential aeromedical reform.” For more information about the legislation and how it pertains to you, visit EAA’s frequently asked questions (www.eaa.org) regarding third-class medical reform.
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AN INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR STEVEN A. RUFFIN
January 2016
www.inflightusa.com
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By Mark Rhodes
uthor, Aviation Historian, and Pilot, Steven Ruffin, has recently come out with one of the really fascinating aviation reads in recent memory: Flights of No Return: Aviation History’s Most Infamous One-Way Tickets to Immortality (Zenith Press). As the title implies, the work focuses on the somewhat taboo subject matter (at least with pilots) of flights that didn’t make it for one reason or another. Readers credit Author Ruffin’s storytelling prowess, pacing, and use of surprisingly broad subject matter to spin gold out of the potentially grim subject matter. In Flight’s Mark Rhodes was fortunate enough to correspond with Mr. Ruffin via email about his interest in the subject matter, the nature of the stories that comprise his book, and his own takeaway from these tales as an aviator. In Flight USA: Despite the intriguing nature of the book’s theme, one might think that as a pilot you would avoid this kind of subject matter. What about these tales of flights gone wrong drew you to the telling of them? Steven Ruffin: “It’s true that pilots usually avoid dwelling on the inherent dangers of flying. Instead, they tend to concentrate on taking every measure they can to minimize those dangers. Yet, it’s undeniable that “flights of no return” have always been a part of aviation. They were the failures that paved the way for later successes. They helped extend the boundaries of flight, and though these flights ended tragically, they served the important purpose of exposing deficiencies so they could be corrected. In other words, the lessons learned from aviation’s failures contributed to modern manned flight being as safe as it is today. For that reason, these true stories – many of which involved fascinating people and had a unique, even bizarre or eerie, twist – are worth telling, and I think, worth reading.” IF USA: What was the biggest surprise for you in researching the stories that comprise your book? SR: “As a lifelong student of aviation history, I thought I pretty much knew it all, but I was wrong. I spent several months researching each flight of no return that made the cut for this book, and I found some things that not only surprised me but will also surprise many readers. For example, I learned from a recently discovered document that the
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U.S. Coast Guard secretly retrieved pieces of what may have been Nungesser and Coli’s airplane, soon after it went missing, yet apparently never bothered to make it public. Another long-hidden piece of evidence recently surfaced about Congressman Hale Boggs’ lost flight. It shows that a secret informant provided information to the FBI on the location of Boggs’ downed plane that may never have been acted upon. Another fascinating tidbit that a fellow researcher shared with me was a letter written by the mother-in-law of the missing pilot of the U.S. Navy “ghost blimp” L-8. In this letter, which she sent to the Navy some four years after he was declared dead, she reported encountering him in Phoenix, Ariz. These are verifiable facts that have potential historical significance, yet I had never heard about them before.” IF USA: Quite naturally the account of Amelia Earhart’s “lost” flight” is recounted in your book. Despite the often-told nature of this mysterious disappearance, did you uncover anything “new” or something that surprised you? SR: “As you suggest, the Earhart story – tragically fascinating as it is – has been covered from just about every possible angle since she went missing in 1937. And yet, new findings about her mysterious disappearance still make headlines on a regular basis – be it sonar images of the ocean floor or a human bone or piece of aircraft aluminum turning up on an island near where she was thought to have crashed. One recent theory I found intriguing proposes that Earhart and navigator Noonan ended up on a deserted island, where they died and Continued on Page 14
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Continued from Page 13 giant coconut crabs consumed their bodies. I covered all the latest findings in some detail but suffice it to say, her disappearance is still a mystery. I was particularly impressed with the sheer number of books – dozens – that have been written about Earhart’s last flight. Most are by reputable authors and researchers, and as a group, they propose many different, yet logical, theories to explain her loss. It boggles the mind, for example, to read eyewitness accounts of the two lost fliers ending up as Japanese prisoners, or about Earhart’s own mother believing that her daughter had secretly been spying on Japan, or that Amelia may have returned to the United States to die of old age as a New Jersey housewife. I hate to admit it, but I almost hope this fascinating mystery is never solved.” IF USA: The stories are categorized into sections (i.e. “When Luck Runs Out”), but the nature of the stories varies a great deal, touching on UFO mythology, polar exploration, conspiracy theories, and so on. Having said that, did you detect a single thread running through all of these tales? SR: “Yes, there was unquestionably a recurring theme in all these stories; namely, the unpredictable nature of flight, made more so by human shortcomings. None of the pilots involved in the flights I described were unskilled or careless. In fact, nearly all were highly proficient, experienced, and well trained. Yet, in spite of this, they failed to reach their intended destinations. Some made a subtle but deadly mistake, others fell victim to criminal behavior, but a few failed for reasons still unknown or completely out of their control. All airmen occasionally make bad decisions that can result in disaster. However, the unforgiving and capricious nature of flight dictates that things can go wrong with or without avoidable mistakes being made. This was apparent in each of the flights I described.” IF USA: All of the stories are pretty riveting; was there one (or more) stories that really made an impression on you? SR: “Every single story had a sobering effect on me. As I delved into the facts behind these brave and skillful aviators – most of who paid with their lives for mistakes anyone could have made or for reasons beyond their control – I could only think, “There but for the grace of God go I.” Though every one of the 20+ flights I chronicle in my book involves tragedy, one that especially bothered me was that of Steve Fossett. Here was the world’s most accomplished pilot out for a ‘Sunday drive,’ as his wife called it, flying one of the safest airplanes ever built, in clear weather. Yet, he crashed to his death. Was it overconfidence on his part,
Author Steven A. Ruffin
did he make a critical mistake, or was it simply fate? You come away from this story realizing that if it could happen to him, it could happen to anyone – including yourself.” IF USA: As a pilot, what was the take away for you from these tales? SR: “In spite of the grim outcome of the flights I described, flying has never been safer. In fact, a recent MIT statistical analysis showed that commercial flight is literally safer than walking down the sidewalk. Technological advancements in aviation that employ a myriad of procedural and engineering redundancies have almost completely eliminated any possibility for disaster. In spite of this, however, some degree of risk still exists and always will, simply because the humans involved in aviation are – like all humans – imperfect. The stories in Flights of No Return demonstrate vividly that pilots must always recognize that cutting corners and taking risks can and will thwart the entire safety mechanism that is designed to protect them. The slightest error in judgment or the smallest oversight can lead to disaster, so flight should only be accomplished with meticulous attention to safety.” IF USA: Did the number of aviation incidents in recent history surprise you? Were there some you left out, and if so, are you considering a sequel? SR: “Yes, after I started looking into the topic, I was amazed at the number of interesting and historic flights of no return from which I had to choose. In fact, my most difficult task was deciding which stories to describe. To help with that, I formulated a set of criteria that I followed. This ensured unique stories covering the entire span of aviation history, in war and peace, in all types of aircraft, and in all kinds of circumstances. Naturally, I had to leave out many interesting and historic failed flights that I wanted to include, and even today, I keep finding ‘new’ ones. Now that you mention it, maybe I should consider a sequel. I have a whole list of fascinating flights just waiting for me to investigate further. It’s all so very fascinating.”
January 2016
www.inflightusa.com
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WINTER FLYING IS A FUN UNIQUE EXPERIENCE
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In Flight USA Celebrating 30 Years
AND
January 2016
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Please remember that winter flying introduces additional safety issues that should be considered. With humidity and temperatures going down, particular attention should be paid to aircraft fitted with Wooden Propellers. Please review the safety notices posted at the link below for your aircraft type, with particular attention to: SN-009, SN-018, and SN-035 YMF-5 Aircraft Support: www.wacoaircraft.com/ymf-support 2T-1A-2 Support: www.wacoaircraft.com /great-lakes-support
Winter Tips from WACO and AOPA
• If flying solo, cover the front cockpit to allow all the heat to the pilot, and limiting any wind buffet. • If your aircraft isn’t hangared (a Cardinal sin, by the way!), make sure the wings and cowling are free of any contaminants like frost or snow/ice prior to flight. • Keep the battery fully charged using a battery minder. • Because of contraction and expansion caused by temperature/humidity changes, control cables and propellers should be checked and adjusted to compensate for those changes. Your airframe and powerplant mechanic should check the tension and make any adjustments needed. • Keep the airplane in a heated hangar or use an electric preheating system avail-
able from Tanis or Reiff. We do not recommend using a propane (gas) type heater. • Warm up the engine––allow the engine oil to warm up to proper operation temperatures before flight. • Remove the airplane’s wheel pants, and inspect/remove any debris. Ice and slush can collect under the pants and cause the wheels to lock up when you land. • When taxiing, look out for ice. Check the brakes so you know that you can stop when doing your run-up. Attempting to perform a run-up on ice can result in sliding out of control. • Weather: Always get a complete weather briefing and perhaps an update before your proposed flight. This sounds like a no-brainer, we realize, but many pilots find themselves surprised by weather conditions they were not expecting. If you have trouble interpreting a text-based report, don’t hesitate to call a flight briefer at 800-WX-BRIEF (800/992-7433.) • The YMF-5 and Great Lakes 2T1A-2 are not approved for flight into icing conditions. • Dress warmly. Pack a snack bar for pilot fuel. Enjoy the flight!
THIRD-CLASS MEDICAL REFORM GAINING MOMENTUM
Senate Committee Passes Pilot's Bill Of Rights 2
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has passed S. 571, better known as the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 (PBR2), which will now go to the full Senate for consideration. The bill has strong bipartisan support in both the Senate, where it has 70 cosponsors, and in the House, where it has 151 cosponsors. “This is great news for the pilot community because it brings us closer than ever to meaningful third class medical reform,” said AOPA President Mark Baker. “Bringing the legislation this far has required persistence and compromise in order to get the very best possible deal for pilots while winning the support needed to
keep medical reform on the table. This action signals that lawmakers are continuing to move legislation that will help hundreds of thousands of pilots fly safely while saving them millions of dollars and countless hours now wasted on the medical certification process. This legislation moves the responsibility for managing many health issues out of the FAA’s bureaucracy and puts it in the hands of pilots where it belongs. The Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 frees pilots to work with their personal physicians to manage their own health, wellness, and fitness to fly.” For more information, read AOPA’s story and frequently asked questions regarding third-class medical reform.
January 2016
Contrails
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by Steve Weaver
www.inflightusa.com
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GRABBING THE MAIL
s a boy, my isolation from aviation was pretty complete. We lived in the country, miles from any airport, and additionally we had no family car for transport, even to Simpson Field, the small airport that served our area. I received my inspiration and enthusiasm for aviation only from the airplanes that flew over our farm, mostly in the form or Cubs and Champ’s from the local airport. Simpson had an active flight school, where they trained returned veterans on the GI Bill of Rights, and occasionally the hamlet of Arden would be treated to a buzz job, as one of the students tried to blow the roof from his mother’s house. Of course I lived for these moments, but they were infrequent and impossible to anticipate, so sadly I would sometimes run from the house only to see the tail of the offending airplane disappearing over the mountain behind our house. There was one aviation event that I could depend on attending though. Every afternoon around three o’clock the airmail airplane would fly north bound over our house, fresh from it’s pickup at Philippi, its radial engine laboring in the climb and sometimes as a bonus, the mail bag would still be in the process of being reeled in. Be still my heart. To have been so radical and innovative at the time, few people today are familiar with this chapter in U.S. Airmail history. In the ‘20s the pioneers who flew the early airmail routes across the country quickly captured the public’s imagination and excitement, but by the late ‘30s, the approaching war clouds seemed to have obscured the development of the airborne air mail pick up and delivery system. In the 1930s, postal officials decided to test the feasibility of inaugurating airmail service in areas without adequate railway or highway mail links.
Unfortunately, the towns that needed this type of service usually did not have adequate landing fields for planes. Although a low-flying airplane could easily dump a sack of mail onto the ground, the difficult part would be getting ground mail into the moving plane. The Railway Mail Service’s successful on-thefly mail exchange system provided the inspiration for an aviation experiment. Mail would be “caught” by a plane flying overhead and reeled up into the plane. Stinson Reliant monoplanes were used in 1939 to test a unique airmail service for communities that did not have landing fields. Mail was loaded into a container, which was then placed on top of a contraption resembling a goal post. At the top of each pole was a small direction flag, which showed the pilot, the prevailing wind direction, and a pincer, which was used to keep the 60-foot long noose attached to the mail canister in place. Postal officials realized that throwing the mail out of a passing airplane wasn’t going to be easy either. A simple mail sack wasn’t going to be sufficient because it would be prone to fall in a random direction depending on the wind. A weighted holder was needed. But, if the canister were too heavy, it would cause significant damage if it hit something when it fell. Then too, the canister holding the mail had to be able to survive repeated drops. Various different styles of receptacles were tested. Ultimately a hollow, rubber design, resembling the nose cone of a rocket, was chosen. The plane that was initially used was a single engine Stinson aircraft, capable of operating at speeds of approximately 150 miles per hour. The crew consisted of the pilot and a flight officer who worked the pick-up mechanism, making the mail exchange. To deliver the mail, the flight officer
lowered the mail container out of the bottom of the aircraft through a special opening. Just before reaching the poles, he released the canister. Almost at the same instant an arm was lowered. The grappling hook snagged the hanging mail pouch then slid down the arm and caught the noose. Once the catch was made, the flight officer activated the winding mechanism to reel the mail canister into the plane. The method of exchanging mail in transit was adopted for experimental airmail routes in Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and West Virginia. In all, more than 150 post offices were served. This style of pick up and delivery service began on May 12, 1939. The mail contractor that used the service was All American Airways Company. (Which later became known as Allegheny Airlines and is now USAir). The experimental routes covered 1,040 miles. During the first year of operation, more than 23,000 pick-ups were made, amounting to 75,000 pounds of mail. The service was used in those areas for about 10 years.
Cincinnati Post Story April 15, 1941
Cincinnati will become a terminal point for a pick-up airmail service to cities and towns throughout Ohio if the Civil Aeronautics Board approves application files at Washington Tuesday by the All American Aviation Co., Wilmington, Del. The pick-up service does not require a landing. The company’s planes will swoop down over a field and pick up the mail sacks while in flight. Local officials have not received word of the proposed service. However, an official of the American Airlines said the pick-up service would not interfere with its airmail contract here.
Early airmail.
Airmail 1949. Other terminals of the proposed service would be at Columbus, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh. The company asked to extend its service to 32 other Ohio cities and towns as follows: Youngstown, Delaware, Marion, Bucyrus, Galion, Mansfield, Lancaster, Circleville, Chillicothe, Washington Court House, Newark, Zanesville, Cambridge, Coshocton, New Philadelphia, Dover, Carrollton, East Liverpool, Xenia, Middletown, Hamilton, Niles, Warren, Ravenna, Salem, Alliance, Canton, Massillon, Wilmington, and Wooster.
Editorial: General Aviation and National Security
Continued from Page 9 ror tool. GA airports typically do not offer terrorists the opportunity for mass murder. However, one cannot forget that the monsters of 911 did use GA as a means of carrying out their end game, and it is my guess that there were suspicions by those who flew with them, possibly quelled by politeness or political correctness. The TSA demands that CFIs treat all new students with suspicion, requiring new students to prove citizenship with a
birth certificate or passport. They must also have a government (State or Federal) photo issued ID. Strict logbook endorsements are demanded as well as record keeping. Advanced pilot ratings also require the ID process, with records maintained. Foreign nationals undergo significant background checks, with specific authorization issues to the CFI and foreign student before training can begin (up to a six month process). A CFI teaching a foreign national is
registered with the TAS and can be ordered to stop training. Large flight schools follow complex procedures when dealing with foreign nationals. The TSA phone number for General Aviation previously listed has several links into general information important to CFIs. Given the important responsibilities placed on CFIs, even this writer must employ detailed identification protocols for all attendees when teaching a FIRC. Aviation Seminars, the company I
work with as a FIRC instructor, includes TSA training in their program, an important benefit to attendees. Security is an important issue. You, as a pilot, are a first line of defense with respect to making sure some ideologically driven murderer does not pervert our passion for flying to carry out yet another atrocity. Give it some thought, and then do your part. Let’s make sure future headlines read, “Terror Plot Stopped by Alert Pilot,” versus “They Never saw it Coming.”
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GAMA CELEBRATES SIGNING OF SMALL AIRPLANE REVITALIZATION ACT INTO LAW In Flight USA Celebrating 30 Years
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) recently hailed President Obama’s signing of the Small Airplane Revitalization Act into law. The legislation—which was introduced in May in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Mike Pompeo (R-KS), Sam Graves (R-MO),
Dan Lipinski (D-IL), Rick Nolan (DMN), and Todd Rokita (R-IN), and in the U.S. Senate by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)— required the FAA to implement the recommendations of the FAA’s Part 23 Reorganization Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) by Dec. 31, 2015.
January 2016
Recommendations are focused on increasing safety and reducing government and industry certification costs for light general aviation (GA) airplanes. The legislation unanimously passed the Senate in October and the House in November. “We applaud President Obama for
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making the Small Airplane Revitalization Act the law of the land today,” GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce said. “The tremendous support this law enjoyed in Congress, and the speed with which it moved through the legislative process, demonstrates a bipartisan commitment to safety, as well as a recognition that the FAA’s overly bureaucratic, outdated, and prescriptive regulations must change. We appreciate the widespread support among members of Congress for this landmark legislation and want to especially thank the bill’s lead sponsors, Congressman Pompeo and Senator Klobuchar, for their leadership and commitment in ensuring this bill reached the President’s desk. This law is a win for the government as well as general aviation airframers and suppliers, but more importantly, for the general aviation pilots and passengers who will be able to benefit more rapidly from new safetyenhancing technologies.”
EMBRY-RIDDLE TO OFFER ONLINE AIRPORT PLANNING CERTIFICATE
Planning for safe and efficient airports has become increasingly challenging in recent years. Demands to do more with less, ever-changing security threats, and passenger movement are among the issues airport planners need to address when building new facilities. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Worldwide will launch its online Airport Planning, Design, and Development Certificate in January with courses in Airport Planning and Design and Airport Security. Designed for people working in roles such as airport planners and directors, air traffic controllers, and airline managers, the certificate features six courses. Future offerings include Airport Safety and Certification; Terminal Planning; Airport Sustainability and Environmental Management; and Talent Acquisition and Workforce Planning. Leading the Airport Planning course is Shawn Arena, A.A.E. Arena, a 27-year veteran of the airport industry, has worked in management positions at both commercial and general aviation airContinued on Page 19
January 2016
DRONES ARE COMING
The U.S. Sport Aviation Expo is excited to announce that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) … aka drones … will be on display at Expo 2016. The drones will be exhibited and demonstrated inside Hangar 60 in an area designated as the “Drone Home.” Exhibits inside the hangar will flank a flight demonstration cage approximately 24 feet wide by 48 feet long by 24 feet high. Bleachers will provide an observation area for the general public. Narrated flight demonstrations will be held twice daily, at 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., with open flying available throughout the remainder of the show hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The drone display will culminate with a UAV Pizza Delivery competition on Saturday, Jan. 23, beginning at 3:00 p.m. A special focus for Expo 2016 involves encouraging young people to participate in aviation. To that end, students (accompanied by an adult) will be allowed free admission to the Expo on Saturday, Jan. 23.
Embry-Riddle
Continued from Page 18 ports. An Accredited Airport Executive, he is active on local, regional, and national professional airport boards. Dr. Daniel Benny, program chair for Embry-Riddle Worldwide’s Bachelor of Science in Aviation Security, will teach aviation security. Benny’s experience includes service as a Naval Intelligence Officer and work in federal law enforcement. He is a Certified Protection Professional and Certified Aviation Security Professional. For more information or to register for January’s Airport Planning and Design and Airport Security courses, visit http://proed.erau.edu/programs/aviationmanagement/airport-planningdesign/index.html.
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TO
EXPO 2016!
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The historic Sebring Regional Airport served as a B-17 pilot training base during World War II, with Hangar 60 operating as a maintenance hangar for the training aircraft stationed on the base. The Expo staff is excited to introduce the latest in drone technology to its visitors in this historic building, providing the prop-
er perspective of how drones will be used in the future to improve industry, agriculture, and other aspects of our lives … as well as to provide a safe and affordable way to enjoy the marvels of flight. To register to exhibit at the 2016 Sebring Expo, visit www.sportaviation expo.com/exhibitor-application.
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For complete Expo information, visit www.sportaviationexpo, “like” U.S. Sport Aviation Expo at Facebook.com/ SportAviationExpo, or follow the event’s updates on Twitter (@USAviationExpo) and Instagram (@SportAviationExpo). Find 20,000+ reasons to fly at SocialFlight.com.
ROME, GA’S BIG WIN – WINGS OVER NORTH GEORGIA AIR SHOW TO HOST THE USAF THUNDERBIRDS IN 2016, U.S. NAVY BLUE ANGELS IN 2017
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In Flight USA Celebrating 30 Years
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds and United States Navy Blue Angels military demonstration squadrons announced their 2016 and 2017 air show schedules during this year’s International Council of Air Shows convention. The squadrons selected Rome, Ga. and the Wings Over North Georgia Airshow as one of the host sites for the upcoming 2016 and 2017 seasons. On Oct. 29-30, 2016, the fifth annual air
show held at Richard Russell Regional Airport will serve as the temporary home for the Thunderbirds. The Blue Angels will make their inaugural appearance during the 2017 WONG air show. Air show organizers also proudly announced the 2016 Smoke-andThunder concert headliner. Country music recording artist, Travis Tritt, will be the featured musical act next fall, coheadlining with the Thunderbirds.
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“After months of planning and hard work, inclement weather forced us to cancel Saturday’s airshow activities in 2015. We were thankful to hold a Sunday air show, however, hosting the USAF Thunderbirds with Travis Tritt next year will be the best medicine available for any disappointed fans unable to fully experience a premiere airshow. We are excited and thrilled we were selected as a show site for both the Air Force Thunderbirds and Navy Blue Angels,” said John Cowman, JLC AirShow Management President. “Very few shows throughout our country and internationally receive this great honor. We are so proud to be selected to host the world’s two premiere military jet teams for backto-back airshow seasons. We’re thankful we can share these programs with the residents of Floyd County and the Northwest Georgia region. The Thunderbirds will fly their sixsignature red, white, and blue F-16 Falcons, which will be accompanied by an elite group of world-class civilian performers. The USAF Thunderbirds are internationally known for their hardcharging demonstration of precision formation flying, pushing their F-16 Fighting
Falcons to the limit. Known as “America’s Ambassadors in Blue,” the Thunderbirds have traveled throughout the world, performing before millions of spectators. Their precise flying routines make the Thunderbirds a must see at 2016 Wings Over North Georgia airshow. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels jet demonstration team will serve as the perfect encore as headliners for the 2017 air show on Oct. 28-29. The always recognizable blue and gold Navy F/A-18 Hornets and C-130 Hercules, affectionately known as Fat Albert, will take to the skies to perform a variety of high-speed, aerobatic, precision-maneuvers during their hour-long flight demonstration. The 2016 airshow activities will also include the KCBS sanctioned Smoke-nThunder BBQ Classic “DOUBLE” competition, fireworks display, and a general aviation fly-in. The full lineup of performers and artists will be unveiled in late 2015. Advance tickets, sponsorship opportunities, and exhibitor information are currently available at www.WingsOverNorthGeorgia.com. Fans can register online or follow our Facebook page to receive updates for the 2016 event weekend.
Key concepts related to unmanned aerospace systems (UAS)/recreational drones will be covered during a free online course being offered by EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University – Worldwide in January. The massive open online course (MOOC), “ Unmanned Aerospace Systems (UAS) - Key Concepts for New Users,” runs from Jan. 11 to 24. Registration opened Dec. 8. The increasing popularity of UAS/recreational drones has created new safety challenges within the National Airspace System (NAS). Led by EmbryRiddle Worldwide faculty, the MOOC will address airspace issues – along with
UAS basics, UAS operating environment, and the do’s and don’ts of UAS/recreational drone operations. MOOCs are another way EmbryRiddle Worldwide provides flexible instruction to students around the world. These courses let students work on assignments based on their own schedules and offer an online learning platform that encourages student interaction through discussion boards and social media platforms such as Twitter. To learn more about the MOOC at Embry-Riddle Worldwide, visit http://worldwide.erau.edu/degrees-programs/free-online-courses/index.html.
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY – WORLDWIDE TO OFFER FREE ONLINE UAS COURSE FOR NEW USERS
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ADVENTURES
January 2016
OF
GLENN CURTISS
www.inflightusa.com
An Exciting Memorial Museum for the Entire Family
The outside of the Glenn Curtiss Museum welcomes visitors. (Courtesy Glenn Curtiss Museum)
A
By Annamarie Buonocore
viation museums are a great way to relax and explore the rich history of aircraft in the United States and the world. These museums are hands-on, educational, and offer something for all different age groups. Because these rich, sophisticated environments offer so much, they make for perfect family or social outings on any day. They are the perfect balance of fun and educational growth, but which one should you visit first? In Flight USA recently had the pleasure of talking to Traff Doherty, the executive director of the Glenn Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport, N.Y. This large aviation museum is loaded with history and hands-on activities and is sure to make for a great day for the entire family. “I hear a lot of comments from visitors about how little they knew about Curtiss, or how some of them did not know anything whatsoever, so when it comes to highlighting the life of Glenn Curtiss, I think the museum is very effective,” said Doherty. Named for Hammondsport’s local hero and pioneer aviator, the museum is conveniently located along Route 54. Inside, visitors will find a valuable collection of aviation and local history, a 75seat theater, and a gift shop full of aviation souvenirs, including books, clothing, and airplane models. After walking the historically rich exhibition halls, visitors are welcome to visit the Restoration workshop where they can talk to volunteer craftsman and learn more about how historic aircraft once operated. This oneof-a-kind workshop and all of the exhibit halls are sure to be educational to young and old visitors alike. To make the restoration workshop
The entry way to the Glenn Curtiss Museum. (Courtesy Glenn Curtiss Museum)
more interesting, the museum has recently announced its restoration of the historic World War II-era Curtiss P-40 aircraft. Volunteers completed the entire restoration process. This P-40 aircraft was one of two planes that went down in a swamp after a mid-air collision while flying over the Florida Everglades in 1943. The Glenn Curtiss museum acquired the wreckage a few years ago and is working to place these unique aircraft on display at the museum. The museum’s namesake, Glenn Curtiss, was a Hammondsport local hero who won worldwide recognition as a pilot and aircraft builder in the 1900s. He was the recipient of the Gordon Bennett Trophy for speed at the First International Aviation Meet in Relms, France. During this race, he reached breathtaking speeds of 46.5 MPH. He won numerous awards in the 1900s, making him a worldfamous pilot known for speed. Today he is known as the father of naval aviation and a pioneer in the seaplane industry. With a floor plan large enough to accommodate major social events, the museum features exhibits on World War II history, local history, and Glenn Curtiss’s other passion, motorcycles. At this museum, the public can find access to a large aviation library as well as historical archives dating back to the 1900s. The children’s interactive center provides Continued on Page 22
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PENTAGON SAYS F-35 PROGRAM ON THE RIGHT TRACK
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In Flight USA Celebrating 30 Years
By Mitch Shaw
Hilltop Times Correspondent (USAF)
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Lockheed Martin and the Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Office say they’ve finished delivering jets for 2015, increasing their yield from last year by 25 percent. Joe DellaVedova, a spokesman with the F-35 office at the Pentagon, said 45 F35s were delivered, which met Lockheed and the program office’s delivery goal for the year and exceeded last year’s deliveries by nine jets. “Meeting aircraft production goals is a critical stepping stone in demonstrating the program is ready for the expected significant production ramp up,” Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan, the F-35 program’s executive officer, said in a press release. Lorraine Martin, Lockheed’s F-35 program general manager, said the 2015 deliveries were “a clear demonstration of our growing maturity and stability.” The performance boost represents good news for Hill Air Force Base, which accepted its first two jets in September and will continue to count on a steady income of fighters until 2019 to fill three F-35 squadrons. Base spokesman, Rich Essary, said it has received a total five jets so far, with
January 2016
the next one scheduled to arrive in January. Essary said the plan is for Hill AFB to continue to accept jets at a rate of one or two each month until they receive their full allotment of 72. By Aug. 2016, the base hopes to have 15 jets in place in order to reach what the Air Force calls “initial operational capability,” which means Hill AFB has met the minimum goal to use the jets for normal operations. On Dec. 11, Maj. Jayson Rickard, a reservist with the 466th Fighter Squadron, flew the 100th F-35 sortie at Hill AFB since the first combat aircraft arrived in September. Of the 45 jets delivered in 2015, the lion’s share has gone to the Air Force, which has received 26 F-35As. The Marine Corps received eight F-35Bs and the Marines and the Navy each accepted four F-35Cs, which can take off and land vertically from aircraft carriers. DellaVedova said 154 operational F35s have been delivered to the Department of Defense and partner nations since the program’s inception. The fleet has more than 45,000 flight hours. The multirole fighter will eventually replace the Air Force’s entire fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons and A-10 Thunderbolt IIs.
Adventures of Glenn Curtiss
Continued from Page 21 a hands-on experience that teaches children the inner workings of aircraft operations. All of this makes for a great local treasure and an intriguing tourist attraction. “I like watching the responses from our visitors. We have a tremendous response on TripAdvisor, and this is based on their impressions, so I enjoy meeting with the museum public. We listen carefully to what they say,” said Doherty. Past visitors and friendly staff highly recommend a visit to this museum. Whether you are looking for a perfect day out with your family or are looking for an educational center to learn more about the history of aviation, the Glenn Curtiss Museum has something for you. Winter hours from November 1 to April 30 are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is nominal: $10.00 for adults, $8.00 for seniors over 65, $7.00 for students ages seven to 18, and free for children six and under. In addition to being ideal for family
The inside restoration workshop of the Glenn Curtiss Museum where volunteers clean up the wreckage of historic aircraft (Courtesy Glenn Curtiss Museum)
visits, the museum also offers educational programs for school trips, classes, and guided private tours. The museum seeks volunteers and can always benefit from donations. The membership program also has a great deal to offer with frequent newsletters and email updates that keep members up to date with museum happenings. For more information or to get involved, please visit www.glennhcurtissmuseum.org. The next time you are in the New York region, stop by this intriguing hidden treasure in the world of aviation.
January 2016
F
BOB HOOVER
By Jim Campbell, ANN/ Tanstaafl, Ltd.
or all the battles one WWII Hero and legendary aviator fought, it was the battle that he was forced to take on with the Federal Aviation Administration, that still bothers him some 20 years after the fact… Robert A “Bob” Hoover, 93, known worldwide as one of the greatest flyers of all time should be enjoying a quiet semiretirement after a life well lived in service to his country and his fellow aviators. But not so much… Hoover’s accomplishments are world renowned… even to the point where Brigadier General (Ret.) Chuck Yeager called him the best pilot he’d ever seen. Hoover’s exploits were many… including a thrilling WWII escape from a German POW camp, made possible by his theft of a Luftwaffe fighter plane to make his way to freedom. After a stellar career as a test pilot involved in shepherding some of this nation’s most important airframes into history, including his support of the early Bell X-1 Mach flight, Hoover further distinguished himself as an airshow pilot demonstrating a number of unique craft… flying them in ways that remain
TO THE
FAA: THE FIGHT’S NOT OVER
www.inflightusa.com
unequaled by any other performer. However, in 1992, when the FAA was trying to provide justification for rules that virtually grounded every airline pilot past the age of 60, it was often pointed out that Hoover’s amazing airshow performances, being flown while he was still in his 70s, pretty much negated and/or belittled the FAA’s position on the “Age 60” rule. During a June 1992 performance in Oklahoma City, Okla., two FAA inspectors allegedly seeking to “bust somebody famous” filed a report (later contested by every airshow performer who was there, and a fellow FAA inspector) that called into question Hoover’s abilities as a pilot, as well as his reasoning and social skills. Bob went on to fly 33 more airshows, in front of hundreds of thousands of people without a scratch (or a peep from the FAA), before the FAA issued an inexplicable “Emergency” order grounding him immediately – well over a year after the OKC show that started the action. Despite the fact that Bob’s flying privileges, including his amazing airshow performances, were otherwise unrestricted in a number of countries around the world (even after a cautious reexamination – medical and aeronautical in countries as far away as Australia), the FAA persisted
in its course… despite a growing chorus of criticism and expert disapproval. What followed became a three-year struggle for Hoover. It developed into an immense industry-wide protest of a scope that had never been seen before… or since. After millions of dollars, tremendous personal embarrassment, and no small amount of legal maneuvering, the FAA relented and restored Bob’s privileges – to the delight of flyers everywhere. While Bob was pleased to be vindicated, the matter still leaves him unsettled, “What happened was wrong… and what happened to me is still happening, every day, to aviators everywhere who did not have the expert help I had.” “This is America, and my sense of patriotism requires me to question authority and right the wrongs I see… and the way that FAA deals with pilots, for even the slightest problem or infraction, seems like such a great wrong. I just won’t have it. Twenty years ago, we won my battle but lost the war for every other pilot… and I’m determined to see changes come about so that every pilot in the U.S. is treated as every American should be.” As a result of this concern, Bob started discussions last year with the Author of the definitive book about his fight with
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the FAA, Air of Injustice. Bob asked him to assemble a team capable of using all the extraordinary tools available as part of the NewMedia revolution to take on a definitive long-form documentary. This effort will not only chronicle what happened in the FAA v. Bob Hoover action but will undertake an examination of the opportunities available to re-craft a more just, representative future for the flyers of today… and tomorrow. Work has already commenced on this aggressive examination of the FAA v. Bob Hoover fight, the corrective actions that should have been taken once Bob won back his right to fly, and what needs to be done now and in the future, including an examination of the Pilot’s Bill of Rights campaign that is now in its second of several steps toward rebuilding the aviation community.
About The Documentary Team
TANSTAAFL Ltd. is the documentary arm of the Aero-News Network (ANN). ANN is a leading St. Augustine, Fla.-based news organization covering the aviation and aerospace world. ANN’s Airborne Unlimited is the Internet’s only daily video news program dedicated to the entire Aviation and Aerospace community.
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In Flight USA Celebrating 31 Years
THE BURPING
W h a t’ s U p ! ?
M
aybe we should change the names of the season and months. Everything seems to revolve around food. Guess how many eating holidays we have between November and December... go on, guess! I know you didn’t count them. You’re still burping. (hic) No, I don’t have the exact answer, but my fridge is about to explode. It might be the only time weight and balance is really checked by the PICs. We always have a variety of snacks on any cross-country flight, even if we’re in the pattern.
Good News on the Medical Front
I’m just not sure for whom... AOPA Online can tell you more; but that’s where I got this information on third-class medical. We had been hoping the third class medical would be completely eliminated, but not so. The need for a third class medical has been significantly downgraded, with conditions that will allow many to fly without a medical. The details are a bit confusing so visit AOPA online for the full scoop. I’ve been preaching about this for years and did not see light at the end of the tunnel until now. Of course, my budget is somewhat smaller, but my spirit is just as big. I’ve got my fingers crossed that I get to be right on this one. I might even buy you a drink. You’ve got to read this, once again, AOPA is right on top of the latest medical issues, and they’ll answer any questions
“PIONEERS
IS
NOW OVER!
you might have. I certainly offer my sincerest thanks that they keep us in the loop. Find some time to read this whole article at www.aopa.org/News-andVideo/All-News/2015/December/15/ Full-Senate-passes-medical-reform
Alaska Considers Increasing Fuel Tax (Don’t you just love this headline?)
Because of the dramatically low price of crude oil, Alaska is facing a budget shortfall in excess of three billion dollars. Consequently, the state government is looking for ways to decrease services or find supplemental streams of revenue. For the complete story, visit www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/AllNews/2015/December/03/Alaska-considers-increasing-fuel-tax.
Headlines!
There must be an epidemic regarding flying accidents, and there are too many coincidences. They all seem to involve what I call regional or local flights, but there are too many unknown elements that are really troubling me…but the fatality rate is just too darned high. We don’t have real weather out here on the west coast, maybe some rain, a little wind, but nothing like the storms on the other coast. No, they didn’t run out of gas. I’m going to dig into the facts and see if we can all learn something. These general aviation accidents have created a lot of questions, but we’re
OF
January 2016
missing the answers, and that’s what will create or make the changes we obviously have to make. I did know some of the flight crews and certainly the routes they were flying. In these cases, that hurts me more than it helps. My list of questions just gets longer. Look for some answers here in a few weeks... they will appear I’m sure. Not that anyone has asked me, but some of the questions go like this, “Larry, it was low level, he was going really slow, the airplanes were not high performance,” and it goes on from there... Regrettably flying accidents are no stranger to me. I’m writing this column sitting in my wheelchair, due to a crash that should have killed me, but it didn’t… no, I’m not telling you why, but you are welcome to contact me, and I will spill the beans. Write this down... no one needs to die in the crash of a light GA aircraft flying less than 200 kts. Here’s my thought for the day – “Use your head and think!” I know I’ve used this term before, but I am going to use it again. Controlled crashes are survivable, and I’m proof. Those of you who read my column on a regular basis know that I tell you what I know and that I never lie. Personally, I am troubled by these crashes and even more so because there were lives lost. That always concerns me. Okay, enough of this. Let’s go on to the New Year... no, I’m not going to talk about the drones. If you need to know about them and you’re reading this column to learn, you’re reading the wrong column. I will admit, I am interested in them personally and welcome any com-
Larry Shapiro
ments or questions you might want to send me.
On Final
I never get tired of reminding you that we have lots of warriors, some wearing pants or BDUs and some wearing skirts, but they have much in common. We call them GIs. They are usually alone, their families have different zip codes, and they are usually just by themselves, and meeting new folks is not exactly the frosting on the cake, but it’s still sweet. Taking a moment and looking back, I have some friends that have been in my life for close to 50 years for one reason or another. They are the special gifts in my life. There are plenty of them, and you can have one too. Ask me... I know the secret. Take a minute, create a list of your favorite associates, and then count the months and or years you have known them. This actually is a lot of fun. About the Writer: Larry Shapiro is an aircraft broker, aviation humorist, and grandfather of three and still the semi-best event announcer. Coming to an Airshow near you soon, he hopes. He’d love to have you share your thoughts and ideas for future articles. Palo Alto Airport Office: 916/804-1618 or larry@LarryShapiro.com
STEALTH” RECEIVE 2015 MILTON CANIFF SPIRIT OF FLIGHT AWARD
Group Honored for Low Observables Technology and Development by National Aviation Hall of Fame
The National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) has awarded its 2015 Milton Caniff Spirit of Flight Award to the “Pioneers of Stealth” in recognition of its contributions to the early development of low observables (“stealth”) technology. The annual award, which was established by the NAHF in 1981 and later renamed in tribute to longtime Hall of Fame supporter, Dayton native and acclaimed artist, Milton Caniff, is presented to a group or organization in honor of exceptional contributions to the advancement
of flight. According to the NAHF’s official 2015 award citation, “‘The Pioneers of Stealth’ is a cadre of government and contractor personnel who collectively pioneered the revolutionary discipline of ‘low observable’ aircraft design, development, test, production, operations, and sustainment. Their work was instrumental to the successful development of the B-2, F-117, F-22, F-35, and other aircraft and systems relying on stealth technology, of which much remains classified
today.” The citation and award were formally presented earlier this year by NAHF Board of Trustees Secretary, Fran Duntz, at the Pioneers of Stealth annual reunion held in Williamsburg, Va. Accepting on behalf the Pioneers of Stealth was retired Air Force Colonel Jack Twigg. Col. Twigg led the initial cadre of Air Force engineers and program managers that managed the first low observables projects––Have Blue, Tacit Blue and, later, the F-117. Co-founded in 1990 by Col.
Twigg and Lt. Gen. Dick Scofield, USAF (Ret), the Pioneers of Stealth has approximately 100 members. A 2015 award plaque has been added to the permanent Milton Caniff Spirit of Flight display in the NAHF’s public Learning Center, adjacent to the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The Pioneers of Stealth are now featured among previous annual award recipients such as the Doolittle Raiders, WASPs, Apollo Astronaut Continued on Page 26
AIRMAN HELPS TROUBLED YOUTH “FOCUS”
January 2016
www.inflightusa.com
By Staff Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
E
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(This feature is part of the “Through Airmen’s Eyes” series. These stories focus on individual Airmen, highlighting their Air Force story.) ven while deployed to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, Tech. Sgt. Tyron Fields is making a difference for the youth in his hometown of Charleston, S.C., through a nonprofit mentorship program called “Focus.” The program aims to help direct kids and teenagers who have been in juvenile detention facilities in a positive direction. Born and raised in a rough neighborhood in North Charleston, Fields’ childhood was heavily influenced by violence and drugs. “My life today is very different from what it was,” Fields said. “I grew up in a single-parent household, which was tough on our whole family, especially my mother. I was influenced by my environment, and I made poor choices; unfortunately, what I didn’t realize at the time was that my choices were influencing other, younger kids in my community to do the same.” Eventually focusing his efforts and energy in a more positive direction, Fields joined the Air Force with the encouragement and support of his mother. “I’ve had some great mentors, in and out of the Air Force who have helped me get on the right path and stay on the right path. That was my intent when I started this program,” Fields said. For Fields, the mentorship program is a way to bring positive change to his neighborhood through the positive influence on children within the community. “In my interactions with these kids and teens and from my own experience, I know they feel their options are limited,” he said. “They think that because they made a mistake, that there’s no way to get out from under that. With this program, we try to guide their focus and attention to the positive.” The mentorship program works with mentees to set and accomplish short-term goals. “We live in a day and age of instant gratification,” he said. “I’ve found that the kids need to see results quickly in order for them to stay committed, otherwise they lose interest and hope. Making
25
Tech. Sgt. Tyron Fields, a 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron force protection shift lead, speaks to Airmen during roll call at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Dec. 16, 2015. Fields co-founded a mentorship program aimed to help troubled youth in his hometown of Charleston, S.C. Fields is currently deployed to the 386th AEW in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla) small, realistic, short-term goals like giving back to the community in some form or fashion, working a summer job, or earning a GED (will) keep them focused; when that’s done, they are satisfied with their progress or accomplishment and ready to move to that next goal.” Currently stationed at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, Fields relies heavily on his co-founder, his mother, Sheri Pearson, to ensure the intent of the program is upheld and continues to grow in his absence. “Ideally, I would have loved to be more hands on with the program but being stationed overseas and now on this deployment, there’s only so much I can do,” Fields said. “I conduct weekly mentoring sessions via Skype or over the phone with mentees, and I stay fully connected with organization partners on all things affecting the program.” Approaching its second year since activation, Fields credited his mother and the handful of partnering organizations with the program’s success. “(The program) is still fairly new, but the community has been very receptive. We are incredibly lucky to have the support of local pastors, teachers, and several local business owners,” he said. Juggling military duties and duties associated with co-founding a mentorship program is enough to keep anyone’s plate full, but for Fields, the motivation to continue comes from the best place—the mentees. “Our (mentees) have surpassed Continued on Page 26
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ENGINEERED PROPULSION SYSTEMS LEVERAGES CGI FOR DIESEL AVIATION ENGINE
26
In Flight USA Celebrating 31 Years
January 2016
* Advanced diesel engine specifically designed for aviation applications * Engine testing and aviation authority approval process underway * Flat V8' engine based on a Compacted Graphite Iron cylinder block
DIVORCE – PATERNITY MEN’S RIGHTS If you are Involved in a Divorce or Paternity Case... ...you Should Know That: 1. You may have an excellent chance of obtaining child custody; 2. It’s your child...she doesn’t own it;
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Engineered Propulsion Systems (EPS) has uniquely leveraged the strength and stiffness of Compacted Graphite Iron (CGI), together with a ‘flat V’ engine design, to establish a new benchmark for general aviation applications. Based on a CGI cylinder block, the 4.3-liter, eightcylinder design results in a compact, low profile engine package that provides ease of installation, durability, and low aerodynamic drag. The use of CGI enabled EPS to engineer a clean sheet Aviation Diesel engine that is setting new standards in weight, size, reliability, and most importantly, fuel consumption. Initial testing of the pre-production engine has demonstrated specific power of 105 horsepower per liter (77 kW/l), resulting in an output of 450 horsepower (332 kW). The installed wet weight of the 450-horsepower diesel engine package is within 45 pounds (20 kg) of alternative 350 horsepower (257 kW) air-cooled turbocharged engines currently used in aero applications. Heralded as the potential for a new era in aviation engines, the Graflight aero diesel promises to be more fuel-efficient than any general aviation engine currently on the market. The diesel combustion process, together with the design freedom provided by high strength CGI coupled with steel pistons, enable EPS to realize 30-50 percent lower fuel consumption and emissions compared to conventional aero engines. Flying range and payload
Airman Helps
Continued from Page 25 expectations and continue to grow; it is a great thing to see and be a part of,” he said. “I see part of myself in the eyes of each of them. I’ve seen what they see; I was a child of that environment, so I
are also increased. With the prospect that avgas (leaded aviation gasoline) will be prohibited, the ability of the EPS engine to use widely available and low cost jet and diesel fuels provides a significant global growth opportunity. Engine and flight tests are currently underway, and EPS expects Federal Aviation Authority approvals during 2017. With series production awarded to the Grainger & Worrall foundry in the UK, using the SinterCast process control technology, the engine is intended for use in single and twin engineered aircraft, small helicopters, unmanned military aircraft, and potential marine applications. “Building on our design experience with automotive diesel engines, we knew that Compacted Graphite Iron was the optimal material for the crankcase of our Graflight V8,” said Mr. Michael Fuchs, President of EPS. “The aero-engine industry has been relying on outdated engine technology and fuels for more than 20 years. Our use of modern technologies such as CGI, steel pistons, common rail fuel injection, and electronic engine control form the basis of our competitive advantage, our contribution to the aviation industry, and our market opportunity. Our partnerships for the supply of critical components and technologies, with proven world class suppliers like Grainger & Worrall and SinterCast, are a key element Continued on Page 27 know what it’s like. The Air Force gave me that wake up call to know not only that was I destined for greatness and positivity but that I could bring the youth in my neighborhood with me on the journey; that’s all I’m trying to do.”
Spirit of Flight Award
Continued from Page 24 Crews, and Society of Experimental Test Pilots. The NAHF is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in Dayton in 1962 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1964 with a mission of honoring America’s legends of aerospace to inspire future leaders. Headquartered in Dayton,
Ohio, the NAHF operates a 17,000 square-foot public Learning Center featuring interactive exhibits, a youth education program, its annual enshrinement, and other award ceremonies, as well as a variety of public outreach programs. For more information, visit www.nationalaviation.org or call 937/256-0944 ext.19
FLORIDA WING’S SPARTANS NAMED GRAND CHAMPION AT CAP’S NATIONAL CADET COMPETITION
January 2016
www.inflightusa.com
27
Name You’ve The The Company You’ve Relied on for on overfor 25 22 Years Relied Years Now has a New Name
The Florida Wing’s Spartans started the New Year in grand style, winning the 2015 National Cadet Competition and the Air Force Chief of Staff Sweepstakes Award Trophy that goes to the top Civil Air Patrol cadet team. The 2015 competition was held Dec. 30-Jan. 1 in front of special guests that included senior U.S. Air Force and CAP personnel. “It was a good competition,” said Lt. Col. Grace Edinboro, the activity’s director. “You are all winners!” Cadets participating in the competition reached the national stage by winning group, wing, and regional competitions. Each of CAP’s eight regions were represented, as well as the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, and Virginia. Members of the championship team from Coral Springs, Fla., were Cadet 2nd Lts. Michael Cassell and Santiago Ledesma, Cadet Master Sgt. Andres Fonseca, Cadet Staff Sgts. Kenneth
Lasseter and Pedro Turmero and Cadet Senior Airman Anthony Vicary. Capt. Luz Levin and 1st Lt. Sean Owens escorted the team. Cadets competed on six-member teams, demonstrating skills in events that involve precision and teamwork. These skills included indoor and outdoor color guard challenges, a written test of leadership and aerospace knowledge and a Jeopardy!-style game, a physical fitness test, an obstacle course-like fitness challenge, public speaking, model rocketry, team leadership problems (group problem solving challenges) and a uniform inspection. In addition to the Air Force Chief of Staff Sweepstakes Award Trophy, second- and third-place team trophies were also presented. The second-place trophy went to the Sabre team from Ormond Beach, Fla., while the California Wing’s CA-324 team, based at Camp Pendleton, finished in third place. Individual awards were also presented to cadets competing in several categories, including top written exam score.
Engineered Propulsion Systems
Continued from Page 26 of our ability to meet the stringent requirements set by the aviation authorities.” Together, Mr Edward Grainger, Business Development Director at Grainger & Worrall, and Dr, Steve Dawson, President and CEO of SinterCast said: “We are pleased to contribute our experience from more than 10 years of joint CGI product development and the launch of more than 50 state-of-
the-art CGI engine programs to this exciting project, both for the development phase and for the future series production. The EPS engine provides a high profile application for CGI and further reinforces the benefits of CGI in demanding modern-engine applications.” For more information, contact Michael Fuchs, President and CEO, EPS at 715/803-4290
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AVIATION PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD FOR EAA LIFETIME MEMBER
28
In Flight USA Celebrating 31 Years
Fifi’s Fireworks by Christopher Miller Best of the Best: Fifi is the center of attention on Boeing Plaza during Saturday night’s fireworks at EAA AirVenture 2015 in Oshkosh Wisconsin. Congratulations to Chris Miller, EAA Lifetime Member, who won Aviation Week & Space Technology’s 2015 photo contest “Best of the Best” award for a photograph he took of the B29 Superfortress FIFI during AirVenture 2015. Some of Miller’s photography has been published in recent issues of EAA’s Sport Aviation, and we extend warm compliments to him for this exciting achievement. View his winning photo at www.aviationweek.com along with a gallery of other award winners.
1977 Beechcraft King Air 200
1974 Piper Super Cub
January 2016
Pickle Lake Aurora by Andras Mihalik Commercial First Place: The entire Osnaburgh Airways fleet was pictured under a beautiful arch of the aurora borealis at the carriers’s base at Pickle Lake in northwest Ontario.
Colorado Albatross by Angelo Bufalino Defense First Place: This L39 agressor aircraft had just landed after flying sorties with the military earlier in the day.
MOONEY INTERNATIONAL M10 POC ACHIEVES FIRST FLIGHT Innovative Fixed-Gear M10T Aircraft Completes First Flight in Chino, California
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TTAF 3602. 1108 SMOH. Beautifully restored 180hp Super Cub. Clean, well maintained, and always hangared. Complete logs. True backcountry beauty. Aircraft located in Ashland, OR. Call Steve Crafa at (206) 321-4886......................................... $114,900
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Mooney International Corp. has successfully completed the first flight of the M10T Proof of Concept (POC) aircraft. Test pilot, Len Fox, performed the first flight on Wednesday, Dec. 23 in the vicinity of the Chino Airport in California. The flight lasted approximately 15 minutes, with Len Fox conducting basic flight maneuvers and verifying design data. At the conclusion of the flight, A crowd of engineers from the M10 team, highly enthused to see their new design take flight for the first time, greeted Fox. “The flight was a tremendous milestone for the M10 program,” said Jerry Chen, CEO of Mooney International. “Our team of engineers have been working very hard to reach this day, and we are excited to have achieved this milestone in 2015, just one year after announcing the M10 program at Zhuhai Airshow in China.”
The M10T, announced in 2014, is Mooney International Corporation’s highly innovative, new design, carbon fiber, three-seat, fixed-gear aircraft. Powered by the Continental Technify CD-135, Jet-A engine, the M10 is a new generation aircraft designed by Mooney specifically for flight training operations. The M10T will continue testing as the program works towards certification in the next few years. For more information, visit www.mooney.com, and follow Mooney on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
January 2016
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Flying With Faber
DISCOVERING
henever I can, I leave the car in the garage and climb aboard the airplane. Occasionally, I tie down the airplane and take to the road. On a recent trip to Mendocino County, I was drawn to the latter option. During our recent annual December trip to San Francisco, our plan was to spend a few days in the city by the Bay, then head across the Golden Gate Bridge for a visit to the Mendocino Coast. Our choice was to cross the bridge, drive along U.S. 101, take a turn to the west just north of Cloverdale, and head up California 128 to the coastline until we converged with U.S. 1. Or, we could cross the bridge, and just north of Sausalito, hop on U.S. 1 and negotiate the hairpin turns along the coast up to Mendocino. I made the best decision – I took both routes. Northbound, we took the 101 and the 128. Back to San Francisco, we headed down Highway 1 and experienced turns and twists similar to my early pilot training with feeble attempts to do figure eights and turns around pylons. Along the coastal route, we viewed quaint fishing villages, hidden beach coves, and waves seemingly two stories high dashing against giant rock formations. The northbound segment took us through gorgeous redwood forests, world famous wine country, and charming hamlets. The southbound segment took us along the most beautiful coastline we’ve ever seen. Both trips would also have provided great scenery from the air, but I must confess, the trip along these highways was one of the most memorable we’ve ever experienced. Although we were in a 2015 model vehicle with all the bells and whistles, we felt as if we were traveling through the mid-20th century.
THE
MENDOINO COAST Stuart J. Faber and Aunt Bea
A view of the beautiful and senic Mendocino Coastline.
wide variety of recreation, including boating, swimming, water-skiing, fishing, camping, and horseback riding. Your choice of quiet beaches is virtually unlimited. Noyo Harbor, just south of Fort Bragg, is a picturesque community the waters of which abound with great seafood. Just north of Fort Bragg is Virgin Beach and Point Arena Pier, two of the most popular and challenging surfing areas on the coast. Take a horseback ride on deserted beaches and through ancient redwood forests at Ricochet Ridge Ranch. Of course wineries, breweries, and tasting rooms dot the coastline. Here is a list of some of our favorite inns and restaurants.
Things to Do and See
I can barely scratch the surface on the subject of things to do and see in Mendocino County. No question that the region is most famous for wine and cuisine. But that’s just the beginning. You can hang out in the world’s largest redwood forests, roam the farmland for some of the best produce in the country, or just gaze at the many miles of rugged coastline. The woods and prairies are filled with wildlife such as quail, wild turkey, bears, pigs, and black tail deer – plus an occasional mountain lion. The 1,900-acre Lake Mendocino offers a
The entrance to the Brewery Gulch Inn. (Stuart J. Faber)
Brewery Gulch Inn, 9401 North Highway 1, Mendocino, CA 95460, 707/937-4752, www.brewerygulchinn .com. Situated on a Sylvan Hillside overlooking the Pacific, the inn’s sky-lighted porte-cochere leads to a hand crafted heavy wooden door. Just past the entrance, the spacious reception area is paneled with eco-salvaged redwood. Nearby is a soaring glass and steel wood-burning fire-
(Stuart J. Faber)
place, the centerpiece of the inn. Next, there is a 35-foot high large open space with comfy leather chairs and wooden tables. French doors lead to a spacious deck where guests can relax and enjoy the ocean view. The clean lines of the Arts and Crafts style inspire everything here. The tables of quarter-sawn oak and accompanying spindle-backed chairs are Stickley influenced. All rooms have thoughtful details featuring the eco-salvaged redwood, including the frames of the French doors, windows, and deck railings. Each timber differs from the next. The 10 spacious, tastefully appointed guestrooms all have ocean views framed by surrounding stands of spruce and pine. Each guestroom has a hardwood desk, comfortable leather club chairs placed in front of the fireplace, high quality linens, down comforters, flat screen televisions, DVD players, and phones with complimentary local calls. Bathrooms have plush robes, luxury toiletries, and large tub-showers. Start the morning with a complimentary gourmet cooked-to-order breakfast, which features locally sourced organic products. Picnic lunches and wine-andcheese baskets can be arranged. Evening wine hour features a light homey dinner buffet with local beers and wines. There is a library of books to read, paths to roam, and complimentary Wi-Fi is provided throughout the property. Little River Inn, 7901 N. Highway 1, Little River, CA 95456, 1-888-INNLOVE, www.LittleRiverInn.com. Overlooking a dramatic cove where the Pacific Ocean seems to impose itself
The main house at the Little River Inn. (Courtesy Little River Inn)
and sculpt huge dents along the shoreline is this charming, Victorian designed inn. Little River Inn, first built in 1857, has been in the same family for eight decades. The grandfather of today’s operators, Ole Hervilla, turned that original building into the inn during the last century. Situated on 225 wooded acres, the original home is now surrounded by 65 attractive ocean view rooms, a dining room and bar, nine-hole golf course with pro shop, and day spa. Each room has an incredible view of the ocean. Many feature fireplaces, wet bars, Jacuzzis, steam showers, and private hot tubs. Little River Inn welcomes child travelers, and those under 16 stay free. They also have many pet-friendly accommodations.
Harry and Rosie from the Little River Inn. (Courtesy Little River Inn)
The Nine-Hole Golf Course
One day in the mid ‘50s, Ole decided a golf course would draw even more guests to his inn. The locals told him nobody would play golf on the coast, but Continued on Page 30
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In Flight USA Celebrating 31 Years
Flying With Faber
Continued from Page 29 he was determined. He consulted three golf architects, each one more expensive than the other. After talking to the third pricey expert, he said, “Thanks, you just made a golf architect out of me.” In 1957, the course was opened. Circled by redwoods and pine trees, the 5,458-yard course encourages you to keep the ball in play. An errant ball will
reward you with a panoramic ocean view. The inn also has a driving range, putting green, lighted tennis courts and a fully stocked Golf and Tennis Pro Shop.
Outstanding Cuisine
Executive Chef Marc Dym offers some of the best cuisine on the Mendocino coast. Osso bucco of lamb,
January 2016
halibut with crispy Hong Kong noodles, short ribs, and locally caught Petrale sole are among the classic dishes.
Meetings & Weddings
Little River Inn has four charming and intimate function rooms suitable for a family reunion, business retreat, or a Victorian wedding.
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Abalone Hall is on the main grounds overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This warm and cozy room has a fireplace, separate catering kitchen, and expansive deck. They can handle 80 inside and up to 120 with tented deck. The Main Dining Room, the centerpiece of the inn with a lovely view of the garden, can accommodate up to 80 guests. Mallory House is located on the edge of the bluffs and overlooks the ocean. This is the most dramatic and private of the locations and has a capacity of 200 with a tent. Wisteria Room is a sophisticated and intimate dining room, which provides a stunning view of the ocean through Victorian windows. It can accommodate small groups up to 24.
The Reading Room at the Inn at Newport Ranch. (Dave Mathews)
Inn at Newport Ranch, 31502 North Highway 1, Fort Bragg, CA 95437, theinnatnewportranch.com Located just 3 1/2 hours north of San Francisco, this brand new inn is one of the most spectacular properties I have seen in more than 40 years as a travel journalist. I’m not one for hyperbole, but never before have I seen such a dramatic hotel setting, which has offered so much and yet, consumed so little of the surrounding land. Barely making a footprint in over 1 1/2 miles of some of the most pristine coastal land in America, this architectural masterpiece has sprung from the earth with the use of natural products, and it seems like more of an integral component of its surroundings. Hand crafted workmanship the likes of which is virtually extinct in today’s pre-fab world, the buildings on this 2,100 acres of pasture, forestland, and coastal cliffs are unparalleled in design and ambiance. Twenty miles of hiking and riding trails through grazing land, redwoods, and along the coast, this ranch is a unique private domain for vacations, conferences, weddings, and other extraordinary events. The developers have created a group of structures, which is bold yet subtle, elaborate yet simple, and luxurious yet Continued on Page 31
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Flying With Faber Continued from Page 30 down-to-earth. The 20-foot wide walk-in fireplace incorporates stones, which weigh a ton or more. The exposed rugged beams are connected seamlessly and held in place by wooden pegs and hidden lugs. The hallway in the main inn is paneled with redwood boards up to five feet wide. The living room flooring is 30-inches of old growth redwood planks. In the main building, there are three guestrooms, each with a private bath and commanding view of the ocean. Each has access to a seven-person hot tub. The first floor consists of a living room, dining area, library, kitchen, and wrap-around porch. Wireless is provided throughout but nary a TV set to be seen. Guests are offered an array of dining options. Daily menus are posted. Downhome dinners are prepared nightly. A complimentary breakfast and fireside evening appetizers are offered daily. Only inn guests may avail themselves of this outstanding home cooking. Three separate buildings have other unique living quarters. The Redwood House, supported by 24 redwood trees, has three separate suites. All three suites have a living room, dining area, kitchen, fireplace, deck, hot tub, and views of the ocean. It also includes a sauna. Sea Drum, which requires a threenight stay, has panoramic ocean views. The home has four bedrooms, including a bunkroom. Each room has its own pri-
By James Barron (Courtesy EAA)
Mendocino traffic jam.
(Stuart J. Faber)
vate bath. Barb’s Place has a queen bed and lovely seating area with an electric fireplace. The bath has a walk-in shower. Activities include whale watching, picnics, fireside spa treatments, hiking, biking, and ATV rides through the mountains, pastures, and along the coast. Wild Fish Restaurant, 7750 CA-1, Little River, CA 95456, 707/937-3055, www.wild-fish.com We took most of our meals at the three inns – their cuisine is equal to, or superior than the best restaurants in the region. We had heard raves about Kelvin
Jacobs, a British gent who, with his delightful wife, migrated to the coast from London a few years ago. Located on Highway 1 just across from the Little River Inn, Wild Fish turned out to be one of our best seafood experiences of the year. The owner-chef visits the fish purveyors and local farms on a daily basis and virtually hand picks each item. Everything is fresh, local, and organic. For starters, don’t miss the roasted beet salad with horseradish beet puree, house smoked fish, and arugula; and nasturtium salad with shaved fennel and golden balsamic vinaigrette. The deli-
One of his last assignments before war’s end was to B-29 flight engineer school. Barron flew with the Cleveland Air National Guard after the war and was later recalled to active duty during the Korean War. Barron flew as an Alaskan bush pilot early on and was based in Kotzebue. Most of his flights were north of the Arctic Circle and were for the purpose of re-supplying mines. He flew singles and twins
on skis and floats. He told stories of routinely getting caught in whiteouts and other challenging conditions. Landing sideways on the mountain slopes where the mines were located was also the norm. Barron spent the majority of his career as a test pilot. He first began that endeavor in Fort Collins, Colo., with the Silvaire Aircraft Company in the late 1950s where he test flew the last 75
cately dressed veggies are fresh from the nearby farms. The bouillabaisse is chock full of local wild fish, clams, mussels, prawns, saffron, fennel, carrots, tomatoes, and fish stock base. The broth was out of this world. Wild mushroom risotto with lobster mushrooms, hedgehog mushrooms, pigs ear mushrooms, alba clamshell mushrooms, white trumpet mushrooms, purple trumpet mushrooms, cinnamon mushrooms, truffle oil, and baby carrots was prepared to perfection. From the waters of Noyo Harbor just up the road, we enjoyed Petrale sole served on a bed of sage, rosemary, and thyme with champagne in parchment, mixed baby carrots, risotto, fresh tarragon, and basil sabayon. Special local wines are suggested and paired with each course.
We Will Return
This region is one of our new world favorites. Don’t miss it! Should you elect to fly to the region, Little River Airport (KLLR) is 117 NM from Oakland International Airport (KOAK). Driving along CA 128 takes about three hours. Driving the Highway 1 route takes about five hours but is worth every minute. In most airplanes, the flight would take less than an hour. For one of the few times in my traveling life, I’ll take the highway.
GONE WEST: PITTS TEST PILOT MEL BARRON
Melvin E. “Mel” Barron, EAA Lifetime 9469, was born May 7, 1920, and went West on Dec. 3, 2015 at the age of 95. He had a love and passion for all things flying and spent a storied career in the air. As a young man, Barron served with the Army Air Forces during World War II.
Luscombes produced before they shut their doors due to bankruptcy. Following that, he flew for the Colorado Game and Fish Department. Next, Barron went to work for Piper Aircraft Corporation in the mid ‘60s and became their chief experimental test pilot. He flew the test program that certified the Navajo line of aircraft. He ran a test flight Continued on Page 31
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New program enables both school groups and people who are physically unable to visit the Museum to take virtual tours through the use of a computer and Internet connection. Visitors from around the world can now take interactive personally guided tours of the San Diego Air & Space Museum from the comfort of their own homes through the BEAM Virtual Tour Program, which enables both school groups and people who are physically unable to visit the Museum to take tours through the use of a computer and Internet connection. The Museum launched the BEAM program to broaden access for previously underserved segments of the population. A large number of people who, for a variety of reasonsâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;geographic, economic, or special needsâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;will benefit greatly from having interactive access to the Museum and its collections. Virtual visitors engage with Museum exhibits in real-time with a fully interactive tool that moves, sees, and speaks on command through a motorized stand. A 17-inch flat screen monitor displays the userâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face. The robot is controlled by the user (or the userâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assistant) from a remote location on any PC or laptop using directional keys or via mouse point-and-click. A main video feed shows the BEAMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surroundings and allows the user to interact with others and travel through a wide-angle camera with zoom
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capability, a microphone that cancels echo and reduces background noise, and a powerful built-in speaker. What differentiates this program from audio tours and virtual tours is that the BEAM technology allows for an independent and interactive experience through a self-determined path. Virtual visitors are able to interact with an in-house guide or docent as they explore the galleries, seeing artifacts as clearly as if they were at the Museum. Comments and questions from offsite visitors can be relayed and responded to immediately. Expert explanations assist in the virtual visitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s understanding and personal interpretation. In support of the BEAM Virtual Tour program, the Museum received a 21st Century Solutions grant from the NBC Universal Foundation. The funding from the grant enabled the Museum to launch the free program for people with disabilities that prevent them from physically visiting the Museum. The Seattle Museum of Art, the de Young Museum, and the University of South Dakota are experiencing success with similar programs. BEAM virtual tours of the San Diego Air & Space Museum begin in Jan. 2016. Tours are one hour and are offered one day a week on a first-come, first-serve basis, through reservations sandiegoairandspace.org/visit/beamtour-program to register.
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Continued from Page 31 program on that aircraft with turbine engines installed, which was later to become the Cheyenne series. Barron transferred to Vero Beach, Fla., with Piper and continued production test flying there. Upon leaving Piper, Barron became the first Pitts factory test pilot. He did both experimental and production test flying. It was called Aerotek then (1972) and Curtiss Pitts was a partner. He spent 14 years with them and loved â&#x20AC;&#x153;wringingâ&#x20AC;? out the Pitts biplanes. He was a designated engineering representative and signed off on numerous modifications to the Pitts over the years. Barronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last experimental test flight project with Pitts was flying the test flight certification program on the Husky. Barron was a diehard aerobatic pilot and owned a 1932 Great Lakes Special for 20 years after which time he donated
it to the Antique Air Power Museum. It had its own unique story as it was once owned by legend Frank Price and flown by other notables of the time. He also took pleasure in flying gliders and earned two two-lennie pins for flights to 35,000 feet in mountain wave. Some other aircraft he owned over the years were a Bird biplane, a Waco UPF-7, a Naval N3N biplane, and a Vultee BT-13. Along the way, Barron married and raised a family of six children. His family and friends sorely miss him.
January 2016
www.inflightusa.com
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AIRPORTS INDUSTRY PARTNERS WITH UNFCCC ON CLIMATE ACTION AND EFFORTS TO INCREASE CARBON NEUTRALITY
GREEN NEWS
During the recent global climate negotiations in Paris, the airport industry has agreed to a partnership with the UNFCCC and also pledged to increase the number of carbon neutral airports. At a COP21 side event, industry trade association Airports Council International (ACI) committed to supporting the UNFCCC’s Climate Neutral Now campaign, while the UN climate change body will support airport climate action, in particular, the sector’s Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program. The voluntary airport carbon standard, first launched by ACI Europe in of June 2009 and now extended worldwide, is aimed at encouraging airports to map, manage, and reduce their emissions, with the ultimate goal of becoming carbon neutral. During the COP, the European airport industry committed to increasing the number of carbon neutral airports to 50 by 2030. Under the ACI/UNFCCC partnership, the two organizations will develop a common work program and communica-
tions plan promoting airport carbon neutrality. ACA certifies airports at four different levels, Mapping, Reduction, Optimization and Neutrality, and the agreement aims to increase the number of airports progressing to Level 3 (Optimization) and Level 3+ (Neutrality). One hundred and thirtyseven airports worldwide have achieved this status. They represent 31 percent of global passenger traffic throughput. ACA is independently administered and overseen by an advisory board that includes representatives from ICAO, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the European Commission, and other regulatory, academic, and civil society bodies. The UNFCCC will join the board to provide input into the strategy and future orientation of the program. “This a very big moment for ACI and Airport Carbon Accreditation,” Angela Gittens, ACI World Director General, and Olivier Jankovec, ACI Europe Director General, said in a joint statement. “To gain the support of an
organization as authoritative as the UNFCCC is something we consider a major achievement and a genuine recognition of the airport industry to the climate action through ACA.” John Kilani, Director of the UNFCCC’s Sustainable Development Mechanisms program, said other industries could learn from ACI’s carbon program. “It is immensely encouraging to see an industry as visible and strategically relevant as the airport industry being so proactive on climate action,” he commented. “We count on their support for our Climate Neutral Now campaign.” There are currently 20 carbon neutral airports, all of which are in Europe and include all 10 airports operated by Swedavia in Sweden, Avinor’s Oslo and Trondheim airports in Norway, Amsterdam Schiphol and Eindhoven in the Netherlands, plus others in Italy and Turkey. At another event organized by the UNFCCC and the International Carbon Reduction & Offset Alliance at COP21, ACI Europe pledged to increase
the number to 50 airports by 2030. At present, there are 93 airports in Europe that are certified at one of the ACA levels. “Europe’s airports are fully behind the objective of keeping global warming below two degrees celcius, and they are urging States to come to a global, robust, and legally-binding agreement in Paris,” stated Augustin de Romanet, President of ACI Europe and CEO of Aéroports de Paris. “For its part, the airport industry has already moved from words to actions a while ago. Our commitment to increase the number of carbon-neutral airports to 50 by 2030 reflects both our resolve and our ambition to do more.” He added climate change posed a significant risk to the airport industry. “Changes in rainfall, temperature variations, sea-level rise, and changes in wind patterns all have potentially severe implications for our industry, for the wider air transport sector and for European connectivity,” he said.
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34
95-YEAR-OLD WWII FIGHTER PILOT FLIES AEROBATICS IN L-39 ALBATROS In Flight USA Celebrating 31 Years
By Joel Hargis
J
(Courtesy EAA)
ack Hallett had no idea that getting his hair cut would lead him back into the air to do what he loves more than anything: flying aerobatics. Sharing his World War II stories of flying a P-38 and P-47 in the European theater led Hallett’s barber to introduce him to me, a private pilot. After meeting Hallett, I took him for a ride in my Mooney. He flew the Mooney well; he did some maneuvers but told me he would like to fly aerobatics again. I introduced him to Steve Wolf and Kathy Hirtz, owners of WingOver Aerobatics based at the Leesburg International Airport. He flew first with Hirtz in their Zlin, a fully aerobatic trainer, doing many maneuvers, including formation flying when Wolf joined them in the air and Hallett flew off of the wing of Wolf’s S-2B Pitts. Afterwards, Hallett set a goal to fly the Pitts with Wolf, on Nov. 17 for his 95th birthday. The Pitts, a high-performance aerobatic show plane, was definitely
a step up. Wolf told us he flew beautifully. Hallett had a fantastic time and thought he had hit the pinnacle of his aerobatic opportunities at his age. Not so fast! Orestes Lorenzo happened to be at the airport that day when Jack returned from his birthday flight. Lorenzo owns an L-39 Albatros. This Czech jet fighter trainer is the real deal. It is fast, powerful, fully aerobatic, and it can produce up to +8/-4gs and fly more than 400 kts. Lorenzo asked Hallett if he would like to fly the L-39. On Dec. 13 they met at the Leesburg
(Ted Luebbers)
Airport and did just that. Lorenzo had a green flight suit that fit Hallett, the helmet, parachute, and all the gear to fly aerobatics. They spent 30 minutes or so going over their flight plan and all of the instruments and switches in the cockpit. Hallett was really surprised and delighted he was going to fly the front seat! Climbing in and sitting down in the cockpit of this airplane is a little overwhelming. In a very tight area, the L-39 has a ton of buttons and switches that Hallett had to become familiar with to fly the front seat. It took a few minutes, and he was ready.
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They fired up the jet and taxied away. We watched them smoothly take off and awaited their return. It was about 30 minutes later when they came back doing a touch and go on runway 13. They came around, landed, and taxied back to the hangar. As the canopy lifted, we could see Hallett grinning from ear to ear. We asked him how it went. “Amazing,” he said. “The plane flew like a dream. It rolled and looped beautifully!” Lorenzo said Hallett did the majority of the flying, including the takeoff and last landing. He said it was a privilege with a World War II pilot and noted that for someone who had never flown an Albatros before, Hallett’s flying skills were really good. Introducing Hallett to some of these amazing pilots and watching how it has impacted their lives for the better has been a wonderful experience. Videos of Hallett’s flights in the Pitts and the L-39 are on available on YouTube. I would encourage you to watch them; they are amazing, and it will help you to rethink about how you age, and what can be done in your 90s!
THE PACIFIC AVIATION MUSEUM PROUDLY ANNOUNCES A COLLABORATION WITH DISNEY AIRTIST TO COMMEMORATE THE HISTORIC WORLD WAR II-ERA AIRPLANE SWAMP GHOST
THE
“Swamp Ghost” Receives Original Nose Art, Created by Oscar-Nominated Disney Artist, Mike Gabriel, to be Displayed as Part of the Pacific Aviation Museum’s Swamp Ghost Exhibit Pacific Aviation Museum proudly announces a first-of-its-kind collaboration with the talented artists of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Disneytoon Studios. In order to honor the famed World War II-era B17 “Flying Fortress” affectionately named Swamp Ghost, artists Mike Gabriel (director, Pocahontas, The Rescuers Down Under, and the Oscar-nominated short, Lorenzo) and Klay Hall (director, Disneytoon Studios Planes) worked together to create original nose art, to be exclusively displayed at the Museum. TV personality, David Hartman, made the announcement at the Museum’s Annual Gala on Dec. 5, 2015. The date for the exhibition opening will be announced at a later time. Adds VP, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Disneytoon Studios Worldwide Marketing, Greg Coleman,
“We hope that the creation and display of the Swamp Ghost nose art serves as a tribute to aviation history and to all those who serve.” During the war, The Walt Disney Studios made more than 1,200 insignia for the U.S. and Allied forces, many of which featured iconic characters, including Donald Duck. Disney characters were often painted onto the nose section of aircraft during this era. “Walt Disney’s ‘Donald Duck’ was one of the most iconic and likable characters during the 1940s,” said Klay Hall. “He was very popular amongst servicemen, possessing a feistiness with a “can do” attitude. He seemed like a natural fit for the Swamp Ghost nose art.” The history of Swamp Ghost, the airplane, is a unique one; no lives were lost in the crash. The plane, a B17 “Flying
Fortress” ran critically low on fuel during a mission and had to be ditched in a jungle swamp in the Papua New Guinea area in 1942. All the men walked away from the plane unharmed. It was assumed lost until 1972, when it was spotted by a Royal Australian Air Force helicopter, completely intact, resting in a swamp. The plane never received an honorary name or piece of nose art (that usually happened after a few missions). The plane gained the name Swamp Ghost because of where it was found. The plane was then carefully extracted from the swamp and ultimately moved to the Pacific Aviation Museum, where it has been exhibited in its “as is” condition since 2014. The exhibition of Swamp Ghost and its nose art joins a collection of more than 40 aircraft within the museum. Said Mike Gabriel, “My fervent
hope was to do honor to the insignia and nose artwork that the Disney artists created back in the 1940s during the war, by doing a Swamp Ghost design that was totally convincing to the time in which the Swamp Ghost was flying. Klay and I analyzed every aspect of the nose art designs that were created to try to convincingly capture the look, feel, and colors of the time, in order to authentically transport the viewer back to the time. I hope when people see the nose art that Klay and I have created, they sense the deep attachment and commitment we have to this exciting project.” “This is not only an honor for us to be a part of personally,” said Klay Hall, “It is in remembrance and tribute to our fathers and grandfathers who served their country during that time and those who serve today.”
www.inflightusa.com
January 2016
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GROWING OLDER. GROWING OLD.
Homebuilder’s Workshop
N
obody likes to be at that point in their flying career when they can’t do the things they used to do, or at least, can’t do those things as well or as easily as they used to. Whether it be flying with great precision, keeping track of the mountain of minutiae in operating limitations and regulations, or even just pushing the plane back into the hangar, sooner or later, we all slow down. Surgery doesn’t help your flying skills. There’s the time off from flying, and the recovery from the “surgical insult” that you have to deal with. Recent research indicates that it’s not the anesthesia that you have to recover from as much as it is the body’s inflammatory response to the surgery. And that’s where I am, again. This most recent surgery has an advertised 12week recovery time, as opposed to the 12-month recovery time for the surgery 14 months ago, and as I write this, I’m
not even up to 12 days. And, of course, it’s absolutely gorgeous outside. So here’s what I’ve found in coming back after the previous surgery: • Because I’ve got 3,000+ hours, basic flying skills are restored with an hour of flight time. • Situational awareness is much slower to come back, and it’s too easy to get fixated on something, especially with new and unfamiliar systems. • I’ve also noticed lessened ability to handle mild irregularities, like a bounced landing or too many distracting airspace alerts from the G3X. • On the first flight after the big surgery, my body had trouble handling a mild unusual attitude. I think this was a basic physiology issue, as the recovery from that surgery had not progressed far enough. • Physical problems can include getting in and out, reaching things on the
PARKLAND INSTITUTE
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floor of the RV-9A baggage compartment, how long you can sit in the plane, and how much your back hurts when you get out. • After the previous big surgery, which had not healed completely and that’s why I needed the most recent surgery, I can start to feel pressure in my spine at about 1.8 Gs. That is a lot less than I want...
What I think I’ve learned:
• Don’t lower your standards just because you’ve been off for a while. • Don’t be in a hurry to come back too soon. • Stack the deck in your favor by flying with a CFI, choosing low wind days, short flights, etc., until you’re back up to full speed. • There’s little if any guidance on when to come back after surgery or a
AVIATION
IS
major illness. The rule that I used was that I would fly only Ed after I was comWischmeyer pletely comfortable driving. FAA policy is that a note from your doctor, clearing you to resume normal activities, is appropriate, but that is not in the requirements nor in any Advisory Circular. So now, filled with knowledge of what it took to come back from the previous surgery, I can apply those lessons to this most recent surgery. And maybe this year, I can close in on my goal of ATP times four. I’ve got airplane, multi-engine land and sea, but I want single engine, land and sea. The obstacle is getting my seaplane time up to 50 hours, and I’m about 40 hours shy. But first, I need to get back up to full speed in the familiar.
REACHING OUT WIDELY
College Well Equipped to Approach High School Students about Aviation
Every pilot, every aviation company, every flying organization knows a compelling need exists to reach out to young people to interest them in aviation. Airline companies readily admit the imperative and active pilots know the industry should do more to share their interest in flying and the workplace opportunities it can bring. However, most individuals and enterprises know they lack some of the skills and contacts to find and encourage these young people. They may not even know the best ways to talk to them. Parkland College Institute of Aviation educators know! Sybil Phillips, Chief Pilot and Director of Aviation Instruction, leads Parkland’s Institute. Recently, she traveled to the West Coast to meet a group of motivated young students who are engaged in an innovative program run by Steve Smith at Canyon High School in Anaheim Hills, Calif. “We want to collaborate with high schools that offer aviation programs to broaden the opportunities available to those students who want to study aviation in college. Our Parkland College student
body includes students from all over the United States and from other countries as well,” said Phillips. As part of her trip to California, Sybil knew she had a receptive audience but still needed to present the value Parkland’s Institute offers. “As part of my presentation to the Canyon High students, I highlighted three alumni from the Institute of Aviation who were originally from California. I wanted to inform these students that they have an excellent option for a flight school in Illinois,” said Phillips. “Learning to fly in the Midwest offers California students exposure to all types of weather they don’t normally get to deal with from snow to high humidity to strong crosswinds. Proximity to the University of Illinois offers the opportunity to transfer into highly ranked programs, for example in engineering and business.” Canyon High School benefits from strong leadership. “Educator Steve Smith has started a great program with students who are eager learners and engaged in aviation,” said Phillips. “The students asked great questions that showed they are building mental models of the possi-
bilities that a career in aviation offers. The purpose for my visit was to talk about a career as a pilot and how the Institute of Aviation at Parkland College can play a role in the journey toward that career.” In California, Orange County Register staff writer, Allison Ong, prepared an article that can be read at: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/aviati on-684234-smith-students.html As writer Ong detailed, “The Anaheim Hills School is home to the only high school aviation program in Orange County. By the end of the program, 45 students will be on track for several potential aviation careers and could take the written portion of the test for a pilot’s license.” Ong also reported about the program developer program founder, Steve Smith, who does triple duty at Canyon, teaching aviation, mathematics, and student leadership. “(It’s) doing everything that educators are pushing for these days with science, math, and technology,” Ong quotes Smith. Parkland College Institute of Aviation enrollees can earn an
Associate’s Degree in Aviation, choosing a program leading to an Associate in Science (Aviation) with an option to transfer to a four-year school. Students can acquire a Private Pilot Certificate while completing Parkland AVI 101 and 120 courses. Students will earn the private pilot certification, an instrument rating, and the commercial pilot certificate in a sequential manner during Parkland’s program. Parkland College Institute of Aviation’s curriculum is designed to provide students with a pathway through a four-year institution and a bachelor’s degree while earning the certifications necessary to enter the commercial aviation job market. The Institute of Aviation’s reputation of producing outstanding alumni dates back to its founding in 1946. Institute alumni fly for all major U.S. airlines and for military, corporate, cargo, and charter organizations worldwide. More than 3,000 Institute of Aviation graduates have gone on to train other pilots as instructors. Read more about Parkland’s Flight Training program information at http://www.parkland.edu/aviation.
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THE HUMP: AN INCREDIBLE ANNIVERSARY In Flight USA Celebrating 31 Years
The waning days of 2012 marked the 70th anniversary of the closing of history’s most massive airlift, the epic “Hump” of World War II, flown above the tallest mountains on earth, the vast and mythic Himalayas. Over the murderous range, Hump pilots flew from bases in northern India, into the boiling cauldron of the Top of the World, and down into Japanese-occupied China. Dauntless and unstoppable despite the highest fatality rates of any air mission in World War II, their work and sacrifice provided the sole line of supply for a blockaded continent, that is to say, for every Allied operation in Asia, including Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist Chinese, whose struggle against the occupying Japanese, tied down nearly two million enemy soldiers, who otherwise would have been in the Pacific, fighting and killing Americans. No mistake, every crash into that pitiless crevasse, which aircraft often barely cleared, was a wipeout. No one walked out of wrecks. Rescue was impossible. Pilots got up to this everyday and paid with their lives. Given that every seaport, in what was then termed the Orient, lay in Japanese hands, the Hump lifeline they flew furnished every drop of fuel and oil, every form of weaponry, and materiel, vehicles, first aid, and foodstuffs to a starved and demoralized expanse of the world larger than the continental U.S. Neither the storied Burma nor Ledo Roads ever came close to what these men managed to fly across that “Skyway to Hell,” the stormy, hostile mountain terrain below them. Consigned to oblivion for decades, unknown to many military buffs today, the Hump epic ought to earn our remem-
brance, a larger-than-life story of pilots who “accomplished the impossible” in enemy range, and in rough, high-altitude flying that challenged unreliable, depression-technology aircraft past the max. Despite all odds, their exploit and success would set the bar for modern airlift, including Berlin and Korea. For our young century, the Hump effort contains lessons to ponder, if not a paradox. While wholly synergistic with America’s war in the Pacific, at the same time the Hump backed a struggle in China
that failed, and a Nationalist leader who could not surmount the odds he faced. It could be said that few military solutions come without their downside and price. The Hump does not beg the rule. This was no fault of America and certainly no fault of pilots there, including my own father, Hump pilot, Ned Thomas. So many of these men gave to their last measure. The Hump, the name given the Himalaya––undersupplied, underserviced, hamstrung by infighting at the highest echelons––succeeded in
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) recently thanked the U.S. Congress for passing an omnibus measure that includes key funding priorities for general aviation manufacturers in safety, certification, and alternative fuels for piston-engine aircraft, makes permanent the Research & Development (R&D) tax credit, and extends bonus depreciation for five years. The bill, which now heads to President Obama for his signature, will fund the U.S. government through Sept. 30, 2016. The measure provides $1.25 billion for aviation safety, including full funding for the FAA’s certification activities, as
requested by the Obama Administration. In addition, the legislation directs the FAA to “continue its efforts to more fully utilize Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) for aircraft certification processes, while improving ODA risk-based oversight and workforce training,” and report to Congress on its progress. Furthermore, the bill provides $1 million–$7 million more than the Administration requested–to fund the Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative, which will support a comprehensive testing program to move toward unleaded alternative fuels to the 100 low-lead aviation gas
currently used in piston-engine aircraft. Of particular importance to aerospace manufacturers, the measure permanently extends the R&D tax credit, and in 2016, will allow businesses that bring in $50 million or less in gross receipts per year to potentially claim the credit against their Alternative Minimum Tax or employer payroll tax liability. The legislation also extends bonus depreciation for aircraft bought and placed into service from 2015 to 2020. The rate starts at 50 percent, then slides to 30 percent depending on when the aircraft is put under contract and when it is placed into service. “We appreciate the strong support
Aviation cadet and Hump Pilot, Ned Thomas.
(Photos courtesyNedda R. Thomas)
January 2016
convincing President Roosevelt and military commanders like Generals Marshall and Arnold, Lord Mountbatten, and others that no earthly track could ever achieve what air power was able to do. Though at the time, it may have been U.S. troops serving in the Pacific who best appreciated that as long as the Hump kept Chiang Kai-shek in the game and on the march against the enemy, more American blood would be spared in the island-hopping sea war they fought. In the end, the Hump proved leaders right, so much that we may be tempted to take their conclusions for granted now, little thinking how hard-won they were. A little more than 70 years ago, over the Roof of the World, the age of strategic airlift was born. It is today that brings a newer understanding of the Hump, as the vital “missing link” to the entire pursuit of World War II on the Asian chessboard, indeed to any real comprehension of all that unfolded there. No fighting and no survival were going to happen for ragged, beleaguered Allied soldiers inland without this single lifeline. At the human level, author Nedda Thomas (Hump Pilot) states, Hump pilots deserve recognition for the faith they held against near-impossible odds. “As one reader of my recent book about my father’s Hump experience wrote me, and in the words of her own father who’d served as a bombardier in Europe, ‘The Hump pilots were the heroes of every man who flew.’” Nedda R. Thomas is the author of Hump Pilot: Defying Death Flying the Himalayas During World War II For more information, visit humppilot.com,
GAMA PRAISES U.S. CONGRESS FOR FUNDING IMPORTANT AVIATION PRIORITIES AND TAX EXTENSIONS
shown by Congress in this omnibus measure for general aviation, especially in the critical areas of safety, certification, and the transition to an unleaded avgas,” GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce said. “Making the R&D tax credit permanent is a huge deal and will help manufacturers continue to develop and deliver innovative and advanced safety-enhancing products and spur greater technological development for hybrid and electric propulsion. The longer time horizon of this bonus depreciation extension will provide manufacturers and our customers greater utilization of this important manufacturing tax incentive.”
January 2016
www.inflightusa.com
JOURNEY
From Skies to Stars
I
n 2015, NASA explored the expanse of our solar system and beyond, and the complex processes of our home planet, while also advancing the technologies for our journey to Mars, and new aviation systems as the agency reached new milestones aboard the International Space Station. “It was a fantastic year that brought us even closer to Mars,” said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. “Our space program welcomed advances from commercial partners who will soon launch astronauts from the United States to the International Space Station and progress on new technologies and missions to take us into deep space, improve aviation, and explore our universe and home planet.”
Solar System & Beyond
NASA is exploring our solar system and beyond to unravel the mysteries of our universe. After a decade-long journey, the agency’s New Horizons spacecraft completed a historic flyby of Pluto in July, making it the first-ever space mission to explore a world so far from Earth. New Horizons captured never-beforeseen views of the distant dwarf planet and its moons, and collected data that will keep scientists busy for years to come, returning the data and images to Earth using NASA’s Space Network. NASA’s Dawn spacecraft made history in March with another dwarf planet, Ceres, when it became the first spacecraft to orbit such a celestial body. In October, NASA’s Cassini spacecraft made the closest-ever flyby of Saturn’s moon Enceladus – capturing valuable scientific data from the plume of icy spray coming from the moon’s subsurface ocean. In the search for a twin of our home world, NASA’s Kepler spacecraft confirmed in July the first near-Earth-size planet in the habitable zone around a sunlike star 1,400 light-years away. Back on Earth, NASA managers working the early stages of the agency’s Europa mission selected nine science instruments to investigate whether Jupiter’s mysterious icy moon could harbor conditions suitable for life. The first of 18 flight mirrors for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope were installed in November, beginning a critical piece of the observatory’s construction ahead of its 2018 launch. In April, NASA’s Hubble Space
TO
MARS
A view of Mars.
Telescope, a Great Observatory that forever transformed our understanding of the universe, celebrated 25 years of scientific discovery. After its last astronautservicing mission in 2009, Hubble is better than ever and expected to continue to provide valuable data into the next decade. The agency’s Solar & Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) celebrated its 20th anniversary as the longest-running solar observatory, as well as the discovery of its 3,000th comet, the study of which can shed light on how our solar system was formed. In March, the four Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft were launched and positioned in Earth’s orbit to study magnetic reconnection, the interaction between our sun and Earth’s magnetic field that can disrupt modern technological systems such as communications networks, GPS navigation, and electrical power grids.
AND
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BEYOND
(NASA Photo)
rovers continued to explore the surface of the Red Planet this year, with data from Curiosity showing signs of a form of nitrogen – further evidence that conditions on ancient Mars may have been able to support life Development of the core capabilities required to send astronauts to Mars in the 2030s continued this year with significant progress on NASA’s Orion crewed spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, Asteroid Redirect Mission, and revitalized space launch complex at the
agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. And in October, NASA held its first workshop to brainstorm with the science community to identify the best Martian landing sites for astronauts to carry out scientific exploration. In 2015, the agency moved ahead toward the first integrated Orion and SLS flight test, designated Exploration Mission 1. In a report released in October, NASA’s Journey to Mars: Pioneering Next Steps in Space Exploration, the agency provided a detailed outline of its plan to send the first humans to the Red Planet. Building on the success of Orion’s first flight test in 2014, agency officials completed their rigorous technical and programmatic review of Orion to establish NASA’s commitment to the program’s technical, cost, and schedule baseline. In March, Orion’s Launch Abort System (LAS) was tested to prove it can survive the intense temperatures, pressures, noises, and vibrations experienced during a launch emergency and get the crew to safety. The spacecraft’s heat shield arrived in June at NASA’s Langley Continued on Page 38
Planes of Fame Air Museum Over 150 Aircraft and Displays
See the P-38 Lightning Fly!
Journey to Mars
NASA’s journey to Mars was advanced in 2015 by valuable science findings from current missions traversing and orbiting the Red Planet. In September, NASA announced its Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter provided the strongest evidence yet that liquid water flows intermittently on present-day Mars. NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission identified the process that appears to have played a key role in the transition of the Martian climate from an early, warm, and wet environment that might have supported surface life to the cold, arid planet Mars is today. MAVEN findings also showed how space weather near Mars affected its potential to support life. The Opportunity and Curiosity
Living History Flying Day Feb 6th. 10:00 am The Feb. 6th Living History Flying Day will feature the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. A speaker panel of distinguished aviation experts, historians and veterans will give a presentation, followed by a flight demonstration of the featured aircraft.
Visit us:
Living History Flying Days occur the first Saturday of each month at the Chino, CA location.
Sun-Fri: 10-5 • Sat: 9-5
(Schedule subject to change.)
Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas
CHINO AIRPORT • 7000 MERRILL AVE., #17 • CHINO, CA Corner of Merrill and Cal Aero Drive Dr. Chino Airport
WWW.PLANESOFFAME.ORG
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In Flight USA Celebrating 31 Years
January 2016
From Skies to Stars: Journey to Mars and Beyond
Continued from Page 37 Research Center in Hampton, Va., where it will be readied for water-impact tests in 2016. Technicians at Michoud have also begun welding the primary structure of Orion’s crew module and joined the middle part of the spacecraft to the bottom portion of the crew module and expect to finish welding in early 2016. Engineers at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., analyzed core samples from Orion’s heat shield, which was used in the 2014 spaceflight test, to better understand its performance and to provide improvements in thermal protection models, as the agency continues to refine Orion’s overall design and reduce its mass. NASA received in November a fullsize test version of the Orion European Service Module provided by ESA (European Space Agency), which is being prepared for testing early next year at the Plum Brook Station test facilities in Sandusky, Ohio. Progress also continues on SLS, the world’s most powerful rocket. The booster and engines that will propel SLS and the Orion spacecraft to space passed significant tests this year. The upgraded rocket booster passed a major ground test in March after firing for two minutes, the amount of time it will fire when it lifts SLS off the launch pad. Engineers will conduct a second and final qualification booster-firing test in 2016. In August, NASA completed the first series of tests for the upgraded developmental RS-25 engines on the A-1 test stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Miss. Preparations will continue in 2016 as the flight engines that will power SLS on missions into deep space will be tested for flight. For the first time in almost 40 years, a NASA human-rated rocket completed all steps needed to clear a critical design review while the hardware is being built: a structural test article of the rocket’s propulsion system was finished, and numerous other flight and qualification hardware were completed and are ready for welding. Work also began on infrastructure projects supporting SLS and Orion. Construction began in May on a 215-foottall structural test stand for SLS at Marshall. In August, NASA completed modifications to the Pegasus barge, previ-
ously used to move space shuttle hardware. For its new mission, transporting the core stage of the SLS, a 165-foot center section was added to the barge, bringing its total length from 260 feet to 310 feet. In addition, Kennedy continued its transformation into a 21st-century, multiuser spaceport for both government and commercial customers. Modifications continue on the ground structures that will launch the next generation of rockets and spacecraft. Several new work platforms that will be used to access, test, and process SLS and Orion arrived on site, and the giant steel platforms are being installed in the center’s Vehicle Assembly Building. Testing began at Kennedy on the umbilical system that provides power and ground communications between the mobile launcher tower, rocket, and Orion spacecraft. Upgrades and designs in progress were reviewed to ensure they will be ready to support all system and processing requirements for the first launch of SLS and Orion. NASA’s Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM) passed a pivotal mission milestone in the spring with the successful completion of the agency’s mission concept review. After extensive expert and public engagement forums and workshops to gather ideas on how to best meet the president’s challenge to redirect an asteroid, NASA refined its robotic capture approach that will achieve the goal of redirecting a large asteroid boulder back to a parked orbit near our moon, allowing astronauts to train and conduct sampling of the space rock. Having an asteroid parked near the moon will also open up commercial opportunities for American companies interested in learning the challenges of mining asteroids. In October, NASA issued a call to American industry for innovative ideas on how the agency could obtain a core advanced solar electric propulsion-based spacecraft for the robotic boulder retrieval mission. The agency also took steps to stimulate the development of deep space capabilities in the commercial aerospace sector with the selection of 12 projects on which NASA will partner to advance development of necessary exploration capabilities. To further prepare for the journey to Mars, the eight candidates from NASA’s 2013 astronaut class received their astro-
naut pins in July, symbolizing the completion of their training. And in December, NASA began a search for its next group of astronaut candidates. In October, Hollywood and NASA science and technology came to audiences around the world with the premier of The Martian. The agency collaborated on this journey to Mars film with 20th Century Fox Entertainment, providing guidance on production design and technical consultants. Across NASA, dozens of people already are working on many of the technologies seen in the movie that astronauts will need when they begin to explore Mars in real life.
International Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) is a critical step on the agency’s journey to Mars. 2015 marked the 15th year of continuous human presence aboard the station. Since Nov. 2000, more than 220 people from 17 countries have visited the ISS, and the orbiting laboratory has hosted more than 1,700 research investigations from researchers in more than 80 countries. NASA astronaut, Scott Kelly, kicked off a one-year mission in March, living and working in space. In October, he broke records for both the most time and cumulative days in space for a NASA astronaut. While Scott is in orbit, his identical twin brother and former NASA astronaut, Mark Kelly, remains on Earth, and both are participating in the Twins Study. When Scott returns in 2016 and concludes post-flight tests, researchers will have important data about the medical, psychological, and biomedical challenges faced by astronauts during longduration spaceflight. A total of 16 people lived and worked aboard the space station in 2015. Some of them sampled the first vegetables grown in space. Crewmembers conducted hundreds of other scientific investigations off the Earth, for the Earth. Crewmembers participated in six spacewalks to maintain the space station and continue reconfiguration of ISS systems and modules to accommodate the delivery of new docking adapters, which will be used by future U.S. commercial spacecraft. With six deliveries thus far in 2015, and a seventh set that arrived at the space
station on Dec. 23, four different cargo spacecraft have provided some 30 tons of supplies and science research to the station this year. NASA’s commercial partners conducted three of those missions: SpaceX sent its Dragon spacecraft on two successful missions, and the launch of Orbital ATK’s Cygnus in December heralded a resumption of U.S. cargo resupply missions to the station after mishaps by both companies. The agency is expected to award its second commercial resupply services contract in early 2016 to ensure cargo deliveries to the station through at least 2024. The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) arrived at Kennedy Space Center this year. When SpaceX’s Dragon returns to flight and brings BEAM to the station during its eighth resupply mission in 2016, the module will be berthed to the station for a twoyear test and validation of technology that could help advance the agency’s long-duration human spaceflight goals. In addition to delivering cargo to the space station, NASA’s commercial crew providers continue to meet critical development and certification milestones on their space systems that will return America’s capability to launch crewmembers to the station from the United States in 2017. The agency’s Commercial Crew Program ordered its first two crew rotation missions from Boeing for its Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 Starliner and the first from SpaceX for its Crew Dragon. NASA also named four experienced astronauts and test pilots to train and prepare for these commercial spaceflights, working closely with the commercial companies to develop their systems. In May, SpaceX successfully demonstrated how crewmembers would quickly and safely escape from their rocket while on the launch pad and through their ascent into orbit. The low bay of the Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility (C3PF) at Kennedy Space for the Starliner is complete, and the high bay is nearing completion. Boeing and United Launch Alliance recently completed construction of the crew access tower at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41, which will provide access to Starliner prior to launch.
Sell Your Airplane fast with an In Flight USA Classified Ad. Turn to Page 48 for details.
January 2016
OODIES AND ADGETS
www.inflightusa.com
One of the truly great things about being an aviation buff is the number of “Goodies and Gadgets” available to play with. Here In Flight USA has collected a few new ones worthy of your consideration.
Belite Air Speed Indicator with 2.25 Inch Round Bezel
Air Speed Indicator is calibrated for slow flight and designed to provide much more precise measurement of “ low and slow” airspeeds than nonprecision steam gauges. It provides airspeed information with a visual LED display and uses a solid-state-pitot pressure sensor device, which converts into a visual representation of speed. Air speed Indicator 28-82MPH with round 2.25” bezel, ready for panel mounting. *Note: requires bent or straight pitot tube. For more information, visit Aircraft Spruce www.aircraftspruce.com
TICKETS
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GOPRO Hero 4 LCD Touch Bacpac
The LCD BacPac™ is a detachable
LCD screen for HD HERO2 and HD HERO Original cameras. As a removable accessory, the LCD BacPac™ keeps your camera as small and light as possible, yet provides the convenience of an LCD screen when attached. For more information, visit Aircraft Spruce www.aircraftspruce.com Note: GoPro products can only be shipped within the USA. Cannot ship internationally.
FOR THE
Aircraft Spruce is Now Available on Your Mobile Phone
Aircraft Spruce is excited to announce the release of our mobile optimized website. It is the same great website you know and love, just reformatted with swipe navigation in mind and scaled to fit smart phone screens. We have simplified the design, which will allow customers to find what they need––fast and complete purchases on their phones with ease. To access the mobile site, just direct your smart phone browser to our full site www.aircraftspruce.com, and you will be automatically redirected to the mobile optimized version. We have created a much more user-friendly mobile experience with this release but welcome any and
all feedback our customers may have regarding the new design. Aircraft Spruce’s complete product line is available at www.aircraftspruce.com. Request your complimentary copy of the company’s free 1,000+- page catalog (available in print, CD, or PDF formats).
Aircraft Spruce Announces Winter Promotions from Many Aviation Manufacturers
Visit Aircraft Spruce and take advantage of winter promotions. Aircraft Spruce is now extending promotions by aviation manufacturers, including AKG, Bose, Flight Outfitters, Garmin, Icom, JPI, Lightspeed, Redbird, Trutrak, Yaesu, and more. Explore the “ current promotions” page and find all of the most recent promotions available at Aircraft Spruce. For more information, please contact Aircraft Spruce at 1-877-477-7823 or 951/372-9555 or online at www.aircraft spruce.com.
2016 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AIR RACES NOW ON SALE!
Tickets for the 2016 Reno National Championship Air Races will be available on the air race website up to the day of the event, Sept. 14, 2016. The last day to order your General Admission or Reserved Seat tickets through the Reno Air Racing Association office will be Friday, Aug. 12, 2016. You can place ticket orders through the website and print them out through Race Week (Sept. 14-18). They will be scanned upon entrance at the gate, or they can be purchased at the gate. All orders for RV Parking and Box Seats will still be dealt with until race week through the
office at 775/972-6663. Everything you need to know about planning your next trip to the National Championship Air Races can be found at airrace.org. Qualifications for all classes will start on Monday at 8 a.m. on Sept. 12 and will end at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 14. Racing will begin around noon on Wednesday, Sept. 14 with all classes, except the Unlimiteds, which will start racing on Thursday afternoon. All classes race each day starting at 8 a.m. and continue non-stop until 4:30 p.m. There are
three heats for each class each day. In between the heats, there will be a worldclass airshow to keep the action in the skies above Stead Airfield. Organizers will have a much more detailed schedule as we get closer to the event. Visit the air race website for more information about our 2016 schedule, airrace.org. Our 2014 and 2015 schedules are also still available. You can find out which pilots are going to be at Reno and which planes they’ll fly; check out this year’s air show performers; see the latest photos and videos and hear the latest from the Reno
Air Racing Association; get the latest news and updates on the event; figure out where to park, where to stay, and what to bring; and take a look at the site map to help guide you along the way. Also, on Thursday and Friday during the races, the Reno Air Racing Foundation sponsors public, private, and charter schools to come to the Races. Please contact our office for more information. 775/972-6663
Michigan’s lawmakers have taken “a huge step in the right direction” for the state’s aviation system by passing AOPAsupported legislation that reforms state aviation funding. The House passed the final package Dec. 15, which directs one-third of the revenue collected from a six-percent aviation fuel tax to the state aeronautics fund to support airport improvements, providing about five million dollars annually to underfunded aviation accounts. The package also contains provi-
sions to return the state to compliance with FAA policy restricting the diversion of aviation-generated revenue from support of aviation. The legislation will take effect after Gov. Rick Snyder signs the package; he is expected to do so soon, said Bryan Budds, AOPA Great Lakes regional manager. “This is a huge step in the right direction for Michigan’s Aviation System,” Budds said. “The entire industry has for years sought a dedicated revenue stream to ensure the long-term viability of the
state’s system of airports. With the help of Senators Wayne Schmidt (R-District 37) and Goeff Hansen (R-District 34), a new sustainable funding mechanism has been put in place.” Following Senate passage of the five bills that make up the reform package, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee recommended the measures, and referred them to the full House, which passed them on Dec. 15. During the approval process, AOPA testified before several legislative com-
mittees, worked with bill sponsors to ensure that general aviation was protected, and lobbied members of the legislature to urge their support. “Members should be pleased that the state’s airports now have a dedicated funding source for future improvements while aviation fuel tax rates–which are among the highest in the country–remain unchanged,” said Budds, adding that in recent years, “several proposals to raise the fuel tax significantly had been considered.”
MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE APPROVES AVIATION FUNDING REFORM
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In Flight USA Celebrating 31 Years
January 2016
It has been said that the only voluntary act in aviation is the decision to take-off. Every action after take-off involves the skillful management of risk, the enjoyment of flight and a continuous stream of decisions that result in a safe landing. In 1974, NASA created the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) to allow aviation professionals to share experiences in a frank, non-punitive manner. The ASRS structure allows pilots and other aviation professionals to file an anonymous report of an incident, error or occurrence that the contributor feels might be of value to others. These reports are gathered, analyzed and data based by NASA experts and made available to all interested parties as a tool for creating proactive aviation safety programs. Additionally, NASA distributes an electronic publication, CALLBACK, which contains selected, de-identified, reports on a free subscription basis. In Flight USA is proud to reprint selected reports, exerpted from CALLBACK, for our readers to read, study, occasionally laugh at, and always learn from. Visit http://asrs.arc.nasa.gov/ to learn how you can participate in the ASRS program.
F.O. Ostrich keeps his head down a lot, doing his First Officer stuff. But this puts the ol’ Captain on the spot. When one set of eyes isn’t enough, F.O. Eagle has a whole different plan. To stay alert and in the loop, he won’t be caught with his head in the sand. When it’s time to fly the coop, There’s a time ‘n place for looking down, To input this and check on that. But taxiing’s the time for looking ‘round, Not for typing or checklist chat. Distractions, including the use of electronic tablets, inputting Flight Management Computer data, sending or receiving ACARS messages, and running checklists while on the move, can all jeopardize safe ground operations. A heads-down First Officer compromises the situational awareness that safe taxi operations demand. Add an unfamiliar airport, new procedures, complicated taxi instructions, confusing signage, or congested frequencies, and the opportunities for embarrassing or dangerous mistakes increase dramatically.
Taxiing in the Real World
Aviation requires some degree of multi-tasking, but never at the expense of vigilance. With the First Officer heads down during taxi, this B737 Crew had a nighttime near miss. • In preparation for taxi at night, we decided to run the Before Takeoff Checklist before moving the aircraft due to the busy environment. Our intent was to mitigate the threats that this checklist imposes, knowing full well that we may have to re-run it if the runway gets changed. Upon taxi out, the runway was changed, and I went heads down to do everything I needed to do and run the Before Takeoff Checklist while the Captain taxied slowly toward the new runway. We elected to wait for my heads down time until we were on a relatively straight taxiway. While I was heads down, another aircraft cut across in front
THE OSTRICH AND THE EAGLE Two Approaches to Taxiing
of us and was momentarily blocked from the Captain’s view by the windshield post. I was unable to assist and warn the Captain of the crossing aircraft because I did not see it, as I was too busy… Since implementation of the new checklist, I have felt … extremely uncomfortable with my lack of situational awareness while taxiing. This near miss on a taxiway is just one example of the potential dangers of this much heads down time while taxiing in the real world.
When Focus is Diverted Errors Result
A B737 Captain reported on expectation bias resulting in a taxiway incursion while his First Officer was heads down. • I briefed the anticipated taxi. I identified and briefed the threat of taxiing without our final [numbers]. We began to taxi… and we received the final weights. The First Officer verbalized “heads down” as he input the numbers. We received error messages in the performance data… and simultaneously were given [new taxi] instructions. We both had our attention focused on resolving the weight and balance issue, and I taxied on the anticipated route I had briefed [initially]. I had heard what I anticipated hearing because my attention was diverted. I am left feeling completely out of the loop regarding takeoff performance… because I am not able to review the information while I taxi. [Running the] checklist… while I am taxiing and listening to ATC does not give me an adequate picture of the takeoff performance nor am I able to verify that the correct entries have been made. The safest operation has both pilots focusing on one task at a time (not necessarily the same task) and when that focus is diverted, errors may result.
Right Runway, Wrong Flap Setting
There are several critical components to check before takeoff. This B737
Captain reported how changes during taxi interrupted those checks and resulted in an incorrect flap setting. • The flaps were set incorrectly for takeoff. I had a new First Officer who was getting used to normal cockpit duties and flows, and we were given a lastminute runway and ATIS change during taxi out. We discussed the changes, reviewed the [performance] changes, programmed the FMS, reviewed the departure instructions, and were given an immediate takeoff clearance. We ran the Before Takeoff Checklist and I ran a [mnemonic] check but failed to set the parking brake and rerun the Before Taxi Checklist… and therefore missed reselecting the flaps. We proceeded with our takeoff with a flap setting for the previous runway selection. As Captain, I knew the new First Officer was burdened with a lot of lastminute changes and [I] should have set the parking brake to allow time to complete the previous checklist and rerun the Before Taxi Checklist, which are my normal triggers for checking flap settings on the [performance computer].
I Feel the Need... The Need for V-Speeds
Distractions that come late in the taxi or on the runway leave little time for catching or correcting mistakes. An A321 First Officer shared this lesson on delayed distractions. • The Takeoff Checklist had been completed “Down to the Line.” As we accomplished the “Below the Line” portion of the checklist, we realized that the wrong runway was loaded. When we were cleared for takeoff, I changed the runway but was distracted by a company message and attempted to review and clear it. I can’t remember if I had the Performance page up or not when we got the ENG THR LEVERS NOT SET. I advised the Captain to set TOGA, and we continued the takeoff. Above 80 knots, we realized that the Vspeeds were not displayed on the Primary
Flight Display, so I called them out. The remainder of the takeoff and climb out proceeded uneventfully. V-speeds and Flex Temperature are deleted when a new runway is loaded into the FMS and the new numbers need to be confirmed or manually loaded. I would have caught this had I not been distracted by the company message.
Outside (the) Loop
Threat and error management is becoming more widely adopted as a systems approach to aviation safety. A report from a B737 First Officer points out how distractions make it difficult “to stay in the loop” and watch for threats while taxiing. • The new [procedure] is very difficult to execute while keeping any sort of situational awareness outside the cockpit. We elected not to do any single engine taxiing due to the high workload. On several occasions, I was heads down for so long that I was not aware of where we were taxiing… It gets very busy trying to load the [FMC] and get the takeoff data all while trying to stay in the loop… As a First Officer who normally likes to be able to… scan the situation for potential threats, I find that it is not possible with the new procedure.
Testing While Tugging
A Regional Jet Captain reported on a texting event outside the airplane that resulted in a close call on the ramp. • We were cleared to enter on the left side of the ramp and taxi to the gate. I looked to the left and noticed several vehicles yielding to us. I called, “Clear left” and then noticed an object moving from the right in my peripheral vision. I saw a tug pulling two baggage carts and the operator of the vehicle texting on a cell phone and heading at a fast speed directly toward us. I slammed on the brakes bringing the aircraft to a stop with the nose just over the ramp entrance. The Continued on Page 43
GIFT IDEA: GIVE YOUR SPECIAL SOMEONE A CHANCE TO FLY A P-51 MUSTANG January 2016
41
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Mercy Flight Southeast Fundraiser Puts One Lucky Winner in the Cockpit of a Legendary Fighter Plane
Anyone could agree. The chance to fly an iconic WWII fighter P-51 Mustang is the ultimate thrill. Mercy Flight Southeast is raffling off a chance to take control of the dual cockpit/dual controlled Mustang, arguably one of the most legendary fighters in aviation history. The Raffle prize was generously donated by Stallion 51, located at Kissimmee Gateway Airport (KISM) in Kissimmee, Fla. and includes a half-day P-51 orientation experience: • Pre-flight briefing that tailors each flight to the individual’s experience, expertise, and expectations; preflight walk around and cockpit orientation; • Hands-on flight that encourages the individual to do 95 percent of the flying; • Post-flight briefing reviewing the recorded video that captures all of the action during the flight; • Photo with pilot and aircraft; • The prize includes round trip airfare up to $500 to Orlando. Individual raffle tickets are $20
Safe Landings
Continued from Page 42
driver just happened to look up and slammed on the brakes making a hard right turn back into the ramp and missed hitting us by about 15 feet. Had I not stopped, he would have struck the nose of the aircraft.
each, six for $100, or 13 for $200 and can be purchased online at www.Mercy FlightSE.org/events or by calling 352/326-0761. The winner will be announced on April 10, 2016 during the annual Sun N Fun International Fly-in and Expo held at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport (KLAL), April 5 – 10, 2016. Entrants need not be present at the drawing to win. Mercy Flight Southeast’s network of 650 volunteer pilots provides free air transportation to life-saving medical appointments for people who would otherwise not get there. While pilots donate their airplanes, fuel, and flight hours to complete more than 3,000 flights each year, the nonprofit organization is reliant on donations and fundraising to pay for support services and to keep passengers and pilots in the air.
About Stallion 51
Stallion 51 Corporation is a comprehensive aviation organization offering a
event developing on the main runway, even though it was not busy at the time. I believe this happened due to distractions in the work area, most notably, extraneous conversations and the heads down use of cell phones while working.
Cellphone Tower Conversatrion
Dealing with distractions is not a problem limited to flight crews. An Air Traffic Controller reported how aircraft monitoring technology overcame the self-induced distractions that affected a group of Tower Controllers. • A B737 landed and was instructed to turn right to join the parallel taxiway and to contact Ramp Control. Without visually scanning, the Controller assumed the aircraft had turned off at the first intersection, but he hadn’t. The Controller then cleared the DHC8 for takeoff and shortly thereafter, the Airport Surface Detection Equipment issued the alarm, “Warning. Runway occupied.” The Controller instructed the DHC8 pilot to abort the takeoff. The pilot complied and turned off the runway approximately 2,500 feet short of the intersection where the B737 ultimately cleared. At the time, there were four other positions staffed, including an Area Supervisor/Controllerin-Charge position, and no one saw this
wide range of services in historic aircraft, including orientation flights in the legendary dual cockpit, dual control P-51 Mustang, historic T-6 Texan, and L-39 TurboJet. For more than 25 years, Stallion 51 has been a world leader in WWII aviation, focusing on safety and quality flight training. www.stallion51 .com 407/846-4400.
About Mercy Flight Southeast
Mercy Flight Southeast is a nonprofit volunteer pilot organization that provides free air transportation by private aircraft to distant medical facilities when commercial air service is not available, impractical, or simply not affordable. Mercy Flight Southeast is a member of Air Charity Network, an association of charitable aviation organizations comprised of more than 7,500 pilots and who represent more than 90 percent of all charitable non-emergency flights flown in the nation. Mercy Flight Southeast has won the seal of
Two Ostrices are not Better Than One
Heads down mishaps are not limited to ground operations. Dealing with lastminute approach changes, this B737 crew had four eyes focused inside when one
approval from Independent Charities of America, recognizing Mercy Flight Southeast as a good steward of the funds it generates from the public.
eagle-eyed glance outside could have prevented a go-around. • Because both of us were heads down frantically trying to resolve the lastminute approach change, we failed to see that it was VFR, and we could have just requested a visual approach.…
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ADVENTURE BEGINS
“Let the adventure begin” best describes the newest incarnation of the American Legend Cub. It’s taking the classic Cub to the extreme with a 180horsepower Titan engine. Dubbed the Super Legend HP, it’s the first time a true Cub has carried this much power and has come this well equipped. Adventure awaits the most gregarious of pilots. As history will attest, the Cub has earned its place among the world’s most beloved airplanes. Cubs are often imitated and enduringly desired. But this one’s far from ordinary with its plethora of modern features. The Super Legend HP from American Legend puts extreme power at the controls of the adventure-
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In Flight USA Celebrating 31 Years
seeking pilot. One customer characterized his Legend Cub, with its big Titan jugs, as the “Big Watch” experience. Explaining that while having a big watch is not mindfully about telling the time, it does feel good resting on your wrist. With his Super Legend HP, he revels in sitting behind all that power and mindfully relishes in flying fun. He’s not alone in grasping the essentials of flying a Cub. Jim Hoddenbach, avid pilot and founder of Disciples of Flight, proclaimed, “If you fly the backcountry, you need a Cub.” His depiction is spot on and applies to all pilots who possess a longing for adventure. While the
common Cub disciple follows a backcountry love of the outdoors, he or she also possesses a continuous quest for adventure. For the fun and adventurous flying Cub pilot, one thing often left longing for is utility. The Alaskan bush pilot is commonly thought of as the ultimate utility aircraft pilot. The world they inhabit depends on flying, and it requires the ideal utility aircraft. The Super Legend HP was designed with a utility role in mind. It’s built to withstand demanding conditions. Plus, it’s superbly capable of carrying pilots, passengers, and their payload. You’ve seen the Legend Cub around, at backcountry strips, STOL competitions, farms, and fly-ins. You often wondered
TAC AIR SALT LAKE CITY STEPS UP SERVICE
This time of year, Salt Lake City is bustling with ski bunnies, boarders, and après skiers alike, who come to traverse down some of the finest slopes in the world. Whether you’re backcountry hiking to access hidden powder gems, or gliding down the green beginner trails, when it gets cold outside, Salt Lake City becomes the hot destination. And while TAC Air Salt Lake City (TAC Air SLC)
can’t control the weather conditions on the nearby mountains, the Phillips 66 branded FBO can control the ice with top-notch aircraft de-icing capabilities. Servicing Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), Phillips 66 branded TAC Air SLC stands ready, in all weather conditions, to welcome travelers to Utah’s high-elevation capital. The premier gateway to the rocky region prides
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January 2016
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itself on providing five-star customer service, comfortable and modern FBO facilities, plentiful hangar space, awardwinning ground services, quick turns, and the most competitive prices on Phillips 66 Aviation fuel.
Keeping up With the Numbers and The Times
In addition to seasonal tourists, Salt Lake City is ranked by Forbes magazine as the 12th Fastest-Growing City in America. This can largely be attributed to the growing technology market, also ranked by Forbes as the sixth-best city for tech jobs. To keep up with the growth, TAC Air SLC recently refurbished more than 50,000 square feet of existing hangar space and has begun construction on a 25,000-square-foot hangar that will be completed in summer 2016. Other upgrades include a floor-to-ceiling updated lobby interior, including a modernized conference space. And for added convenience of pilots and travelers, the FBO has also added Wi-Fi capabilities to the aircraft ramp.
Suiting up for Sundance
what it would be like to possess one. Now is the time to fly one for yourself. Today’s Legend Cub is the smart, feature-balanced and affordable Cub of choice for adventure-seeking pilots. For more information on the Super Legend HP with Titan engine, call today at 903/885-7000 or email us at info@legend.aero.
The Sundance Film Festival, Utah’s largest annual international event is slated for Jan. 21-31, 2016. It is always a major event for TAC Air SLS. The festival brings together A-list celebrities and Indie breakout actors to screen movies, participate on panels, enjoy art installations, theatrical performances, and music events. TAC Air SLC encompasses the spirit of Sundance by providing branded Phillips 66/TAC Air/Sundance winter weather gear, includ-
SUNDANCE
ing hats and gloves to its customers. This year, a photo station has been set up, allowing travelers to snap keepsake pictures at the FBO and share with their friends and followers on social media, especially when celebrities are at hand. Last year, the festival attracted more than 30,000 out-of-state visitors and nearly 4,000 international visitors from 30 countries. Phillips 66 Aviation branded FBO TAC Air SLC welcomed many of these tourists with open arms to its location at Salt Lake City International Airport. According to Mike McCarty, TAC Air SLC general manager, TAC Air SLC sees a considerable spike in activity during the festival. The excitement among the staff is palpable as the FBO ramps up and gathers the TAC Air team to handle the increased traffic. “The fact that we can pull line service and customer service representatives from any of our other 13 FBO locations during a large event like this speaks volumes to the strength of our network,” said Neely McMains, marketing coordinator for TAC Air. “Our FBOs operate as seamlessly as possible, providing the best service on all levels, no matter where the location. This can be attributed to our company-wide training program that arms all staff, in all places, with the best resources to provide the best service to our customers.” TAC Air has been recognized numerous times over the years for providing the best line service and best value of any FBO chain. It currently employs more than 400 associates at its 14 nationwide locations. For more information about Sundance, visit www.sundance.org.
NORTHWEST AVIATION CONFERENCE
January 2016
Over three decades strong, the much anticipated 2016 Northwest Aviation Conference and Trade Show is slated for Feb. 20-21 in Puyallup, Wash. Each year, more than 12,000 aviation enthusiasts and their families flock to the Washington State Fairgrounds to experience everything aviation in the Northwest. Know a student considering an aviation career? Are you transitioning from military into a civilian aviation career? Want to network with airline HR teams? Career participants are invited to arrive a day early to attend the 4th Annual NW Aviation Career Forum on Friday, Feb. 19. Forum participants attend a variety of seminars that delve into aviation careers. The event allows participants to follow tracks based upon their interest in aviation. Students from local schools and colleges benefit from presentations on education and financing options as well as panels featuring candid discussions with aviation professionals. The military track has proven to be a valuable resource for local transitioning aviators. “In 2015, we had more than 500 attendees,” said Rachel Hansen, event organizer. “There were 97 high school students with their classes or parents, 75 mechanics, and the rest were from the military or current or prospective airline pilots. We are expecting even more in 2016.” The airline track has gained popularity with support from Alaska Airlines. “We love this event,” remarked John Hornibrook, chief pilot with Alaska, “You can count on us 100 percent.” This year, registered attendees who wish to meet one-on-one with various airlines will be able to receive text messages when their turn is available. This will include individuals who wish to participate in the presentations rather than holding their place in line. The Forum sessions run from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Showplex and feature more than 40 information tables from exhibitors. This event is only open to pre-registered attendees. For those who registered online, the cost is $35.00 and includes a buffet lunch as well as admission to the NW Aviation Conference Saturday and Sunday. With more than seventy-five hours of seminars over the weekend, there is plenty to choose from. Safety seminars will cover many facets of the industry, including helicopters, seaplanes, mountain and canyon flying, weather training, and navigation software, as well as presentations from the FAA and the AOPA Air Safety Foundation. An event highlight is the return of Lori MacNichol who will conduct an advanced installment of her much-
ON
www.inflightusa.com
anticipated Mountain and Canyon Flying Workshop. Part II builds upon skills introduced in the 2015 Workshop. Once again, national industry and government experts will be presenting at the FAA-approved maintenance seminars over the weekend. Attending mechanics earn credits toward renewal of their certificates. This certificate not only provides documentation to meet FAA requirements but provides a record, which you may wish to submit when you
COURSE
apply for or renew your aircraft insurance. The certificate is provided on site at the end of eight hours of training. Not to be overlooked is the expansive 122,000 square footage of exhibit area. Apart from 16 packed rows of booths featuring everything aviation––the conference will host museum and aircraft displays, a hands-on Kids Flight Zone hosted by volunteers at Pearson Field Education Center, and a maintenance competition coordinated by
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2016
area colleges and technical schools. The Northwest Aviation Conference & Trade Show is hosted by the Washington Aviation Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and protection of aviation businesses in the Northwest. The event is made possible by the outstanding support of the following aviation leaders: ASA - Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc., Ace Aviation, Alaska Airlines, Aircraft Spruce & Specialty, Charter College Aviation, Pacific Coast Avionics, Wipaire, Avemco, Embry Riddle Aeronatical University, King County Airport, AOPA, Wings Financial Credit Union, Lear Chemicals Research Corporation (ACF50), General Aviation News, Spencer Aircraft, SIM Flight Center, and media support from Trade-A-Plane. The 33rd Annual Northwest Aviation Conference & Trade Show will be held Feb. 20-21 in the Showplex exhibit hall at the Blue Gate of the Western Washington Fairgrounds in Puyallup. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5. Kids 17 and under are welcome to attend at no charge. Parking is free in the Blue Lot. Fly-in attendees can land at the Pierce County Airport with free shuttles to the event courtesy of Spencer Aircraft. Additional information on the event, including schedules, booth and workshop, and forum registration can be found at www.washington-aviation.org or call Rachel Hansen, event coordinator, at 866/922-7469.
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In Flight USA Celebrating 30 Years
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Having received authorization from England’s Civil Aviation Authority to market SuperSTOL kits in the UK, Just Aircraft has taken the first step in establishing a global dealer network. They are seeking additional dealers in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. Most countries will require local approval by aviation authorities, but having been through the process in England, it is expected that other nations will be able to move forward more quickly. Just Aircraft has already produced more than 600 aircraft kits for construction and operation in North America. Of the 600, nearly 200 sales have been for the SuperSTOL, their newest and most versatile design. They will continue to market factory direct in North America but wish to have factory representatives in the other continents. The SuperSTOL has become the leader in STOL aircraft kits with takeoff and landing requirements of little more
January 2016
than 50’. When fitted with 29” tundra tires, the SuperSTOL can land in just about any kind of clearing, riverbed, or shoreline. Floats and skis are additional options for the two-seat, high wing, tube, and fabric aircraft. To enhance the slow flight characteristics of the SuperSTOL, the wings are fitted with slats, Fowler flaps, spoilers, and vortex generators, allowing for an airplane that virtually will not stall with power applied. For more information, visit JustAircraft.com.
WINDECKER EAGLE FLIES AGAIN
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Thirty-one years after it was damaged and rendered un-airworthy, N4198G, a Windecker Eagle, has been repaired, restored, upgraded, returned to active status, and flown. In the hands of test pilot, Len Fox, the Eagle was guided onto the active runway on Dec. 6. Fox advanced the throttle on the first all-composite aircraft certified by the FAA (in 1969) and gracefully lifted off for a brief flight. Windecker Aircraft CEO, Don Atchison, recounting Fox’s debrief said, “Though it hadn’t flown for more than 30 years, the Eagle had the look, smell, and feel of a new aircraft. It handles very smoothly with inputs from the controls and power being met with predictable responses. Visibility and ergonomics are excellent. The panel is all new, state-ofthe-art technology. It’s a good, clean design that would pass certification today
and the Windecker Aircraft team’s workmanship is top notch.” Fox, along with Hubie Tolson, will log 25+ hours in the Eagle before the aircraft is disassembled and shipped to China where it will be used for demonstration and marketing purposes. Mr. Wei Hang, owner of the Windecker Aircraft production rights, will begin producing copies of the Eagle for domestic distribution at facilities across China. “The Windecker Eagle is an historic aircraft,” said Atchison. “It was the first all-composite design that was certificated by the FAA. That has led to a lot of composite activity in aviation in North America and Europe. It was a trailblazer in its time and will deserve that title again as it becomes a familiar part of the emerging General Aviation industry in modern China.”
January 2016
www.inflightusa.com
T he Py lon P la ce
EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION YOUNG EAGLES PROGRAM Marilyn Dash’s
I
n 1991, a survey was done by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) to help the organization understand the priorities of the membership and the direction the members would like the organization to follow. One area the survey showed on was getting young people involved in aviation. Then, when asked how the members became involved, they responded “through a flight experience from a friend or relative.” The combination of these two responses triggered the inception of the Young Eagles organization. In walked Samuel C. Johnson. Johnson was the fourth generation to head the family business – S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., headquartered in Racine, – just down the road from Oshkosh, Wisc. – the home of the EAA. A long-time pilot and friend of aviation, Johnson donated one million dollars to the EAA to endow the Young Eagles program. The following May, the Young Eagles Program was unveiled at a Washington, DC news conference. The first Young Eagle Flight was in July of 1992. The initial goal of the program was to fly one million children before Dec. 17 2003, the 100th anniversary of flight celebration. That goal was achieved on Nov. 13, 2003. As of Dec. 31, 2015 – 1,964,734 kids have experienced flight through this fine organization. Further, the mission of the EAA Young Eagles Program is to provide a flight experience – free of charge – in a General Aviation (GA) aircraft for young people (primarily between the ages of eight and 17). EAA members provide the flights.
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In March 2011, EAA reported the results of a study on the program that showed that program participants are more than five times more likely to become a pilot than those who never participated and that nine percent of those new pilots are female. This is an increase of 50 percent compared to the general population of pilots, which is less than six percent female. The study also indicated that the older a child is when taking his or her first flight, the more likely that child is to become a pilot, with two out of every 100 participants who are 17 years old continuing to complete their pilot certification. They are continuing to evolve the program. At AirVenture Oshkosh 2011, EAA unveiled a new program called “International Young Eagles Day,” a day set aside to encourage all EAA members and chapters to participate, that is held on
AND THE
Young Eagles Chairman since 2013. He is the fifth chair of Young Eagles, following behind the late Cliff Robertson, Gen. Chuck Yeager, Harrison Ford, and cochairmen Sully Sullenberger & Jeff Skiles of U.S. Air Flight 1549 fame.
the second Saturday of June annually. And at AirVenture Oshkosh 2012, EAA unveiled a new program called “Eagle Flights,” which will offer rides for adults. World-renowned Champion Aerobatic pilot, Sean D. Tucker, has been the
Suppose I told you I could get your child to enthusiastically study geography, math, physics, chemistry and psychology. After you had my head examined, would you be interested? Oh, and as a bonus, I can get him or her to hang out with highly motivated, well-educated older people who are good role models because they don’t do drugs or spray graffiti, and they have a great work ethic. – Rod Machado How do you plan on igniting the passion for aviation in someone this year?
Old School Aviation Advanced Warbird Flight Training WWII Stearman and Texan AT-6
Contact Dan Vance 707.972.1293 Vance824@aol.com OPERATING OUT OF:
Sonoma Jet Center 6000 Flightline Dr., Santa Rosa, CA 95403
46
SCHWEISS DOORS MAKES LIFE SIMPLER In Flight USA Celebrating 30 Years
FOR
TENNESSEE PILOT
January 2016
Bifold Liftstrap/Autolatch Doors Surpass Expectations
You have to appreciate anyone who makes your life a little simpler. Dr. Karl Rogers of Nashville had two bifold liftstrap/autolatch doors from Schweiss Doors installed on his hangar, and he couldn’t be happier. “Schweiss is regarded as having the premier door in the hangar market, and it has become obvious as to why,” Rogers said. “It is incredible, the ease and simplicity of their operation, the doors open smoothly and relatively quietly. They truly have a product that operates better than expected.” The Automatic Strap Latch is a totally functional and simple strap latch system that provides an “all-strap” and “onlystrap” bifold door. Innovators at Schweiss recognized that straps used for lifting could be designed to also be responsible for latching. The Automatic Strap Latch system eliminates the need for the frequent maintenance required for cable lift bifold doors, including fraying, breaking, and overwrapping. The Automatic Strap Latch system opens quicker, is easier to adjust and is safer and quieter than cable lift
doors because it is manufactured with 90 percent fewer parts. Straps secure the door in all positions: open, closed, and anywhere in between. Automatic strap latches will offer added protection from wind gusts while the door is in any position during operation. Rogers has been flying for more than a decade, the last five in his Piper Malibu Matrix. He has instrument and multi-engine ratings and a commercial pilot certificate, while his wife, Connie, recently earned her private pilot certificate. They built their new vacation home at Big South Fork Airpark near Oneida, Tenn. and are looking forward to spending time with fellow aviators as well as their airplane. Big South Fork Airpark offers an exquisite home for pilots and is host to the Wings Over Big South Fork air show every September. Attractions include shows by well-known aviators and a collection of airplanes from all eras, including World War I as well as modern fighter jets. Adjacent to the Rogers home is a 60
Let Your Dreams Soar!
The Big South Fork Airpark taxiway leads right into Karl Rogers’ vacation and getaway home 60’ x 50’ hangar in Oneida, Tenn.
only be able to see the back of his hangar,” Donald said. “We decided on a second door for the back of the hangar that faces the back of his house for better airflow, especially during the warmer months, and so he could see his plane from the house. We added a small paved apron behind the hangar so that he can pull out the plane and wash it.” Schweiss Doors is the premier manufacturer of hydraulic and bi-fold liftstrap doors. Doors are custom made to any size for any type of new or existing building for architects and builders determined to do amazing things with their buildings, including the doors. For more information, visit www.bifold.com.
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x 50 foot new custom steel construction hangar with doors from Schweiss Doors on both sides. The bifold liftstrap doors, with automatic latches, walk doors and remote openers, are 48 feet wide with a clear opening of 15 feet. “We activate the door when getting close, so it’s open to where we can taxi into the hangar without having to stop and wait for it,” Rogers said, noting another luxury item designed to make life simpler. “We had the foresight to install a carousel in the hangar, to position the plane for easy entrance and exit. It also can be operated remotely, which adds another level of convenience.” Chris Donald of Carolina Contractors Inc., of Oneida, Tenn. constructed the home and hangar. The company also has an office in Hilton Head, S.C. “Their team of experts built our vacation home in the mountains of East Tennessee,” Rogers said. “They used innovative 3D computer technology to help us visualize our home even before the foundation was laid. This enabled us to make changes without costly expenses.” Carolina Contractors handled the installation of the Schweiss Doors bifold doors. “I called the Schweiss office a few times before and during the installation, and they were quite helpful,” Donald said. “The doors with the straps and remote are very nice.” The Rogers decided on a second door even though the hangar had a carousel. “The taxiway is behind the backyard, so with just one door, he would
libertybk.com U 831-338-6477 Member FDIC
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ForeFlight, creator of the awardwinning and most widely used flight planning and electronic flight bag app for Apple iPad and iPhone, announced recently the availability of ForeFlight Logbook. Logbook is seamlessly integrated into the ForeFlight app, making it easy for pilots to manually and automatically log flights, track hours, review currency, record certificates and ratings, receive electronic instructor endorsements, and generate experience reports. “With ForeFlight Logbook, we wanted to deliver an app for pilots that makes recording flights simple, provides currency information at a glance, simplifies experi-
ence reporting, and never loses a logbook entry,” says Tyson Weihs, ForeFlight’s cofounder and CEO. “ForeFlight Logbook goes well beyond the basics, with automation for flight entries based on our automatic flight logging system, encrypted instructor signatures and endorsements, real-time syncing across iPhone and iPad, and automatic backups that regularly snapshot your logbook. Pilots that adopt ForeFlight Logbook will get more simplicity, utility, and security than was ever possible with paper.” ForeFlight Logbook automatically uses recorded Track Logs, ForeFlight’s Continued on Page 47
MAKING SPORT PILOTS MASTERS AND COMMANDERS
January 2016
www.inflightusa.com
Bristell Introduces “The Landing Doctor” Syllabus
Landing light-sport aircraft (LSA) requires extra care in the landing and takeoff phases of flight, as the planes are lightly wing loaded. According to research completed by the AOPA Air Safety Foundation, light sport aircraft are 19 percent more likely to be involved in a landing, take-off, or go-around incident than a certified two-place aircraft. As most LSA pilots have backgrounds in flying more weighty aircraft, learning the techniques that make these critical stages of flight smooth is the difference between enjoying the freedom of flight and costly mishaps. Long committed to safety in flight, Lou Mancuso sees the importance of leaving a legacy of safety in flying LSAs. “My desire is to make every pilot master and commander of his ship,” said Mancuso. Seeing a trend in damage to light sport aircraft at these key moments, Mancuso knew he could share his expertise and make a difference. Out of that commitment, Mancuso developed The Landing Doctor, a syllabus for flight school training on lightsport aircraft. “My company provides every pilot who buys a Bristell this specialized training. But in seeing these numbers, I knew we needed to think bigger than just ourselves. With that in mind, The Landing Doctor was developed. It includes key con-
ForeFlight
Continued from Page 56 built-in flight data recorder, to create draft logbook entries, eliminating the need to manually enter basic flight information like date, total flight time, and route. Pilots simply review the entry, add desired details, and then tap to save the flight to the digital logbook. Custom fields offer flexibility to capture and track any additional information the pilot needs. A color-coded dashboard includes a recent flight experience summary where pilots can see their activity at a glance. For example, they can check if they are current for IFR flight or for carrying passengers at night. Pilots can export a flight experience report that can be used for completing annual insurance forms, rental applications, job applications, and more. ForeFlight Logbook also supports digital endorsements allowing instructors and examiners to sign endorsements in the app using their finger or a stylus. A database of more than 60 endorsement templates derived from FAA Advisory Circular
cepts such as Defined Go-Around Point (DFGAP), Ground Proximity Awareness (GPA), and a Personal Limitations Checklist (PLC) that support pilots in safely navigating light-sport aircraft. His goal is to provide every flight school in the U.S. the material this year, expanding the reach and impact in coming years. Whether the school has LSAs as part of their training fleet or the new pilots have access to their own LSA, Mancuso is committed that the training be there to support them. “It doesn’t matter if they are flying a Bristell, a Cub, or a Gobosh,” said Mancuso, “What matters is that every pilot be trained to safely enjoy his or her time in the sky – and be confident in their abilities to fly these amazing aircraft.” Flight schools can download a copy of the Landing Doctor syllabus by going to www.thelandingdoctor.com. Bristell Aircraft are designed specifically for the big and tall American Aviator. Wider than a Cirrus and faster than a Skyhawk, Bristell redefines affordable personal fun flying. Backed by the longest standard warranty in its class, Bristell offers an ownership experience that is the envy of the market segment with the highest level of quality, fit, and finish available on the market. To learn more about Bristell Aircraft, visit www.bristell.com.
61-65E eliminates the need to type endorsement text, while still allowing the customizations necessary to complete an endorsement. Logbook endorsements and digital signatures are locked and stored in the ForeFlight Cloud for safekeeping. Logbook data is automatically and securely stored in the ForeFlight Cloud and seamlessly synchronizes across all devices on a customer’s account. ForeFlight’s servers regularly back-up the logbook when changes or additions are made, delivering a new level of security and assurance for digital pilot logbook data. Customers can use ForeFlight’s website to upload and import logbook entries saved in one of many different supported formats. Logbook is available with ForeFlight 7.5 as part of ForeFlight’s new Basic Plus and Pro Plus plans, or as an upgrade to the Business Pro plan for multi-pilot accounts. For more information, visit foreflight.com/logbook.
47
American Aircraft Sales Co. WE HAVE MOVED! 50 YEARS IN BUSINESS–NEW LOCATION
1977 Cessna 310R
1963 P35 Bonanza
1864 TTSN A&E, NARCO IFR, A/P, Good Original Paint and Interior, NDH, ..$99,950
3000 TTSN, 0 STOP, king digital avionics fresh annual ........................................................$54,950
1980 Cessna 152
1980 Cessna R172K Hawk XP
4000 TTSN. 2400 SMOH. New king digital IFR, Garmin Transponder, DME, NDH, new windows and plastic .......................$29,950
Hangared Since New, Excellent Original Paint and Interior, 4500 TTSN, 2300 SFRMAN ..............................................$44,950
1974 Piper Archer
1977 Piper Warrior II
729 SFRMAN, 3170 TTSN, Digital IFR, DME, Century I A/P, Excellent Paint & Interior, Hangared By Last Owner Since 1985 ..............................................$44,950
268 SMOH, 8017 TTSN, King Digital IFR, DME, Intercom, Recent Paint and Interior, NDH ..............................................$34,950
1955 Beechcraft T-34B Mentor
1940 Phillips Aviation CT-2 Skylark
Gray with US Aircraft markings.................... ....................................Considering Offers
70 hours since new.....Considering Offers
1942 Grumman Bearcat F8F-2
1944 North American P-51 D Mustang
820 hours since new...Considering Offers
588 hours since new.....Considering Offers
We Have Moved...
Parking Available for the
National Football Championship Bowl
• Livermore Airport •
Feb. 7, 2016
550 Airway Blvd. Livermore, CA
Call us for details!
Robert Coutches
(510) 783-2711 550 Airway Blvd. • Livermore, CA
www.americanaircraft.net
In Flight USA Celebrating 30 Years
48
AIRCRAFT
AVIONICS
The same location for 50 years. American Aircraft Sales, Hayward Airport, CA, www.americanaircraft.net, (510) 783-2711. 3/13
Avionics for Every Mission. Installation, bench repair, a/p specialist, all major brands. Airtronics, Calaveras County Airport, CA, www.airtronicsavionics. com, (209) 736-9400. 11/14
From Trade-ins to Aircraft Management, financing and appraisals. T.J. Aircraft Sales, Novato, CA, (415) 8985151, www.tjair.com. 3/13
Purveyor of Quality Aircraft since 1968. Steve Weaver Aircraft Sales, Philippi, WV, steveweaver.com, (843) 475-6868. 3/13 Husky - America's Favorite Taildragger. Call to schedule your own Husky Experience. Aviat Aircraft, Afton, WY, (307) 885-3151, husky.aviataircraft.com. 12504:TFN J.T. Evans Aircraft Sales. Specializing in landing gear & control surfaces. Also recovery & storage for singles & light twins. (800) 421-1729, Orlando, FL. 11/14 Largest variety of quality aircraft, plus training and other services. Alliance International Aviation Flight Centers at Chino, Riverside and Brackett Field, CA, airports. www.AIAFlight.com. 11/13
Sales, brokerage, acquisitions w/46 years experience. Laffery Aircraft Sales, San Jose (CA) Int'l. Airport, (408) 2935352, www.laffertyair.com. 2/14 Bristell Aircraft. Wider than a Cirrus; faster than a Skyhawk. With GPA safety training. Lou Mancuso, (516) 658-1847, www.bristellaircraft.com. 7/15 New office in San Carlos, CA. AirplanesUSA Aircraft Sales, San Carlos Airport, www.airplanesusa.com, (650) 394-7610. 1/16
AIRCRAFT FOR RENT A Unique Fleet of Airplanes for Rent. Also offering formation training. Max G Aviation, MaxGAviation.com, (650) 2482065. 1/16
HOMEBUILTS The Super Stallion, Six-Place! Fly faster, farther & carry more for less cost. Aircraft Designs (831) 649-6212, fax (831) 649-5738. 9316:TFN
Kitfox Aircraft. Building kits for 30 years. Homedale Municipal Airport, ID, www.kitfoxaircraft.com, (208) 3375111. 8/14
SAILPLANES/SOARING Fast-track soaring training. Arizona Soaring, Estrella Sailport, Maricopa, AZ, (520) 568-2318. 11/07
FLIGHT INSTRUCTION Old School Aviation. Advanced Warbird training. Contact Dan Vance (707) 972-1293 at Sonoma Jet Center, Santa Rosa, CA. 8/14 Aerobatics instruction and air shows. Anna Serbinenko's Sky Dancer, (604) 946-7744, www.cfc.aero. 7/15
IFR SEMINAR Doctorial level IFR Seminar Feb. 20-21, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Nut Tree Airport (KVCB), Vacaville, CA. Cheap. Limited seating. Wings credit. Call (707) 4494647 or visit WingsFlightSchool.com for more info. 16100:2
TYPE RATINGS Arizona Type Ratings CE-500/CE-525 type ratings or recurrent. Insurance approved, staff examiner. www.arizonatyperatings.com, (602) 614-7994. 9309:12
Magneto specialist for TCM, Bendix, Slick, single & dual magneto. Aircraft Magneto Service, Bainbridge Island, WA, www.aircraftmagnetoservice.net, (206) 768-3099. 1/15
OXYGEN SUPPLIES
Basic installs to complete panel and glass retrofits. Great service and value pricing. Pacific Coast Avionics, (800) 353-0370, www.PCA.aero. 7/15
Complete Propeller & Governor Service. Tiffin Aire, Tiffin, OH, (800) 5537767, (419) 447-4263. 2/08
AIRCRAFT PARTS Your one-stop center for aviation products. San Carlos Aviation & Supply. Two Calif. locations: San Carlos, (650) 592-2322, & Palo Alto, (650) 2138784, www.sqlaviation.com. 3/13 Aircraft Tool Supply. Ring jobs just got easier. www.aircraft-tool.com. 8/14
Aircraft Parts for General Aviation. Special orders welcome. Aerozona Parts, Phoenix, AZ, (623) 581-6190.1/16 Specializing in oil coolers, fuel heaters, valves and more. Buy, sell, repair, overhaul, exchange. Pacific Oil Cooler Service, La Verne, CA, (800) 866-7335, www.oilcoolers.com. 1/16
PILOT SUPPLIES The Airport Shoppe, Reid-Hillview Airport, San Jose, CA, orders (800) 6344744, www.airportshozppe.com. 10/06
Aircraft Spruce & Supply. Free 700page catalog, Corona, CA & Peachtree City, GA, www.aircraftspruce.com.10/06 www.sportys.com your single source for quality educational aviation products— always at a good price fax 1.800.543.8633 phone 1.800.SPORTYS Clermont County/Sporty’s Airport Batavia, OH 45103 2522:TFN
4720:TFN
Get Top Retail for Your Aircraft Aircraft sales, jet sales, management, financing. USA Aircraft Brokers, (877) 417-3069. 51218:TFN
Specializing in GA & Corporate Aircraft for 40 years. Giottto's Aircraft Interiors, San Jose, CA, (800) 315-1095, www.giottoaircraftinteriors.com. 11/14
“Doing it right the first time” Home of Peninsula avionics, sales & service. Jorgenson-Lawrence Aircraft Sales & Management, Palo Alto, CA, Airport. Larry Shapiro, (650) 424-1801. 6107:TFN
HANGARS/TIEDOWNS Aviation Building Systems, custom designed hangars for 44 years. R&M Steel Co., Caldwell, ID, (208) 454-1800, (866) 454-1800, www.aviationbuildingsystem.com. 51217:TFN New one-piece doors. Hydraulic or bifold. Schweissdoors.com, (800) 7468273. 1/15
FBOs Northgate Aviation Chico Jet Center®
General Aviation Services FAA Charts Available in NoCal Shell Aviation Products Chico, CA, (530) 893-6727 Diamond Service Center, maintenance, rentals, flight school, tiedowns, and hangars. 7707:TFN Serving the General Aviation Community since 1981. Wisconsin Aviation, Watertown Municipal Airport, WI, (920) 261-4567, WisconsinAviation.com.3/13
Corona Air Ventures. Low fuel prices, amenities, tie-downs & hangars. Corona Municipal Airport, (951) 737-1300, www.CoronaAirVentures.com. 8/14
SERVICES
Aircraft Sales & Corporate Aircraft Management NAAA-certified appraisals, FDIC & RTC approved. Sterling Air, Carson City, NV, (800) 770-5908, (775) 885-6800, www. sterling-air.com. 11601:12
AIRCRAFT INSURANCE Specializing in personal, business and charter aircraft. Best price, coverage & customer service. Zanette Aircraft Insurance Center, (650) 593-3030, (888) 723-3358. 10/06 Aircraft Insurance WARNING! Don’t even think of calling another agent until you’ve called us first! Access the entire market with just one call. Best rates. Broadest coverage. All markets. Aviation Insurance Resources, (877) 247-7767, www.AIR-PROS.com. 1716:TFN
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES #1 Largest Network of Aircraft Brokers in the United States Become an Aircraft Broker — Available in Your Area Start today with USA’s proved system for listing and selling everything from high-performance single-engine airplanes, cabin class through jets, and helicopters & jet fractional shares. Includes multi-million-dollar inventory from which to start selling. Complete turn-key proved system. No experience necessary. Will train. Licensed USA Aircraft brokerage.
Call today (504) 723-5566. Visit Business Opportunity Section at www.usaaircraft.com. 4208:TFN
AVIATION TRAVEL
FUEL
The original "Self-Fly Safari." Selfpiloted bush flying in Southern Africa, planned by Hanks Aero Adventures. info@selfflysafari.com, (518) 234-2841, www.SelfFlySafari.com. 7/15
Fuel Cells. Repair, overhaul or new. New tanks with 10-year warranty. Hartwig Aircraft Fuel Cell Repair, www. hartwigfuelcell.com. 2/09
ENGINES
Aircraft Engine Parts & Service. Gibson-Aviation, El Reno, OK, (800) 9924880, gibsonaviation@msn.com. 11/14
Aviation Marketing/Copywriting Expert for your projects. A published former TWA captain/instructor. Bert Botta, (415) 320-9811, www.bertbotta.com. 1/16
AVIATION CONSULTANTS
No cheap imitation watches at HME! To order or for information, (888) 4646660 or www.hmewatch.com. 1/15
Corona Aircraft Engines. Complete engine overhauls on all Continental & Lycoming engines. ECI Titans in stock. Corona Airport, CA, (951) 736-6452, www.coronaengines.com. 8/14
Let your dreams soar! Aircraft loans tailored to your needs. Liberty Bank, (831) 338-6477, libertybk.com. 1/15
PAINTING/UPHOLSTERY
DuraCharts — Best print quality, resistant to tearing and liquids. Produced by pilots for pilots. www.DURACHARTS. com. 8/14
Quality, Service & Price, keeping the cost of aircraft engine maintenance down. Aircraft Specialties Services, Tulsa OK, (918) 836-6872. 10/06
Susan Biegel, MD, Certified FAA Medical Examiner, Upland, CA, wwww.susanbiegelmd.com, (909) 985-1908. 8/14
AIRCRAFT FINANCING
iCloth Avionics. Next-gen flight deck wipes. Touchscreen safe, effective, approved. Visit iclothavioncis.com for a free sample 1/6.
PROPELLERS
January 2016
AVIATION ART/GIFTS 14900:TFN
Protect your assets. Legally avoid California Aircraft Sales and Use taxes. Call for free consultation. Associated Sales Tax Consultants Inc., (916) 3691200 or visit www.astc.com. 3/06 Divorce-Paternity Cases. Contact Lawyers for Men's Rights, (213) 3848886, www.mensrightslawyers.com. Offices of Stuart J. Faber. 4/10
Personalized Aviation Nose Art. Quality, service, lasting value. Hand-crafted to your specifications. Order now for Christmas delivery. Victory Girl, www. VictoryGirl.com, (909) 297-6688. 11/13 Airplane Models. Military to corporate. ScaleCraft, www.Scalecraft.com. 1/16
230 VIDEOS/PHOTOGRAPHY Specializing in aviation photography. www.horizontalrain.com. 1/15
PUBLICATIONS Avionics Checklists & Quick Reference gudes. Available in book, card & new iPad editions. www.Qref.com or from your favorite supply shop. 8/14
The World Beneath Their Wings, A New Millennium of Female Aviators" by Julie Jervis. Dealer inquiries invited. To reserve your copy, call (650) 358-9908. 51108:TFN
Things My Flight Instructor Never Told Me & other lessons for aviators of all levels. (561) 752-3261, www.tmfintm. com. 11/07
HELP WANTED IN FLIGHT USA, the leading source of general aviation news, seeks writers and photographers to cover all aspects of aviation. Send an SASE for writer’s guidelines to: In Flight USA, P.O. Box 5402, San Mateo, CA 94402. TFN
FLYING CLUBS West Valley Flying Club, San Francisco Bay Area.. Palo Alto (650) 856-2030, San Carlos (650) 595-5912, Hayward (510) 781-0101, South County (408) 683-4102., www.wvfc.org. 7/06 Charter Members Wanted for New Flying Club Bring back the thrill of flying in a Cherokee 180 or a Cessna 182 Whether you’re an aircraft owner, a seasoned pilot, a flight instructor, a student, or just want an affordable way to get back into the sky, become a charter member of our new Inland Empire Flying Club — an organization that makes flying fun again with affordable access to good, solid, wellequipped, clean aircraft. Membership includes maintenance, insurance, servicing or other costs involved in individual ownership. Contact Richard: (562) 208-5280 or ryardusa.com INLAND EMPIRE FLYING CLUB Corona, Chino and Riverside, CA 151100:12
MUSEUMS The National WWII Museum New Orleans, LA, (504) 528-1944 info@nationalww2museum.org Planes of Fame Air Museum Chino, CA (909) 597-3722 www.planesoffame.org Palm Springs Air Museum Palm Springs, CA (760)778-6262, www.psam.org Military Aviation Museum Virginia Beach, VA, (757) 721-7767 www.militaryaviationmuseum.org Florida Air Museum Lakeland, FL www.sun-n-fun.org
Sell Your Airplane FAST!! with an In Flight USA Classified Ad
Call (650) 358-9908 Current Ad Expiring? To renew, email: 3rdavenue@embarqmail.com
BUSINESS & ROTOR NEWS
January 2016
www.inflightusa.com
49
NBAA APPLAUDS CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL OF LEGISLATION EXTENDING BONUS DEPRECIATION
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) recently welcomed passage of legislation extending bonus depreciation and Section 179 expensing as part of an overall omnibus appropriations bill, which passed on Dec. 18, as Congress adjourned for 2015. President Barack Obama is expected to sign the measure into law. Among the many provisions that provide tax relief to families and businesses, those of most interest to NBAA and its membership include: • Extension and modification of bonus depreciation. The provision extends bonus depreciation for property acquired and placed in service during 2015 through 2019 (with an additional year for certain property with a longer production period). The bonus depreciation percentage is 50 percent for property placed in service during 2015, 2016, and 2017. This benefit phases down in subsequent years, with 40 percent available in
2018, and 30 percent in 2019. • Extension and modification of increased expensing limitations for small businesses. This provision permanently extends the small-business expensing limitation and phase-out amounts in effect from 2010 to 2014 ($500,000 and $2 million, respectively). These amounts currently are $25,000 and $200,000, respectively. The provision modifies the expensing limitation by indexing both the $500,000 and $2 million limits for inflation beginning in 2016. “While we are pleased that Congress has agreed to extend bonus depreciation with a five-year phase out, we continue to advocate for permanent bonus or permanent full expensing, which would promote greater investments in general-aviation aircraft,” said Scott O’Brien, NBAA senior manager for finance and tax policy. “NBAA has repeatedly urged Congress to extend bonus depreciation so businesses have the certainty to invest in
new assets. Last year, we joined a coalition of groups that successfully advocated for extending bonus depreciation for 2014.” According to The Tax Foundation, a leading independent tax-policy research organization, permanently extending this provision would boost gross domestic product and wages by one percent, and create 212,000 new jobs due to its effects on the cost of capital. It would also increase federal tax revenues by $23 billion after taking into account the increases in wages and incomes. Overall, American corporations took advantage of bonus depreciation for 67.2 percent of all of their investments. These companies were able to take an immediate $237 billion deduction on 50 percent of the cost of these investments, rather than spreading the deduction out over a number of years. Both bonus depreciation and increased expensing limitations under
Section 179 enables aircraft owners to better match the tax depreciation of an asset with its actual utilization. Additional depreciation is not allowed under the provisions; business owners are simply able to immediately deduct a larger portion of their capital investment. These incentives are available to owners of many capital assets and are not aviation-specific benefits. Importantly, these provisions deliver long-term stimulus to industries like general aviation, which provides high-skill, high-paying jobs for more than 1.1 million Americans, and is responsible for generating $219 billion in economic activity in the United States annually. American companies also gain immediate access to the most advanced equipment, including aircraft, making them more competitive, while preserving jobs in aviation-related manufacturing, one of the few industries that contributes positively to America’s trade balance.
BELL HELICOPTER ANNOUCES CHONGQING GENERAL AVIATION AS NEW BELL AUTHORIZED CUSTOMER SERVICE FACILITY IN CHINA
Bell Helicopter recently announced Chongqing General Aviation (CQGA), located in China’s Chongqing Provence, as Bell Helicopter’s newest authorized Customer Service Facility (CSF). CQGA has a 43,700 sq. ft. Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) part 145 certified maintenance facility and offers non-specialized maintenance capabilities for Bell 407 aircraft. CQGA is an established operator and has two Bell 407GXs, and recently the company received the first certified Bell 412 aircraft to be operated in China and used for fire-fighting missions. “Bringing on Chongqing General
Aviation as an authorized CSF reinforces our commitment to enhancing the regional support customers need to continue their operations,” said Chris Jaran, Bell Helicopter’s vice president of China. “As a long-time Bell aircraft operator, Chongqing General Aviation delivers exceptional customer service, which made them the right fit to join the CSF network.” Established in April 2012 by the Chongqing General Aviation Group, CQGA’s business scope includes aircraft maintenance, tourism, air ambulance, forestry support, aerial advertising, agriculture support, aerial photography, VIP
flights, law enforcement support, firefighting and charters. Bell Helicopter provides its customers with local support in every corner of the world and has the largest support network in the industry with more than one hundred Authorized Customer Service Facilities in 34 countries. Ranked number one by customers for 21 consecutive years, Bell Helicopter is committed to having resources where customers operate to speed up delivery of service and support, and give customers access to service professionals that are easy to reach, know the operating environment, and understand their needs.
“We have a robust aftermarket support network, and we continue to listen to our customers and make decisions that align with our business direction and bring our customer base enhanced value,” said Neil Jones, manager of the Bell Helicopter Customer Service Facility Network.
In Flight USA’s website for the latest aviation news... www.inflightusa.com Visit
50
In Flight USA Celebrating 30 Years
January 2016
AD INDEX Aerozona Parts ....................44
Bert Botta (Fast Lane to Faith) 42
Aircraft Spruce....................15
Corona Air Ventures ..........20
AirplaneUSA Aircraft Sales28
David Schultz Air Shows ....6
Aircraft Specialties Service ..19 Aircraft Tool Supply ............9 Airtronics ..............................2
Lafferty Aircraft Sales ........11
Stallion 51............................12
Kitfox ..................................33
Divorce for Men..................26
Liberty Bank........................46
Gibson..................................22
Max-G Aviation ..................16
R & M Steel ........................14
Sky Dancer ..........................32 Sterling Air ..........................13
Steve Weaver Aircraft Sales31
Mountain High Oxygen........3
Tiffin Air..............................43
Giottos..................................10
Pacific Coast Avionics ........28
Travel Air (China Tour) ......25
HME Watches ....................30
Pacific Oil Cooler ..............16
Durachart ..............................6
Arizona Type Rating ..........26
Hartwig ..................................3
Av. Ins. Resources ..............22
Horizontal Rain ..................32
Aviation Gifts by Wileman 44
Schweiss Doors ..................44
Corona Aircraft Engines ....27
AOPA ....................................7
Assoc. Sales Tax ................52
Julie Clark Airshows ..........10
JT Evans ................................4
Dr. Susan Biegel, MD ........14
Arizona Soaring ..................41
Qref Media ..........................18
Bristell Aircraft....................44
Alliance Intl. Aviation (AIA)12 American A/C Sales............47
Jorgenson Lawrence ..........50
iCloth ....................................6
Old School Aviation............45
Pac. Coast Dream Machines ....25 Pilot House ..........................32
TJs Aircraft Sales ................51 Wisconsin Aviation ............34
Zanette Aircraft Insurance ....5
Planes of Fame....................37
“Still Specializing In First Time Buyers And Student Pilots Needs" HAPPY NEW YEAR!
1982 T-210, “Rare Find” and Recent Annual.
1969 172
One owner for over 15 years and a showpiece ...make offer.
1978 182, Flown Regularly, Great Panel.
1972 Aztec, Fresh Paint!
JORGENSON-LAWRENCE AIRCRAFT SALES AND MANAGEMENT HOME OF WHAT’S UP?! AIRSHOW ENTERTAINMENT
Voted Best “After the Sale Customer Service” for the 18th Straight Year
Located at the beautiful Palo Alto Airport (PAO) in the Baylands Recreational Area where aviation, golf, nature and good food live in harmony creating a comfortable and convenient setting to select a new airplane. South of San Francisco along the west side of the bay, north of San Jose.
Larry Shapiro • Larry@LarryShapiro.com • Or Call Us! 650-424-1801 For more information about these planes and others, Please Visit Our Web Site: www.LarryShapiro.com
Fax: 415-898-5155 www.tjair.com Email: tjair@tjair.com
351 Airport Road #3 Novato, CA 94945 415-898-5151
The The Trinidad Trinidad Center Center 1990 SOCATA TB-20 TRINIDAD
1995 SOCATA TB-20 TRINIDAD
Beautiful, well equipped, 2400 hours TTE and AF (available as 0 time engine). King HSI, KAP 150 autopilot, Argus 5000 moving map, BFG 900 Stormscope, dual Nav/Com, KMA 24 Audio Panel. Useful load 1164 lbs. Executive leather interior
Total restoration 225 hours ago, new paint, interior, prop, o'haul engine and Garmin GTN-750 WAAS GPS / 340 Audio / 255A NAV/COM / Transponder and ADS-B
1980 MOONEY M20K
1994 TB-21 TC TRINIDAD
1986 SOCATA TB-21 TC TRINIDAD
Sleek airplane with lots of extras. 2130 TT & AF (available as 0 time engine). Full TKS Ice Protection, Garmin GNS 530W GPS, XM Weather Avidyne TAS600 Active Traffic Advisory System, WX-950 Stormscope, King KFC150 Flight Director/Autopilot. Always hangared. NDH, Complete logs. BEST value on a Turbo TB21 anywhere.
Great high-altitude flyer. Cruise at 185 kts, 11,000 nm range, go from sea level to 15,000 feet in 15 minutes, land in a 25 kt crosswind. Enjoy the feel and comfort of a fine European sports car, two entry doors, fabulous visibility and superior cockpit ergonomics. 2670 AFTT, Always Hangared.
1964 PIPER CHEROKEE 180
1972 PIPER CHEROKEE 180
2008 JIHLAVAN KAPPA KP-5
A well-maintained (Mooney specialist) located in Texas & California. Nicely equipped with higher time but still strong engine. 2954.7 TT, 1577 hours SMOH, 1200 hours SPOH.
LOW TIME AIRFRAME HOURS, 582 SMOH, Digital IFR radios. A very nice, 180 HP Cherokee with low total and engine times, GPS coupled to S-Tec 50 Autopilot w/ Alt Hld and much more. MUST SEE!!!!
3776.62 hours AFTT. 1554 SMOH. Factory remanufactured by Western Skyways to factory new tolerances. All accessories overhauled or new. Exceptionally Clean. Nicely equipped. Great paint, glass, and interior. Well rigged. Flies straight. EVERYTHING works (even the old autopilot).
This experimental light-sport airplane looks and flies like brand new. 531.7 TT, Rotax 914 Turbo 115 hp engine. Glass panel, Garmin GPS 696. Fowler flaps. Maintained by the #1 Rotax specialist del mundo. Always hangared.
1970 AMERICAN CHAMPION 7GCAA CITABRIA
1980 PIPER T SARATOGA SP
1972 GRUMMAN AA5 TRAVELER
1952 CESSNA 170B
Cute, fun, aerobatic ready. ONLY 7 hours SMOH. Icom ICA22 radio, Narco AT150 XPDR with Mode C. Accelerometer, Oil temp gauge and EGT.
Big, comfortable, high-altitude hauler. 177 knot cruise at 20K feet. Load it up. Go far, fly fast.PS Engineering PMA 800 Audio Panel & Intercom #1 Com/#1 Nav Garmin GNS 430 with glideslope & Color Moving Map GPS #2 Com/#2 Nav King KX 170B with glideslope King KT76A Transponder with Mode C. 2430 hours AFTT, 880 hours SMOH and SNEW.
Great first time family 150 hp airplane. Perfect for learning to fly. 2582 hours TT. 845 SMOH by Textron Lycoming.
4465 AFTT, 745.01 SMOH. An absolutely beautiful example of the classic Cessna 170B. Incredibly complete logs and records from day 1. Possibly the best-equipped Cessna 170B available. Beautiful exterior paint and knockout interior.
GREAT PARTNERSHIPS AVAILABLE 1991 SOCATA TB-20 TRINIDAD
1980 PIPER DAKOTA
1969 BEECHCRAFT 36 BONANZA
1/3 INTEREST in this GREAT plane located in Northern California, Gnoss Field (KDVO), 2400 TT, 200 SMOH, Garmin 430W and more.
1/3 OWNERSHIP, clean, beautifully maintained in No. California, Petaluma (KO69). 3711 TT, 1784.9 SNEW. Collins Micro Line, HSI, Stormscope, GPS, DME, ADF, Auto Control 111B, Xspdr, Hangared. *OWNER FINANCING AVAILABLE*
1/7 INTEREST ONLY!! Price includes 1/7 INTEREST in airplane, hangar, bank assets, etc. 8639 TT as of 09/29/14, 1439 hrs SMOH, 3 Blade McCauley Black Mac 409. Lots of additional equipment! Beautiful airplane with recent paint and interior!!
All specifications and representations are believed to be accurate to the best knowledge of the seller. However, it is the buyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s responsibility to verify all information prior to purchase.
T. J. Neff
Phone: 415-898-5151
www.tjair.com
Email: tjair@tjair.com
ASSOCIATED SALES TAX CONSULTANTS, INC. 9700 Business Park Drive, Suite 300 • Sacramento, CA 95827 916.369.1200 • info@aircraftexemption.com • www.aircraftexemption.com
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