KLAPMEIER LAYS OUT JET PLANS
Well, no one has ever accused Cirrus Aircraft Chairman of the Board Alan Klapmeier of backing down from a challenge and he's taken on a big one. Klapmeier announced last week that he's trying to buy the Vision SF 50 jet program from the company he and his brother Dale founded 25 years ago. The news caused a sensation at last week's gathering of Cirrus owners in Duluth and rippled through the industry. Now that the dust has settled some, Klapmeier says he has a picture of the reaction to the news and he's explaining the rationale behind the blockbuster news. In this podcast, Klapmeier lays out the history, the plan, and what he hopes will be the future of the project.

Click here to listen. (14.5 MB, 15:55)

SPOT LANDINGS FOR KEEPS
Aviation Safety magazine editor Jeb Burnside talks power-off landings with Gary Hemphill, executive director of the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA), which conducts regional and national spot-landing contests.

Click here to listen. (8.9 MB, 6:30)

THE ABCS OF AIRPLANE TIRES
Surprisingly, it's not landings but take-offs that place the most stress on airplane tires. Aviation Safety magazine editor Jeb Burnside explores the reasons why with Steve Chlavin of Desser Tires.

Click here to listen. (9.7 MB, 7:05)

EAA AIRVENTURE UPDATE
EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh is coming up in just a few weeks — July 27 to August 2 — and this year's aviation celebration features lots of special visitors and exhibits, as well as extensive new upgrades to the show grounds. AVweb's Mary Grady talks with Dick Knapinski, EAA spokesman, for all the latest on the show, plus some important advice for pilots planning to fly in.

Click here to listen. (10.9 MB, 9:33)

THE FUTURE OF CIRRUS'S JET
Cirrus Design co-founder and former CEO Alan Klapmeier dropped a bombshell on the annual Cirrus Migration in Duluth by announcing he wants to take over the SF 50 jet program through a separate company. But current CEO Brent Wouters says the company remains committed to seeing the project through, although it's willing to listen to Klapmeier's ideas. AVweb's Russ Niles spoke with Wouters about the proposal.

Click here to listen. (5.3 MB, 5:47)