Jetman Yves Rossy sat with AVweb Friday at AirVenture to discuss what it's like to "be the airplane" as he flies with a six-foot-wing and four microturbines strapped to his back. Rossy explained that his motivation for development of the wing had nothing to do with publicity, but "to be free in the air" and to address his personal dream of flight. "An airplane is a compromise" Rossy said, adding that he wanted to "go back to the root, back to the dream, back to the pure flight -- not reinvent another airplane... Be the airplane." Read More

At AirVenture 2013, Jetman Yves Rossy made his first North American appearance, flying a custom-made personal wing fitted with four microjet engines. AVweb interviewed Rossy between shows on Friday afternoon, and, in this exclusive video, we cut in some stunning aerial and ground footage provided by Rossy's sponsor, Swiss watchmaker Breitling. Rossy describes what it's like to fly his powered wing at speeds up to 190 MPH after launching himself from the skid of a helicopter flying at about 5,500 feet over Oshkosh. Read More

The director of Disney's latest blockbuster animated movie says he hopes the knowledgeable audience at AirVenture Oshkosh finds it both inspiring and entertaining. Planes director Klay Hall said in an interview with AVweb the movie, which weaves a classic tale of grit, determination and a little luck overcoming adversity and various antagonists, was a lot of fun to work on and he hopes that translates for the AirVenture crowd. Read More

The Disney animated feature Planes got its first screening Friday at AirVenture. AVweb's Russ Niles spoke with the movie's director, Klay Hall, about the movie and what it might mean for GA. Read More

Sean D. Tucker, aerobatic champion and legendary air show performer, has taken over the honorary chairmanship of the EAA's Young Eagles program. He replaces Chesley Sullenberger and Jeff Skiles, the airline pilots known for ditching an A320 in the Hudson River after losing both engines. "It's my second full-time job," Tucker said. "That's how committed I am to this legacy." Tucker said he will spread the word about Young Eagles as he flies on the air show circuit, and also will make personal visits to EAA chapters to take kids flying. "I love sharing the magic of flight," he said. Read More

Continental Motors is apparently wasting little time in investing in improvements to increase TBRs and gearbox replacement intervals on the Centurion diesel line. With its deal to acquire the former assets of Thielert Aircraft Engines not even two weeks old, Continental said this week at AirVenture that it will field an improved gearbox for the Centurion line that will extend inspection/replacement cycles from 300 to 600 hours. Longer TBR extensions are also in the works. Read More

A collision late Thursday night between two F-16C Air National Guard jets based out of Joint Base Andrews Naval Facility, 10 miles outside Washington, D.C., briefly left one pilot in the ocean after a successful ejection off of Virginia, while the other was able to fly his jet back to base. The pilot who ejected was rescued by the Coast Guard after they received an automated distress signal at some time after 10:30 pm. Both pilots were treated at the base's medical facilities and one has already been released. The other was reportedly transferred off base for treatment of his injuries, which appear to be non-life-threatening. Read More

Mike Blyth of The Airplane Factory flew one leg of 14 hours, bucking headwinds over open water, with his son in the Rotax-powered Sling 4 metal kit-built aircraft, to arrive at the show grounds of AirVenture Oshkosh 2013. Blyth and his son flew with an extra 40-gallon fuel tank in the back seat and 80 gallons in the wings, which Blyth says could keep the Rotax 914 UL turning through 20 hours of flight if they needed to divert for weather during an overseas leg. Read More

Mike Blyth of Airplane Factory flew one leg of 14 hours over open water with his son in the Rotax-powered kitbuilt Sling4 four-seat light airplane to arrive at the showgrounds of AirVenture Oshkosh 2013. Read More

Amid all the noise and smoke of the afternoon airshow at EAA AirVenture, an interlude featuring two eSpyder aircraft from GreenWing was notable for its silence. The single-seat aircraft, which resemble monowing ultralights, flew over show central, low and slow, executing gentle turns driven by battery-powered electric motors. The aircraft were recently certified in Germany as light sport aircraft, but the U.S. LSA rules don't allow for electric powerplants. GreenWing, based in California, is offering the eSpyders for sale as experimental amateur-built airplanes, at $40,000 for a quick-build kit. Read More

At EAA AirVenture this week, AVweb's Mary Grady spoke with GreenWing spokesman Eric Bartsch about the company's products and their plans for the U.S. market. The California company, a spin-off of China-based Yuneec, is now selling an electric-powered aircraft as an experimental amateur-built kit. Bartsch said the company is ready and eager to provide more electric-powered aircraft as soon as U.S. regulations allow. Read More

The NTSB has finished posting its series of five short safety videos aimed at general aviation pilots and mechanics this week, just in time for EAA AirVenture. The Safety Alerts aim to address the most common causes of fatal accidents in the GA fleet. The newest one, published on Tuesday, aims to reach GA mechanics. "If every mechanic could spend some time as a safety investigator, I believe those experiences would remain with them for a lifetime," says NTSB investigator Mike Huhn in the video. Since that's not possible, though, he says, "A good way to learn from others' mistakes is to study accident reports." Read More

Can't make it to AirVenture this year? Photo galleries of the people, products, and planes that make Oshkosh a pilot's paradise will pepper our coverage throughout the week, courtesy of eagle-eyed aviation photographer Mariano Rosales. Read More

There's so much to see and touch at AirVenture that your eyes may tire of looking and your button-pushing finger can get a little stiff. That doesn't deter the AVweb team, however, as they poked, prodded, and otherwise product-tested their way through some of this year's most interesting products in a series of "Product Minute" videos. Read More

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