In Flight USA January 2017 by Anne Dobbins

Ce l e b r a t i n g3 2Y e a r si nPu b l i c a t i o n

www. i n f l i g h t u s a . c o m

J a n u a r y2 0 1 7

AIRSHOW PERFORMER,

J UL I EC L ARK

NEVERGAVEUPANDHASEARNED HERWAYTOTHE MINNESOTAAVIATIONHALLOFFAME

LED DIRECT REPLACEMENT for HID SAVES 68% SIMPLY by CHANGING “BULBS” SAVES $3

64 PER LIGH T/PER YE AR HANGAR E NERGY CO IN STS

Just screw it in - It’s the EZ LED HYBRID!

BEFORE

• Directly replaces metal halide and HPS lamps and significantly improves light levels for years • Works with existing ballast or on direct line voltage: YOU DECIDE!

W/ HID TAKE A P THIS A ICTURE OF D & SH ARE IT!

• 5 year warranty - 50,000 hour life • Less than one year payback period*

& AFTER

5 W/ LED

• Free shipping/30 day money-back guarantee

Waiting is costly. Call now!

145W “BRIGHT”

Saves $364* per light, per year

888.539.0447 y info@oeo.com

180W “BRIGHTER”

Saves $324* per light, per year

230W “BRIGHTEST”

Saves $267* per light, per year

Energy Solutions Since 1996

*Operating 24/7 @ national kWh average of 13.6 cents per U.S. Dept. of Labor Statistics 2016

January 2017

www.inflightusa.com

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

3 7

13 — 15 14 — 15

21 — 22 24 — 25 25 — 28

Q Chino, CA: Kilroy Coffee Klatch, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Planes of Fame Air Museum, (909) 597-7576. Q Watsonville, CA: EAA 119 Young Eagles Rally, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Watsonville Municipal Airport, (831) 531-8440. 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 Lake Havasu City, AZ: Balloon Festival & Fair, gates 6 a.m., Nautical Resort golf Course, havasuballoonfest.com. Q Las Vegas, NV: EAA Sportair Workshops, Aviation Institute of Maintenance campus, (800) 967-5746. Q Upland, CA: Cable Air/Car Show, Sat. 8 a.m./Sun. 5 p.m., Cable Airport, (909) 982-6021, cableairport.com. Q LaVerne, CA: Antique & Special Interest Aircraft Display, 10 a.m to 2 p.m., Brackett Airport, (909) 593-1395. Q San Diego, CA: Montgomery Field Historic Aircraft Display, noon to 2 p.m., Gibbs Montgomery Executive Airport, (619) 301-2530. Q Chino, CA: Open Cockpit Day — B-25 Mitchell Bomber & EC-121, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Yanks Air Museum, (909) 597-1735. 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 West Palm Beach, FL: NBAA Security Conference, Hilton West Palm Beach, www.nbaa.org. Q Sebring, FL: U.S. Sport Aviation Expo, www.SportAviationExpo.com.

FEBRUARY

7 12 14 18

18 — 19 19

25 25 — 26

MARCH

3—4 4

7 7—9 10 — 12 11 17 — 18

Q Buckeye, AZ: Buckeye SciTech Festival, Buckeye Municipal Airport, www.buckeyeairfair.com. 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 Chino, CA: Kilroy Coffee Klatch, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Planes of Fame Air Museum, (909) 597-7576. Q Laredo, TX: Stars & Stripes Air Show Spectacular, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Laredo Int’l. Airport, (956) 722-0589, www.wbcalaredo.org. Q Chino, CA: “Love Is in the Air” Buy-One-Get-One Free Admission, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Yanks Air Museum, (909) 597-1735. Q Chino, CA: Open Cockpit Day — F-86 Sabre Jet & EC-121, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Yanks Air Museum, (909) 597-1735. 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 LaVerne, CA: Antique & Special Interest Aircraft Display, 10 a.m to 2 p.m., Brackett Airport, (909) 593-1395. Q San Diego, CA: Montgomery Field Historic Aircraft Display, noon to 2 p.m., Gibbs Montgomery Executive Airport, (619) 301-2530. Q Plant City, FL: Planes, Trains & Automobiles, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Plant City Airport, (813) 754-3707, www.plantcity.org. Q Puyallup, WA: Northwest Aviation Conference & Trade Show, Washington State Fair, (866) 922-7469, www.washington-aviation.org.

Q Casa Grande, AZ: Cactus Antique Fly-In, gates 8 a.m., Casa Grande Municipal Airport, www.cactusflyin.org. Q Vero Beach, FL: EAA Chapter 99 Aviation Day, Vero Beach Municipal Airport, www.eaa99.com. 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 Chino, CA: Kilroy Coffee Klatch, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Planes of Fame Air Museum, (909) 597-7576. Q Dallas, TX: Hai Helli-Expo, Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, heliexpo.rotor.org. Q Titusville, FL: TICO Warbird Airshow, Fri. noon/Sat. 8:30 a.m., Space Coast Regional Airport, (321) 268-1941, www.valliantaircommand.com. Q El Centro, CA: NAF El Centro Air Show, gates 7 a.m., (760) 339-2220. Q Yuma, AZ: MCAS Yuma Air Show. Details TBA.

Continued on Page 7

NEW TANKS -

QUOTES ON: Cherokee Tanks Fuel Cells & Metal Tanks Repair, overhauled & new Technical Information or Free Fuel Grade Decals

10 YEAR WARRANTY

MONARCH PREMIUM CAPS Premium Stainless Steel Umbrella Caps for your Cessna 177 through 210 www.hartwig-fuelcell.com

info@hartwig-fuelcell.com

Keeping aircraft in the air since 1952

US: 1-800-843-8033 CDN: 1-800-665-0236

INTL: 1-204-668-3234 FAX: 1-204-339-3351

FLY HIGH with

Mountain High

Aviation Oxygen Systems

MOUNTAIN HIGH

Made in the USA

Equipment & Supply Company

GA and Rotorcraft Pilots use MH Oxygen Systems for flying at the higher altitudes for safety and comfort. Call us, we love to help. Portable 2-4 Place Systems

Portable Pulse-DemandTM Systems

EZ Breathe Cannulas

www.MHoxygen.com s sales@mhoxygen.com

In Flight USA Celebrating 32 Years

COVER STORY

JULIE CLARK: FROM PILOT

Among her many awards and achievements, one close to Capt. Julie E. Clark’s heart came in the form of an induction into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame last April. For more than four decades, Julie has demonstrated the perseverance, drive and courage that mark many of American aviation’s true greats. As one of the first women to become a pilot for a major airline, Julie’s pioneering efforts played a significant role in opening the cockpit doors of major U.S. carriers, to women. Since then, Julie’s contributions to the art, sport, preservation, and the perpetuation of interest in aviation have been both meaningful and ongoing! Among them, Julie was actively involved in sport aerobatic competition, the Powder Puff Derby, and then spent four years personally restoring her beloved T-34 Mentor, which she bought sight unseen, at a government surplus auction, up in Alaska. Julie, together with her restored T34, then began flying on the North American airshow circuit. Once again, Julie’s continuing pursuit of excellence resulted in Julie developing and continually refining her beautifully choreographed aerial ballet that is as fresh and

PERFORMER

January 2017

Capt. Julie Clark was inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame last spring. changes of name to Republic Airlines and entertaining today as it was when she first then to Northwest Airlines. Julie spent the began. Her spectacular, patriotic, and aerlast 29 years of her airline career based in ial performance includes humor, music, Minneapolis and established a home in fireworks, and always leaves the audiWebster, Minn., where she continues to ence wanting more! When she began her airshow career, reside during the airshow season. After a Julie ultimately secured significant sponlong and distinguished airline career, Julie sor support with major companies, includretired from Northwest Airlines as a ing 19 years with Mopar (longer than any Captain on the Airbus A-320. other major sponsor relationship in the airJulie has now logged nearly 34,000 show industry), five years with Chevron accident-free hours in 67 different aircraft Global Aviation, two years with Juice Plus, types… a truly remarkable achievement! and now carries the banner of the Tempest While raised in San Carlos, Calif., Plus Marketing Group and Electroair. Julie has strong roots in Minnesota. Her Julie began her major airline career mother was born and raised in Minneapolis, with Hughes Airwest, and subsequent and she and her sisters spent many summer mergers and acquisitions resulted in vacations with their grandparents there.

EXCELLENCE

Highlights from her 40-Plus Honors and Awards

In March of 2002, Julie received one of her highest honors with induction into the Women in Aviation Pioneer Hall of Fame of Women in Aviation, International. The Hall of Fame recognizes the significant contributions women have made to the aviation industry as record setters, pioneers, or innovators. “Being inducted into this outstanding Hall of Fame is a great thrill for me,” said Clark. “Being honored at this level for doing something that I truly love makes this induction even more special.” Honored annually since 2006 by Airport Journals and the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy as one of the Top 40 “Living Legends in Aviation,” with the likes of Bob Hoover, Gene Cernan, Chuck Yeager, Morgan Freeman, and Harrison Ford, Julie was again honored for her achievements for 2011. In 2006, Julie was the only woman named in the Top 10 of Favorites. Julie’s other equally thrilling awards include receiving the prestigious Art Scholl Memorial Showmanship award Continued on Page 21

J.T. Evans

AIRCRAFT SALES, INC. Aircraft Specialist & Used Parts

Specializing in Landing Gear and Control Surfaces “We also do Recovery & Storage for Singles & Light Twins”

800-421-1729 407-843-4547 Fax 407-425-1817 2501 S. Orange Blossom Trail • Orlando, FL 32805

BUY AMERIC A N ! !

TABLE Volume 33, Number 5

CONTENTS January 2017

650-358-9908 • Fax: 650-358-9254 • E-mail: vickie@inflightusa.com • www.inflightusa.com

ON THE COVER COVER STORY

PHOTO FINISH

USS VINSON: NAVY AND AIR FORCE TRANSITION

JULIE CLARK FROM PILOT TO PERFORMER AND MORE!

FROM PROWLER TO GROWLER

Story starts on Page 4

Story starts on Page 44 Photo Page on 49

By Mike Heilman

Cover courtesy of Julie Clark Airshows

NEWS FAA Issues Final Rule On Small Airplane Safety Standards ....8 2017 Red Bull Air Race Season Kicks Off In Abu Dhabi ............9 NAHF Saddened By Passing of John Glenn..............................11 AirVenture On Initial 2017 Blue Angels Schedule ....................13 FAA: Stop Santa Monica Evictions By Jim Moore (AOPA)................................................................16 GAMA Praises Part 23 Final Rule ..............................................18 GEICO Skytypers Earn Airshow Industry’s Top Award ............24 Aviation Photographer Shares Rancho Murieta Airshow Photos ..27 Lauderback Accepted Into The Society of Experimental Test Pilots 46 P-51 Mustang Story Inspires Local Hospital Leaders ..............47 Residence To Be Built Close To Historic Flabob Airport..........37 Bolen Discusses ATC Privatization at Business Aviation Event..39 Fantastic Flying Machines: “The Coolest Show On Earth”......43

FEATURES

COLUMNS

Editorial: Loss of Control Needs to be Re-Examined By Quest Richlife ............................................................6 Author George Leopold Gives NASA Pioneer Gus Grissom His Due By Mark Rhodes ............................................................10 Tuskegee Airman Reflects On Time In Service By Staff Sgt. Regina Edwards..........................................14

Flying Into Writing: Pressurized Skyhawk?

Editorial Response: Opinion on Loss of Control By Ed Downs ................................................................17 Help CAF Nevada Wing Finish Stinson AT-19 Reliant By Joe Gonzalez ..........................................................20 Wichita, The Air Capital!

By Eric McCarthy ..............12

Flying With Faber: Maui, Perhaps My Favorite Island By Stuart J. Faber ..............29 The Homebuilder’s Workshop: FIRCed Again By Ed Wischmeyer ............34

Safe Landings: Controller Pilot Data Link Communications ........................................40 The Pylon Place: Teamwork and Remembering William “Bill” Kerchenfaut By Marilyn Dash ................45

DEPARTMENTS

By Carl Chance (Wingsoverkansas.Com) ..........................28

Calendar of Events ..........................................................3

The Sanders Legacy By Anthony Taylor ..........................................................33

Classifieds ......................................................................48 Index of Advertisers ......................................................50

In Flight USA Celebrating 32 Years

LOSS

OF CONTROL (LOC) NEEDS TO BE RE-EXAMINED

Editorial

2014 Piper Meridian

1969 Piper Arrow

435 TTAF. 435 SNEW. An immaculate and damage free PA46500TP. The aircraft was exported to Paraguay in 2014, and is a one owner, pristine aircraft always maintained by Piper Service Centers. Garmin G1000 Avionics Suite with Synthetic Vision. Currently on Paraguay registry and located in Santiago, Chile, we are available for export and transfer to registration of any county in the world. .......................................................$1,550,000

TTAF 4015. 470 SMOH. 148 SPOH. A clean, well maintained, and always hangared Piper Arrow. Great step up for pilots transitioning from a trainer to a single with retractable landing gear and controllable-pitch propeller. Beautiful cross-country IFR platform with low time engine. Garmin GNS 430 WAAS GPS/COMM, Isham Extended Wing Tips and Dorsal Fin. Located at KFTG Watkins, CO. ... $64,900

1963 CESSNA 336

1999 Socata TB-21

3070 TTAF, 346 SMOH Both Engines, Fixed gear Cessna Skymaster. Only 195 of these were produced, and they combine the safety and security of 2 engines with the simplicity of fixed gear. Low time, damage free, always hangared airplane, been in California since new. Owned by the same owner (WWII B-17 Airman Crewmember) since the early ‘70s ...........................$59,000

559 SNEW. Cruise in style, speed, and comfort. Fully IFR capable and ready for fast fun flights. Capable airframe is complimented by fabulous avionics and instrumentation. Always hangared, complete logs, and no known damage history...................$189,900

NEW OFFICE IN SAN CARLOS NOW OPEN!

Steve Feldman • Sales Manager (650) 394-7610 • steve@airplanesusa.com San Carlos Airport • 620 Airport Way • San Carlos, California 94070

www.airplanesusa.com

January 2017

By Quest Richlife

ark Twain was a stickler when it came to using the right word in the right spot for the right effect. I feel the same way about the prevalent misuse of the phrase “Loss of Control” (LOC) within the aviation community, and it should be addressed. LOC is an inaccurate nametag for basic pilot error. This pilot error continues to be the cause of a high percentage of aircraft accidents, which occur even while there is a fully functioning human at the controls. Because of the fact that the FAA, NTSB, and others continue to use the term LOC, everyone down the line uses it too. And they do so without questioning its efficacy. But it’s not an accurate descriptor, which will help lead us to solutions for reducing accidents and fatalities in GA. To better attack this problem, we need a phrase, which tells a more complete story of what’s going on in these scenarios. You see, pilots do more than just control the aircraft they’re flying. Yes, there are control surfaces, control systems, control cables and rods, control inputs, control pressures, and even “the controls” such as the yoke, stick and rudder pedals. But the term we should be using for the operation of those controls by the pilot is: command. That’s because from the very moment that any aircraft moves for the purpose of flight until that aircraft comes to a complete stop again, every fraction of an inch of the movement of that aircraft is commanded by the pilot. If this isn’t true, then who or what IS commanding that aircraft? Is the airplane, helicopter, glider, etc. commanding itself? Do today’s aircraft really have the ability to command themselves? I’ve heard it said with tongue-in-cheek that there’s such a thing as “airplane in command” when a pilot wasn’t doing a very good job of piloting. And if it weren’t for the fact that this quip gets a chuckle from us, it could be sobering as a deadly true statement regarding ineffective piloting technique. If the term “Loss of Control” is truly accurate, then what specifically is it that has been lost? Is it the pilot who has lost something physically tangible? Has the aircraft lost something rendering it unable to maintain flight? Has there been a loss of a control surface, control cable, or of a control such as the yoke or stick? Is it possible for this loss to be reversed such that there can be a positive

“Regaining of Control” by the pilot? And for those who accept this “Loss of Control” concept, is this something that, once it’s lost, is lost forever, and can never again be regained by the pilot? In my view, the truth of the matter is that the LOC phrase, (and the accident or incident problems associated with its use), is a mental and conceptual series of errors that are perpetuated by the incorrect use of words and terms ala Twain. I’ve been scrutinizing alternates that can be used to replace the LOC terminology and mindset, which would emphasize continuous proactive pilot involvement, rather than the “loss” of something. A more accurate terminology would use the word command, as this is truly what any pilot is doing when they cause pressures to be exerted on the controls. In this case, the full LOC phrase should be replaced with: FTCS, or: Failure to Command Safely. This takes the place of the phrase LOC that is much more at home describing an over-confident skier who has chosen to go down a ski run that is well beyond his or her abilities, and who is, in the true sense of the phrase: Out of Control. But in aviation, unless an aircraft has actually lost a control surface, or anything else in the control system, then let’s stop pointing fingers at what the ineffective pilot might have lost, and start to place blame where it really belongs: on the failure of the pilot to command his or her craft to travel safely through the air. Until we can really switch over to a new paradigm that emphasizes the strict concept of command of an aircraft based on aerodynamics and physics, instead of the current, wimpy, “loss-of-control,” helpless-pilot attitude, then we’re still going to have these problems. We’ll continue to see perfectly good aircraft fly their pilots into the ground because these pilots failed to command their craft by the proper, safe use of all the controls. These tragic outcomes seem to imply that the innocent pilot has ended up in an unwanted battle with a recalcitrant airplane and then has lost this wrestling match because the machine stubbornly wouldn’t comply with the arrogant wishes of the pilot. In the future, we can continue to give creedence to this fantasy-based concept of Airplane in Command, with the pilot as a hapless co-enabler of this phantom “Loss of Control” problem. Or, we can Continued on Page 17

January 2017

www.inflightusa.com

Calendar of Events Continued from Page 3 18

18 — 19

24 — 26 25 — 26 31 — Apr. 1

APRIL

1—2 4 15

15 — 16

Q Chino, CA: Open Cockpit Day — P-51 Mustang & EC-121, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Yanks Air Museum, (909) 597-1735. 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 Waco, TX: The Heart of Texas Airshow, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., TSTC Waco Airport, www.heartoftexasairshow.com. 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. Q LaVerne, CA: Antique & Special Interest Aircraft Display, 10 a.m to 2 p.m., Brackett Airport, (909) 593-1395. Q San Diego, CA: Montgomery Field Historic Aircraft Display, noon to 2 p.m., Gibbs Montgomery Executive Airport, (619) 301-2530. Q Brunswick, GA: Wings over the Golden Isles Air Show, Fri. 6 p.m./ Sat. & Sun. 9 a.m., Brunswick Golden Isles Airport, wingsovergoldenisles.com. Q Palmdale, CA: Los Angeles County Air Show, William J. Fox Airport, (661) 927-7469, lacoairshow.com. Q DeFuniak Springs, FL: Marvel of Flight Fly-In & Expo, DeFuniak Springs Airport, (850) 892-2000, www.marvelofflight.com. Q Riverside, CA: Airshow 2017, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Riverside Airport, (951) 351-6113. 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 Corpus Crhisti, TX: NAS Corpus Christi Wings over South Texas. Q Chino, CA: Kilroy Coffee Klatch, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Planes of Fame Air Museum, (909) 597-7576. Q Chino, CA: Some Bunny Loves You w/Easter Bunny & Scavenger Egg Hunt, noon, Yanks Air Museum, (909) 597-1735. 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 Petaluma, CA: Historic Airplane Appreciation Day, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Petaluma Municipal Airport, (707) 778-4404. 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. Q LaVerne, CA: Antique & Special Interest Aircraft Display, 10 a.m to 2 p.m., Brackett Airport, (909) 593-1395. Q San Diego, CA: Montgomery Field Historic Aircraft Display, noon to 2 p.m., Gibbs Montgomery Executive Airport, (619) 301-2530.

Anna Serbinenko

Taking it to the Top It’s not every day that AOPA gets involved in a potential Supreme Court case. But we recently did, filing a friend of the court brief asking the Supreme Court to review an aviation product liability case with major implications for the safety and cost of flying.. At issue is Sikkelee v. Precision Airmotive Corp., which involves a 2005 plane crash in North Carolina following an engine failure. The pilot was fatally injured and his spouse filed a lawsuit against the engine’s manufacturer, claiming that the failure was the result of a design defect. In 2014, a U.S. District Court found that there was no design defect because the engine was certified and approved by the FAA. But in April of this year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reversed that decision. It found that the FAA’s federal regulatory role did not preempt state law standards of care in aviation product liability actions. It also found that the FAA’s certification and approval of the engine did not eliminate the possibility of a design defect. That ruling allows juries to hold a manufacturer to state design standards, even if the manufacturer satisfied all FAA regulations and the FAA approved and certified the product. In essence, the appeals court ruling would let juries retroactively set design standards in aviation product liability cases. That would force manufacturers to meet dozens of potentially contradictory state requirements for every product they produce. That’s an impossible standard to meet. And trying would not only be prohibitively expensive, it would be bad for safety. Manufacturers need one set of standards to meet, and it makes sense for them to be set by the FAA. After all, the agency was created to regulate aviation. The case, and AOPA’s involvement, have attracted attention in the legal community, too. In an article published on Lexology, the well-respected law firm Cozen O’Connor called AOPA’s filing “notable” and said it might increase the chances that the Supreme Court will choose this case for review. We certainly hope they’re right.

“I love both teaching and flying. . . I know of nothing more rewarding than sharing your greatest passion with others.”

• Aerobatics Instruction and Air Shows • For more information visit my website: www.cfc.aero Call 604.946.7744 or email anna@cfc.aero.

Visit In Flight USA’s website for the latest aviation news...

www.inflightusa.com

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`

PLAYING

TYPE

In Flight USA Celebrating 32 Years

By Mark Baker

President and CEO AOPA hope you’re already an AOPA member. I believe AOPA is a critical partner for any pilot no matter what or why you fly. With safety programs, advocacy, news, flight planning, insurance, financing, and so much more, there’s no place you’ll find more tools to help you manage and enjoy your flying. But for me, there’s one more group that should be part of any aircraft owner’s commitment to flying wisely and well, and that’s the type club. Type clubs have in-depth knowledge about the aircraft they represent, and through the years I’ve belonged to many

such clubs and visited even more. In just the past couple of years, I’ve spent time with The International 180/185 Club, The Lake Amphibian Club, American Bonanza Society, Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association, Cessna 150-152 Club, North American Trainer Association, Citation Jet Pilots, TBM Owners and Pilots Association, and Pilatus Owners and Pilots Association, among others. You don’t necessarily have to own an airplane to be part of a type club. In fact, I recommend connecting with the type club for any aircraft you fly regularly. Type clubs know and understand their airplanes like no one else, and they’re more than willing to share that knowledge with the rest of us.

And when it comes to the quirks, challenges, or design oddities of a specific airplane, type clubs know the challenges, and often have the solutions. They even work closely with the FAA to ensure the continuing safety of the fleet, and often play a big part in the development of airworthiness directives for their aircraft. Many type clubs also have newsletters, magazines, or other publications where they provide safety information and updates. And some, like the American Bonanza Society and the Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association, offer type-specific proficiency programs. They’re also great places to meet like-minded pilots and build your own aviation community. Many type clubs

January 2017

hold social and educational gatherings, whether that’s a monthly seminar, quarterly barbecue, or annual convention. And lots of them join in other community-building events, like the AOPA FlyIns. I’ve made great friends and obtained potentially life-saving information through every type club I’ve ever been part of. Often, those ties are so strong that I stay involved with a type club even after I’m no longer flying that particular airplane. If you own an airplane, are thinking about buying one, or just fly a given make and model regularly, check out the type club. It’s one more way to get the most out of your flying.

FAA ISSUES FINAL RULE ON SMALL AIRPLANE SAFETY CERTIFICATION STANDARDS

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a final rule that overhauls the airworthiness standards for small general aviation airplanes. This innovative rule will reduce the time it takes to move safety-enhancing technologies for small airplanes into the marketplace and will also reduce costs for the aviation industry. “Aviation manufacturing is our nation’s top export, and general aviation alone contributes approximately $80 billion and 400,000 jobs to our economy,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “The FAA’s rule replaces prescriptive design requirements with performance-based standards, which will reduce costs and leverage innovation without sacrificing safety.”

Rule Will Streamline Approval of New Technologies FAA’s new Part 23 rule (PDF) establishes performance-based standards for airplanes that weigh less than 19,000 pounds with 19 or fewer seats and recognizes consensus-based compliance methods for specific designs and technologies. It also adds new certification standards to address general aviation loss-of-control accidents and in-flight icing conditions. “The rule is a model of what we can accomplish for American competitiveness when government and industry work together and demonstrates that we can simultaneously enhance safety and reduce burdens on industry,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. The rule responds to the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 and the Small Airplane Revitalization Act of 2013, which directed the FAA to

streamline the approval of safety advancements for small general aviation aircraft. It also addresses recommendations from the FAA’s 2013 Part 23 Reorganization Aviation Rulemaking Committee, which recommended a more streamlined approval process for safety equipment on small general aviation aircraft. The new rule also promotes regulatory harmonization among the FAA’s foreign partners, including the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), and Brazil’s Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC). This harmonization may help minimize costs for airplane and engine manufacturers and operators of affected equipment who seek certification to sell products globally.

The rule affects airplane manufacturers, engine manufacturers, and operators of affected equipment. Visit www.faa.gov to learn more from the FAA and industry about the benefits of streamlined certification. This regulatory change is a leading example of how the FAA is transforming its Aircraft Certification Service into an agile organization that can support aviation industry innovation in the coming years. The Service is focused on using risk-based oversight to refresh the certification strategy, investing in management systems to improve performance, and improving the overall organization. The rule will be effective eight months from publication in the Federal Register. More information can be found at www.faa.gov.

ANN PRESENTS: BOB HOOVER MEMORIAL CELEBRATION

OF LIFE

Honoring A Great Man, A Great Pilot, A Great American –and Above All Else… A Great Friend

Bob Hoover was, to virtually everyone in the aviation world, the “Pilot’s Pilot.” One of aviation’s most celebrated aviators, Bob Hoover, pioneered a legendary life as a fighter pilot, test pilot, airshow pilot, and aviation figurehead. Whether escaping a German prisoner of war camp in WWII by stealing a German fighter, flying in support of Chuck Yeager’s record-breaking sound-barrier flights, testing dozens of leading-edge airplanes (often for the first time), or flying flawlessly thorough hundreds of airshow performances; Hoover’s 94 years

were packed with adventure, class, distinction, and a gentlemanly grace heretofore unmatched by any other flyer. This beloved aviator passed away, quietly and with dignity, Oct. 25. The staff and friends of the AeroNews Network are pleased to present the final edit of the LIVE Web Streaming program we offered the aviation world on Nov. 18, 2016. Bereft of all the issues that plague the average live production, this is a cleaned up, somewhat enhanced, tighter edit of the moving ceremonies, speeches, and observations we shared with you all on that warm California day… as nearly

2,000 people came together to honor an uncommon hero, Robert A. ‘Bob’ Hoover. ANN, Clay Lacy, Sean Tucker, Danny Clisham, and many other persons and organizations generously donated their services in support of the event and were honored to help bring this event to the world and commemorate a unique man whose impact on the aviation community will never be forgotten. We especially appreciate the generosity and support given the complex ANN effort by the Sporty’s Foundation, PS Engineering, Lightspeed Aviation, and our good friend

Skip Koss––as well as many others. Those still wishing to contribute to defraying the costs of this effort are welcome to do so via http://kindredspirit.com/products/donateto-hoover-memorial Questions and requests regarding the use of this production and associated materials may be made to ANN at AeroNews Network, 6001 Argyle Forest Blvd., Ste. 21-252, Jacksonville, FL 32244.

2017 RED BULL AIR RACE SEASON KICKS OFF IN ABU DHABI WITH LANDMARK 75TH RACE January 2017

www.inflightusa.com

The Red Bull Air Race season kick-off in Abu Dhabi The first race of the 2017 Red Bull Air Race calendar in February will be a celebration of milestones for the official World Championship: the 10th season of competition, the 10th consecutive opener in Abu Dhabi, and the diamond 75th race for the coveted title. As a first-time world champion from Germany begins the campaign to defend his crown title, the Red Bull Air Race World Championship will celebrate a trio of landmarks above the shimmering waters of the Arabian Gulf in Abu Dhabi, Feb. 10-11, 2017. The full Red Bull Air Race calendar announcement will follow in January. Matthias Dolderer will be the man everyone wants to beat in Abu Dhabi. The German soared into the 2016 season with a podium finish in the Emirates and never looked back, clinching his first World Championship at the seventh stop on the calendar––the first pilot ever to secure the title before the season finale. However, after two consecutive years of being the runner-up on the overall podium, Australia’s Matt Hall will be looking to make history of his own in 2017, and in all 13 top teams from five continents will be out to dethrone Dolderer. “It’s thrilling to launch our 10th season with this milestone 75th race, and I can’t imagine a better setting than Abu Dhabi, a city renowned for its appreciation of top-level motorsport that has warmly welcomed us for a decade now,” said Erich Wolf, General Manager of Red Bull Air Race GmbH. “After Dolderer’s dominance in 2016, every team wants to put its stamp on this season from the outset, and the strategic and technical prepa-

. (Red Bull Air Race)

Matthias Dolderer (Red Bull Air Race)

rations have been intense. Even for the knowledgeable fans in the Emirates, this race is sure to be special.” “Abu Dhabi’s 10-year partnership with the Red Bull Air Race is one of the strongest in our sports portfolio. This new four-year agreement to be the season-opening race reinforces our vision to align ourselves with the world’s best sports organizations and deliver highquality media content to an international audience, as well as a major economic impact spike to the capital city. The sight of the Red Bull Air Race planes above Abu Dhabi’s stunning Corniche backdrop is one of the best in the UAE sporting calendar––we’re looking forward to welcoming the pilots and fans back in February,” said His Excellency Aref Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council. Boosting the excitement will be new Master Class and Challenger Class pilots looking to shake up the standings. Join the celebration: Tickets for the opening race of the 2017 Red Bull Air Race World Championship season in Abu Dhabi are on sale now. For all the latest news and information, visit www.redbullairrace.com.

Juli e Clark’s Smokin Mentor T-34

A Patriotic Tribute in Red, White & Blue!

See Julie’s Spectacular Airshow Check for dates near you at www.julieclarkairshows.com Tempest and Electroair have joined Julie Clark to provide show fans with the best show season yet!

American Aerobatics, Inc. 2924 Boeing Road Cameron Park, CA 95682 Phone 530.677.0634 Fax 530.676.3434

www.julieclarkairshows.com

AUTHOR GEORGE LEOPOLD GIVES NASA PIONEER GUS GRISSOM HIS DUE

In Flight USA Celebrating 32 Years

Garmin De aler in Western U.S.!

25 YEARS OF GIVING PILOTS THE BEST PRICING AND BEST SERVICE!

Why Choose Pacific Coast Avionics For Your Next Avionics Installation? Simple. Because avionics is what we do, and we do it better than anyone. PCA installs more Garmin avionics than anyone on the west coast! From basic installs to complete panel and glass retrofits – call the leader in experience, great service and value pricing – Call Pacific Coast Avionics!

MOONEY 231

PIPER CHEYENNE

GARMIN GTX-335/GTX-345

APPAREO

MODE S/ES Transponder with Optional Built-In WAAS GPS & ADS-B “In” CALL FOR QUOTE!

STRATUS-ESG Transponder • ADS-B Out Transponder • Internal WAAS GPS w/Antenna • Interfaces to Stratus series

$2,995

G5 EFIS Now STC’d

$2,149 G5 EFIS for Experimentals p

$1,199

STRATUS 2 ADS-B Receiver for use with ForeFlight APP, providing FREE weather and traffic. AHRS provides attitude reference and ForeFlight Synthetic Vision! STRATUS 2S w/AHRS.................

$899

THE WEST COAST LEADING AVIONICS DEALER!

CALL FOR BEST PRICING ON THESE ITEMS AND MORE SAME DAY SHIPPING ON MOST ITEMS! FREE SHIPPING • NO SALES TAX

WE BEAT ALL ADVERTISED PRICES!

www.PCA.aero 1-800-353-0370 Aurora State Airport • 22783 Airport Road, N.E. • Aurora, OR 97002 Fax: 503.678.6292 • Mon. – Fri. 7:30 – 5:30 PST PRICE AND AVAILABILITY SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

January 2017

Calculated Risk: The Supersonic Life and Times of Gus Grissom

By Mark Rhodes

uthor George Leopold’s biography of Astronaut Gus Grisson, Calculated Risk: The Supersonic Life and Times of Gus Grissom (Purdue University Press) is a thoughtful and comprehensive attempt to not only tell the story of Grissom’s life but most notably put Grissom’s accomplishments in context and perspective as one of the original seven NASA astronauts. Grissom, who died tragically during a pre-launch test for the Apollo 1, is a unique figure in NASA lore and history in that he was one of the few astronauts to not fully “tell his story” in the form of a memoir. Mr. Leopold, who writes frequently about the space program, methodically traces the arc of Grissom’s rise from small town in Indiana to enlisting at the end of World War II as a teenager in the embryonic U.S. Air Force then studying engineering at Purdue before ultimately re-enlisting in Korea where he saw action in the skies (interestingly enough, unlike several of his future astronaut peers, Grissom never had an official kill, as he primarily functioned as a wingman). Post Korea, Grissom distinguished himself as one of the first rank of American test pilots at Edwards Air Force Base. Everything changed in Grissom’s life in 1957 when Sputnik was launched into space throwing the Cold War into a very high gear overnight. Grissom competed with over 100 exceptional and accomplished candidates to be one of the “Mercury Seven” astronauts. This distinguished group of American test pilots was thrust into immediate celebrity status thanks to flattering, gushing profiles in Life Magazine. Grissom was particularly uncomfortable with this development, as the work the test pilots did was hardly public knowledge and was in many instances top secret. Grissom also didn’t possess a high degree of the natural swagger and charisma of his peers (particularly John Glenn who was preternaturally media savvy). Despite this, Grissom became the second American in space and was part of the first man-maneuvered space flight as one of the astronauts in the Gemini program.

Unfortunately, Grissom’s persona was damaged early in the space program when his Mercury Flight, Liberty Bell 7 blew its escape hatch prematurely, causing the loss of the capsule and nearly resulting in Grissom’s death by drowning. There had been some controversy over the years that Grissom somehow was responsible for this mishap (exacerbated by both the literary and film versions of The Right Stuff that strongly hint at this). Mr. Leopold takes a seriously revisionist view here, making a painstaking case that the hatch “blew” as a result of a combination of electrostatic discharge and sub-par design. The tenacious Grissom ultimately restored his reputation and revived his mojo through his work with the Gemini program (besides his duties on the crew, he also helped design the ship) and was picked as the commander for the first Apollo mission in 1966. The concluding portion of the book chronicles the tragedy of Apollo 1 where Astronauts Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee died as a result of a spark igniting a fire, which caused asphyxiation during a simulated launch. The depressing revelation of this account is that NASA’s rushing to fulfill JFK’s promise to get a man on the moon by the end of the ‘60s was at the heart of the deaths of Grissom and his co-pilots. Mr. Leopold recounts that the quality control was minimal and that NASA’s Continued on Page 13

NATIONAL AVIATION HALL OF FAME SADDENED BY PASSING GLENN, JR., AT AGE 95

January 2017

www.inflightusa.com

OF JOHN

Decorated Combat Veteran, Test pilot, Astronaut, and Statesman was Iconic Hero

The National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) is saddened to hear of 1976 enshrinee, John Herschel Glenn, Jr.’s passing on Dec. 8, at age 95. The retired Marine Colonel was a former combat fighter pilot, test pilot, astronaut, U.S. Senator, educator, and a genuine hero to generations worldwide.

John Glenn in 1964 (NASA) Glenn took his first airplane ride at age eight in an open-cockpit Waco biplane, and for the rest of his life never lost his passion for flight. Enlisting in the Marine Corps during WWII, he flew 59 missions

over the Marshall Islands. Serving as a flight instructor at the start of the Korean War, he requested combat duty. Glenn flew 63 combat missions in Marine Corps F9F Panther jets and, in an Air Force exchange program, 23 more flying F-86 Sabres, in which he shot down three enemy MiGs in aerial combat. As a military test pilot after the war, he set several records and, in 1959, was selected to join the “Mercury Seven,” America’s first group of astronauts. He was the sole surviving member of that group. In 1962, he became the first American to orbit the earth in the Mercury capsule “Friendship 7.” In 1998, at age 77, he returned to space and orbiting the earth, this time with six others on the space shuttle, Discovery. He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Annie, and daughter Lyn and son David. John and Annie were first acquainted when they were growing up in Cambridge, Ohio. In July of 2003, Glenn was among 22 former enshrinees who were feted in Dayton as part of the NAHF Pioneers of Flight Homecoming, celebrating the cen-

tennial anniversary of the Wright Brothers first powered flight. The NAHF Learning Center proudly preserves and shares with future generations the remarkable and unforgettable legacy of John Herschel Glenn, Jr., where

he is honored among the Wright Brothers, Charles Lindbergh, Jimmy Doolittle, and more than 200 other past and current fellow legends of air and space. Godspeed, Colonel Glenn. For more information, visit www.nationalaviation.org. 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.

FREEDOM

www.kitfoxaircraft.com

Proudly Built in the USA since 1984

In Flight USA Celebrating 32 Years

January 2017

Flying into Writing By Eric McCarthy

here we were, climbing out of Paso Robles (KPRB) in my friend’s Cessna 172, joining our course line to the Fellows VOR (FLW). We had completed our photo mission in the Central Valley, refueled the plane at Los Banos (KLSN) and ourselves at Paso, and now it was time to head home. We contacted Oakland Center to request VFR Flight Following for the 233nm, two-hour flight back to Palomar (KCRQ). Our course would take us over the mountain range just north of Santa Barbara on Victor 485, to OHIGH intersection where we turn east to enter the LA basin. On a calm, clear day, you can get over the coastal range safely at about 7,500 feet although I usually prefer to carry extra altitude and make the crossing at 9,500 feet, both to escape the orographic turbulence and to provide greater glide range in case anything goes awry – those mountains are pretty rugged and unforgiving. Passing Fellows it became clear that 9,500 feet was not going to be enough to get over the cloud layer that had developed along the coast and the mountains ahead. They began as widely scattered fair-weather cotton balls and progressed to thick cumulous billows as we got closer to the mountains. Ok, up we go! Rich broke out the oxygen cannulas as we climbed through 10,000 feet. There was plenty of space between the clouds, and we could see that it was clear beneath them, but they kept rising as we approached the mountains. Our next “hemispherically-correct” altitude of 11,500 feet came and went as we continued our climb to clear the cloud tops. Hmm – hope we can make it to 13,500 feet… It took some time, but we did indeed get to 13,500 feet; unfortunately, the clouds kept up their climb as well, so we continued ours as well – slowly! Weaving around the larger buildups, we eventually reached 14,000 feet (actually 14,200 feet, but I didn’t get a picture of that…), whereupon LA Center suggested that we descend to 13,500 feet to be at an appropriate altitude for our direction of flight. We explained that we had climbed to maintain VFR, and we would descend when able. That’s when he asked it: LA Center: “99700, LA Center: are you guys pressurized or on oxygen?” Pressurized? In a 172? I don’t think so… Me: “No sir – we’re not pressurized, but we are on oxygen!” As we cleared the mountains south of Ojai, LA Center handed us off to Point

PRESSURIZED SKYHAWK?

Magu Approach. The cloud tops began to lower, and I thought about descending to 13,500 feet and staying there to clear the LAX Class Bravo airspace, but we spotted a large break in the clouds and decided to descend through it, rather than risk getting stuck on top further down the coast. We informed Point Magu of our decision to descend and received the usual “VFR descent at pilot’s discretion.” Down we went, shedding almost 7,000’ in two gentle circling turns, dropping from just more than 14,000 feet to

Graceful descending circles south of Ojai. (Courtesy of Eric McCarthy)

Proof! 14,000’ feet and still climbing! (Eric McCarthy)

7,500 feet where we were able to slip beneath the clouds and continue to Filmore VOR (FIM).

Los Angeles Special Flight Rules Area

Descending between the clouds. (Eric McCarthy)

Spoiler alert: I didn’t like it! The plan was to fly to CHATY intersection and fly through the Class Bravo at 5,500 feet on the Coastal Route, but you know what they say about “best laid plans…” The clouds squeezed down on us, so we decided to fly through the Special Flight Rules Area (SRFA) at 3,500 feet. In hindsight, we probably could have made it through at 5,500 feet, but that wasn’t clear to us as we approached the area. Centered over Los Angeles International (KLAX), the SFRA is defined by the shoreline on the west, Manchester Boulevard to the north, the 405 freeway to the east, and the Imperial Highway to the south. The southbound route begins at the Santa Monica VOR

(SMO) and proceeds southeast on the 132-degree radial across LAX. It is recommended that you make position calls on 128.55 to let your fellow travelers know where you are. Class Bravo airspace begins at the surface at LAX, but not far north or south of the runways it lifts to 5,000 feet; you’re only in Class Bravo airspace for a couple of miles when you transition through the SFRA. Interestingly, you do not need an ATC clearance to operate in the SFRA; in fact, controllers will tell you: “Radar service terminated; squawk 1201” – note the ‘…01’; apparently they continue to monitor your progress, but they will not call out traffic to you. And I can see why: it’s a bit of a circus in there! It wasn’t a particularly busy day when we were there, but there were still several other aircraft traversing this narrow airspace with us. And I do mean “with us!” It’s a bit disconcerting when you hear someone announce his or her location and it’s your location! “Los Angeles Special Flight Rules Area, Red and white Cessna, 3,500 feet over LAX 24 Right, Los Angeles Special Flight Rules Area” Wait! That’s where we are! Do you see him? Where is he? Wait – I think that’s him half mile ahead, over 25 Right! “Orange and White Skyhawk, rock your wings – I think I’ve got you about a half mile ahead of me…” We rocked aggressively – whatever it takes to be seen and avoided! “Ok, orange and white Skyhawk, I’ve got you in sight. We’re going to pass off your right wing as we descend into Torrance. That other guy’s about mile

ahead of you at your 2:00.” What other guy? Ok, I’ve got him. Didn’t even know he was here… “Los Angeles Special Flight Rules Area, Blue and white Bonanza, southeast bound at 3,500 feet, Ballona Creek, Los Angeles Special Flight Rules Area” Crap! He’s gonna run us over! Hope he sees us! All our lights are on, right? (That’s one of the few requirements to operate in the SFRA; that, a Mode C transponder, and a current LA TAC.) “Los Angeles Special Flight Rules Area, Saratoga 7 X-ray November, northbound over Imperial Highway, Los Angeles Special Flight Rules Area”‘ Hope he’s at 4,500 feet where he belongs! Oh wait, I’ve got him! 12:00 high and a mile – uh, wait – that’s a twin! Where’s that Saratoga? Whoa! There goes that Bonanza! And so it goes… there’s a lot of chatter on the frequency as both northand southbound traffic report their positions in a desperate attempt to avoid meeting a fellow flyer up close and personal! I was very happy to get out of there and back in touch with SoCal –it’s just too hectic, and it can be very difficult to pick out traffic against either the densely populated cities below or the solar glare of the setting sun over the Pacific. As long as the weather cooperates, I’d much rather go through one of the approved VFR routes through the Class Bravo with the controllers calling out traffic to me. It really makes you appreciate the services provided by ATC controllers!

Another confession…

Years ago, shortly after receiving my Private Pilot Certificate, I took a couple of friends up for a sightseeing trip. At the time, I was flying out of Norwood Airport (KOWD), about 15 miles south of Boston. One of my passengers went to school up on the North Shore and had rented an old mansion on the water – literally – as I recall, the ocean waves crashed against the foundation! He shared the ‘Manchester Men’s Club’ with five or six other students, each contributing about $100 per month––such a deal! Anyway, we decided to see what the North Shore coastline looked like from the air (it’s spectacular!). To get there, we had to go around the Boston TCA (Terminal Control Area, now Class B) airspace. The Boston TCA/Class B airspace is Continued on Page 19

AIRVENTURE ON INITIAL 2017 BLUE ANGELS SCHEDULE

January 2017

www.inflightusa.com

EAA Team at ICAS Convention to Build Airshow Roster

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels, one of the world’s premier military jet teams, has included EAA AirVenture Oshkosh as part of its initial 2017 performance schedule. The 65th annual EAA fly-in convention is July 24-30 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisc. The announcement was made at the annual International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) convention in Las Vegas. The Blue Angels’ initial schedule at Oshkosh includes flying on the event’s final weekend. The exact activities and schedule are still being finalized, as EAA will continue working on essential operation issues involved in the appearance. It would mark the first time the Blue Angels would perform its full show in front of Oshkosh audiences. “We’re excited to be included on the Blue Angels 2017 schedule as a first step toward their inaugural performance at Oshkosh, and their team has indicated their excitement at coming to AirVenture,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs who coordinates features and attractions at AirVenture. “Oshkosh

has attracted an unmatched lineup of incredible aircraft and personalities over the past six decades, and the Blue Angels add to that legendary roster.” The Blue Angels were formed in 1946 and include aviators from the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Based at Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida, the Blues typically perform before an estimated 11 million people each year in their McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 fighter jets. EAA’s airshow planning team was at the ICAS convention this December to begin building the airshow performer roster for AirVenture 2017. Along with long-standing favorites, the EAA team is always seeking exciting new acts to include on the schedule that usually includes more than 50 performers. For more information, visit www.eaa.org.

SISTER AIRPORTS CELEBRATE 25-YEAR PARTNERSHIP Silver Anniversary for Munich and Denver

A successful trans-Atlantic partnership for 25 years: Munich and Denver International Airports reached a big milestone this month. The occasion was marked with an exchange of headwear, with the hosts sporting a cowboy look, and the visitors donning traditional Bavarian “goat’s-beard” hats. Dr. Michael Korkloh, the CEO of Munich Airport; Kim Day, the CEO of Denver International Airport; Wellington

Webb, the former mayor of Denver; and Dr. Markus Sodar, the Bavarian State Ministor for Finance, Regional Development, and Home Affairs, joined Jennifer D. Gavito, the U.S. General Consul in Munich on stage. Munich Airport presented a spectacular birthday cake for the big anniversary celebration, featuring a delicious blend of features from both airports. For more information, visit www.denversistercities.org.

NASA Pioneer Gus Grissom Continued from Page 13 oversight was poor. Beyond this, the capsule had miles of exposed wire, an unreliable hatch, and too much exposure to pure oxygen. The upside of this disaster was that it forced NASA to re-evaluate its technical practices and institutional philosophy resulting in the Apollo 11 landing on the moon in a redesigned craft a

little more than two years after this tragedy. Author Leopold manages to connect Grissom’s work and sacrifice with the subsequent successes of the Apollo program. For more on Mr. Leopold and his work, see his blog gleopold.wordpress.com

1976 CESSNA A185F

4,986 TT, 711 SMOH. King Digital IFR w/KLN-94 GPS & DME. STOL, F. Float Kit, P-Punk gear, Extended Baggage + more. P+I - 8.5+, Fresh Annual upon Sale. Really shows Pride of Ownership, An exceptionally clean Cessna 185F....Price reduced to $129,900

1979 PIPER TURBO DAKOTA

2278 TT, 286 SMOH. Collins Microline IFR, ‘Air Flow’ Intercooler, EDM-700 EGT/CHT, Stby VAC, 4 pl IC, & More. Recent compressions were 74 &/80. Hangared in Lake Tahoe since 1983. Nice P + I. Jan. Annual. All logs since new. Very low time airframe!.............. .............................................................................................................................$84,500

1981 BEECH F33A

2886 TT, 632 SMOH on Continental IO-520, 1393 SOH Propeller, complete log books since new; King Audio Panel KMA-24, Garmin GNS 530 Com/GPS w/WAAS, Garmin GDL-49 Weather Link, King KY-196 Com, King KN-53 NAV w/Glideslope, Century 2000 Auto Pilot (2 axis), Insight Strikefinder Stormscope, and lots more! Recent Annual ...................$139,500

1967 MOONEY M20E ‘SUPER 21’

L SO

1974 CESSNA 182P

L SO

2818 Hrs. TT, 329 SMOH, King IFR w/KI-209 + 208, Garmin GTX-320A TXP w/Enc, GPS-195, ADF, KN-64 DME, Dig EGT, GAMI Inj. + More! Will deliver with fresh September 2016 Annual ............................................................$52,500 obo

5962 TT, 1060 SMOH, 294 SPOH. King KX-155 w/GS, Apollo GX55 GPSw/moving MAP, DME. LR Fuel, EGT, Intercom, Strobes...................... ....................................................$52,500 obo

Call for info on recent arrivals. Whether buying or selling, Sterling gets results. Let Sterling make your dream of ownership come true! STERLING AIR, LTD. takes pride in offering members of the general aviation community the following selection of professionally tailored services: • Aircraft Sales • NAAA Certified Appraisals • Computerized “MLS” • Aviation Consulting – Cost Effective Analysis FREE – NAAA Certified Aircraft Appraisal and National “MLS” Listing, in return for your consigned aircraft!

Call 800-770-5908 • 775-885-6800 www.sterling-air.com 2640 College Parkway • Carson City, Nevada 89706 Bill Drake • Steve Lewis

TUSKEGEE AIRMAN REFLECTS ON TIME IN SERVICE

In Flight USA Celebrating 32 Years

HANGARS

44 Years of Manufacturing Excellence Buy Factory Direct ! • Electric Bi-Fold Doors • T-Hangars • Corporate Hangars • Individual Hangars • Hangar Homes • Maintenance Hangars

Photo by Bruce Selyem

Call Today !

R & M Steel Co. U.S. Toll Free: Phone 1-866-454-1800 • Fax 1-866-454-1801 Outside U.S. 1-208-454-1800

www.aviationbuildingsystem.com sales.rmsteel@gmail.com

January 2017

By Staff Sgt. Regina Edwards 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

(This feature is part of the “Through Airmen’s Eyes” series. These stories focus on individual Airmen, highlighting their Air Force story.) “I’ve come a long way from picking cotton in the fields with my grandfather,” said retired Master Sgt. Leroy Mazell Smith, who has lived a life few could probably imagine. He was born on an Arkansas bridge during the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927; son of a logger and farmer, Smith grew up in Pine Bluff, Ark. His mother, who cared for him and his two siblings, left school at the age of 13. He credits his upbringing to his grandfather whom Smith picked cotton with. He said his grandfather taught him the value of hard work and perseverance. Smith graduated from high school in Fordyce, Ark., at the age of 16. While there, he attended preflight aeronautical classes, changing the course of his future. “I wanted to be a doctor,” he said, “but the military said they needed black mechanics, so I was inducted into the U.S. Army Air Corps at 16. Looking back now, they did me a favor I’d say.” Smith said he vividly remembered being a scared boy from the country in 1943, riding a bus from Camp Robinson to Sheppard Field, Texas, for basic military training, and then later to Chinook, Ark., for aircraft and engine training. “Everything was segregated,” he said. “The ride to training, the barracks we lived in, even the hours we had to shop at the base exchange and eat at the mess hall were separate. “I remember (white) people asking us, ‘What are you doing here?’ and assuming we blacks were the cooks and bottle washers,” Smith said. However, segregation did not break his zeal. Smith charged forward and met every obstacle with faith and optimism. He said he leaned on his Baptist upbringing and grandfather’s lessons about having strength – especially during the harder days. “I never retaliated,” Smith said. “I just believed those people were ignorant, and someday it would be better. My grandfather always said, ‘there’s only one race of people: the human race.’” And so, while the human race was focused on World War II and which side would prevail, Smith set course for the

Tuskegee aircrew was one of his best memories. (U.S. Air Force illustration/ Staff. Sgt. Regina Edwards) European theater. He was assigned to the Tuskegee unit, where all barriers fell away. He was no longer a black mechanic. He was simply an Airman. “I was scared and proud when I arrived in Italy,” Smith said. “I was with an all-black crew that I could identify with. I could actually communicate with the pilots; the officers respected us as the younger members. I didn’t have to just do my job and shut my mouth. We all had a good relationship; it was one of my best memories.” The Tuskegee Airmen are typically known as an all-black fighter and bomber pilot aircrew that fought in WWII. However, that name, Tuskegee Airmen, also encompassed navigators, mechanics, instructors, crew chiefs, nurses, cooks, and other support personnel for the aircrews. “I loved being called a Tuskegee Airman,” he said. “I didn’t know that name would be what it is today, but we sure had a lot of unit pride, and there was reason for it.” The crew was assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group and flew heavy bomber escort missions with P-47 Thunderbolts and later the P-51 Mustangs. To distinguish themselves, they painted the tails of their aircraft red, coining themselves the Red Tails. “We never lost a bomber,” Smith said. “Nope, we never lost a plane. It did me proud to say I was a part of this. We were good, and we were finally recognized for it. I’m a low profile guy, but the recognition was nice.” In 1947, Smith’s tour with the Tuskegee Airmen ended, but the Red Tails’ legend influenced the integration of races in the armed forces. Smith soldiered on as he transitioned from the Army Air Corps to the Air Force. He continued serving throughout the Korean War and Vietnam War, fulfilling 25 years in the Air Force and retiring in 1968 as a master sergeant.

January 2017

www.inflightusa.com

(YHU\WKLQJ IRU $LUSODQHV Â&#x2021; /RZHVW 3ULFHV *XDUDQWHHG

IPAD / IPHONE ACCESSORIES

HEADSETS

INSTRUMENTS

LANDING GEAR

ENGINE PARTS

COVERING SUPPLIES

GPS SYSTEMS

AIRFRAME PARTS

BOOKS & VIDEOS

FBO SUPPLIES

TIRES & TUBES

HARDWARE

AVIONICS

PILOT SUPPLIES

TOOLS

COMPOSITE MATERIALS

METALS & PLASTICS

FLIGHT TRAINING

WOOD PRODUCTS

ELECTRICAL

FAA: STOP SANTA MONICA EVICTIONS

In Flight USA Celebrating 32 Years

January 2017

By Jim Moore

Editor AOPA Online Article courtesy AOPA The mayor of Santa Monica, Calif., told the Los Angeles Times that the city remained “committed” to ousting both remaining fixed-base operators from Santa Monica Municipal Airport and was “disappointed but not surprised” that the FAA issued a cease-and-desist order blocking eviction of Atlantic Aviation and American Flyers. In the recent cease-and-desist order, the FAA took the city to task for its “hostility” to the sale of aviation fuel and the city’s treatment of airport tenants. “The city has failed to grant any aeronautical leases since 2015 and is alleged to have negotiated in bad faith while seeking onerous and unreasonable terms,” the agency stated in its order. Atlantic Aviation and American Flyers challenged their eviction notices in a separate case, in which a Jan. 3 hearing is scheduled. An attorney representing American Flyers told the Los Angeles Times that his client appreciates the FAA’s latest action: “We are pleased that the FAA has recognized our client’s federally protected right to be at the airport,” attorney R. Christopher Harshman told the newspaper. AOPA General Counsel Ken Mead also welcomed the latest FAA action. “The FAA has taken a strong stand against the city council’s repeated and continuing actions to blatantly violate its obligations,” Mead said. “It’s unconscionable the amount of time and taxpayer dollars the council has poured into this matter to simply please a vocal minority of Santa Monica residents. The airport serves the community in many ways, including several humanitarian efforts, and is a valuable asset, particularly should a natural disaster impact the region. The city council must have other more important things to do for its citizens than this.”

The FAA’s move to protect tenants subject to eviction proceedings is the latest in a string of developments that followed formal notice in September that the FAA is investigating the evictions, issued weeks after the agency released a final ruling on the grant obligations. The FAA reiterated to city officials in September that the city is obligated to provide “suitable areas or space on reasonable terms to those willing and qualified to offer aeronautical services to the public.” The city government has meanwhile been more responsive to airport opponents and stated its intention to become the sole provider of fuel, though only biofuel and unleaded aviation gas. The FAA called that decision “a clear contravention of law.” The FAA noted that many aircraft cannot operate on fuels approved by the city, and the city has shown no desire to provide other aviation services such as flight training. AOPA and NBAA have asked to participate in a federal court review of the FAA decision issued in August. In that case, the city has asked a federal judge to overrule the FAA final decision that the city’s federal grant obligations extend 20 years from the last time it accepted federal funds, until Aug. 27, 2023. There has been no ruling yet on the associations’ motion to intervene. The city’s brief in that case was turned in on Dec. 16, with the FAA response to follow in this month. For more information, visit www.aopa.org.

Visit In Flight USA’s website for the latest aviation news...

www.inflightusa.com

January 2017

www.inflightusa.com

Editorial

OPINION

By Ed Downs

In response to Quest Richlifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s editorial on Page 6.

s the primary editorial contributor to In Flight USA, an active CFI, former Exec with a major airline and seminar instructor who works with more than 300 students per year, I applaud the thoughts offered up by Quest Richlife. The fact is, this writer agrees with virtually everything Quest said, with one exception that will be address, but fears the opinions offered are tilting at the wrong windmill. I believe many in the real world of pilot training agree with the command concept, but the FAA does notâ&#x20AC;Ś and the FAA is a pretty big windmill. Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics (FIRCs) are required to present FAAapproved courses, with content carefully supervised by the FAA. Failure to use FAA safety terminology as taught in the official FAA thinking process called Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM) can result in de-certification of a training course. Virtually all FAA published training manuals now carry large chapters on ADM. As new technology, fully auto integrated, aircraft came into common use almost 15 years ago, the FAA concluded that basic flying skills would no

longer be needed, but a process of thinking and behavior would be stressed to manage these new aircraft. And here is where Quest and this writer are forced to part way, if only by a little. Regrettably, the concept of aircraft in command is not a fantasy; it is reality. We now have at least two generations of young pilots who learned to fly at the big be an airline pilot flight schools. They trained in fully integrated, advanced technology trainers, such as the Cirrus and modern Cessna 172. These pilots were heading for the airlines (or at least the Regional Carriers) but have been diverted into GA training, as they need to build more flight time, a relatively new requirement implemented by Congress. These young pilots (and many newcomers with the bucks to buy a $700K+ single) are specifically taught to fly as their future employers, the airlines, want them to fly. Airplanes are to be managed, not flown. Flying is primarily a mental process, not a manipulative skill. In fact, in the airline world, hand flying is discouraged, as modern integrated flight systems can fly using less fuel and shoot approaches into Cat IIIC conditions, having virtually no visibility, auto rollout, and braking. Airline crews are required to

Editorial: Loss of Control

Continued from Page 6 re-emphasize the important concept of complete command of an aircraft, after which weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll understand the sobering opposite, which is: Failure to Command Safely. Aviation great R.A. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bobâ&#x20AC;? Hoover (RIP) was famously quoted as saying: â&#x20AC;&#x153;If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re faced with a forced landing, fly the thing as far into the crash as possible.â&#x20AC;? The visual imagery engendered by this quote is striking. And it becomes even more poignant if you substitute the word

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Flyâ&#x20AC;? with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Command.â&#x20AC;? As long as the aircraft is going through the air in one piece, with sufficient airflow over the surfaces to alter its course through that air, then itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not simply being controlled. It must still be command. We need to get back to teaching the importance of commanding an aircraft, and not the inaccurate concept that we pilots are simply controlling them (or somehow â&#x20AC;&#x153;losing controlâ&#x20AC;? of them!). Pilots may erroneously claim to â&#x20AC;&#x153;lose control,â&#x20AC;? but we must never fail to command.

Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D; Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D;Â Â&#x201C;ÂĄÂ&#x17E;Â&#x153;ÂĄÂĽ Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17D;ÂŁ Â&#x160;Â&#x160;Â&#x161;Â? Â&#x153;Â¤ÂŁ Â?Â?Â&#x153;ÂĄ Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D; Â&#x201C;Â&#x161; Â¤Â¤Â&#x2019;Â&#x201C;ÂŁ Â&#x160;Â&#x160;Â&#x201C;ÂĄÂ&#x17E;Â&#x153;ÂĄÂĽ Â&#x152;Â&#x152;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;ÂŚÂ&#x161;Â&#x201C;Â¤ÂŽ Â&#x153;Â&#x161; Â¤Â¤Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D; Â&#x2019;Â&#x201C;Â¤Â&#x17D; Â&#x201C;Â¨Â&#x17D;ÂĄá&#x20AC;&#x2018; Â&#x153;Ĺ´Â&#x17D;ÂĄá&#x20AC;&#x2018; ÂĄÂ&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â&#x161;ÂŁÂ&#x160;ÂŁá&#x20AC;&#x201D;

Ç Ç Ç Í&#x2DC;Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x201A;ĹŻĹŻÄ&#x17E;Ç&#x2021;Ä&#x201A;Ĺ?Ć&#x152;Ć&#x2030;Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;Ć&#x161;Í&#x2DC;Ä?Ĺ˝Ĺľ Ď´ĎłĎŹÍ˛Ď°ĎŻĎŹÍ˛ĎąĎŹĎ´Ď´

ON LOSS OF

CONTROL

maintain proficiently with the integrated systems, to the specific exclusion of hand flying the planes. After all, arrival rates are the name of the game. We command people up against automation, and we have an FAA that wants us to train for automation. Look at the official FAA definition of Loss of Control: A loss of control (LOC) accident involves and unintended departure from controlled flight. LOC is divided into two categories: 1. Loss of control on the ground (LOC-G) 2. Loss of control in flight (LOC-I) Not much to work with, eh? To be fair, they do expand on this, bringing into play basic skills, training, and experience. However, those who have been training in planes that are managed, only know of advanced stick and rudder skills through hearsay; they have never performed them. The old Practical Test Standard (PTS) dropped many of them. I am afraid the black humor applied to Airbus planes is now being applied to modern light aircraft. Remember the rhetorical question of what are the last words spoken by an Airbus pilot prior to an unhappy ending? What is this thing doing to me now!

So, why not just teach as we good old boys know we should, and junk all this new fangled FAA psychology stuff? That is because the FAA Knowledge Test and Practical Test absolutely require new pilots to use the new terminology and be able to explain it. It is in all the written exams and now in the new Airman Certification Standard (ACS), the replacement of the PTS. Failure to use the FAA way of thinking means failure of a test. Quest, I think we have done pretty a good job of admiring the problem, but we find we are up against a big windmill. The trick is going to be in how we CFIs can integrate the concept of being in command of the plane and then translate that into FAA talk. Who knows, if we all pull together, maybe our new President can be convinced to buy a small fleet of PT-17s to be used by FAA flight standards for in-house training. Each individual tasked with creating or assessing pilot standards will have to take a six-month check ride, ala 1942, in a real plane that requires real pilot skills, in order to continue in the department. They will learn to appreciate stick and rudder skills, and many will probably have a great time. And, they are a lot cheaper than Air Force One!

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no special new â&#x20AC;&#x153;gadgetâ&#x20AC;? panacea cure-all that will drastically reduce accidents due to unsafe maneuvering, C-FIT, stall/spins, etc. The solution to this problem will be through more comprehensive flight instruction and better teaching methods so that pilots truly master the art of flying and are always in complete command of their craft, no matter what situation they might get themselves into. The term â&#x20AC;&#x153;Loss of Controlâ&#x20AC;? (LOC) is ready to be tossed onto the ash heap of

inaccurate, outdated, and simply misleading terminologies that are currently used within the aviation community. The replacement phrase, Failure To Command Safely (FTCS), will wake up the aviation and pilot communities with a newfound sense of responsibility for each pilotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own fate. The views expressed herein are the views of the individual author and not necessarily those of In Flight USA.

Ď˛Ď Z >Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x;Ć&#x161;ĆľÄ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Í&#x2014; ĎŻĎ˛ÎŁ ĎĎ´Í&#x2DC;ĎąĎŹ E >Ĺ˝ĹśĹ?Ĺ?Ć&#x161;ĆľÄ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Í&#x2014; ĎľĎŽÎŁ ĎŻĎÍ&#x2DC;Ď´ĎŻt &Ĺ?Ä&#x17E;ĹŻÄ&#x161; ĹŻÄ&#x17E;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x;Ĺ˝ĹśÍ&#x2014; Ď°ĎąĎŹÎ&#x2013; Ć?Ć&#x2030;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;ĹŻĆ&#x161; ZĆľĹśÇ Ä&#x201A;Ç&#x2021;Í&#x2014; ĎŽĎ´ĎŹĎŹÎ&#x2013; dĆľĆ&#x152;Ä¨ >Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161;Ĺ?ĹśĹ? Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A; Ĺ˝Ĺś Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ĺ&#x161; Ć?Ĺ?Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ĺ˝Ä¨ Ć&#x152;ĆľĹśÇ Ä&#x201A;Ç&#x2021; dĆ&#x152;Ä&#x201A;Ä¸Ä? WÄ&#x201A;ĆŠÄ&#x17E;Ć&#x152;ĹśÍ&#x2014; ĎĎĎŹĎŹ Ä¨Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x161; WĆ&#x152;Ĺ?Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ĺ˝Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161; ZÄ&#x201A;ĹľĆ&#x2030; dÇ Ĺ˝ Ĺ˝ĆľĹśĆ&#x161;Ç&#x2021; Ĺ?Ć&#x152;Ć&#x2030;Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;Ć&#x161;Ć? Ç Ĺ?Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ?Ĺś ĹľĹ?ĹŻÄ&#x17E;Ć?Í&#x2DC; >Ĺ˝Ä?Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161; ĹľĹ?ĹśĆľĆ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć? Ä¨Ć&#x152;Ĺ˝Ĺľ DĆ&#x161;ĹśÍ&#x2DC; ,Ĺ˝ĹľÄ&#x17E;Í&#x2022; Ć?Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161; Ĺ˝Ä¨ Ä&#x201A;Ç&#x2020;Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152; Ĺ˝ĆľĹśĆ&#x161;Ç&#x2021;Í&#x2DC; x ZÄ&#x17E;Ä?Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161;ĹŻÇ&#x2021; Ç&#x20AC;Ĺ˝Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161; ÎˇĎ Ä?Ĺ˝ĆľĹśĆ&#x161;Ç&#x2021; Ĺ?Ĺś Ć&#x152;ĹŹÄ&#x201A;ĹśĆ?Ä&#x201A;Ć?Í&#x2DC; x x x x x x x x x x

GAMA PRAISES PART 23 FINAL RULE

In Flight USA Celebrating 32 Years

Rule Will Improve Safety, Help Transform the GA Market

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) praised the U.S. government’s Part 23 final rule, calling it a true breakthrough for the light end of the general aviation sector. The new Part 23 rule will allow manufacturers and suppliers of products and technologies for small airplanes to develop and deliver innovative products to their customers more quickly and to

better leverage new technologies. Rather than having to comply with overly prescriptive design requirements, manufacturers will now be able to more nimbly respond in a cost-effective manner through performance-based airworthiness safety rules and consensus standards for compliance. In addition, because the new Part 23 rule is part of a global effort to develop

common certification standards, it will remove regulatory barriers and promote the acceptance of airplanes and products worldwide. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is also in the process of rewriting its CS-23 rule for small airplanes, and other authorities are expected to follow suit. “This is truly a landmark day for the general aviation industry,” GAMA

Trusted.

Available in both Qref® Book, Card and new iPad editions Over 50 years of professional experience in every checklist

Written by Master CFIs with workflow and ease of use in mind Professional design, rugged construction

Best-Selling Aircraft Checklists Beechcraft Bonanza A36 285HP

1968-1983

Cessna 210N Centurion

Beechcraft Bonanza C/D 35

1951-1953

Cessna Turbo 182T

Beechcraft Bonanza J/K/M 35

1958-1960

Cessna Turbo 182T/G1000

2006+

Beechcraft Bonanza N/P 35

1961-1963

Cessna Turbo 206H

1998+

Beechcraft Bonanza V35 A/B

1966-1982

Cessna Turbo 210M Centurion

1977-1978

Cessna 150

1959-1977

Cirrus SR20 Analog Gauges

2000-2003

Cessna 152

1978-1986

Cirrus SR20 G1-G2

2003-2007

Cessna 172 Universal

2001+

Cirrus SR20 G3

2007+

Cessna 172M

1973-1976

Cirrus SR20 Perspective

2008+

Cessna 172N

1977-1980

Cirrus SR22 G1-G2

Cessna 172P

1981-1986

Cirrus SR22 G3

2007+

Cessna 172R

1998-2006

Cirrus SR22 Perspective

2008+

Cessna 172RG

1980-1985

Cirrus SR22 G3 Turbo

2007+

Cessna 172S

1998-2006

Cirrus SR22 Turbo Perspective

2008+

Diamond DA20 C1

1998+

Cessna 172S G1000

Universal

1979-1984

2005+

2003-2007

Cessna 177RG

1971-1978

Diamond Star DA40

Cessna 182P

1972-1976

Piper Archer II PA-28-181

1976-1994

2001+

Cessna 182R

1981-1986

Piper Archer III PA-28-181

1995-2002

Cessna R182 Skylane RG

1978-1986

Piper Arrow 180 PA-28R-180

1967-1971

Cessna 182RG Turbo

1979-1986

Piper Arrow II PA-28R-200

1969-1976

Cessna 182T Analog Gauges

2001+

Piper Arrow III PA-28R-201

1977+

Cessna 182T/G1000

2004+

Piper Arrow III Turbo PA-28R-201T

1977-1978

Piper Arrow IV PA-28RT-201

1979-1982

Piper Arrow IV Turbo PA-28RT-201T

1979-1990

Piper Cherokee 140 PA-28-140

1964-1977

Piper Cherokee 150 PA-28-150

1961-1967

Piper Cherokee 160 PA-28-160

1961-1967

Piper Cherokee 180 PA-28-180

1963-1973

Piper Dakota PA-28-236

1979-1994

Piper Cherokee Lance PA-32R-300

1976-1978

Piper Navajo PA-31-310 B/C

1972-1980

Piper Navajo Chieftain PA-31-350

1973-1984

Piper Saratoga SP PA-32R-301

1980-1992

Piper Saratoga SP Turbo PA-32R-301T

1980-1987

Piper Tomahawk PA-38-112

1978-1982

Piper Warrior 151 PA-28-151

1973-1977

Piper Warrior II PA-28-161

1976-1986

MANY MORE MODELS COMING SOON!

Best-Selling Avionics Quick Reference

FAA FITS ACCEPTED

Avidyne Entegra

Garmin GNS 480

Garmin GPSMAP 96

Garmin G1000 Non-WAAS

Garmin GNS 530

Garmin GPSMAP 195

Garmin G1000

Garmin GTN 750/650

Garmin GPSMAP 196

Garmin G1000 WAAS

Garmin GX Series

Garmin GPSMAP 295

Garmin G600/G500

Garmin MX 20

Garmin GPSMAP 296

Cirrus Perspective by Garmin

Garmin 300XL/250XL

Garmin GPSMAP 396

Bendix/King KLN 89

AnywhereMap ATC

Garmin GPSMAP 495

Bendix/King KLN 90B

AvMap EKP IV / IV Pro

Garmin GPSMAP 496

Bendix/King KLN 94

AvMap EKP V (coming soon)

Garmin GPSMAP 696/695

Garmin GMX 200

AvMap Geopilot II / II Plus

Garmin Aera Series

Garmin GPS 400

Bendix/King AV8OR

Lowrance Airmap 2000C/1000

Garmin GNS 430

Bendix/King AV8OR Ace

Lowrance Airmap 500/600C

WRITTEN BY MASTER CFIs

www.Qref.com Order direct or from your favorite pilot supply

January 2017

President and CEO Pete Bunce said. “This rule is nothing less than a total rethinking of how our industry can bring new models of pistons, diesels, turboprops, light jets, and new electric and hybrid propulsion airplanes to market, as well as facilitating safety-enhancing modifications and upgrades to the existing fleet. The new part 23 rule makes it easier for manufacturers to do so by reducing the time, cost, and risk involved in certification, while improving safety for customers.” The rule completes the process called for in the Small Airplane Revitalization Act (SARA), which the U.S. Congress passed unanimously and President Obama signed into law in 2013. That legislation was based largely on the recommendations of the Part 23 Reorganization Aviation Rulemaking Committee, which GAMA co-chaired. “The Part 23 rewrite would not have been possible without the dedication and tireless efforts of many in industry and the Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget,” Bunce continued. “We also want to thank SARA’s lead bipartisan sponsors, U.S. Representative Mike Pompeo (R-KS) and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), for shepherding the legislation through Congress so effectively and quickly. This rulemaking shows how, when government and industry work together, we can accomplish truly great things, and we look forward to this continued cooperation as the rule is fully implemented.” “When red tape slowed down the ability of our small aircraft manufacturers, like Cirrus, to bring new products into the aviation market, I introduced bipartisan legislation that was signed into law to simplify the process for businesses and help our aviation sector grow and succeed,” Senator Klobuchar said. “After our efforts, I am pleased that the FAA has finalized the Part 23 rule for small airplanes, which will help our manufacturers compete globally and create the most innovative, advanced, and safest planes in the world.” “This new rule is great news for general aviation across our country, including the Air Capital of the World–Wichita, Kans.,” Congressman Pompeo noted. “I want to thank the FAA, industry partners, and supporters throughout general aviation for their hard work in making Part 23 modernization a reality and accomplishContinued on Page 19

January 2017

www.inflightusa.com

Flying Into Writing Continued from Page 12 one of the classic “upside-down wedding cakes,” circular in design with ‘shelves’ that start at higher altitudes as you progress further from Logan Airport (KBOS). For the most part, the circular boundaries follow easy-to-identify landmarks, such as the circumferential highways, 128 and 495, that encircle Boston. This makes it pretty easy to navigate, and that’s how we got up to the Gloucester area, north of Boston. As I mentioned, it’s a beautiful coastline – very different from the west coast’s, but beautiful in its own way. We found his mansion and college and decided to head back. To mix it up a

Part 23 Rule Continued from Page 18

ing what we set out to do through the Small Airplane Revitalization Act of 2013. This new rule will drastically reduce regulatory costs for airplane manufacturers and provide them with the certainty they need to grow and innovate.” GAMA Chairman Simon Caldecott, who is also President and CEO of Piper Aircraft, said, “As the leader of an aircraft manufacturing company, I can tell you firsthand that the Part 23 rule will allow Piper to bring new safety-enhancing technologies to our products quicker as well as more cost-effectively respond to certification safety requirements.” “The new Part 23 rule is a great example of industry and government working together to improve safety and also to improve the introduction of new technology and advanced products,” remarked Brad Mottier, Vice President and General Manager of Business and General Aviation & Integrated Systems for GE Aviation. Joe Brown, President of Hartzell Propeller Inc., added, “The Part 23 rewrite provides the framework to accelerate safety and innovation while also encouraging competition in general aviation–all things that Congress imagined in the Small Airplane Revitalization Act. I commend the FAA for meeting the legislative mandate with a sound regulatory system that encourages stakeholders to do what they do best. With the enhancements to Part 23, the general aviation industry is better positioned to bring improved products to market while also efficiently incorporating emerging or enhanced technology. In parallel, the FAA maintains its vital role in surveillance and oversight while deepening its risk-based methodology to improve safety.” For more information, visit www.gama.aero.

bit, I decided to climb over the TCA and provide my friends with a view of Boston they’d never forget! It was late in the afternoon, and the sun was beginning to set as we came over Boston. Norwood is located under the outer shelf of the TCA, so this meant we had to extend our flight south before we could descend. The further south we went, the darker it got. By the time we reached a point where I had calculated

that we had cleared the TCA (we didn’t have GPSs or any other kind of moving map back in the ‘80s…), it was dark. I made a sweeping right turn, letting the altimeter unwind to get us down to get under the TCA. When I rolled out at 2,500 feet, I suddenly realized… I didn’t know where I was! Yikes! Nothing looked familiar – it was dark, so it was definitely more difficult to identify landmarks, but nothing I was expecting to see

was there! Blue Hills – a semi-prominent 600 foot hill on the approach course to Logan and just three miles from Norwood airport wasn’t where it was supposed to be! The Needham Towers, a cluster of 1,200 foot radio and television towers seven miles north of Norwood, were nowhere to be seen! Wait – is that them over there? No, it couldn’t be; if that was them to the Continued on Page 21

NEWS FROM THE CAF NEVADA WING

In Flight USA Celebrating 32 Years

Planes of Fame Air Museum Over 150 Aircraft and Displays

See the P-38 Lightning Fly!

Living History Flying Day Saturday, February 4, 10 am The February 4th Living History Flying Day will feature the 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. Living History Flying Days occur the first Saturday of each month at the Chino, CA location. (Schedule subject to change.)

Visit us:

Sun-Fri: 10-5 • Sat: 9-5 Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas

CHINO AIRPORT (KCNO) • 7000 MERRILL AVE., #17 • CHINO, CA Corner of Merrill and Cal Aero Drive Dr. Chino Airport

WWW.PLANESOFFAME.ORG

• Beijing, Wuhan, Yichang, Chongqing, Chengdu, Guilin, Xi’an, Suzhou & Shanghai • ALL 5-Star hotels and 5-star cruise ship (all cabins with private balcony). • Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, & Summer Palace • 4-night Yangtze River Cruise through Three Gorges and 5 locks of world’s largest dam with 3 included shore excursions • Baby Pandas at Chengdu’s Breeding Center

• 8000 Clay Soldiers, ancient city wall, famous Tang Dynasty show • Exotic Guilin with Li River mini-cruise plus tea plantation & Reed Flute Caves • VIP Tour of NEW WW II Flying Tigers Museum plus VIP Banquet • Cruise Grand Canal of Suzhou, World’s Silk Capital & the “Venice” of China • Tour the old and the new modern Shanghai • And SO MUCH MORE ...

12th Annual VIP Delegation led again by local retired UAL Capt. Larry Jobe & his wife “China Nina”

209.962.5588 or toll free 866.669.2288 www.TravelAireTours.com for full details

January 2017

By Joe Gonzalez

n an airplane hangar north of Las Vegas, a rare Stinson AT-19 Reliant has been undergoing restoration by the Nevada Wing, one of the smallest units in the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). After 11 years of painstaking work, the Nevada Wings is now on the threshold of returning this aircraft back to the skies where it belongs – but we need your help. With donations totaling just $15,000, this airplane can be back in flying condition – and back to honoring the men and women who built, flew, and maintained this aircraft in World War II. Will you help make this possible by making a gift today? For the past 11 years, the CAF Nevada Wing has been working on the restoration of the militarized version of the classic gull-wing Stinson Reliant, known to the military as the AT-19. This airplane helps tell the story of the LendLease program that was critical to the success of the Allies in World War II. The Lend-Lease Program shipped more than $50 billion (equivalent to $600 billion today) of military equipment to U.S. allies. This AT-19 was manufactured in Detroit and was first used by the British Royal Navy in a variety of roles before being deployed to support the war against Japan as part of the Royal Air Force. Following the end of the war, this plane was returned to the U.S. Until now, dedicated volunteers have done all the restoration work on the AT19. Now, at a critical juncture, professional assistance is needed to finish restoration – and that professional assistance costs money. That is how you can help. With your support, this airplane can be restored to flying condition where it can once again soar – not only in the skies – but also into the hearts and minds of younger generations. Are you a pilot? Did you or someone you know serve in the military? Or do you appreciate history and what this airplane represents? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you know how important it is to preserve this aircraft and what it stands for. Your support will open possibilities for the Nevada Wing of CAF to educate younger generations on the contributions of military aviation in assuring our nation’s freedom.

The Bird in WWII.

(Joe Gonzalez)

Bird in the making.

(Joe Gonzalez)

The bird when complete. (Joe Gonzalez)

Please donate today. Checks may be made payable to the CAF Nevada Wing, and sent to PO Box 570634, Las Vegas, NV 89157. If you would like additional information on the AT-19, please contact Joe Gonzalez at 702/241-4599 or email airphoto@cox.net. You may also contact Col. Eric Rebstock at 702/445-4757 or email ericrebstock@cox.net. Thank you in advance for your support. P.S. Your donation today can help this airplane return to the skies where it belongs. The CAF is a 501(c)3 organization; all donations are tax deductible to extent allowed by law. For more information, visit www.cafnevadawing.com or find us on Facebook.

Visit In Flight USA’s website for the latest aviation news...www.inflightusa.com

January 2017

www.inflightusa.com

Flying Into Writing

Continued from Page 19 west, then I’d have to be near Boston – that can’t be right… that’s not the Charles River below me – is it? Sure is dark… Then I spotted the green and white flashes of an airport beacon – I didn’t know where I was or whom I should be talking to, but if I overflew the airport, maybe I’d recognize it… As I flew toward the beacon, I realized that there was no tower – whew! I keyed the mic seven times and was rewarded with lights illuminating what appeared to be a nice long runway. There was no other traffic, and the windsock was limp, so I entered a downwind for the southwesterly runway. I made a nice, smooth landing, cleared the runway, and started to look for something that would tell me where I was… I think it was a sign for the FBO, or maybe it was the 20-foot tall airport name painted on the taxiway – whatever it was, it was now clear to me that we had landed at Fall River Airport (KFLR)! (Sadly, it is now an industrial park…) My friend in the backseat was horrified that I had gotten lost and immediately unbuckled his seat belt and requested, rather forcefully, that I let him out! “I’ll walk home! I’ll hitchhike! Just let me out!” he yelled.

“Buckle up – we’re taking off!” I told him. He quickly strapped in and snugged his belt. He wasn’t happy, but I wasn’t about to leave him in Fall River to find his way home; I quickly taxied to the runway and took off. As soon as we got to about 1,000 feet I could see the beacon at Norwood barely 30 miles distant. We were back on

Where th

the ground about 20 uneventful minutes later. My friend was mad at me, but he got over it – I think! I’m not sure how I managed to get so disoriented on that trip. Perhaps as we descended I picked up more groundspeed than I had anticipated, moving me further south than I had planned. Or my descent took longer than I thought it would and covered more ground than I expected. Or

maybe it was because I was “entertaining” my friends and just got distracted from the task at hand. Probably it was a combination of all of the above. Lesson learned: as PIC we need to remain focused – fly the plane and maintain situational awareness at all times! It’s a lot easier today with our GPSs, iPads, and moving maps. Until next month – fly safe!

SEBRING EXPO

e SKY isn’t the Limit, it ’s the BEGINNING.

Julie Clark

Continued from Page 4 during the 30th Annual International Council of Airshows Convention, a coveted award presented each year to the airshow performer who best exemplifies Art Scholl’s commitment to airshows as an entertainment venue. Clark said, “I feel extremely honored as, in my opinion, this award goes to the very best performers in the industry. The Scholl Award is the ultimate award for an airshow performer, and I’m very fortunate to be named in this elite group.” Julie is very proud that her fellow airshow pilots selected her as recipient of the 1991 “Bill Barber Award for Showmanship.” World Airshow News presented the award at EAA AirVenture and said, “Through a combination of pilot skill, imagination, personality, attitude, and a style all her own, Julie Clark displays the qualities of a true showman and projects a positive image of the professional airshow performer.” Julie has also been inducted into the International Women’s Air & Space Museum, and in 1993, Julie was inducted into the “Forest of Friendship” at Amelia Earhart’s residence in Atchison, Kans. for her exceptional contribution to aviation. Continued on Page 22

U.S. Sport Aviation JANUARY 25-28, 2017 Expo is the largest

U.S. Sport Aviation Expo is the largest event of it’s kind in the country.

FOUR DAYS OF FUN IN THE SUN! • • • •

Young Aviators Zone Demo Flights Aviation Paraphernalia Helicopter Rides

event of it’s kind in the U.S. Over 20,000 visitors annually. • Great Food • • • • • •

Entertainment Beer Garden Homebuilts Display Aviation Forums Drone Races And More

Tickets online: sportaviationexpo.com/tickets

www.SportAviationExpo.com

RUDY MALNATI RECEIVES BOB HOOVER WINGMAN AWARD

In Flight USA Celebrating 32 Years

The International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) at its 49th annual convention presented its Wingman Award on the night of Thursday, Dec. 8 to the long-time director of the Chicago Air and Water Show in front of nearly 1,000 airshow industry professionals attending the event’s closing banquet at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel. Rudy Malnati received the award, newly renamed this year to honor and recognize the late Bob Hoover, which is presented each year to an individual from within or outside the airshow business who has been a reliable supporter or advocate of the airshow business. Malnati has spent 50 years working in the airshow business and is regarded

Julie Clark Continued from Page 21

Her Smoken’ T-34 Mentor

“The Name to Remember for Aircraft Engine Parts and Service”

Serving General Aviation Since 1970

Same Day Shipment for Exchange Stud Assemblies

(Ready to install valves, etc)

$485.00 Most Models

Complete Assemblies also Available, Call for price for Your Make & Model. New Or Serviceable Parts as Requested.

GIBSON- AVIATION LLC

1821 W. Elm El Reno, OK 73036

Telephone: 1-800-992-4880 1-405-262-4880 Fax: 1-405-262-2959 gibsonaviaition@msn.com

$385.00 Overhaul of Your Cylinders. (See Below)

Prices Effective 10-1-15

2 Working Day Turnaround

Let Gibson Aviation return to Service your Cylinders in Overhauled, Yellow Tagged Condition for $365.00. Cylinders must be crack free and the bore must be in manufacturer’s specifications for return to service. The price is inclusive of all parts stationary in the cylinder. (Valve Guides, Seats, Studs, Bushings, etc) Any moving parts, (Valves, Pistons, Rings, etc) constitute an additional charge which varies from each different make & model. For additional charges we can supply rings, gaskets and any other related parts you might need.

1-800-992-4880 • 1-405-262-4880 • Email: gibsonaviation@msn.com

While Julie personally ferries her Smokin’ T-34 Mentor to each airshow, her ground crew travels an average of 30,000 miles per year. The Smokin’ T-34 Mentor Team’s ground support “Road Show” includes a custom 35-foot, triple axle, fifth wheel Featherlite trailer. Pulling power needed for the unit is supplied by a 2005, 5.9L HO Cummins Turbo Diesel-powered, Dodge Ram 3500 SLT Quad Cab 4X4 pickup with six-speed HD manual transmission. The fifth-wheel trailer carries all necessary support materials and serves as day quarters during airshows. The complete unit is displayed on the airshow flight line, providing a focal point to meet the public, sign autographs, display Smokin’ T-34 Mentor materials. Restoration fans will appreciate that Julie bought her Beechcraft T-34 in 1977, “sight unseen” at a government surplus auction, in Anchorage, Alaska, for $18,000. She flew the airplane, dubbed Free Spirit, 2,900 miles to her home in California. Julie personally and painstakingly restored her aluminum airplane, hand polishing inside and out. “Over the next four years, I spent many long hours bringing the airplane back to mint condition” said Clark, “and it requires daily maintenance to keep it that way.” The T-34 Mentor is special to Julie, as she had logged many hours as a civilian T34 instructor for the U.S. Navy at Lemoore Naval Air Station in 1974-75. She is Navy trained in tactical maneuvers, formation flying, and aerobatics. Although T-34 aircraft saw countless hours in the 1950s as

January 2017

by his peers as the personification of what it means to be a good wingman. He first worked at the Chicago Air and Water Show in 1963 as a first grader and attended the inaugural meeting of ICAS in 1967 at age 13. By the time he was 15, he was helping to book acts. Always a vocal and passionate advocate for the airshow industry, he has also earned recognition as an honorary member of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and U.S. Army Golden Knights. Through his long and successful career, he has made the Chicago show one of the best and well recognized in the business. For more information, visit www.airshows.aero.

trainers for U.S. Air Force and for Navy, the airplane demands tremendous skill to fly aerobatics. Julie explained, “The T-34 requires concentration and anticipation during aerial maneuvers, as the aircraft does not have an inverted oil or fuel system, and inverted flight must be carefully calculated. Also, due to its larger size than most airshow aerobatic aircraft today and its low power-to-weight ratio, the airplane’s flight controls become very heavy during the aerobatic routine.” There was never a doubt that Julie Clark was born to fly. “While most eightyear-old girls were playing with dolls,” explained Julie, “I was building models of airplanes and reading all I could about flying.” Adding fuel to the fire that committed Julie to aviation was her father, Ernie Clark, a commercial airline pilot for Pacific Airlines. “My dad got me interested in flying,” recalled Julie, with a smile. “I got really excited when he would take me along on airline flights in the DC-3 or F-27. Dad would put me into the baggage compartment and then, from inside the airplane, he opened the baggage bin and snuck me into the cockpit. I had to beg and plead, but I thought that was the greatest thing, when I could go fly with my dad.” Julie is one of the few airshow greats to be featured in a biography; her amazing story is told in Nothing Stood In Her Way by Julie Clark, which was the first such biography published by Women in Aviation, International and tells of the amazing strengths and perseverance of this remarkable airshow star who is beginning her 38th consecutive solo aerobatic season for 2017. For more information, visit www.julieclarkairshows.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 1986 MOONEY M20J

1995 SOCATA TRINIDAD TB-20

Total Restoration in 2013!!! This plane is loaded with new panel installed 2013 to the tune of 45K. 265.5 hours since complete refurbishment, Full Co-pilot instruments and much more!!!! USEFUL LOAD: 1054 lbs.!...with Factory A/C! 2068 AFTT. 280 SMOH.

Get ready

Clean low-time M201. Damage history with complete records of repairs. Airplane stripped and ready for paint. You do it, or we do it to your specs at net price. Interior like new leather.

for the

New Year

1980 MOONEY M20K 231

1964 PIPER CHEROKEE 180

with a new airplane! 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.

This well-maintained aircraft exudes pride of ownership. A reliable, easy-flying plane, it has the performance and useful load for cross-country flight without breaking the bank. Located in California for lifetime.

Let’s make a deal! 1980 PIPER T SARATOGA SP

1970 AMERICAN CHAMPION 7GCAA CITABRIA

Call T.J. 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.

Cute, fun, aerobatic ready. ONLY 7 hours SMOH. Icom ICA22 radio, Narco AT150 XPDR with Mode C. Accelerometer, Oil temp gauge and EGT.

GREAT PARTNERSHIPS AVAILABLE 1997 PIPER MALIBU MIRAGE

1991 SOCATA TB-20 TRINIDAD

1/3 INTEREST in northern San Francisco

1/3 INTEREST in this GREAT plane located

Bay Area, Garmin Package by Cutter Aviation PHX, Air Data Computer, Gpss Steering.

in Northern California, Gnoss Field (KDVO), 2400 TT, 200 SMOH, Garmin 430W and more.

1941 PORTERFIELD LP-65

1/2 INTEREST or BUY OUTRIGHT!!

Buying options abound: $12,500 for 1/2 share of plane OR $13,500 with electric start OR buy outright for $26,000. 500 TT, 200 SMOH, extras: 4 cylinder EGT, Electrical system, Strobes.

All specifications and representations are believed to be accurate to the best knowledge of the seller. However, it is the buyer’s responsibility to verify all information prior to purchase.

T. J. Neff

Phone: 415-898-5151

www.tjair.com

Email: tjair@tjair.com

GEICO SKYTYPERS EARN AIRSHOW INDUSTRYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TOP SHOWMANSHIP AWARD

In Flight USA Celebrating 32 Years

7KH 2ULJLQDO

6(/) )/< 6$)$5, +DQNV $HUR $GYHQWXUHV ZLOO SODQ DQG RXWILW \RXU $IULFDQ EXVK IO\LQJ H[SHGLWLRQ 2XU WDLORUHG LWLQHUDULHV 3LORWÂˇV $GYDQFH .LW H[FHOOHQW SUHSDUDWLRQV &RFNSLW 7ULS .LWÂ&#x2039; DQG EULHILQJV DVVXUH D VDWLVI\LQJ DQG UHZDUGLQJ VDIDUL

ZZZ 6HOI)O\6DIDUL FRP

Â&#x160;

January 2017

The International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) at its 49th annual convention presented its highest showmanship award to a Farmingdale, N.Y.-based airshow team on the night of Thursday, Dec. 8 in front of nearly 1,000 airshow industry professionals attending the eventâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s closing banquet at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel. The GEICO Skytypers earned the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prestigious Art Scholl Memorial Showmanship Award for more than just their hallmark formation demonstration, in which they fly six WWII-era SNJ-2 planes to perform a low-level flying demonstration featuring a six-plane delta, diamond, and opposing solos. The teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most unique proposition and contribution to the airshow industry is their ability to â&#x20AC;&#x153;typeâ&#x20AC;? giant messages in the sky; 1,000 feet tall and visible from 15 miles in any direction. These promotional messages generate significant and themed awareness for airshows as the team uses special software to create the giant billboards in the sky at high attendance venues or locations. The uniqueness of sky typing generates interest from those otherwise unaware of aviationrelated activities going on around them. The team also conducts personalized events with community groups, support groups, schools, youth organizations, and veterans in the communities around where they perform. Their airshow performances share their passion for aviation with airshow fans and help others develop an interest in becoming involved. Squadron Commander, Larry Arken, together with his partner and Squadron Marketing Officer, Steve Kapur, have extended the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reach by developing a fully integrated marketing and public relations effort designed to promote the team, their sponsor, and the airshows in which they perform. Their Skyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Limit community outreach program shares their passion for aviation beyond the airshow community.

Developed to engage and inspire people in the markets around airshow venues, the program creates awareness for aviation while sharing messages related to the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s core competencies: teamwork, precision, dedication, education, and disciplined lifestyles. A webisode series entitled â&#x20AC;&#x153;InFormationâ&#x20AC;? provides an insidersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; perspective into airshows and creates a deeper bond with fans. The seriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; first episode was developed and themed based on one of the Skyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Limit events and focuses on the team members, their aviation experiences, and professional lives. The remaining episodes provide airshow fans a behind-the-scenes vantage point of airshow life.

About the Art Scholl Memorial Showmanship Award

Since 1986, the International Council of Air Shows presents the Art Scholl Memorial Showmanship Award to the airshow act or performer that best exemplifies the qualities of showmanship demonstrated by Art Scholl. Scholl was killed while filming a flying sequence for a movie off the coast of California in 1985. A long-time and active ICAS member, he was a renowned aerobatic pilot and airshow performer having flown in front of an estimated audience of 80 million people for more than 20 years, and appearing in over 200 motion picture films, documentaries, and television commercials. For more information, visit www.airshows.aero.

Visit In Flight USAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website for the latest aviation news...

www.inflightusa.com

BILL STEIN EARNS AIR SHOW INDUSTRY’S SWORD OF EXCELLENCE

January 2017

www.inflightusa.com

The International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) at its 49th annual convention presented its highest honor, the Sword of Excellence, on the night of Thursday, Dec. 8 to an Aptos, Calif.based pilot in front of nearly 1,000 airshow industry professionals attending the event’s closing banquet at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel. Bill Stein was instrumental in the creation and fine-tuning of new FAA guidance that provides direction to airshow pilots flying dynamic, non-aerobatic formations. He has also helped ICAS and the FAA to develop reasonable, workable language on “aerobatic energy directed at the crowd,” and certification currency requirements. Serving as a member of ICAS’s Aerobatic Competency Evaluation (ACE) Committee for nearly seven years, Stein has worked to improve airshow safety while minimizing regulatory intrusion. He has been intimately involved in writing four revisions of the ICAS ACE Manual, the document that, for the past 25 years, has directed a program responsible for a significant and sustained decrease in fatal airshow accidents. Stein also acts as a motivational and frank mentor for new airshow pilots. As a

pilot, he has combined extensive experience in solo and formation flying with sharp analytical skills and a self-deprecating approach to mistakes he has made during his career to provide many pilots with invaluable safety information. And he has continued to coach and mentor many of those pilots even after they are well established. For many years, Stein has selflessly helped ICAS, the FAA and the airshow community work through the most difficult safety problems by combining airshow professionalism with a strong sense of what will or will not minimize hazards in the airshow environment. In 2015, Stein was inducted into the ICAS Foundation Air Show Hall of Fame as a pilot in the Red Baron Squadron. For more information, visit www.airshows.aero.

Continental Motors Group Ltd., an AVIC International Holding Corporation company, announced last month the launch of the new corporate website. With a modern look and improved functionality, it allows distributors, maintenance providers, mechanics, and endusers to quickly find the information they need. It can also be used to gather data on replacement parts for Continental Motors engines and Continental Motors FAAapproved parts for Lycoming engines, request quotes or technical data on manufactured Continental and Titan engines, and shows the whole range of services offered by the group, in all locations around the world. “This all-new website makes it easier for all our customers and aviation professionals to find the information they need regarding the products and services offered by Continental Motors Group,” said Emmanuel S. Davidson, Global Marketing and Communications Director. “It is more informative, packed with the relevant data and functionalities our

clients have been requesting. All technical and sales data is now located in one place and can be accessed in a fast and efficient manner. This not only applies to our manufactured products—engines (Continental Motors Gasoline, Diesel, or Titan), spare parts, accessories, etc. – but also our full range of services: • Continental Motors, Titan, and Lycoming piston engine overhauls. • P&WC PT-6 turbine repairs, overhauls, and parts sales. • Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services for single and twin engine piston aircraft, turboprops, and business jets. • Avionics and Interiors sales, installation and repairs, including bench repairs for traditional avionics, and ADSB compliance installations • Professionals and end-users will also be able to easily locate the FAAapproved aftermarket parts they need for theirLycoming engines The new site is accessible at www.continentalmotors.aero

Get Top Retail for Your Aircraft

We can sell co-operative ownership in your aircraft. Put your aircraft to work when you’re not using it! Financing Consolidation on $500,000 and up for Aircraft and File Photo

File Photo Fil Ph

Hanger Upgrades. Free Quotes (Banks cannot beat our Rates!) Call USA Aircraft Brokers for your nearest area broker location

1-877-417-3069 File Photo

File Photo

BECOME AN AIRCRAFT BROKER AIRCRAFT SALES - FRACTIONAL CO-OPERATIVE SHARE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT - FINANCING - ACQUISITIONS - BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

AREA BROKERAGE AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA #1 Largest Network of Aircraft Brokers in the USA START TODAY with USA’s proven system for listing and selling everything from single engine airplanes through jets and helicopter. INCLUDES: Multi-million dollar inventory from which to start selling One time turn key start-up fee of $4,600. Will finance 50% of start-up for a limited time No experience necessary, complete training available

CALL TODAY 504-723-5566 VISIT OUR WEBSITE! WWW.USAAIRCRAFT.COM

CONTINENTAL MOTORS GROUP ANNOUNCES NEW WEB SITE

Endless possibilities in paradise.

Make the most of being away.

Discover paradise at maui.regency.hyatt.com 808 661 1234 200 Nohea Kai Drive, Ka’anapali The HYATT trademark and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation. ©2016 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved. TAT Number: TA-161-564-6720-01

MCAS IWAKUNI RECEIVES SCHRAM COMMUNITY RELATIONS AWARD

In Flight USA Celebrating 32 Years

Their Stories, Our History.

The American Aviation Historical Society reaches out to you, to help us preserve rare aviation photos and film: • Personal photos, WWI battle scenes • Newsreels of 1910-1930 • Early Naval aviation seaplane photos • 1909-1930 lantern slides • Unidentified airline photos, and many many more.

Annual Mbrshp only $45

AAHS, as an all-volunteer historic preservation organization needs your help and funding for this important effort. Our history doesn’t educate anyone in a dumpster. 909-297-6688 www.aahs-online.org

prez@aahs-online.org

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; 3. There are numerous legal methods of avoiding alimony; 4. There are numerous legal methods of avoiding loss of your property; 5. If properly represented, you won’t be “taken to the cleaners”, 6. Courts can be legally required not to favor the woman; 7. You can fight against false charges of child abuse or spousal abuse. 8. You can emerge from a divorce emotionally and financially sound; 9. Men do have rights! 10. California cases only.

Contact: Lawyers For Men’s Rights 213-384-8886 or visit us at www.mensrightslawyers.com LAW OFFICES OF STUART J. FABER

January 2017

The International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) at its 49th annual convention presented its Dick Schram Memorial Community Relations Award on the night of Thursday, Dec. 8 to an overseas U.S. Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) in front of nearly 1,000 airshow industry professionals attending the event’s closing banquet at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel. MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, gained recognition for its Friendship Day Air Show, which is the U.S. Marine Corps’s largest annual community-relations event in Japan. The event is an important opportunity for the U.S. military to demonstrate its desire to remain good neighbors and facilitate a positive relationship with its host country, its people, and government. This year, participation by the Japanese Girl Scouts and Japanese Red Cross elevated the perception of the event and provided attendees a direct opportunity to donate to the Kumamoto earthquake relief efforts. During the one-day event, more than 165,000 people visit the base, allowing them to have a look at the facility that is closed to the public 364 days a year. It also provides insight into the strong

cooperative relationship between the Marines and the tenant unit of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. Key to the event’s success is the interaction and collaboration with the local Japanese government, the Yamaguchi Prefectural office, the Iwakuni mayor’s office, and the local police and fire departments. Local disaster relief and emergency management agencies now work with the base several times throughout the year to improve interoperability. The result of the collaboration and planning between the air station and the community is an event viewed as a celebration of cooperation between two countries. 2017 will mark the 41st Annual MCAS Iwakuni Friendship Day Air Show. For more information, visit www.airshows.aero.

Following this month’s announcement in Washington, D.C., by the Federal Aviation Administration that it has completed its work on the Part 23 rulemaking effort, Aircraft Electronics Association President Paula Derks issued the following statement. “The Aircraft Electronics Association commends the FAA for completing its work on the Part 23 rulemaking effort,” said AEA President Paula Derks. “While the rulemaking’s primary focus is a proactive shift to proportional and objectivebased rules within the Part 23 framework that will have a significant effect on the next generation of general aviation aircraft, the retrofit industry has already benefited from this long-awaited shift to proportional rulemaking. “There are many elements to this decade-long rulemaking effort that deserve comment, but one of the most important is the concept and application of a safety continuum. In particular, the application of the safety continuum in certification of retrofit products that are bringing safetyenhancing technology into the light general aviation cockpit at a price that is appro-

priate for these older aircraft. “Examples of this proportional and objective-based rulemaking include the recent application of this philosophy with products manufactured by Garmin and the retrofit STC by the Experimental Aircraft Association for attitude indicator replacements. Without the fundamental change in philosophy brought about by the Part 23 rulemaking effort, these products would not have been possible. “The AEA believes that this is a significant breakthrough and looks forward to the expansion of these philosophies into rotorcraft as well as transport category aircraft, where appropriate. “For more information, visit www.aea.net.

AEA COMMENDS FAA ON RELEASE OF PART 23 RULE

INSPIRING AVIATION PHOTOGRAPHER SHARES RANCHO MURIETA AIRSHOW PHOTOS

January 2017

www.inflightusa.com

The following photos were taken on May 19, 2012 at the Rancho Murieta Airshow 2012 in celebration of Armed Forces Day at a small private airport nestled near the east edge of the Sacramento Valley, right up against the Sierra Nevada Foothills. In preparation for the airshow, there was an RV Formation Flight Group called “The West Coast Ravens Formation Group” who performed above in the skies, also with Dan Buchanen Hand Glider Shows, who actually launches his glider from a moving winch trailer, driving down the runway about 35 mph with the flag, streamers, and bright orange smoke trailing, he performs a number of circles, dives in the air before descending with smoke and streamers. My wife and I enjoyed being there and being able to photograph this event. For more information, visit www.fireaviationphoto.com. About the Photographer: Bob Martinez lives in Fresno, Calif. and volunteers as a prevention photographer for Cal Fire/Fresno County Fire. He is also a member of the International Society of Aviation Photography. He looks forward to sharing more photos with In Flight USA readers.

Above: North Wing orange explosion Rancho Murieta. (Bob Martinez) Right Top: Four in formation at Rancho Murieta. (Bob Martinez) Right Bottom: Planes over Rancho Murieta in 2012 (Bob Martinez)

1975 CESSNA CITATION 500

1979 CESSNA 310R

1970 CESSNA 150K

N6143G – 8875 TTSN, 2130 SMOH, April Annual, MX-300 NavCom, Narco AT-150 Transponder, Flightcom 403 Intercom, MT-101 Belly Drain, Grimes Belly Strobe, Auto Fuel STC, Wheel Pants. Logs missing prior to 1976. Compressions: 70-73-73-72.

N2638Y – Great buy on a well-maintained, deiced, nicely equipped 310R. Garmin 430W, Primus 200 color radar, KFC200 AP/FD! 406 ELT, GAMI, 203 gallons! 9515 TT, 1170 SMOH.

$99,900

Cheaper than a car at $14,900!

$167,500

1975 PIPER CHEROKEE 140

$449,000

1979 PIPER NAVAJO PANTHER

1981 BEECH B55 BARON

N2367P – 3490 TT, 885/26 SMOH! NDH, May Annual, GNS430W, KMD-250 MFD with KDR-610 Datalink, KFC-200 Autopilot, Full Deice, Excellent P&I.

N501GB – Someone is going to get lucky! 12,960 TT, 1140 SMOH, Beautiful P&I, Dual 530W, GDL-69, GMX-200 MFD, SkyWatch, 4color VP radar, NDH, RVSM, much more! Was 135. FRESH inspections. Will ferry to your domestic location!

Serving the General Aviation Community Since 1981

N56ND – PA31-325 with full Panther conversion, 4-bladed Q-tip props, winglets, VGs, 6760 TT, 740/920 SMOH, known ice, A/C, oxygen, GNS530, KFC200 AP w/FD & HSI, radar. Professionally flown, operated & maintained.

Reduced to $279,000 Will Trade! Make Offer!

1973 PRESSURIZED SKYMASTER

1962 PIPER CHEROKEE 160

N337JJ – GNS 530W/430W, S-TEC 55X, EX-500, GDL-69, Flint Tip Tanks, Horton STOL, Spoilers & Much More! 3610 TT, 600 SNEW/910 SFRM.

N5401W – Only 1935 TTSN! 220 SMOH! NDH! April Annual, KX170B Nav/Com, KT-76A Transponder, Excellent paint! Call Mary at 920-386-2402.

Reduced to $75,000

$29,500

SOL

N4359X – 4465 TT, 2045 SMOH, Sept. 2016 Annual! Recent interior, IFR with a Stormscope! KX-155, Aera 560 GPS with XM Weather! Great time-builder/IFR trainer!

$27,500

Corporate Headquarters • Watertown Municipal Airport • 1741 River Drive • Watertown, Wisconsin 53094 • (920) 261-4567

e-mail: acsales@wisconsinaviation.com

website: WisconsinAviation.com

WICHITA, THE AIR CAPITAL! In Flight USA Celebrating 32 Years

By Carl Chance

Editor, WingsOverKansas.com t is worthy to affirm Wichita’s Unique position among the aviation industry, where nowhere else you will find the concentration of top-name general aviation aircraft manufacturers co-located within such a concentrated geographic boundary. What the city of Detroit had become to the automobile in

the last century, and Silicon Valley had become to the computer-chip, so too has Wichita, Kans. become the nations and the world’s hot spot for aircraft development and manufacturing!

A Legacy

This incredible business journey has seen the Kansas aviation industry get its fledgling start during the late 1800s when the imaginative but unworkable concepts

CORONA AIR VENTURES LOWEST FUEL PRICES IN THE BASIN! • • • • •

24-Hour Self-Serve Pumps, 100LL Assisted Fuel Service 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Pilot’s Lounge Open 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Oil, Snacks, Free Wi-Fi Credit Cards Accepted: Phillips 66, Union 76, Multi-Serv, Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, Discover • Tie-Downs $50/Month

Individual Hangars under $300/mo! See your Lower Fuel Price at

www.CoronaAirVentures.com CORONA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AJO 33° 53.86’N, 117° 36.15’W Unicom 122.7 AWOS 132.175

(951) 737-1300

were envisioned by thinkers and dreamers and converted into reality as test aircraft by mechanics, craftsmen, and blacksmiths. It has seen Kansas become the proving grounds for such industry icons as Walter and Olive Ann Beech, Clyde Cessna, Matty Laird, Lloyd Stearman, and Bill Lear, just to name a few. Through the “Golden Age” of Barnstorming and Airracing, the Kansas Aviation connection has always been at the forefront with such names as Amelia Earhart, Art Goebel, Frank Hawks, Benny Howard, and Blanche Noyes. Kansas has also played a significant role as a key component in the “arsenal of democracy,” with such intrepid manufacturers as Boeing (Wichita) and North American Aviation (Kansas City, Kans.) building medium and heavy bombers in the heartland. This amazing legacy is sustained even to this day as new names emerge to carry on the tradition of development that set the world standard for excellence in recreational, business, and military aviation.

The Air Capital

But why Wichita as the “Air Capital of the World?” For those familiar with Wichita and its aviation manufactures, it is quite obvious that the city is bound closely to the production of aircraft. It is one of the world’s most important centers for the manufacture of aircraft, specifically, production of light general aviation aircraft and business jets, as well as the manufacturing of major structural components for large commercial and military aircraft. Wichita was for many years, home to the Boeing/Wichita, and continues to be home to Textron’s Cessna Aircraft and Hawker Beechcraft, and to Bombardier Aerospace Learjet Division, along with Spirit AeroSystems and Airbus Industries Wing Design Division. Wichita’s major role and aircraft manufacturing dominance has virtually placed the city in the position of recognition as “Air Capital of the World.”

The Economy

It is at this point that we must address the downturn in the economy that virtually touches all business worldwide. As such, the Wichita aviation community has experienced its share in dealing with this challenge. That being said, we still are not seeing a “doom and gloom” market, as aircraft are being manufactured and sold. There is simply a reduced activity from time-to-time in spending, and businesses are taking a hard look at their expenses versus their income on their profit-and-loss statements.

January 2017

There’s a two-fold problem in the fact that manufacturers lose sales and profits, but equally important are the hundreds and in some cases, thousands of aircraft workers who have been laid off with no immediate prospects for employment. This is a hard pill to swallow for everyone. We certainly don’t want to lose our valued, trained, and experienced aerospace talent, and they are rightly disturbed when they see many of their jobs going to foreign markets where the manufacturers have contracted continued production at a much lesser cost, in the effort to improve the cost of doing business.

Kansas Aviation facts

The Kansas Department of Commerce’s research has revealed the following: • Kansas is home to one of the five great aerospace clusters in the world and is a leader in aircraft design and manufacturing of general aviation aircraft as well as major structures for commercial aircraft. Kansas is centrally located in the heart of North America, offering excellent transportation and marketing advantages for businesses. • More than 67 percent of the world’s embedded general aviation fleet was manufactured in Kansas, where over a quarter million aircraft have been produced since 1919. • Based in the city of Wichita, Cessna, Beechcraft, owned by Textron and Bombardier Learjet manufacture and assemble aircraft and aviation products. Together, these three Kansas-based general aviation manufacturers delivered 46 percent of U.S.-manufactured general aviation aircraft shipped in 2015. • Spirit AeroSystems, the world’s largest independent producer of commercial aero-structures, has completed more than 5,000 Boeing Next Generation 737 fuselage at its Wichita production facilities. Every Boeing commercial aircraft in production today has structures that were manufactured in Kansas. • Airbus has its largest engineering center outside of Europe in Wichita, and leading avionics suppliers, Honeywell and Garmin, each have more than 1,000 employees at their facilities in the Kansas Continued on Page 33

January 2017

www.inflightusa.com

Flying With Faber

MAUI – PERHAPS MY FAVORITE HAWAIIAN ISLAND

fter Maui emerged from the sea, it took more than two million years before Mr. Hemmeter came along with the vision to develop the Hyatt Regency on Maui. Two million years prior to his arrival, a volcano rose from the depths of the ocean and spread its lava above the level of the waves. For centuries, the surface of the new island was perhaps too hot, for it wasn’t until about 450 AD when the first Polynesian explorers from the Marquesas Islands walked across Hawaiian soil. Colonists from Tahiti followed. A secession of Maui kings ruled during the 14th and 15th centuries – none of whom came up with the idea of a mega-resort. In the late 18th century, Captain James Cook of England cruised around the Hawaiian Islands but never ventured onto Maui. A few years later, Captain Jean-Francois de Galaup, Compte de La Perouse is said to be the first European to step ashore on Maui. His name would have been – or obtain financing for a resort. Down the road to the south is Wailea Beach. In ancient times, Hawaiians lived on the slopes, fished, and grew sweet potatoes. During WWII, the shores served as a training area for the Marines. In 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state. In the early 1970s, the visionary developer, Christopher Hemmeter, took a look at Kaanapali and decided that resorts could generate more revenue than sweet potatoes. He developed a number of hotels, including the venerable Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa.

Airports

The primary international airport is Kahului Airport (OGG). It’s located about a 40- minute drive from Lahaina. The tower frequency is 118.7. Fifty-five feet above sea level, the airport has two runways. Runway 2/20 is 6,995 feet long. Runway 5/23 is 4,990 feet long. The airport has ILS, VOR, NDB, RNAV, and GPS approaches. Air Service Hawaii, billed as “Hawaii’s Friendliest FBO since 1948,” 808/871-5572, has the best fuel prices. At an elevation of 77 feet, Hana Airport (PHNM), on the northeast side of Maui, has one runway, 8/26. This asphalt strip is 3,036 feet long. There is an RNAV

Stuart J. Faber and Aunt Bea

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa

200 Nohea Kai Drive, Lahaina, Hawaii, USA, 96761-1985, 808/6611234. Situated on 40 spectacular oceanfront acres along the famed Ka’anapali Beach, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa offers unlimited activities and amenities in a setting of tropical luxury. The resort is just three miles north of historic Lahaina town and a short walk from Whaler’s Village – a shopping, dining, art, and nightlife hotspot. With unparalleled panoramic views of the magnificent Pacific Ocean, the resort embraces the waterfront close enough to hear the waves from your guestroom. What I loved about this resort is that the compound exudes a timeless and graceful ambiance and feeling while being as up-to-date technologically and environmentally as a brand new resort. Just completed is a sustainability focused Maui-inspired renovation, which includes a new outdoor space named the Halona Kai event lawn. Plus, the meeting and event space enhancements, with modern Hawaiian designs and innovative sustainability features, improve lighting and air quality, as well as reduce energy usage. And most important, the resort is

(Courtesy Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa)

The view from my balcony. (Stuart J. Faber) pet friendly. These surroundings create a pleasant buzz of activity. The tastefully furnished guestrooms and suites deliver the perfect blend of elegance and relaxed comfort. Each room features sleek, contemporary furniture, a large flat- screen TV, and plush beds with luxury bedding – plus gorgeous views of the beach from your private lanai. You can also pamper yourself in a Regency Club Room or a Deluxe Ocean Suite. The resort’s new 3,333-square-foot Regency Club offers guests a spacious lounge with easy beach and pool access, as well as lanai seating with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, the Oriental Gardens, and the Swan Lagoon. The Regency Club Lounge, with abundant natural light, is appointed with comfortable handcrafted furnishings. Guests staying on the Regency Club

level enjoy complimentary continental breakfast, daily local and national newspapers and light refreshments throughout the day. In the evenings, light hors d’oeuvres, and Hawaiian-inspired desserts are served. I didn’t hang out in the room. I wandered around the atrium lobby. I passed by a shopping area filled with a miniMacy’s, coffee bars, sunglass outlets, and Hawaiian shops, but I didn’t shop. I headed for the outdoors. The weather was mild with intermittent misty rain. Folks find it odd, but I prefer frequent variations in weather. I love it when Mother Nature changes her moods and envelops us in seasonal progressions of brisk weather, heat, cold, snow and rain. My communications and bonds with Mother Nature are enhanced by her seasonal mood swings. Plus, I regard weather changes as an opportunity for new thrills and challenges. For example, it’s much more fun to fly in actual IFR weather than it is to wear a hood. Furthermore, a consistent spell of weather with no mood swings is as boring as a quiet, passive person. I crave personality, energy, and unpredictability in both friends and weather. I devoted my time to the absorption of nature’s treasures. With sprinkles of rain and the wind at my back, I ran along the beach from the hotel for about a mile to Whaler’s Village – another shopping center where I did not shop – then, with a headwind, a slower run back to the hotel. I made frequent visits to the fitness center and swam in the ocean. Thereafter, to replenish the lost calories, I sampled the resort’s excellent cuisine. With one exception, I never left the compound during my entire visit.

Cuisine

Executive Chef Greg Grohowski is not only a talented culinary artisan; his versatility extends from hearty steaks to delicate sushi. For example, Son’z Steakhouse, with open views of the Continued on Page 30

In Flight USA Celebrating 32 Years

Flying With Faber

Continued from Page 29 ocean, serves up a 22-ounce rib eye that is second to none. We started off with a blackened yellowfin tuna with sake-mustard beurre blanc, mango papaya, and avocado relish. Next, a seafood cake made with spiny lobster, blue crab, tiger shrimp, romesco sauce, and fennel-apple slaw – sensational. I devoured the 22-

ounce rib eye steak but was able to sweettalk a generous person next to me into a hunk of New Zealand herb seasoned rack of lamb. Moments later, scraping her plate, she eventually regretted her kind gesture. Another signature entree is spaghetti and Snake River Ranch Kobe meatballs with pomodoro sauce and pecorino-romano cheese.

January 2017

Japengo is renowned for serving the best sushi in Maui. But it doesn’t stop there. Try the duck sliders, the steamed Manila clams, or the Korean seafood pancake or, my favorite, the duck meatballs. California rolls, blackened ahi rolls or California crab-avocado rolls are extraordinary. For entrees, don’t miss the Vietnamese style pork, sweet potato

Time Limited Pricing … ACT NOW! Contact us @ 323.464.6660 or www.HMEWATCH.com

Features

*Introductory Special* All HMEWatch “A.T.C. models priced at only ½ of the retail value! BEST VALUE!

The ATP-Pro is Robust, a more bulky, strong G-Shock type with a thick plastic casing, but is surprisingly lightweight. ATP1200W $129.95

The ATP-Pro II is a more conventional-sized model with a Stainless Case and Rubber Strap. The ATP-Pro II can be for either men or ladies. ATP21200W $139.95

$79.95 ATC2200B

ATC2250Y

ATC2250K

$450.00

$485.00

$465.00

$225.00

$242.50

$232.50

ATC3200B

ATC3255K

ATC3500B

$550.00

$585.00

$650.00

$275.00

C t t @ 323 464 6660

Poolside (Courtesy Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa)

$89.95

Features Date Window 60 Minute Chronograph 1-Touch Instant Chronograph Reset 2nd Independent Time Zone 2nd Timezone 24 Hour Subdial Large E6B Calculator Bezel Constant Sweep Second Hand Deploy Clasp on ALL models 100 Meter Water Resistant Designed by and for Pilots Screw-Down Locking Crown 7.5 Inch Strap/Bracelet Lengths 46mm x 13mm Case Dimensions Serial Numbers engraved on Caseback

Activities

Our ATP series is a feature loaded MULTI-FUNCTIONAL watch also offers an Altimeter for under $100!! Available in either a Standard or Subtractive (Black) Display

& Large Digital Display Altimeter Barometer Thermometer Multiple Alarms 23:59hr Chronograph 99hr Count-Down Timer 28 City World-Time Zones Perpetual Calendar 12 or 24 Hour Display Hourly Chime Electroluminescent BackLight Altitude and Barometric Log ATP 46 x 16mm| ATP II 42 x 14mm

hash, day boat scallops and crab in oyster sauce, or the wok-fired chicken breast. Other food choices include Umalu for poolside drinks and contemporary drinks. And be sure to try the magnificent breakfast buffet in the Swan Court. Of course, since you are visiting Hawaii, you must spend at least one evening at a Lu’au. Beating of the drums, spectacular dances, and an elaborate buffet make Drums of the Pacific Lu’au the best on the island.

th b @

$292.50

$325.00

HMEW t h

The Grotto Bar (Courtesy Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa)

There is so much to do at this resort that you can explore the beachfront and grounds without leaving the property during your entire visit. You have a choice of six pools, some with waterfalls, caves, and adjacent bars. There are water slides, whirlpools, and an interactive kids pool. Hang out at the expansive beach, or try a stand-up paddleboard, boogie board, or kayak. You can also rent snorkel or scuba gear. Cultural activities include hula lessons or lei making. For the more ambitious, there are two adjacent 18-hole golf courses with free shuttle service. Three tennis courts, a basketball court, or a state-of-the-art fitness center are at your disposal. Take a wildlife tour within the property for a look at the penguins, cranes, swans, and flamingos. On clear nights, scurry up to the roof of the hotel for a Tour of the Stars rooftop astronomy proContinued on Page 32

January 2017

www.inflightusa.com

9,6,7 86 21 /,1( $7 ZZZ DLUWURQLFVDYLRQLFV FRP

AVIONICS FOR EVERY MISSION

:( 3529,'( $,5 75$163257 )520 285 %$6( 72 <2856 -$&.621 :(629(5 ),(/' &$ .-$4

$9,21,&6 ,167$//$7,216 )8// %(1&+ 5(3$,5 $8723,/27 63(&,$/,67 '($/(5 )25 $// 0$-25 %5$1'6 )$$ &(57,),(' 5(3$,5 67$7,21 7+ 5 /

$:$5' :,11,1* '($/(5 <($56 ,1 $ 52:

ALL PRICING INCLUDES INSTALLATION

GLASS COCKPITS

G500 SYSTEM STARTING FROM $18,500 G600 SYSTEM STARTING FROM $28,500

CUSTOM DESIGNED AND BUILT COCKPITS BY PILOTS FOR PILOTS 3$1(/ '(6,*1 &1& )$%5,&$7,21 $1' )$$ $33529(' 32:'(5 &2$7 )520

NAVIGATORS

GTN650 NAVIGATOR FROM $10,900 GTN750 NAVIGATOR FROM $15,900

AUDIO PANELS

EITHER /OR DEAL GARMIN GMA350 3D BLUETOOTH OR PS-ENGINEERING PMA450 STARTING FROM $2,600.00

AVIONICS PRICED WITH INSTALLATION ADSB SOLUTIONS

GTX330ES UPGRADE $1,200.00 GTX335 NO (GPS) FROM $2,995.00 GTX335 WITH GPS FROM $3,995.00 GTX345 IN & OUT, NO (GPS) FROM $4,995.00 GTX345 IN & OUT WITH GPS FROM $5,995.00 GDL84 W/GPS & FLIGHTSTREAM 210 FROM $4,695.00 GDL88 UAT WITH NO (GPS) FROM $4,495.00

OTHER LOW COST ADSB SOLUTIONS STRATUS ESG WITH GPS AND ANTENNA FROM $2,995.00 INSTALLED! NAVWORX ADS600-B WITH GPS AND ANTENNA FROM $2,495.00 INSTALLED! FREEFLIGHT RANGR FDL-978-XVR WITH GPS AND ANTENNA FROM $3,695.00 INSTALLED!

GO CUSTOM WITH "THE"AIRTRONICS THE AVIONICS EXPERTS FOR OVER 50 YEARS

OODIES AND ADGETS

In Flight USA Celebrating 32 Years

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.

Barry Schiff DVD is Available at Aircraft Spruce

Purchase ASA’s Proficient Flying, the Best of Barry Schiff at Aircraft Spruce. Barry Schiff is a consummate aviator, author, and educator with a passion for General Aviation. In these three DVDs, Barry Schiff uses his educational skills to help pilots visualize procedures that will ensure safety while flying. Each disk contains specific scenarios in detail and how to calculate the next move in the face of danger. With more than four hours of instruction, expect to learn all intricate aspects of flying in the process of becoming a safer pilot. For more information, please contact Aircraft Spruce at 1-877-477-7823 or 951/372-9555 and reference part number 13-19095. Aircraft Spruce’s complete product line is available at www.aircraftspruce.com. Request your complimentary copy of the company’s free 1,100-plus page catalog (available in print, CD, or PDF formats).

New 2017 Aviation Calendars by Urlacher Bring Color and Excitement

Perhaps one of the most important decisions at the start of any new year is what calendar to buy. Even in the day and age of electronic calendars, wall calendars can help spruce up a room and make it go from boring to lively. This year, aviation enthusiasts can purchase the 2017 Calendar by Urlacher. This year’s calendar features colorful planes, dramatic scenes, and host of natural landmarks. About the artist: Jean-Marie Urlacher is a journalist, photographer, film director, and pilot who worked for 10 years for various aviation magazines. A creative adventurer, he specialized in a specific field of photography called “Air to Air” during his travels around the world. It involves real teamwork. Behind each picture, there is a story. There are people, time, and passion. Each flight is unique, and despite all these restraints, there is room for a creative and artistic space. This 2017 calendar captures these stolen moments from the sky. His wish is that all pilots, mechanics, and friends who allowed these moments to exist be thanked here. This calendar is dedicated to Hannes Arch and Léon Mathis. To order the calendar, visit urlachair2017.com/le-photographe

SURVEY SAYS: ADS-B FUELS GROWTH

Nearly nine out of 10 respondents to the 2016 AEA Rate and Labor Survey expect their businesses to grow in the next 12 months. That's up from 81 percent last year. The overwhelming need for installation technicians supersedes the

need for bench techs by more than three to one, and airframe and powerplant mechanics by almost two to one. This suggests that many avionics repair stations are at or near their capacity, and that growth depends on increasing

January 2017

AND

HIGHLIGHTS CHALLENGES

their staffs. To take advantage of the growth fueled by the fast-approaching deadline for the Federal Aviation Administration's ADS-B mandate, they will need to find, hire, and train these new technicians, an effort nearly nine out

Flying With Faber Continued from Page 31 gram of planet watching and star gazing The Marilyn Monroe Spa offers rejuvenating treatments in a lush setting near the waterfront. Try an indulgent lomi lomi massage, a fabulous facial, or a relaxing body treatment. You can also treat yourself to a hairstyle, manicure, or pedicure.

Extraordinary New Meeting Space

A spiffy renovation of the meeting space has just been completed! The enhanced Monarchy Ballroom has been transformed into a sophisticated and contemporary venue with more than 18,000 square feet that reflects the history and culture of Maui. Bold colors are inspired by the island’s dramatic sunsets and vibrant floral palette. The attached, new Monarchy Terrace space emphasizes natural lighting with an open-air walkway and features a unique overhead design with views of the Hawaiian landscaping. New floor-to-ceiling windows feature low-emissivity-coated glass, which helps

minimize ultraviolet and infrared light, and indoor air quality was also improved with modern automation controls. Occupancy lighting sensors and LED lighting have reduced wattage and electricity usage by approximately 65 percent. If you are planning a corporate or an association meeting, or just a gettogether for 1,000 of your most intimate friends, this new space is unparalleled. Plus, the resort offers two classy board rooms and a wide array of more intimate function space. If you are in Hawaii, of course, you should have an outdoor event. Overlooking the famed Ka’anapali Beach, the new Halona Kai event lawn is more than 9,500 square feet with capacity for up to 500 guests for seated events, weddings, or receptions. Perched gently above the resort’s half-acre pool, this turfentertaining space is enveloped in rich greenery, local flora, and a tranquil koi pond. Additionally, the area has been designed with state-of-the-art acoustic and audio/visual systems and wired with 200 amp outlets and data and television

Honu's Authentic Naples Pizza. (Stuart J. Faber) cabling. The full-service biz center provides secretarial services, word processing, fax, photocopying, 24-hour Internet, printing, and shipping service. Honu Seafood & Pizza, 1295 Front Street, Lahaina, HI 96761, 808/667-9390 After hearing about the incredible seafood and pizza that mainland transplants, Mark and Judy Ellman, were dishing up at Honu, one afternoon, I ventured from the Hyatt compound. The dining room ambiance is attractive and quirky. With a 180-degree view of the ocean, we feasted on dishes of crab Louie salad,

of 10 respondents deemed “difficult.” Of the remainder, one percent said finding new techs was easy, two percent didn't know, and eight percent were neutral. For more information, visit www.aea.net.

shrimp cocktail, oysters on the half shell, whole roasted fish with Hawaiian salt, lemon, and olive oil, grilled octopus, clam chowder, fried uhu (parrot fish), and Naples-style pizza from their 900 degree brick oven. The Margherita pizza was as close to the original Neapolitan version as one could find in the U.S. The clam chowder was robust and remarkable. After lunch, why not return for dinner and try the great entrees? For macaroni and cheese like no other, try Mark’s dungeness crab mac with black truffles, garlic, and artisan cheeses. The seafood pasta is chocked full of fresh shellfish in a bolognese sauce. The osso bucco is prepared with pork shanks, slowly braised with demi-glace, fresh veggies, and heirloom grits. Whether you are participating in a powerhouse corporate meeting or retreat, getting together with a bunch of old pilots, having a wedding or bar mitzvah, bringing the kids for an adventure, or sneaking a getaway without the kids, the ideal place on Maui is the Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa.

January 2017

By Anthony Taylor

oing all the way back to 1970, the name Sanders has been a staple in the world of warbirds and air racing. Frank Sanders became known for his Hawker Sea Fury N232J and flew aerobatics with his patented self-contained smoke generator system. Sanders also competed in the California 1000 Mojave Air Race in 1971, winning the 1,000-km event in 232, and he won again in 1975. Sander’s facility started out of Long Beach Municipal Airport. Then in 1976 they moved the operation to Chino airport, purchasing the late Leroy Penhall’s Fighter Imports hangar, where the family business would thrive for the next 20 years. In that timeframe, Sanders continued to restore/maintain their Hawker Sea Furies, along with many other rare vintage warbirds, and remain, to this day, the “Sea Fury Kings.” In 1983, the Sanders family decided to “go racing” and built the Pratt & Whitney R-4360 powered T MK.20 Sea Fury Dreadnought and with Astronaut Neil Anderson as pilot, won the National Championship Air Races (NCAR) at Reno, Nev. it’s first year out in 1983, and again in 1986 with Rick Brickert at the controls. The Sanders boys, Dennis and Brian, began racing in 1984 and 1986 respectively and for the next 32 years, the two brothers successfully participated in a total 63 years between them. Flying their three family aircraft, TMk.20 NX20SF Dreadnought, FB.11 N19SF Argonaut, and their TMk.20 N924G.

THE SANDERS LEGACY www.inflightusa.com

NCAR Reno 2016 - 924, Argonaut, Dreadnought taxi out for departure to Eagle’s Nest. (warbirdfotos.com)

Pylon Racing School June 17, 2016 – Joel lining up on pylon 4 in Argonaut and officially certified for Unlimited Air Racing . (warbirdfotos.com) In addition to competing in the NCAR, Sanders continue to perform at several airshows each year, showcasing Frank’s Sea Fury Aerobatic Smoke Demonstration in both Argonaut and 924, one of the smoothest airshow demo’s on

Wichita, The Air Capital

Continued from Page 28 City metro area. • More than 30,000 people are employed in aerospace in Kansas, with highly skilled workers at Cessna, Learjet, Beechcraft, Airbus, Spirit AeroSystems, and over 350 aviation suppliers and service providers. • Wichita State University is home to the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR). NIAR is a major research site with extensive facilities, qualified staff, and expertise in large aerospace structures and composites. • The National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT) is a world-class aviation manufacturing training center on the grounds of Jabara Airport in northeast Wichita. • Kansas State University’s Polytechnic Campus offers various degrees in

aviation maintenance, professional pilot, and avionics. The University of Kansas offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in Aerospace Engineering.

The Sun is Still Shining

A past Contributing Editor to WingsOverKansas.com, Dr. Frank G. Mitchell, once wrote that the long time CEO of Cessna Aircraft Company, Dwane Wallace, used to say when talking about general aviation in his speeches, “It’s still early in the morning, and the sun is still shining!” His point was that the general aviation industry was just beginning to reach its potential in the world’s transportation picture. That outlook is still as true today as it was then. The potential of general aviation is still there to use and develop for the benefit of manufacturers

the circuit, using the same maneuvers Frank performed in 232 more than 40 years ago. There have also been several rookie race pilots who have worked their way through their facility.

and aerospace employees.

Center of the Aviation Universe

To summarize the thoughts of Lionel D. Alford, Jr., WingsOverKansas.com Contributing Editor, “Wichita is not only near the center of the United States, it is the center of the aviation universe. Every aircraft in the world has some touch of Wichita on it. Either it was made here, its parts came from here, it incorporates instruments or electronics from here, or at the least, its development was influenced by the nearly 50 percent of the world’s market aircraft that were manufactured here. The stark reality of aircraft is that the public and aviators have made the aircraft designed and manufactured in Wichita the face of aviation. When one thinks of a small twin, the first aircraft

2016 saw another Sea Fury driver get his ticket to race at the 53rd Annual Reno National Championship Air Races, held every September at Reno Stead Airport. Joel Swager (husband to Shannon Sanders, Dennis’ daughter) began his career in warbird restoration with Fighter Rebuilders at Chino, Calif., a “Chino Kid” from the beginning. After many years working with the likes of Ed Maloney, John Maloney, Steve Hinton, and a host of well-known vintage aviation restorers, his experience with the Chino team gave him a hands-on approach in the industry and would serve him well in transitioning his way to Sanders Aeronautics in 2013, where he continues to apply his craft. At 32 years of age, he already has a long history working with extremely rare and one-ofa-kind aircraft, something the Sanders are well known for. On June 16, 2016, at Pylon Racing School, Swager received his ticket as Unlimited Race Pilot #234 in the division and was clinched for the big event in September. Joel flew race #114 N19SF Argonaut to a first-place finish in Friday’s Heat-1B at an average race speed of 381.024mph, and then went on to a fifth- place finish in Sunday’s Gold Final at an average speed of 365.061 mph. A very respectable rookie effort, Swager continued to fly like a veteran the entire week. The 2016 event was in short supply of Unlimited/Warbird entries, and Sanders provided one third of the field with their three Sea Furies. Continued on Page 34

that comes to mind is a Beech Baron. That is the archetype. When one thinks of a business jet, the archetype is the Learjet. Likewise, the archetype of a low-wing single engine aircraft is a Bonanza. Who could forget the archetype of the single engine aircraft most pilots soloed in as the Cessna 150. These are all Wichita aircraft. As long as Wichita remains a welcome place to aircraft development and manufacturing, it will remain as the center of the aviation universe.” For more information on “Kansas Aviation Legacy” plus Aviation News, History, Feature Articles, Pioneers, and much more, log on to www.wingsover kansas.com and www.wingsoverthe world.com, or search the archives of each website.

In Flight USA Celebrating 32 Years

Homebuilder’s Workshop

o it’s that season, time for the every two year online Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic. The in-person sessions cost twice as much as the online, and the nearest ones to me are a four-hour drive away, plus hotel costs, and not conveniently scheduled. Online is the clear winner. At least in cost, that is. I signed up for a course from a major organization, and the grades I would give that course are mixed. There were 10 mandatory sections plus six electives to be chosen from a set of 10 or so. Some of these were nicely done, interesting, and even fun. A comparable number were poorly written, used non-idiomatic terms, and talked about obscure points. Unacceptable. In one section, they mixed up fuel exhaustion and fuel starvation. At another point, they quoted the NTSB on crashworthiness with the text highlighted. Reading skills were not a high point, however, as they talked about lap belts and shoulder belts. No, dummies, it’s shoulder harnesses, like in the highlighted text. One of the real “you gotta be kidding” moments was when it showed somebody pre-flighting an airplane, looking into the engine cooling air intake with his head right next to the spinner. Ever heard of propeller safety? You guessed it; this picture was in the Safety Culture section. Lastly, there were the politically correct sections, like how ADS-B is the

FIRCED AGAIN

greatest thing since sliced bread, and how loss of control is responsible for everything from halitosis to voter fraud. Actually, loss of control is so broadly defined as an accident cause as to be the aeronautical equivalent of diversity and inclusion, so broadly defined that it has little meaning. It’s like trying to reduce the death rate by preventing heart stoppage. And then there were the multiplechoice questions. Some were tossups, some hung on obscure points, some questions were on material not covered in the FIRC. On one question, the correct answer was B and D. The trouble was, none of the options had letters by them. It only takes a few of those questions to leave a real sour taste in your mouth, the kind that will wipe out a dozen “attaboys.” Yes, I did learn some things. As the line goes from that old Beatles song, “You know you should be glad.” But I’m not. As far as courseware that I’m paying for, I want the minimum grade I’d give each section to be an A, with at least half the sections A+. I want the material to excel in content, presentation, organization, relevance, and timeliness. I want the course to be so good that I want to tell everybody about it and can’t wait to take the next section. After all, that’s what I’m paying for. They’ve got a ways to go…

Truly outstanding is the Air Safety Institute short course called Cockpit Weather. It is aimed at instrument pilots (I’ve got the ratings but don’t fly much IFR), but the information on ADS-B radar perfectly matched my experience flying across the middle of the country this summer, and it answered a lot of questions I had about correlating the composite radar uplink and the view out the window. Highly recommended!

•••••

With a shop at home for fabrication (the next plane) and a separate set of tools in the hangar for maintenance (the “flying” planes), there’s a question of where do I keep stock, such as screws, nuts, and bolts? The “solution” is that I have a prescription pill bottle full of small, common hardware at the hangar, and that pill bottle normally lives in the tool box that I take on trips, just in case I drop something or need something away from home base. The other day, I was looking for high temperature nuts, and I didn’t have any in my pill bottle. No problem, I got some nuts that night, and the next day I went out to the hangar to install the new battery in a nicer way than the original installation. Oops, the new nuts were the wrong size. And I’d dropped a bolt and couldn’t find it in the cockpit. The pill bottle now has larger nuts and a small assortment of bolts. So then I was back at the hangar to

Continued from Page 33 Congratulations to Mr. Swager and thanks to the Sanders family for providing solid support to the races for so many years. Other milestones to Swager’s credit, Sept. 10, 2008, during late afternoon hours at the Reno Air Races, at 23 years of age, Joel soloed in Steve Hinton’s P51D Mustang N7715C Wee Willy, and on Sept. 29, 2016, soloed in Dreadnought at Sanders’ home airport, Eagle’s Nest, Ione, Calif. If you follow the warbird movement today and trace it back to the 1950s, the industry has maintained significant sup-

ply and demand worldwide. Aircraft are being rescued from remote forests, frozen lakes and oceans, and with the determination, resource, and deep pockets of some passionate people, these rescues become flying examples of our history. Sanders Aeronautics’ contribution is a large part of this history. Unlimited air racing has also been instrumental in keeping them flying. When asked what their future in air racing holds, both Dennis and Brian answered, “As long as Reno has the event, we will bring our airplanes.” Thanks to Shannon and Dennis for the grand tour, looking forward to the 2017 airshow and air-racing season.

Eagle’s Nest Sept. 26, 2016 – Joel standing by Dreadnought after his certified solo flight. (Shannon Sanders)

NCAR Reno 2016 – Joel rounding pylon 8 in Sunday’s Gold Unlimited Final for a fifth place finish. (warbirdfotos.com)

The Sanders Legacy

January 2017

put the new nuts on the bolt. Whoops, it’s coarse thread Ed and all of my nuts Wischmeyer are not. The local big hardware store did not have any seven-inch bolts (for a battery hold down, hardware store bolts should be fine), but they recommended a local hardware store I had not heard of. I got there at 4:30:01, just as they closed very promptly at 4:30. Grrr. Meanwhile, what with the holidays and such, UPS ground, which normally gets aircraft parts here overnight because the shipper is so close, first lost the shipment of some other parts, and now hopes to get it here on Monday. Grrr. …So Monday finally came, the parts from UPS went in quite easily after the airport police let me into my hangar, and there I found where my badge had been hiding. I brought the long bolts home, cut off some of the threads (15 turns showing after tightening seemed excessive), chased the threads, and ground a taper into the tips to make it easier to get the bolts into hidden holes. I’ll put the bolts in tomorrow. No hurry, the weather will be low IFR tomorrow. Again. The views expressed herein are the views of the author and not necessarily those of In Flight USA.

ASSOCIATED SALES TAX CONSULTANTS, INC. 9700 Business Park Drive, Suite 300 • Sacramento, CA 95827 916.369.1200 • info@aircraftexemption.com • www.aircraftexemption.com

Legally Avoid California Sales or Use Tax on Your Aircraft Purchases.

January 2017 www.inflightusa.com 35

There is always something new at the Palm Springs Air Museum, where history comes alive and visitors can get close to the vintage World War II and Korea/Vietnam era aircraft. Named in 2014 as one of the top 14 aviation museums in the world by CNN Travel, more than 40 flyable and static aircraft are on display inside three climate-controlled hangars totaling 65,000 square feet and outside on the tarmac. Many of the docents inside the Museum actually flew these planes and served on the ships. The three hangars are organized by theme, with related exhibits lining the walls. Visitors enter through the lobby and pay at the Gift Shop to get their wristbands. From the lobby, visitors can either go straight, past restrooms and the Buddy Rogers Theatre to the hangars, or head upstairs by elevator or staircase to the 9,200-volume research library and Education Center. In the outer room of the library, are computer flight simulators to entertain and teach the principles of flight to people of all ages. The Pacific (Navy) Hangar includes exhibits and aircraft used by the Navy in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Highlights include the Pearl Harbor diorama narrated by NBC journalist and

THE PALM SPRINGS AIR MUSEUM In Flight USA Celebrating 32 Years

P-63 over the mountains.

author, Tom Brokaw, the Grumman “cats,” Corsair, and Dauntless. The PBY Catalina Flying Boat is usually on the Tarmac. Ship models, uniforms, and weapon display cabinets complement the large wall Pacific Map and the aviation art by American Stan Stokes. The newest exhibit is the Vietnam POW/MIA bracelet display of 500 bracelets. This display will move into the new KoreanVietnam hangar scheduled to open in late spring of 2016. The European (Army) Hangar features exhibits and aircraft used by the Army in the European Theater during

(Palm Springs Air Museum)

World War II, plus a T-33 training jet used in Korea and Vietnam. Highlights of this hangar include the B-25 Mitchell Bomber, P-47 Thunderbolt, the renovated flying Red Tail P-51 Mustang, the P63 King Cobra, the Spitfire, and the C-47 (when not flying, otherwise it’s out on the Tarmac). Other highlights in this hangar include the Tuskegee Airmen mural, the interactive Living History Kiosk, the large wall European Map with interactive display, the Women Pilots of WWII exhibit, and the Jackie Cochran exhibit. Portions of Chris Demarest’s World War II Journey are on display in both hangars. The third and smallest hangar contains the B-17 Flying Fortress, the Berger Youth Exploration Center with fun, interactive activities for young people, the Gen. Ken Miles Aviation Science Center, Freedom Fighters’ Café, and restrooms. Flag and engine displays are also in this hangar. In Oct. of 2016, ground broke for

January 2017

construction on the new General Ken Miles Hangar, which will house our Korea and Vietnam aircraft and supporting exhibits, including the POW/MIA Bracelets and a Presidential Experience exhibit. Check out the plans on our General Miles Hangar page at PalmSpringsAirMuseum.org/kmh/. Visitors can tour through a flyable B-17 and C-47 (when not flying). Flight exhibitions occur most Saturday afternoons from November through May. The Annual Flower Drop and Air Fair occurs every Memorial Day. Documentaries are shown daily in the Buddy Rogers Theatre. An ongoing lecture series highlights the significance of Air Power, and as much as possible include eyewitness accounts. Museum hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., open daily except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and the second Friday in February (when the Museum readies for its annual fundraiser). The Museum is available for catered events and site rentals. Group rates and docent-led tours are available with two-week’s notice. Annual memberships start at $65 per year. Daily rates are $16.50 for adults, $14.50 for seniors 65 and over and students 13-17, and $9.50 for children 6-12. Children five and under and active military with ID and immediate family are free. There is a family rate of $36 for one or two adults and three children 12 and under, and a family rate of $46 for one or two adults and three children 13 to 17. Visit www.PalmSpringsAirMuseum.org or call 760/778-6262 for info.

JACKSON JET CENTER EXPANDS CESSNA AND BEECHCRAFT SERVICE AUTHORIZATIONS Caps off Year of Awards and Growth for Jackson Jet Center

Jackson Jet Center recently announced it has been named an authorized service facility for the Beechcraft King Air 90, 200/250, 300/350 and Cessna Caravan turboprops, as well as the Beechcraft Baron and Beechcraft Bonanza piston aircraft. Jackson Jet Center has been a Cessna authorized single engine piston service facility since 2015. “We are excited to expand our offerings and advantages to our customers throughout Southern Idaho and the Northwest,” said Jeff Jackson, CEO of

Jackson Jet Center. “This is a great addition and natural extension of the maintenance, parts and management we have been doing for Cessna and Beechcraft owners for years.” Jackson Jet Center is a full service fixed-base operator (FBO), including private and business charter flight, aircraft management and ground handling. Its parts and maintenance department includes factory authorized avionics service and installations. For more information, visit jacksonjetcenter.com.

Visit In Flight USA’s website for the latest aviation news...

www.inflightusa.com

YOU CAN FLY AWARDS 21 HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS

January 2017

www.inflightusa.com

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has awarded $5,000 flight training scholarships to 21 high school students through the association’s You Can Fly High School Aviation Initiative. The scholarships awarded to students ages 15 to 18 who intend to earn an initial pilot certificate were made possible by donations to the AOPA Foundation. The 13 young men and eight young women awarded scholarships were selected from a pool of more than 300 applicants. AOPA’s High School Aviation Initiative is part of You Can Fly, an umbrella program created to bring more people into aviation by educating high school students about aviation career opportunities, helping lapsed pilots return to flying, lowering barriers to entry, reducing the cost of flying, and building the aviation community, You Can Fly is helping people of all ages get involved with aviation. Each scholarship recipient will also receive a gift certificate for MYGOFLIGHT products, made possible by MYGOFLIGHT’s Pilot ONE scholarship assist program to help more people become pilots.

“Providing flight training scholarships for high school students not only helps them achieve their lifelong dreams of becoming a pilot, it can help build career-ready skills that get them well on their way to their future,” said Cindy Hasselbring, senior director of the You Can Fly High School Aviation Initiative. “We couldn’t be more pleased with our winners, and these individuals have already demonstrated a strong passion for aviation. Many of them are already involved in giving back to aviation by volunteering or serving at local airports, high school clubs, or in their communities.” As part of the high school initiative, AOPA is working with Purdue University to build aviation STEM curricula that fit within career and technical education (CTE) pathways and are focused on piloting, aerospace engineering, aviation technology, and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) or drones. AOPA also hosts an annual high school STEM symposium to give teachers and administrators an opportunity to share best practices and network with other aviation education professionals. Read about the scholarship winners at www.aopa.org.

Almost a decade ago, we told you about new residences to be built adjoining historic Flabob Airport. As it happened, the housing collapse and recession stopped this project, and the former landowners sold the project earlier this year to D R Horton, the largest homebuilder in the U.S. Horton is now going forward with 85 single-family homes, and we wanted you to know about it in the event you are interested in a home near historic Flabob Airport. While the homes being built are the same as previously proposed, other aspects of the project are different. It had originally been proposed that Flabob Airport would build new hangars adjoining the homes, which would be available to homeowners. Subsequently, Flabob has acquired more than 50 hangars from the closed Rialto Airport, and most of them have been erected at the West end of Flabob. As soon as occupancy permits are obtained, expected in the near future, these hangars will be available for rent. For this reason, Flabob has no current plans to build even more hangars adjoining the new homes, but that may happen sometime. You can learn about the new homes

here: www.drhorton.com/California/InlandEmpire/Jurupa-Valley/Express-HudsonPointe-at-Skypark. These homes are expected to price in the low fours. It is a short drive to Flabob, and indeed, for the fit, Flabob is less than a mile walk. We will work on a pedestrian and golf cart path but can’t now guarantee the needed easements. Southern California has one of the densest populations of pilots (about 40,000) and airplanes (about 14,000) anywhere, but opportunities to live near a public-use general aviation airport are very limited. Therefore, this is a rare chance to be close to Flabob Airport, fifth oldest civil airport in California, home of EAA Chapter One, of a branch campus of Spartan College of Aeronautics and of an aviation-themed public charter secondary school. Flabob is lighted, has an instrument approach, café, fuel, and maintenance. If you have any interest, and would like to get more information with the help of a real estate agent with solid aviation credentials, we suggest commercial pilot, Anne Marie Radel, Coldwell Banker, AnneMarie.Radel@camoves.com, 818/4298663. Another real estate expert with long ties to Flabob is James Pyle, 951/255-6388.

RESIDENCE TO BE BUILT CLOSE TO HISTORIC FLABOB AIRPORT

Name You’ve The The Company You’ve Relied on for on overfor 25 22 Years Relied Years Now has a New Name Magnafluxing && Magnafluxing Zyglo Inspections Inspections Zyglo Engine Preps Engine Preps&& Machining Engine Engine Parts Machining Parts Complete Completeengine engine overhauls overhauls on on all all Continental Continental && Lycoming Lycoming Engines Engines CONTINENTAL

ECI ECI Titans Titans in in stock! stock!

Superior Superior Air Air Parts Parts Dealer Dealer LYCOMING

Fly In & Drop It Off! Located Corona Airport, California Located atatCorona Airport, California 1965 Aviation Drive • Hangar A • Corona,CA 92880 with a new 7,000 Square Foot Facility Certified FAA #09VR726Y 1631 JenksRepair DriveStation • Corona, CA • 92880

(951) 736-6452 FAX (951) 736-6801 WWW.CORONAENGINES.COM WWW.CORONACYLINDER.COM email: coronaengine@aol.com email: ben@coronaengines.com

FOUR JAM-PACKED DAYS OF THE COOLEST STUFF SURE TO SPARK YOUR ENGINES! In Flight USA Celebrating 32 Years

See acres of sport aircraft, conventional aircraft, kit planes, powered parachutes, trikes, gyros, amphibians, and drones! You can demo exciting simulators, and take workshops to learn amazing stuff like how to build your own plane. Don’t worry, there will be food trucks for re-fueling so you can keep going. Believe us… you’re going to want to! EAA’s brand new Mobile Marketing Unit will be featured at Expo. The stateof-the-art Mobile Unit will reside front and center during the entire event. So

what’s under the “hood” you ask? Handson building activities and virtual reality video experience showcasing EAA! Drone exhibiters will also be present plus a race with a $20,000 prize purse and $10,000 cash prize. Racing drones will fly all around and directly over the spectator’s heads. Pilots should register online at www.sport-aviation-expo.com in advance to participate. Sierra Aeronautics will offer helicopter rides in a classic Bell 47 Helicopter. For the first time at Expo, the ultimate

land, air, snow, and off-road vehicle will be on exhibit. SkyRunner’s taking on the flying ATV or dune buggy is truly remarkable. Amateur-built aircraft or kit plane owners get free exhibit space, discounted tickets, and customized signage if they wish to exhibit their homebuilt aircraft. People with amateur-built aircraft are asked to sign up online at www.sport-aviation-expo.com. Young Aviators Zone (YAZ) will be the place to meet some incredible aviators who have broken records, defied the

to assemble the kit, all that is needed is a Phillips screwdriver and a pair of pliers. The assembled version is fully turnkey, and just under $200. Flightbox comes with free software and is built from offthe-shelf hardware. Visit Aircraft Spruce

for this innovative receiver. For more information, please contact Aircraft Spruce at 1-877-477-7823 or 951/372-9555 and reference Flightbox Receivers. Aircraft Spruce’s complete product

under the seats in the stands.

something architecturally challenging.” “The other companies couldn’t do a door like Schweiss, and they wanted to charge us $60,000 upfront in engineering costs on a door they didn’t even think they could do. We said no to the engineering cost! We lobbed some grenades at Schweiss, and I’m very appreciative, it was a great experience working with Schweiss, and this is going to set the standard for some time to come. These doors are monumental; that doesn’t mean they are large. The Schweiss doors were perfect. I say, let’s make it twice as big next time.” For more information, visit www.schweissdoors.com.

AIRCRAFT SPRUCE CARRIES FLIGHTBOX

Flightbox receivers can be created as a “quick build” kit. With only 20 minu t e s needed

January 2017

odds, and gone on to build remarkable aviation-related careers. Students with a paid adult get in FREE, and get swag bags for grabs in the YAZ! For more information, visit www.sport-aviation-expo.com.

line is available at www.aircraftspruce.com. Request your complimentary copy of the company’s free 1,100-plus- page catalog (available in print, CD, or PDF formats).

FIVE SIX-STORY HIGH GLASS BIFOLD DOORS OPEN UP THE NEW KINGS STADIUM

The new Sacramento Kings Golden 1 Center seats 17,500 in its modern arena. Schweiss Doors engineered and built five bifold, strap latch main entrance doors made of a combination of steel and aluminum frames. Three of the doors measured 29’ x 41.5’, and the other two are 29.4’ x 41.5’ each with respective clear openings of 32’ and 28.8’. Unique Schweiss Glass Bifold Doors Open the New Kings Stadium Entrance Three of the doors face down at a 10-degree angle to make them partly selfshading and to prevent unwanted reflections. When open, the doors will allow the Delta Breeze to serve as a natural cooling system, pulling air in and down and then up through small vents found

The Schweiss bifold glass doors highlight the entrance to the stadium and can open to turn the venue into an indooroutdoor arena and the “smart turnstiles” will allow fans to enter at more than triple the usual speed. Rob Rothblatt of AECOM Architecture said, “I looked at several door companies and in interviewing you guys (Schweiss), you basically said ‘Ok, you want something atypical, it’s a challenge but we think we can do it.’ Everybody else dropped out. Schweiss won the project by being willing to take the risk and doing

Nearly nine out of 10 respondents to the 2016 AEA Rate and Labor Survey expect their businesses to grow in the next 12 months. That’s up from 81 percent last year. The overwhelming need for installation technicians supersedes the

Unique Challenge for Schweiss Doors

SURVEY SAYS: ADS-B FUELS GROWTH

AND

HIGHLIGHTS CHALLENGES

their staffs. To take advantage of the growth fueled by the fast-approaching deadline for the Federal Aviation Administration’s ADS-B mandate, they will need to find, hire, and train these new technicians, an effort nearly nine out of

10 respondents deemed “difficult.” Of the remainder, one percent said finding new techs was easy, two percent didn’t know, and eight percent were neutral. For more information, visit www.aea.net.

Visit In Flight USA’s website for the latest aviation news...www.inflightusa.com

January 2017

www.inflightusa.com

Business News 39

PAINTING BY FORMER U.S. ARMY AND COAST GUARD PILOT HONORS THE SPIRIT AND HISTORY OF ICONIC LAKOTA WARRIOR EAGLE ELK

Airbus Helicopters Inc. commissioned artwork featuring UH-72A Lakota helicopter by Dallas artist and former helicopter pilot For decades, descendants of the fierce Lakota warrior Eagle Elk shared stories of his bravery in battles and prowess in hunting. Yet family members worried Eagle Elk’s legacy would someday be forgotten. No longer. An image of the iconic Lakota warrior is now portrayed in “The Spirit of the Lakota,” a painting commissioned by Airbus Helicopters Inc. to capture the spirit of the UH-72A Lakota helicopter and the heritage of the Native American tribe for which it is named. “We are so proud of Eagle Elk,” said Robert Eagle Elk, the warrior’s grandson, at the recent unveiling of the artwork at Airbus Helicopters Inc.’s headquarters in Grand Prairie. “We always told ourselves his time would come, and now it has. I believe he is with us in spirit.” Created by Dallas artist, David Gail Smith, the piece features a towering image of the Lakota warrior Eagle Elk, as well as the rugged and versatile Lakota military helicopter in flight. The painting portrays Eagle Elk as being part of the open sky and mountains, watching over Earth. This process began in March 2016,

when AHI began a search for an artist to create a piece honoring both the UH-72A Lakota helicopter, which the company produces for the U.S. Army and the Lakota people. Company leaders found Smith, a retired Army and Coast Guard helicopter pilot who is now studying art at Southern Methodist University. Intrigued by the subject, Smith said the assignment married his past as a helicopter pilot with his future as an artist, as well as a longtime interest in Native American culture. To research the subject, Smith read numerous books about Sioux and Lakota tribes, reached out to Native American experts and spent a day in Grand Prairie viewing and snapping photos of Lakota helicopters. He used Gouache paint, an opaque watercolor, to create the piece. “I have great respect for Native American culture and heritage, so it was important that anything I create be respectful,” he said. “This was an incredible opportunity to revisit my past as a helicopter pilot and tie it to my future as an artist. I was grateful for this opportunity.” Leaders at Airbus Helicopters Inc. consulted with the Oglala Lakota Sioux Tribal Council to ensure the painting was culturally accurate and respectful. Tribal council leaders referred the company to the family of Eagle Elk.

Family members were so pleased with Smith’s painting they drove from South Dakota to Texas to meet the artist and attend the recent unveiling. Attendees included Robert Eagle Elk and Charleen Eagle Elk, the warrior’s grandson and great-granddaughter, respectively. Sebastien Delmaire, Vice President of Business and Strategy for Airbus Helicopters Inc., said the company set out to create a symbol that would capture the historic legacy of the people who inspired the name of the helicopter. “We wanted to honor the legacy and memory of Eagle Elk and the Lakota tribe while celebrating the future of the Lakota helicopter,” Delmaire said. “This project has connected people, families, and nations to one another, and we are proud of our Lakota association.” At the unveiling ceremony, descendants recited the oral story of Eagle Elk, who fought in the Fetterman Battle of 1866 and the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876 and was a close ally of the famed Lakota leader, Crazy Horse. Family members offered a Native American prayer, sang a song about Lakota life, and presented Smith and AHI executives with tribal flags, sage, and other gifts. Quoting a tribal leader, Charleen Eagle Elk, the warrior’s great-granddaughter, said, “Behold this day, for it is

NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen thanked members of New York’s Long Island business aviation community for their grassroots efforts to stop proposals in Washington, DC for creating a privatized ATC system funded by user fees, and told them their efforts would again be needed in the new year as the issue was sure to come up again in the next session of Congress. Bolen was the featured speaker at the Long Island Business Aviation Association’s (LIBAA’s) annual holiday dinner and meeting on Dec. 7, which drew more than 100 attendees. Congress has been debating reauthorization of funding and programs for the FAA, and proposals to privatize ATC, and fund it with user fees, have been offered as part of that debate.

As part of the group’s efforts on NBAA’s work to turn back the ATC-privatization proposals, LIBAA members met several times with congressional representatives and other elected officials from the area to discuss the issue. “The support of LIBAA members in voicing concern to your congressional representatives about ATC privatization and possible user fees has been tremendous,” Bolen said. “NBAA greatly appreciates your support on legislative issues, which will continue to be needed in the coming weeks and months.” LIBAA members thanked Bolen for providing his Washington report, and added that they were optimistic about the state of business aviation in New York, where several new business aircraft have been purchased and based in the

state––three of them on Long Island––since the Aviation Jobs Act was passed. The legislation is a commonsense measure for promoting the sale and use of business aircraft, similar to policies in place in neighboring states. Overall, the legislation––which had the support of NBAA and other local and regional groups ––has been instrumental in spurring an uptick in aircraft sales activity in New York, according to LIBAA. In addition to updating attendees about ATC privatization efforts, Bolen answered questions about the aircraft carbon-emissions framework introduced at the conclusion of the most recent triennial meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization. He also discussed the status of proposed aircraft deprecia-

yours to make.” “You have made us very proud to be Lakota people,” she added. “We thank you.” Airbus Helicopters, Inc. will present copies of the Eagle Elk-Lakota artwork, commemorating the rich history behind the aircraft’s name, as gifts to key U.S. Army leaders, foreign military officers, and other customers and potential customers. Smith is a Dallas-based virtual artist who works across mediums and disciplines. His art can be found at www.davidgailsmith.com.

BOLEN DISCUSSES ATC PRIVATIZATION, OTHER ISSUES ISLAND BUSINESS AVIATION EVENT

AT LONG

tion schedule changes and Presidentelect Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Elaine Chao. Read Bolen’s statement on Chao’s nomination at www.nbaa.org. LIBAA was incorporated in 2001 to act as a collective voice for the business aviation community on Long Island and to assist its members in all aviation related matters. Learn more about LIBAA www.libaa.org.

In Flight USA Celebrating 32 Years

January 2017

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.

CONTROLLER PILOT DATA LINK COMMUNICATIONS

Controller Pilot Data Link Communication Departure Clearance Services (CPDLC-DCL) is one segment of the Future Air Navigation System (FANS) that has been recently implemented in the contiguous 48 states at local Tower Data Link Service (TDLS) equipped facilities to deliver departure clearances and revised departure clearances prior to takeoff. As any new system is implemented, some “bugs” may be expected, and CPDLC-DCL is no exception. ASRS is receiving reports suggesting that crews are experiencing problems while using CPDLC-DCL for its intended objective. The problems that are experienced point to sources from system architecture, to precise meanings of specific words and formats used in the CPDLC-DCL syntax, to basic interpretation and understanding of the CPDLCDCL information protocols and operational procedures. This month, CALLBACK shares reported incidents of complications that arose from the crews’ use of CPDLC-DCL to obtain departure clearances and revised departure clearances. While CPDLC-DCL offers many improvements and advantages over voice and Pre-Departure Clearance (PDC), some issues remain as we transition to this new system. As these examples may hint, ideas will emanate from the cockpit and formal solutions will be devised.

Cautious Pilot Distrusts Link Communications

This Air Carrier Crew clarified an initial question they had about a revised departure clearance. Curiosity over the revised SID and transition that had not been “properly” LOADED resulted in a route portion that was manually loaded but not included in the clearance. • During preflight, we received a revised clearance via CPDLC. The change was from the TRALR6.DVC to the STAAV6.DVC. I verified [the] clearance and received a full-route clearance over the radio. When the LOAD feature was selected in CPDLC, the new revised

route did not LOAD into the ROUTE page properly. It still showed [the] TRALR6.DVC, but now it had a discontinuity. At this point, I had to load the route manually. When I did load the STAAV SIX, however, I failed to select the DVC transition, [so the FMC] now had point STAAV direct to LAA in the LEGS page. When we did the route verification later, during the preflight, we both failed to detect the missing transition that included the points TRALR, NICLE, and DVC. This went unnoticed until passing point STAAV on the departure. That is when ATC queried us if we were headed to point TRALR. We indicated to ATC that we were direct LAA. He re-cleared us to TRALR to resume the departure. There was nothing significant to report for the rest of the flight.

Complications Perceiving Data Link Changes

After using CPDLC to obtain their clearance, this Air Carrier Crew saw no indications that their clearance had been revised. It appeared the same as the filed route, so they did not LOAD it. ATC soon called them off course. • Prior to departing SNA, we loaded the FMC using normal procedures... We received a ready prompt but did not get a clearance. Shortly before push, we still had not received a CPDLC clearance, so we requested a clearance via PDC. We got a PDC reply message stating to use CPDLC, and simultaneously a clearance was uploaded to the FMC ATC page. The clearance showed our departure and transition as filed, as well as the altitude restrictions, expected altitude, squawk, and departure frequencies as we expected to see. The ATC page did not state that it was a revised clearance or route. All obvious indications were [that] our clearance was unchanged from the filed route. A LOAD prompt and ACCEPT prompt were shown. We ACCEPTED the clearance, but because we had already loaded the flight plan, we did not LOAD the flight plan sent via CPDLC. We

departed as normal. Once airborne passing 10,000 feet, we received an ACARS flight progress printout that showed our originally filed course. After passing TRM, ATC stated they showed us off course. They gave us a revised route clearance. There was no printout of our clearance to reference, and since the CPDLC did not display the full-route clearance, we had difficulty tracking down whether or not there was actually a change to our originally filed route. We were able to find a LOAD prompt on page three of the ATC clearance page. When we selected LOAD, a new route was LOADED to the FMC, which was different from our originally filed route. We discovered our route had, in fact, been changed via CPDLC. We erased the change since we already had a new route assigned by ATC airborne and continued uneventfully to [our destination].

Complex Presentation – Desired Learning Cumbersome

Non-intuitive wording and convoluted clearance procedures coupled with incomplete systems knowledge caused this Crew to misinterpret the message that their clearance had been revised. The result was another call off course. • We received our departure clearance via CPDLC. During my preflight, I loaded the FMC with the route we were given on our release paperwork (PORTT THREE DEPARTURE). Our release had the following FMS route: KEWR BIGGY PTW J48 BYRDD J230 SAAME STEVY HVQ UNCKL MAUDD4 KSDF. When it came time to log on to the CPDLC, the Captain and I received the following [departure clearance]: CLEARED ROUTE CLEARANCE ORIGIN: KEWR DEST:KSDF ARRIVAL: DARBY 5.UNCKL +LOAD NEW RTE TO KSDF+ EWR2, CLB VIA SID EXC MAINT 2500FT EXPECT FL340 10 MIN AFT DP, DPFRQ 119.2 SQUAWK 1534, CTC GROUND 121.8 FOR TAXI. When we saw that this was a change, I manually changed the SID to the NEWARK TWO

off of Runway 22R. I did not select the LOAD prompt, as I did not see any other change to our clearance. I believed our clearance was now the NEWARK TWO (flown in LNAV), and our first fix was still BIGGY then PTW, etc. The Captain and I agreed on this. I printed the CPDLC clearance, folded it, and laid it on the center console. After takeoff, we were handed off to Departure Control. He cleared us to fly directly to a fix, which neither the Captain nor I saw on our route. He said, “Don’t you have the PARKE J6” on your routing? We said, “Negative, we have BIGGY PTW J48.” He then told us to fly a heading. He came back a short time after that and told us to fly directly to LRP and join J6 and expect a further clearance later. He did come back shortly thereafter, and told us to fly J6 to UNCKL, then the arrival. We obviously knew we had been expecting something different than the Controller had been, so I picked up the “printed” copy of the CPDLC clearance we had received, and on it was also the following: PARKE J6 UNCKL Note that this was NOT on the original CPDLC clearance we looked at on the FMC. I don’t know if it had been truncated off due to space, or it had been inadvertently left off or what, but we both went back and looked and noticed this. That was why we thought the only change to our clearance was to the NEWARK TWO, [while keeping] the same fixes as we originally had on our paperwork (i.e. BIGGY PTW J48). Contributing factors to this confusing situation are numerous. I now know that I am supposed to select the LOAD prompt when we have a change to our routing. The method we are transitioning into with respect to getting our clearances via CPDLC is very confusing. The wording… on the FMC is not intuitive, and the overall procedure… is very convoluted. We now receive our clearances in several different ways, at different airports, and in different airplanes, [which] all lead to a higher chance of mistakes. Continued on Page 41

POWER FLOW DEEMED ESSENTIAL

January 2017

Mr. Bruce Rhoades is an Australian bush pilot with experience flying everywhere from the barren “Aussie Outback” to British Columbia’s Okanagan Lake in the frigid depths of the Canadian winter. Currently operating an aviation adventure and camping business appropriately christened “Castaway Island” (www.1770castaway.com.au or on Facebook as “1770 castaway”), Mr. Rhoades makes heavy use of two Cessna 172s to ferry his Customers and their gear to and from a remote island along the East coast of Queensland, near Eurimbula National Park, using the island’s wide, sandy beach as his airfield. The mission requirements imposed by this operation create several unique challenges for those Skyhawks. According to Mr. Rhoades: “When flying people in for a camping experience, then inevitably with pax and

Safe Landings Continued from Page 40

Complicated Process Destines LoweredCognizance

This CPDLC message arrived at precisely the wrong time. The Crew’s attention was diverted, and their situational awareness suffered as they attempted to eliminate the confusion generated when they could not quickly resolve the revised clearance CPDLC message. • We were taxiing out of a very congested, weather-impacted, JFK airport that day. The ground frequency was nonstop due to long taxi routes because of 20mile in-trail spacing for departing aircraft in all directions. A CPDLC message [reading] “THIS IS A REVISED CLEARANCE” appeared with no other information. No revised route [was] included. [We] spent [the] next five to 10 minutes heads down, while taxiing, trying to figure out what was happening, in addition to eventually calling Clearance Delivery on the radio, and Dispatch. [There was] no place to pull out of [the] way due to long taxiways with no exits. And, we were getting automatic ACARS messages [that we] must be airborne in 15 minutes due to [the] nine-hour flight time restriction. A simple printout of the revised clearance would have resolved the issue in a few moments and would have been much more intuitive. The current system of having an ATC clearance, current or revised, stored on multiple, disjointed pages of the ACARS or FMS display is confusing and causes excessive heads-down time while

FOR

AUSTRALIAN ISLAND OPERATIONS

www.inflightusa.com

luggage, we are almost always at Maximum Take-Off Weight. Our operation is about 12 nautical miles with a flight time of seven to eight minutes per trip… so we do a lot of take-offs and landings!” To avoid wearing out the flap systems, Bruce’s standard procedure is “No Flap” take-offs and landings. He has also fitted his 172s with oversized tires to better handle the sandy beaches he flies from. Bruce was accidentally introduced to Power Flow’s tuned exhaust system a few years ago when he bought a replacement 172 that was equipped with the system. He immediately noticed a dramatic improvement in take-off and climb performance as well as a reduction in fuel burn, which he estimates to be at least five percent. That adds up when you are paying eight to nine dollars a gallon for avgas and flying daily. A Power Flow tuned exhaust system

taxiing. It will cause a gross navigational error, is a defective system, and is going to harm someone.

Common Precautions Demystify Link Confusion

This Air Carrier Crew noticed an ambiguity in their departure clearance.

increases rpm and boosts the engine to it’s full rated horsepower, enhancing rate of climb, decreasing fuel burn, and reducing Cylinder Head Temperatures. This improvement in performance was confirmed for Bruce a year later when he added another 172 without the Power Flow and was “shocked” when he experienced the anemic performance at gross weight. After barely clearing the hill at the end of his runway, he installed a tuned exhaust system and was thrilled with the results.

To learn more about Power Flow

Australia’s Middle Island offers beach landings and adventure camping with transportation to/from via Cessna Skyhawks.

As you might expect of someone with his background, Bruce has plenty of other interesting experiences to relate as well: “Now, do you want to hear the story about the Tiger Snake (extremely deadly), which I discovered in flight aboard my air-

craft as I descended into Brisbane (it crawled across my lap when we were 10 minutes out). The Tower seemed quite excited about the nature of my emergency, guess it relieved the boredom of his day!” “PowerFlow is of no assistance when dealing with Tiger Snakes!” For more information, visit www.powerflowsystems.com.

Although the syntax was confusing, Clearance “cleared up” their misunderstanding. • The First Officer loaded [the filed route] into the FMC before requesting a CPDLC clearance. The clearance came back, “CLEARED ROUTE CLEARANCE. FREE TEXT. POM9.GMN. FREE TEXT CLB VIA SID EXC MAINT

14,000FT.” The First Officer noticed a LOAD prompt, and [saw that] the new route [read], “DIRECT GMN DIRECT RGOOD RGOOD.EMZOH3.SKIZM.” Because we were now confused, we called Clearance to see if we were now filed direct to GMN, but they cleared up our confusion. We were still on the POM9.GMN.

Learn at the finest soaring facility in the country!

Arizona Soaring, Inc. Estrella Sailport since 1969

www.azsoaring.com P.O. Box 858 Maricopa, AZ 85239 (just south of Phoenix)

(520) 568-2318

FAST-TRACK TRAINING is our specialty We train more glider pIlots than anyone! 15 Sailplanes - Racers to unlimited ACRO

PRODUCT OF CHILD LABOR, AND FORMER NASA ASTRONAUT, DR. STORY MUSGRAVE WILL ENTHRALL YOUTH AT U.S. SPORT AVIATION EXPO

In Flight USA Celebrating 32 Years

Sebring Airportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s U.S. Sport Aviation Expo has added Dr. Story Musgrave to the line-up of inspirational guests for January. He will be regaling youth in YAZ (Youth Aviators Zone) about his remarkable story, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lessons of Life.â&#x20AC;? People attending the EAA dinner will also have an opportunity to hear Musgrave speak. Story Musgrave was born in 1935 on a dairy farm in Stockbridge, Mass. He was in the forests alone at age three and by five floated his homebuilt rafts on the

rivers. He rode combines at age five, drove trucks and tractors at 10, and when alone in remote fields, repaired them by himself. He never finished school, but instead, ran off to Korea with the U. S. Marines where he became an aircraft electrician and engine mechanic. He started flying with the Marines and over the next 58 years, he accumulated 18,000 hours in more than 160 aircraft. Musgrave is a parachutist with more than 800 free falls, has six graduate degrees in math, computers, chemistry, medicine,

Palm Springs Air Museum

%H LQVSLUHG E\ RQH RI WKH ZRUOGÂˇV ODUJHVW FROOHFWLRQV RI Ă \LQJ :RUOG :DU ,, FRPEDW DLUFUDIW SOXV .RUHD 9LHWQDP 3KRWRJUDSKV PHPRUDELOLD ODUJH VFDOH PRGHO VKLSV DQG YROXQWHHU GRFHQWV HQKDQFH \RXU YLVLW SOXV YROXPH UHVRXUFH OLEUDU\ ZLWK FRPSXWHU Ă LJKW VLPXODWRUV NLGVÂˇ DUHD DQG XQLTXH JLIW VKRS Open daily 10 a.m.â&#x20AC;&#x201C;5 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas & February 17, 2017 745 N. Gene Autry Trail Palm Springs 760-778-6262 www.palmspringsairmuseum.org

2 OFF

A Few Of The Notable Guest Speakers:

Adult Admission

with this AD

AEROZONA PARTS

21629 N. 9TH Ave., Suite A Phoenix, Arizona 85027-2827

623-581-6190 Fax: 623-587-1120

SPECIAL ORDERS ARE WELCOME

AIRPLANE OWNERS A&Pâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S, IAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

AN&MS HARDWARE

AIRCRAFT PARTS FOR GENERAL AVIATION

KAREN & BILL CASSELS A&PIA

physiology, and literature, and has been awarded 20 honorary doctorates. He was also a part-time trauma surgeon for the duration of his 30-year astronaut career and flew on six spaceflights. He performed the first shuttle spacewalk on Challengerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first flight, was a pilot on an astronomy mission, conducted two classified DOD missions, was the lead spacewalker on the Hubble Telescope repair mission, and operated an electronic chip manufacturing satellite on Columbia. Today, Dr. Musgrave is a producer/director of multimedia, a landscape architect, a heavy equipment operator, an innovator with Applied Minds Inc, and a professor of design at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif. Dr. Musgrave also performs multimedia corporate presentations on the topics of design driven innovation, project management, operations, human performance, reliability, quality, and safety.

La'Shanda Holmes, Coast Guard Helicopter Pilot. Patty Wagstaff, Aerobatic National Champion Pilot.

January 2017

Astronaut repairing Hubble Telescope.

Shaesta Waiz, the woman behind the Dreams Soar initiative, born in a refugee camp. Kevin Coleman, first American ever to compete in the Challenger Cup, and the youngest pilot to compete in the 2016 Red Bull Season. Stewart Hamel, creator of SkyRunner, a new innovative recreational sports vehicle dubbed, â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Greatest Adventure Vehiclesâ&#x20AC;? by Red Bull. The 2017 Expo is scheduled for Jan. 25-28. To learn more, visit www.sport-aviation-expo.com, twitter.com/USAviation Expo, facebook.com/SportAviationExpo/

$150 ALTERNATOR TRADE IN FOR LEGACY CESSNA AND PIPER PISTON ENGINE AIRCRAFT

Mike Disbrow, president of Hartzell Engine Technologies announced that the company is offering Cessna and Piper aircraft owners a $150 trade-in credit on legacy Chrysler and Ford alternators when they upgrade to a new-generation PlanePower alternator until March 31, 2017. The new Plane-Power alternators for Cessnas and Pipers are smaller and lighter with dual fans and a longer-life brush design, which means these new alternators run cooler and last longer on the aircraft than any overhauled legacy unit. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Along with the improved performance, the new Plane-Power alternators come with a full, two-year factory warranty,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Overhauled units come with one-year coverage at best, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s often less than that.â&#x20AC;? As stated by Mike Disbrow. To qualify for the $150 trade-in credit, an aircraft owner needs to purchase the

appropriate Plane-Power alternator conversion kit from www.aircraftspruce.com and complete the online form at: www.PlanePower.com/GetCash For more information, please contact Aircraft Spruce at 1-877-477-7823 or 951/372-9555 and reference Plane-Power. Aircraft Spruceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s complete product line is available at www.aircraftspruce.com. Request your complimentary copy of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s free 1,100-plus page catalog (available in print, CD, or PDF formats).

FANTASTIC FLYING MACHINES, CUSTOM MOTORCYCLES, QUIRKY CONTRAPTIONS HEADLINE “THE COOLEST SHOW ON EARTH”

January 2017

www.inflightusa.com

Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show Returns Sunday, April 30, 2017, Half Moon Bay, Calif. Airport World-Class Tricked-Out Cars and Trucks

There are car shows, airshows, motorcycle shows, tractor shows, maker fairs, music festivals, food festivals, and living history festivals galore. Mix them all together in one venue on one day and you’ve got Half Moon Bay California’s remarkable, one and only Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show – marking its 27th year in 2017 with a massive celebration of mechanical ingenuity, power, and style. It’s quite simply the “Coolest Show on Earth.” The 27th annual show will be held on Sunday, April 30, 2017, a one-day megashow, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Half Moon Bay Airport, located in the picturesque seaside town of Half Moon Bay, Calif. about 20 miles south of San Francisco. It’s a whimsical, fascinating, amusing, curious, and absolutely unique show and tell spectacle featuring 2,000 magnificent driving, flying, and working machines from the 20th and 21st centuries. The world’s coolest cars of every era and style, model-T fire engines, vintage busses, custom motorcycles, tricked out trucks, sleek streamliners, one-of-akind antique engines and tractors, and historic military aircraft will be among the mesmerizing displays. It’s one of the west coast’s biggest, “baddest” gatherings of the world’s coolest cars. Every automotive style and era will be represented among the incredible displays– – tricked-out hot rods, customs, muscle cars, street machines, lowriders, modified imports, sporty compacts, kit cars, touring, luxury, and sports cars – complete with rumbling engines, impeccable detail work, and sparkling chrome. Proud owners show up in cars that come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Spectators will get a rare up-close look at antique horseless carriages and Ford Model Ts, fanciful touring and luxury cars, powerful sports cars, custom cars and street rods, muscle cars, vintage and modern-era high-performance race cars, quirky art and pedal cars, modified street machines with cutting-edge styles, exotic high-performance cars, stylish European cars, ultra cool low-riders, sporty compacts, modified imports with flashy graphics, fashionable hip-hop urban show cars, homebuilt kit cars, super-charged turbo cars and trucks, “green” technology/alternative fuel vehicles, streamliners, dragsters, funny cars, gassers, and jet cars. Hundreds of aviation wonders are expected to be on display – headlined by legendary vintage warbirds like the B-25

Bomber and C-47 Skytrain plus stylish homebuilts, classics from the ‘40s and ‘50s, sport and ultralight aircraft. Inspiring flyovers by some of our nation’s most storied military aircraft promise to be a fan favorite – all flown in memory of the late Eddie Andreini Sr., world-renowned aerobatics pilot, founding Dream Machines contributor, and pillar in the Half Moon Bay community. Plus there’s P-51 “Mustang Madness” – a spectacular display of America’s premier World War II fighter along with YAK Russian fighters and an impressive array of T-6 and T-28 military fighters and trainers. Thrilling rides will be offered in helicopters and vintage bi-planes. Among the scheduled attractions are spectacular skydiving performances from the C-47 with military style jumps by the experts at Precision Skydiving and a special appearance by Shane Skull Krusher, the world’s youngest mini monster truck driver. For electrifying showstoppers, the show’s extreme attractions return – freestyle motocross shows, unimotorcycle drags, and monster truck rides. “We’re proud to say 2017 will mark our 27th annual Dream Machines Show,” said event Chairman Chad Hooker. “This year’s show promises to be as spectacular and fascinating as ever, and we look forward to welcoming visitors to our beautiful Half Moon Bay area for what has

grown into one of Northern California’s most unique and beloved events.” The “Drive Magazine Dream Machine of the Year” returns with editors from Beckett Media’s Drive Magazine on hand to select a winner from the thousands of magnificent machines on display. A special trophy will be awarded at a recognition ceremony during the show. The attractions for youngsters are amazing and endless in the Super Duper Kidz Funzone: an ultra-thrilling zip line, Zorbs – the Human Hamster Ball race track, bungee jump, rock climbing wall, wild and wacky waterballerz, Rocky the Mechanical Bull ride, giant inflatable rock slide and obstacle course, face painting, and a remote-controlled NASCAR race track. There’s a stellar lineup of all-day live music, plenty of fabulous food and delicious coastal-infused drink with a custom cocktail and beer just for the show – The Aviator, a refreshing gin cocktail, and Bloody Mary’s from Half Moon Bay Distillery, and Classic Motorhead Ale from Half Moon Bay Brewing Company plus tasty varietals from Half Moon Bay’s Barterra Winery. The Half Moon Bay Pilots Association Saturday Hangar Dinner will be held on Saturday, April 29 at the Andreini family hangar at Half Moon Bay Airport. Preview some of the historic aircraft and custom cars

that will be displayed at the Dream Machines Show and enjoy a festive barbecue tri-tip dinner party. Tickets are $30 per person, available at the doors, which open at 5:30 p.m. Parking is on the airport – enter off Capistrano Road. To show a car, the registration fee is $40 ($50 for entries postmarked after April 15) and includes a dash plaque and admission for two people. Spectator admission is $25 for adults (ages 18-69), $15 for ages 11-17 and 70+. Admission is free for kids age 10 and under. Tickets are available at the gate only. There is a separate $10 per vehicle spectator parking fee. The show is open to the public on Sunday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gates open at 6:30 for those who have registered their machine or plan to register to register on the day of the show. Half Moon Bay Airport, at 9850 N. Cabrillo Highway, is located on Highway 1, about 20 miles south of San Francisco and five miles north of Highway 92. The show benefits the Coastside Adult Day Health Center. Register on-line at dreammachines.miramarevents.com /registration.html For event information and registration forms, call 650/726-2328 or visit www.miramarevents.com/dreammachines

Complete Propeller & Governor Service

1-800-553-7767 • 1-800-458-2487 Contact:

Mike Baird taiprop@tiffinaire.com

1-419-447-4263

www.tiffinaire.com Fax: 419-447-4042

1778 W. US Rt 224 Tiffin, OH 44883

By Mike Heilman

USS VINSON: NAVY AND AIR FORCE TRANSITION FROM PROWLER TO GROWLER

n 2015, the United States Navy closed the books on the Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler when the electronic attack aircraft was retired after 44 years of service. The Prowler began service in 1971 as the primary carrierbased electronic warfare platform. In 2008, the Navy began replacing the aging Prowler with the Boeing EA-18G Growler when the first Growlers were delivered to Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) VAQ-129. The EA-18G began operational service in 2009. The USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) aircraft carrier will be deploying in 2017 with VAQ-136 “Gauntlets,” an EA-18G squadron. The EA-18G is a modified two-seat version of the F/A-18F “Super Hornet” that the fighter squadrons fly. The “Gauntlets” began their transition from the EA-6B to the EA-18G in 2012. The squadron still has personnel who started their Navy career with the Prowler. They sat down and reminisced about the transition to the Growler. Petty Officer 2nd Class Kyle Little explains, “I am an Aviation Structural Mechanic. I work on the flight controls, hydraulic systems, landing gear, and structural repair of the Growler. I started off on Prowlers. My first tour was in VAQ-133 at the end of their expeditionary days, so I did two tours to Afghanistan and another one to Iraq. After I left, there I went to Fallon, Nev., and that is where I actually started my training on the Growler platform.” The U.S. Navy has replaced all 10 of its aircraft-carrier-based electronic warfare VAQ squadrons with the EA-18G, but the transition was not easy. Aircrews and aircraft maintainers were resistant to the change according to Little, “I remember when VAQ-129 was getting the Growler at the time. There were a lot of hiccups and complaints, and the newspapers were not liking it. VAQ-129 was the RAG Squadron (Replacement Fleet Squadron) that was going to bring everybody else up to train the aircrews.” Little explains his take on the transition: “I think at the time I was a younger airman, and I was saying that it can’t do what the Prowler can; people don’t like change. Actually, being in the Growler for six years now, it is a lot better aircraft than the Prowler ever was. The Prowler was aging, and its time had come and gone.” LCDR Justin Windom, a Naval Flight Officer (NFO) is an Electronic Warfare Officers (EWO) with VAQ-136

In Flight USA Celebrating 30 Years

Space on the flight deck aboard a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier is tight all aircraft have wings that can fold when stored. An EA-18G “Growler” is chained to the deck of the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) aircraft carrier during the ship’s final training exercise COMPTUEX off the coast of Southern California in October of 2016. (Mike Heilman)

An EA-18G form VAQ-136 electronic warfare squadron assigned to Carrier Air Wing TWO aboard the USS Carl Vinson taxis on deck to launch a mission during the ship’s final training exercise before deploying in early 2017. (Mike Heilman)

An EA-18G “Growler” is launched from the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) during the ship’s final training exercise COMPTUEX before deploying in early 2017. (Mike Heilman)

explained his view on the transition: “I actually went through the Growler transition in my squadron. I was with VAQ138 in the Prowler, and in 2010, we transitioned to the Growler. The transition was pretty smooth for the most part. Then I went to Iraq, and after that, I went to VAQ-129 as an instructor. I was training the guys who were transitioning to the Growler, and in the beginning, they were finding their way in the aircraft.” Windom commented that transition wasn’t without former EA-6B aircrew reservations. “It was learning mission sets that we hadn’t done previous in the Prowler that was the real bump, because guys were stuck in their ways of doing things. Once they started to see the capabilities of this jet [EA-18G] and where their future with it was going, the resistance to change started to filter its way out. They were also aware of the SA or situational awareness this jet

brought to the battlefield that was unheard of in the Prowler.” The Prowler served the Navy proudly, but after 40 plus years of service, the airframe and the software began to show its age according to LCDR Windom, “At the end of my Prowler career, we were ICAP III Electronic software, which was kind of the gateway to the Growler in systems. It seems like they were having difficulty integrating that newer software in that older jet, so it was time to move on.” It was time for the Navy to make the change to the EA-18G according to Windom. “I remember a pretty good story about one of the guys in my squadron. He was on the cat (catapult) in a Prowler at night, and all of his instrumentation lights go out. The troubleshooter plugs in and says to the pilot, I need the guy in the back to kick his legs as hard as he can up against the side. He

January 2017

kicks it, and all the lights come back on.” The maintainers and aircrews have fully accepted the new EA-18G platform, but the old Prowler guys still do miss some things about the EA-6B. Petty Officer 2nd Class Little explains, “On the airframe side of the house, we got to do a metalsmith work, and now it’s a lot of taking it off and sending it to somebody else to repair. It’s more of a troubleshooting side of the house now instead of machine work. I miss that.” LCDR Windom explains what he misses about the Prowler: “What I do miss is sitting next to the guy. I miss being able to look at the pilot and hand him my approach plate and point and say go right here. Now we have what is called Tactical Crew Coordination, where it is very much like the words you use at specific times, and the way you say it now matters. You used to be able look at the guy and point. Nonverbal versus verbal communication is huge, and at the right time or wrong time during a specific mission can pull away from the pilot’s situational awareness.” The EA-6B was a four-person crew with a pilot and three Electronic Countermeasures Officers or ECMOS (Eck-moe), and when the Navy transitioned to the two-seat EA-18G, it reduced the need for two aircrews. LCDR Windom explains how the Navy handled that, “The Navy did a very good job at stopping that at the flight school level, so by the time the transition happened, there were guys moving on to other places in their career. In our squadron, it flowed seamlessly. There were guys getting out and at some point, we weren’t getting someone new to replace them.” Windom further explained, “On the manning side, they (Navy) did a really good job of moving that from a four-person cockpit to a two-person cockpit. As for the jobs of four men going to two men, what made it much easier were the ergonomics and the software that was built into the jet. It’s much easier to do the same thing we did in the Prowler by using hands-on controls and very quick push buttons. One person could do what two people did. Moving up in the software took away the need for a 40-yearold aircraft.” The change in the size of the aircrew required changes in the role of the pilot and Electronic Warfare Officer explains Windom, “The task-sharing the pilot does now has become an integral part of the mission. It’s not a discredit to the Continued on Page 49

January 2017

www.inflightusa.com

T he Py lon P lac e

Marilyn Dash’s

TEAMWORK

“Individually we are all very good, but collectively – we can be magic.” “That’s one thing you learn when you race at Reno. There’s all these airplanes, the noise, the action… But, then you meet the people and get to know them. It becomes a family. Pretty soon you realize it’s really about them.”

William Evan “Kerch” Kerchenfaut. (Tim Adams/Timadamsphotography.com)

One of my favorite people in the world left us this November. William Evan Kerchenfaut, “Kerch” to his friends, was so much more than a “guy with a screwdriver.” He was an amazing mentor, a kind soul, and a winner. For many of his closest friends, we were all treated to the same late evening phone calls that came to be known as “Kerch-a-thons.” He would always start with “Am I interrupting anything?” almost apologizing for calling. I was always happy to hear from him and sat in

a comfy chair, poured myself a glass of Merlot, and prepared to get today’s life lesson. Many of you know him, know of him, know his legacy – but let me tell you a little bit about the Bill you didn’t know. Bill grew up on a farm in Illinois. His dad owned a J3 Cub, and he learned to fly back then – seems that was how it was done back then. No radios, no towers, no FAA – just jump in the Cub and go. He learned about hard work, how to fix machines, and how to constantly search for more knowledge. He enlisted in the Air Force but wasn’t able to get a coveted flying spot. He ended up in the next best thing, aviation maintenance. Here he excelled. Later he came to air racing. Kerch was always part of winning teams, including Conquest, Dago Red, Strega, 232, and Voodoo. It wasn’t a coincidence – he was a big part of those winning programs. Winning was in his blood. Working with great individuals, including Darryl Greenamyer, John Crocker, Tiger Destefani, Mike Brown, Bob Button, Stevo Hinton, Skip Holm,

AOPA ASI RELEASES VIDEO ON LOW ALTITUDE MANEUVERING

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Air Safety Institute (ASI) released a video on maneuvering aircraft at low altitude. Margins of Safety: Low Altitude Maneuvering is the fourth and final ASI video in a series looking at maneuvering. “Maneuvering an aircraft at low altitude is something pilots do on every flight,” said ASI Senior Vice President George Perry. “While it’s not much different than maneuvering at altitude, there are a number of unique factors to consider, which we address in the video.” Margins of Safety: Low Altitude

Maneuvering was made possible by the Tom Davis Fund.

About the Air Safety Institute

AOPA’s Air Safety Institute is dedicated exclusively to providing continuing pilot education and safety programs for general aviation. It is funded by donations from individual pilots and organizations, which support the cause of improved general aviation safety. To learn more, visit ASI at www.airsafetyinstitute.org.

– William “Bill” Kerchenfaut

and Bruce Lockwood, he was exposed to some of the finest. When he started working with Darryl, he had never seen a Bearcat before. But, he was a quick learner and was later known to say, “If you want to really go fast, get a Mustang.” So much for the Bearcat, I guess. He was known to say, “You need three things to win Reno, good airplane, good pilot, and good crew.” All of those things need to work together; all of them are important. I wanted to share this with you, something that was shared with all of us at his Memorial. And if you ever had the pleasure of sitting with him for a while, you heard many of these. As you start the New Year, please keep these Kerchisms in mind.

Kerch fingers crossed. (Rob “Phred” Miller)

Kerch ADT (Anthony Taylor/Warbirdfotos.com)

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

BEHIND RESIDENTIAL HYDRAULIC DOOR LIES In Flight USA Celebrating 30 Years

UNIQUE MAN CAVE

January 2017

Schweiss Doors Helps Minnesota Man Showcase his Many Interests

One step into his residential hangar and it’s easy to see how Harlan Rohner values his leisure time, and be careful not to call it “down time.” The man is always on the go. He has snowmobiles, boats, vehicles, and ATVs in his hangar, along with his Kitfox experimental airplane and his Enstrom 280FX Shark helicopter. Access to his Willmar, Minn., hangar is made easy by a custom hydraulic door from Schweiss Doors. The door measures 50 feet by 17feet-7-3/4-inches. The hydraulic pump for the door is mounted out of sight, above the rafters, to make best use of all available space within the hangar. The spacious hangar provides 12,160 square feet (80 by 152 feet) of storage space, allowing easy access to Rohner’s many machines as well as a great showroom. “After looking over all the different style doors, I chose a Schweiss door because it is well engineered,” Rohner said. “They use a lot thicker metal than anyone else, and by buying a Schweiss door means you are buying a lifetime door – you’ll never have to replace it. I like the hydraulic door because I like it for the shade in the summer, and if it’s raining outside, I can be standing underneath it, and the pump is trouble-free.” “Schweiss did a custom paint job on the doorframe for me,” Rohner said. “I had it painted the same color to match my building. Jeremy at Schweiss was good to work with and gave me some helpful advice. He sent down a blueprint showing how to reinforce my rafters, and he talked to my contractor to get everything

the way it was supposed to be to accept the door. It was really good dealing with Schweiss; everything they said, they did to meet my expectations. I’m 100 percent happy with them and the door.” Rohner recently updated his hangar that now doubles as a man cave for his many toys. It has most of the amenities you might expect, but he has a list of things yet to do that will dress up the sheetrock walls and a liner still to be attached to the spray foam insulated door. He can land his Kitfox on a stretch of lawn beside the home, and he built an electric cart that he lands the helicopter on to wheel it in or out of the hangar. One of his next things on the list is to build a hydraulic cart that he can fasten to a skidloader to bring his floatplane in and out of the water and up and down the lakeside hill to and from his hangar. It would be an understatement to say Rohner is more than a handyman. He’s a skilled mechanic who builds his own customized snow machines and motorcycles from his business: Harlan’s Snowmobile Parts & Accessories and Harlan’s Motorcycle & Salvage. He’s a skilled pilot, who figures he has about 3,500 air hours. He also had a dealership for Quicksilver ultralight aircraft and is licensed to teach ultralight flying lessons. He still finds time to repair ultralight engines that come into his shop from all over the United States. That’s not all, as a former 17-yearold snowmobile enthusiast, he began collecting a wide array of rare and unique snowmobiles that he has packed into a

museum for the public to enjoy. All told, hundreds of these “beauties” line the cement floor and maze-like rows of shelving and offer but a glimpse into one of the largest-known vintage snowmobile collections on the planet. Today, he stores many of the 700-plus snowmobiles in his collection and hundreds of others used for parts at Harlan’s Snowmobile Salvage, a division of his family’s 65year-old auto salvage business five miles north of Willmar. He’s happy to lift up the hood on a 1996 Arctic Cat ZRT 600 shaped by his own design from parts extracted from model sleds. It’s outfitted with a 1,200 cc engine and chrome carburetors and was featured as a story in The Wall Street Journal. He rode it to compete in radar racing, which he explained is to see how fast a man could go for 660 feet. He did 123 mph, though a lot of sleds will go faster than that now. A six-seat motorcycle he built is another story. “I had an ultralight about 1980,” Rohner said. “I’ll never forget the very first time I flew it, I was scared; nobody could help me. I was by myself and learned to fly myself. I just jumped in one and ran up and down the alfalfa field for four evenings. My neighbor told me, ‘You’ll never learn to fly!’ I said, ‘I’m going to try.’ He saw me fly several times, and I gave him a ride. I bought my first Scorpion one-place helicopter from the Oshkosh Airshow about 1978. I never did learn to fly it. I’d just run it up and learn the names of the pieces. I wanted to fly it so bad, but I just couldn’t.”

Schweiss Doors is the premier manufacturer of hydraulic and bifold 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. Schweiss also offers a cable to liftstrap conversion package. For more information, visit www.bifold.com.

Lee Lauderback has been the chief flight instructor for Stallion 51 Corp. since he founded the flight operation three decades ago. In that time, he has amassed more than 21,000 flight hours in all types of aircraft, including over 9,000 hours in the Mustang. His expertise and vast experience has earned him the distinction of being an FAA Experimental Aircraft Examiner, and he is often called upon to flight-test various vintage planes, helicopters, and turbojets before they are accepted. Lee has expanded his aviation knowledge and experience to include flying the F-15 Eagle, F-16 Viper, and F/A18 Hornet, and he has test-flown the Hawker Beechcraft T-6 Texan II and also instructed students at the Navy Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Md. Lee’s extensive aviation background and experience led him to be accepted as

a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots at the 60th Annual Symposium on Sept. 22-25, 2016. According to the Society of Experimental Test Pilots Fellow, Rich Lee, “SETP is a very exclusive organization. Lee had made a well-received presentation to the SETP Flight Test Safety Workshop on May 5, 2016. Those who attended have said it was perhaps the best they had ever seen.” Even though Lee knew many of the SETP fellows, as an applicant he was required to submit a very detailed application, meet qualification and experience requirements, and be recommended by at least three members of SETP in good standing. According to Rich Lee, “Lee came highly recommended by Fellows of the Society.” Two of the SETP members who recommended Lee this summer

were aviation legend R.A. “Bob” Hoover and astronaut and Reno Air Race winner Robert “Hoot” Gibson. “When Lee attended the annual Symposium as a new member in September, Lee knew and had flown with more members, associate fellows, and fellows of the society than any new member I have ever known. He was enthusiastically received at the Symposium.” The Society of Experimental Test Pilots is an international organization that seeks to promote air safety and contributes to aeronautical advancement by promoting sound aeronautical design and development; exchanging ideas, thoughts, and suggestions of the members; assisting in the professional development of experimental pilots; and providing scholarships and aid to members and the families of deceased members.

SETP’s mission is to prevent accidents and loss of life by improving safety and design as well as providing a forum to disseminate information to those in the aerospace industry for the benefit of all aviation users. Lee Lauderback has focused on this same mission for the past 30 years, making Stallion 51 a world leader in WWII aviation. For more information, visit www.stallion51.com.

Schweiss hydraulic doors open wide without giving up any headroom. It’s a favorite for many pilots, and farmers especially like it for the shaded canopy and headroom for their big machinery.

Like many pilots, his love for flying began at an early age, long before he bought his first airplane: a Piper Cherokee 140 he still has today. “When I was a little boy, I used to watch airplanes fly over our house and thought I’d like to be up there with them,” Rohner said. “When I was probably 10 years old, my brothers used to bale a lot of hay and put up these big haystacks. I wanted to fly so bad that I took a big sun umbrella off of one of the tractors, and I’d run off of the haystack and glide down to the ground.”

LEE LAUDERBACK ACCEPTED INTO THE SOCIETY OF EXPERIMENTAL TEST PILOTS

P-51 MUSTANG STORY INSPIRES LOCAL HOSPITAL LEADERS

January 2017

www.inflightusa.com

Florida Hospital’s Senior Executive Officer, Ken Bradley, has not only been fascinated by the style and performance of the P-51 Mustang but also inspired by those who designed and built the Mustang in record time. Ken Bradley wanted to share with his Celebration Hospital leaders the focus, teamwork, and dedication by North American Aviation in the development of the Mustang prototype in 120 days. He wanted his Hospital leaders and directors to see what can be accomplished when everyone aims for the same goal. Ken brought 30 of his senior staff to Stallion 51 for lunch and a talk about the dedication that not only developed and built the Mustang but also helped win the war. During the group’s two-hour visit, they heard about the development of the Mustang as well the pilots who flew the P-51 and the “Rosie the Riveters” that made the aircraft in the factories. They learned about how American businesses stopped making cars and washing machines and started making aircraft and

ships. They learned that the United States, as a country, out produced our enemies by working together and won the war as much on the home front as on the front lines. Ken and his staff were inspired by the stories of America’s ultimate team during WWII and felt that the teambuilding field trip “exceeded his expectations, and his mission was accomplished,” as well as having the opportunity to learn more about the Mustang and the technology that keeps Stallion 51’s Mustangs flying 75 years later. For more information, visit www.stallion51.com.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY AIR SHOW TICKETS MAKE GREAT GIFTS

If you are looking for holiday gift ideas, you got lucky! The Los Angeles County Air Show presented by Lockheed Martin is offering pre-sale discount tickets, including family packs on their website for the two-day airshow. The 2017 show will feature the United States Air Force Thunderbirds Jet Demonstration Team scheduled on March 25-26, 2017 at General William J Fox Airfield. In addition to the pre-sale discount on general admission tickets, you can treat yourself or a special someone to a Red, White, and Boom VIP Experience, which range from $100 to $1,000. Complete information on each VIP package can be found online. Every child should get an airshow ticket wrapped up in a box for their birthday or a special treat! Kids five and under are free admission, and you can print their ticket from the website. Besides the USAF Thunderbirds Jet Demonstration Team, the Airshow will also feature a full

schedule of world-renowned aerobatic performers from all over the country, skydivers and Warbirds. In addition to the aerials, the Los Angeles County Air Show is home to an impressive, interactive STEM exhibition, extensive static displays, a Kid’s Zone, Aeronautical Historical Panel, and more. Don’t forget, the STEM Scholarship Program is accepting scholarship applications until Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017. A minimum of three students will receive scholarships in the amount of $2,500 each. Criteria and information can be found at www.lacoairshow.com under the Scholarships link. Recipients will be recognized at the show. For more information on the Los Angeles County Air Show, STEM, and pre-sale tickets, please go to www.lacoairshow.com. Follow on Facebook, Twitter @LACountyAirShow, Instagram, and SnapChat for updates.

Visit In Flight USA for the latest aviation news...

www.inflightusa.com

American Aircraft Sales Co. WE HAVE MOVED! 50 YEARS IN BUSINESS–NEW LOCATION

1982 Cessna 172P 180 HP

1980 Cessna 182Q Skylane II

1387 SNEW 180 HP Engine, 5200 TTSN, IFR, Hangar Kept, Looks like new, NDH. ........CALL!

One owner and hangared since new, 2200 TTSN, 200 SMOH, just like new, NDH ..................SOLD

1977 Cessna 310R 1864 TTSN A&E, NARCO IFR, A/P, Good Original Paint and Interior, NDH, ..$99,950

1979 Piper Warrior II 161 1278 SMOH, 15,193 TTSN, Garmin Avionics, ......................................$19,950

1969 Piper Cherokee 180D

1963 Cessna 210C

1969 Piper Cherokee 180D, 4400 TTSN, 1200 SMOH, Digital IFR, NDH, Mechanic Special, ............$19,950

One owner and hangared since 1976, 1197 SMOH, 2789 TTSN, COMPLETE LOGS, NDH ......$29,950

1955 Beechcraft T-34B Mentor

1967 Cessna 210G

Gray with US Aircraft markings.............Make Offer

3800 TTSN, 1900 SMOH, One owner and kept hangared last 20 years, Fresh Annual, King IFR..............................................................$39,950

1942 Grumman Bearcat F8F-2

1944 North American P-51 D Mustang

820 hours since new...Considering Offers

588 hours since new.....Considering Offers

1977 Cessna 172 SuperHawk Penn Yan 180 HP

1977 Cessna 172 Skyhawk

2800 TTSN, 1600 SNEW Engine, Garmin 696 GPS, King Digital IFR, Leather Interior, New Windows, NDH, .......................SOLD

2500 TTSN, 1400 SMOH, New Windows and Interior Plastic Trim, Nice Paint/Interior, NDH........................................................SOLD

Office Space & Tie Downs Available for Rent Robert Coutches

Cell - (510) 783-2711 • (925) 449-5151 550 Airway Blvd. • Livermore, CA 94551• Livermore Airport (KLVK)

www.americanaircraft.net

In Flight USA Celebrating 30 Years

AIRCRAFT We have moved! American Aircraft Sales, now at Livermore Airport, CA, www.americanaircraft.net, cell (510) 783-2711, (925) 449-5151. 3/13 From Trade-ins to Aircraft Management, financing and appraisals. T.J. Aircraft Sales, Novato, CA, (415) 8985151, www.tjair.com. 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

AirplanesUSA Aircraft Sales, new office at San Carlos, CA, Airport, www. airplanesusa.com, (650) 394-7610.1/16 Fly right, fly better & fly with Attitude. Under new management. Check out our expanded fleet. Attitude Aviation, Livermore, CA, (925) 456-2276, www. attitudeaviation.com. 11/16

ERCOUPE

Aerobatics instruction and air shows. Anna Serbinenko's Sky Dancer, (604) 946-7744, www.cfc.aero. 7/15

AVIONICS 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 Basic installs to complete panel and glass retrofits. Great service and value pricing. Pacific Coast Avionics, (800) 353-0370, www.PCA.aero. 7/15

Aerial Avionics, FAA CRS 7IAR379B. Reid-Hillview Airport, San Jose, CA, (408) 258-5858, www.aerialavionics.com. 10/16

ENGINES Quality, Service & Price, keeping the cost of aircraft engine maintenance down. Aircraft Specialties Services, Tulsa OK, (918) 836-6872. 10/06 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 Aircraft Engine Parts & Service. Gibson-Aviation, El Reno, OK, (800) 9924880, gibsonaviation@msn.com. 11/14

FUEL Fuel Cells. Repair, overhaul or new. New tanks with 10-year warranty. Hartwig Aircraft Fuel Cell Repair, www. hartwigfuelcell.com. 2/09

PROPELLERS 1959 Forney F1 Aircoupe, 1870 TT, 90hp. Full gyro panel, rudder pedals, Com120, transponder, intercom. Very clean, all logs. Sy Kipp, (530) 891-8885, (530) 513-2008. New consignments welcome. 161100:12

Complete Propeller & Governor Service. Tiffin Aire, Tiffin, OH, (800) 5537767, (419) 447-4263. 2/08

OXYGEN SUPPLIES

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

Aircraft Tool Supply. "Serving the aviation Industry for over 40 years." www. aircraft-tool.com 10/16

SERVICES 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 Susan Biegel, MD, Certified FAA Medical Examiner, Upland, CA, (909) 985-1908, wwww.susanbiegelmd.com. 11/16

Let your dreams soar! Aircraft loans tailored to your needs. Liberty Bank, (831) 338-6477, libertybk.com. 1/15

Aviation Marketing/Copywriting Expert for your projects. A published former TWA captain/instructor. Bert Botta, (415) 320-9811, www.bertbotta.com. 1/16

AIRCRAFT FINANCING Get Top Retail for Your Aircraft Aircraft sales, jet sales, management, financing. USA Aircraft Brokers, (877) 417-3069. 51218:TFN

HOMES/AIRPARKS Aviation Property Specialists in California. Nickson & Associates, (530) 6779760, www.nickson.biz. 11/16

HOMEBUILTS

HANGARS/TIEDOWNS

Now for Sale: Hollmann's Super Stallion & Production Rights Faster, farther, carry more for less cost. Aircraft Designs, www.aircraftdesigns. com. Contact Rita at (831) 621-8760 or email jets@mbay.net. 161000:TFN

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

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 Gavilan College Aviation Maintenance Technology. Spring classes begin Jan. 12, 2017. (408) 852-2861, www.gavilan.edu. 10/16

Arizona Type Ratings CE-500/CE-525 type ratings or recurrent. Insurance approved, staff examiner. www.arizonatyperatings.com, (602) 614-7994. 9309:TFN

Aviation Seminars Private, Commercial, Instrument, CFII and FAA-approved flight instructor refresher courses in 100 major cities. (800) 2579444, www.aviationseminars.com. 10/16

4720:TFN

AIRCRAFT PARTS 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

DuraCharts — Best print quality, resistant to tearing and liquids. Produced by pilots for pilots. www.DURACHARTS. com. 8/14 No cheap imitation watches at HME! Special pricing on ATP series multifunctional watches with Altimeter. To order or for information, (323) 464-6660 or www.hmewatch.com. 11/16

New one-piece doors. Hydraulic or bifold. Schweissdoors.com, (800) 7468273. 1/15

FBOs 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

Northgate Aviation Chico Jet Center®

January 2017

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:TFN

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

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

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

HELP WANTED

#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.

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

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

FLYING CLUBS 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, join our new Inland Empire Flying Club — an organization that makes flying fun again in well-equipped, 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:TFN West Valley Flying Club, San Francisco Bay Area. Palo Alto (650) 856-2030, San Carlos (650) 595-5912, www.wvfc. org. 4/16

Tabooma Flyers Not-for-profit flying club on historic Pearson Field, Vancouver, WA, www. taboomaflyers.org. 4/16

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

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

AVIATION CONSULTANTS

AVIATION ART/GIFTS

“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

Victory Girl Personalized Aviation Nose Art. Quality, service, lasting value. Personalized, hand-crafted art and decals. Contact www.VictoryGirl.com, (909) 297-6688. 11/13

AVIATION TRAVEL

MUSEUMS Yanks Air Museum Chino, CA www.yanksair.com Historic Flight Foundation Paine Field, Mukilteo, WA (425) 348-3200/historicflight.org American Helicopter Museum West Chester, PA, (610) 436-9600 www.americanhelicopter.museum Palm Springs Air Museum Palm Springs, CA (760)778-6262, www.psam.org Planes of Fame Air Museum Chino, CA (909) 597-3722 www.planesoffame.org Warbirds West Air Museum Gillespie Field, El Cajon, CA (858) 414-6258/www.wwam.org WACO Airfield & Museum Troy, OH, (937) 335-9226 www.wacoairmuseum.org

CLUBS/ORGANIZATIONS List your non-profit club or organization FREE on a space available basis. Send information to: 3rdavenue@embarqmail.com Aircraft Owners & Pilots Assn. (AOPA) www.aopa.org EAA Young Eagles Offers free flights for aspiring pilots ages 8 to 17 www.youngeagles.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

USS Vinson: Navy and Air Force Transition

An EA-18G “Growler” coming in for a landing aboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) during the ship’s final training before deploying in early 2017. The “Growler” is from VAQ-136 which is part of the Carrier Air Wing Two which embarked on the Vinson. (Mike Heilman)

In 2015 the United States Navy retired the lasted EA-6B “Prowler” after 44 years of service in the fleet. (Mike Heilman)

An EA-18G “Growler” from VAQ-136 Gauntlets” taxis up to the catapult to launch off the USS Vinson during the ship’s final training exercise before deployment. (Mike Heilman)

AN EA-18G Growler launches from the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) with the afterburner “lit” during the ship’s final training exercise. (Mike Heilman)

Continued from Page 44 pilot, but in the Prowler, they called themselves the “bus driver,” but now we split up a lot of the duties. In fact, in some portions, it is biased towards the pilots where they have more of the responsibilities, especially in the jamming missions. It is very heads down intensive in the back, and we will share some of those tasks with the pilot.” The change from the Prowler to Growler for Windom has made him better at his job. He explains, “The best part about it was going to the same seat every time and having the same habit pattern. I instantly became a better NFO (Naval Flight Officer) because I sat down in the same seat, and I turned on the same things the exact same way. There were times in the Prowler where you would go two or three weeks without flying in the front seat. You would be a backseat guy for a while. Then you would get up in the front seat and you would be running all the systems up there and you hadn’t done it in a

few weeks. I love the fact that I sit in the same seat and turn the same stuff on, within a few flights, I felt I was a better NFO.” The Navy’s Electronic Warfare platform has changed, but the mission has stayed the same according to Windom. “The Growlers primary mission is electronic surveillance, so location of enemy emitters, radars, and threat systems and surface-to-air. Then once we find it, we jam it. When we are about to go into a fight, we turn the lights out on them––that is our primary mission. We have secondary missions of maritime employment and sea localization or finding ships. We have the secondary mission of air-to-air because we carry the AIM120, so we can definitely use that. We have the ability when we detect that signal to shoot an AGM-88 HARM missile. Once that signal is picked up, we will shoot the HARM, and the seeker will open up and the HARM will find that signal and horn in on it.” Once the maintainers and aircrews

got familiar with EA-18G and its systems, the old ways of doing thigs became a way of the past. The Navy realized that airframe and software could not keep up with electronic threats that they faced. It also had become too costly to maintain and Petty Officer 2nd Class Little agrees. “Overall, the Growler is a lot more of a maintainer-friendly aircraft, and I absolutely love it in that regard. I remember things on the Prowler that were nightmares to take care of. I think by the time I started working on the Prowler, I think all of the original engineers had died off, so if you had questions for them, they were not around to answer them for you.” Little also added to his lessons learned from the transition, “Trust your publications; don’t think you know everything when it comes to thinking that I did that this way on the Prowler and then think you can do it over on the Growlers, like hit something with a hammer. If the pubs tell you to use specific tools, you use specific tools on it. That is

something I learned the hard way on the transition, and I watched other people learn the hard way.” The aircrews believe that the Navy made the correct choice in the EA-18G Growler according to LCDR Windom. “This platform (EA-18G) I feel has outperformed what their expectations were, especially for the roles that we fill, not just in the Navy but with expeditionary activities on the Air Force side as well. We are being used in roles that we thought were not possible. It is kind of bridging communities, and it is getting better. We keep finding more and more things this jet can do. We went from a 1972 Pinto hatchback to a Ferrari.” In Flight USA would like to thank Deputy Public Affairs Officer Steve Fiebing and the USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs team LCDR Dave Bennett, ENS Stuart Phillips, and especially Lt Andrew DeGarmo for all their help with this article.

In Flight USA Celebrating 30 Years

January 2017

AD INDEX AAHS ..................................26

Attitude Aviation ................51

Jorgenson Lawrence ..........50

Schwiess Doors ..................42

Kitfox ..................................11

Sterling Air ..........................13

Aerozona Parts ....................42

Aviation Ins. Resources ......22

JT Evans ................................4

Aircraft Spruce....................15

Corona Aircraft Engines ....37

Mountain High Oxygen........3

Airplanes USA Aircraft Sales ..6

Divorce For Men ................26

Aircraft Specialties Service 19

Aircraft Tool Supply ............9

Corona Air Venture ............28

Cotter Airport ......................17

OEO ......................................2

Old School Aviation............45

Airtronics ............................31

Dr. Susan Biegel, MD ........14

Pacific Coast Avionics ........10

American Aircraft Sales ....47

Gibson..................................22

Pacific Oil Cooler ..............16

Arizona Soaring ..................41

Hartwig ..................................3

Assoc. Sales Tax Consult. ..35

Hyatt Regency Resort Maui ..25

Alliance Intl. Aviation ..........6

AOPA ....................................7

Arizona Type Ratings ........16

Ghosts Calendar ....................9

Pac. Coast Dream Machines 36

Hanks Aero Adventures ....24

Palm Springs Air Museum 46, 52

HME Watches ....................30

QREF Media ......................18

Planes of Fame....................20

Sky Dancer ............................7 Tiffin Air..............................43

TJs Aircraft Sales ................23

TravelAir Tour ....................20 US Sport Aviation Expo ....21 USA Aircraft Brokers ........25 Vans Aircraft........................24

Wisconsin Aviation ............27

Zanette AC Insurance ..........5

R&M Steele........................14

“Still Specializing In First Time Buyers And Student Pilots Needs" A Very Cold and Happy New Year!

Late Model, Prettiest 210 you’ll ever see!

JORGENSON-LAWRENCE AIRCRAFT SALES AND MANAGEMENT HOME OF WHAT’S UP?! AIRSHOW ENTERTAINMENT

Voted Best “After the Sale Customer Service” for 18 Years!

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! 916-804-1618 For more information about these planes and others, Please Visit Our Web Site: www.LarryShapiro.com

GOT AEROBATICS? For Those of You who Can't Help Yourselves (You know who you are!) Extra 300L ......$385

All planes available for SOLO Pitts S-2C ....$285

Super Decathlon 8KCAB .....$170

Citabria 7-GCAA .....$150

Citabria 7-GCBC .....$137

Our Aerobatic Instructors:

Wayne Handley (831) 596-5820 • Steve Neighbor (925) 323-9549 • Rich Perkins (925) 337-2156 • Mark Pollard (925) 595-1980 Aircraft Rentals • Lessons • Hangarage • Maintenance • Leaseback Opportunities • Flat-Rate Management

Come and compare our selection of aircraft rentals CALL TO BOOK OR COME ON BY TODAY

925-456-2276 THE PLACE TO FLY 299 W. Jack London Blvd., South Hangars, Livermore

WWW.ATTITUDEAVIATION.COM INFO@ATTITUDEAVIATION.COM

Palm Springs Air Museum Where History Flies. . . As seen on

CNN TRAVEL World’s 14 Best Aviation Museums Ranked #1 Air Museum in California

OPEN DAILY From 10 AM to 5 PM Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and Feb. 17, 2017

745 North Gene Autry Trail • Palm Springs 760-778-6262