BRIGHT WEATHER, PARADISE CITY BOOST SUN 'N FUN
The weather in Lakeland wasn't perfect every day during Sun 'n Fun -- Friday was blustery, keeping most aircraft on the ground, and a few clouds and showers passed by -- but it was close, with temperatures in the breezy 80s and no tornadoes or mud-storms, and on Sunday morning CEO John Leenhouts was enthused about how things went. "We've had an absolutely superb week, with fabulous attendance," he told AVweb, citing numbers up about 5 percent over last year, except for a 5 percent drop on that windy Friday. "We had more people fly in than we've had in the last five years." Two incidents at the Thursday splash-in left two seaplanes damaged, but there were no serious injuries, Leenhouts said. Some vendors told AVweb the crowds in the main display area seemed substantially lighter than usual most days, with fewer serious buyers, but the revived Paradise City area got more than its usual traffic. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: SUN 'N FUN 2013 -- DRIFTING
With Sun 'n Fun 2013 now history, what was the mood of the show? To Paul Bertorelli, it reflected the industry in general: drifting along with no particular impressive direction. Show attendees said as much. But that doesn't mean some companies aren't trying -- and suceeding -- in making flying an airplane more accessible. Read more and join the conversation. More...

ALL 108 SURVIVE BALI CRASH (UPDATED)
All 108 people aboard a Lion Air Boeing 737-800 survived after the aircraft reportedly missed a runway Saturday at Denpasar Airport in Bali and ended up in the rocky shallows of the ocean at the end of the runway. Details are scarce but early news reports are adamant that it was not an overrun. They say the airplane never touched the runway and "landed" in the sea. Photos show passengers able to walk off the wings into waiting rescue boats while rescue personnel secure the aircraft with lines. It was raining at the time of the accident but the weather was described as good by officials. More...

NTSB: PILOT'S TEXTING CONTRIBUTED TO FATAL CRASH
An accident synopsis from the NTSB identifies the pilot's personal texting as a contributing factor in the Aug. 26, 2011, crash of a Eurocopter AS350 B2 helicopter near Mosby, Mo., that killed all aboard. The flight was operated as a medical services mission flown in VFR conditions, carrying three crew and one patient. It crashed due to fuel starvation "about 1 nm short" of its planned refueling stop, according to the NTSB. The NTSB says that "the pilot missed three opportunities to detect" the aircraft's low fuel state and was engaged in texting before and during the flight portion of the mission. More...

THE DARK LIGHTNING THREAT
Florida Institute of Technology researchers say that a silent phenomenon called dark lightning can silently deliver to pilots and passengers high doses of ionizing radiation in one sudden burst. Dark lightning is associated with thunderstorms, which pilots usually actively avoid, and occurs at a rate of roughly once per thousand visible flashes, according to researchers. So while researchers note that ionizing radiation is not well received by the human body, they expect that the risk of physical injury from a dark lightning event is slight. But in that case that an aircraft is subjected to the phenomenon, researchers say that all aboard could be exposed to radiation levels equivalent to the safe lifetime limit … or more. More...

CIRRUS OFFERS NON-PILOT OWNERSHIP
Cirrus is promoting aircraft ownership to non-pilots through "Cirrus On Demand," which offers two programs of service as an option for purchasers of new Cirrus aircraft. Both programs come at additional cost to the buyer and in either case, includes a pilot "trained to the company's corporate flight standards." The program can operate like a turnkey corporate flight department or provide travel service and flight instruction to clients. According to Cirrus' Todd Simmons, the program provides "virtually unlimited access" to a purchased aircraft and a pilot, "like a corporate jet." Prices and details after the jump. More...

PROGRESS FOR AERIAL LASER WEAPONS
The Navy's Laser Weapon System (LaWS) recently targeted and shot down an aerial drone in testing; meanwhile another aircraft-mounted laser system (this one for self-defense) may commence testing in 2014. The Navy's test involved a destroyer-mounted laser that successfully tracked and engaged a flying drone. The aerial vehicle caught fire in flight and crashed into the sea. Next year, the USS Ponce is expected to carry the system to the Persian Gulf. Meanwhile, DARPA may soon test a High Energy Liquid Laser Area Defense System (HELLADS) mounted on an aircraft and designed for defense against inbound threats. More...

PODCAST: SUPER PÉTREL GATHERS A CROWD
A Brazilian (by way of France) amphib design gathered a lot of interest at Sun 'n Fun. AVweb's Mary Grady checked it out at the show, speaking with Sport Aviation, LLC's Jerry Scheid. More...

FBO OF THE WEEK: KIMBLE COUNTY AIRPORT (KJCT, JUNCTION, TX)

AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Kimble County Airport (KJCT) in Junction, Texas.

AVweb reader Sid Tolchin learned the value of a friendly face on his recent stopover at JCT:

During a long flight in a small experimental plane from San Diego to New Orleans, almost any out-of-the-ordinary stop is a pleasure. This one was different. Billy Davis lives on the airport and was outside in gusting winds to help me tie down. He suggested I stay because of the weather and the lateness of the day before proceeding to New Orleans. After being certain that the aircraft was safely parked, he called the motel, recommended a good place to eat, and drove me to the Best Western, where they honored his recommendation with a discount. The short trip was filled with his stories.

Keep those nominations coming. For complete contest rules, click here.

AVweb is actively seeking out the best FBOs in the country and another one, submitted by you, will be spotlighted here next Monday!

AVWEB'S NEWSTIPS ADDRESS ...
Our best stories start with you. If you've heard something 255,000 pilots might want to know about, tell us. Submit news tips via email to newstips@avweb.com. What have you heard? More...

SHORT FINAL

FABC:
"Tower, be advised there were several large birds on approach to runway 32."

YKF Tower (spotting birds through binoculars) :
"Roger. XYZ, look out for multiple birds of prey on approach."

FXYZ:
"Klingons in sight, XYZ."

Michael Schuster
via e-mail

HEARD ANYTHING FUNNY ON THE RADIO?
Heard anything funny, unusual, or downright shocking on the radio lately? If you've been flying any length of time, you're sure to have eavesdropped on a few memorable exchanges. The ones that gave you a chuckle may do the same for your fellow AVweb readers. Share your radio funny with us, and, if we use it in a future "Short Final," we'll send you a sharp-looking AVweb hat to sport around your local airport. No joke. Click here to submit your original, true, and previously unpublished story. More...

MEET THE AVWEBFLASH TEAM

AVwebFlash is a twice-weekly summary of the latest news, articles, products, features, and events featured on AVweb, the world's premier independent aviation news resource.

The AVwebFlash team is:

Publisher
Tom Bliss

Editorial Director, Aviation Publications
Paul Bertorelli

Editor-in-Chief
Russ Niles

Webmaster
Scott Simmons

Contributing Editors
Mary Grady
Glenn Pew

Contributors
Kevin Lane-Cummings

Ad Coordinator
Karen Lund

Avionics Editor
Larry Anglisano

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