JOHN
BURTON, CHAIRMAN OF SUN 'N FUN FLY-IN
John Burton
talks with AVweb's Mary Grady about the highlights and new events
coming up this week at Sun 'n Fun and shares some of the
behind-the-scenes considerations and planning that go into creating the
Sun 'n Fun show every year.
Click here to listen. (7.2 MB,
7:54)
FLYING
CAR UPDATE
Terrafugia is working on a major redesign of its
"roadable aircraft," the Transition. AVweb's Russ Niles spoke
with CEO Carl Dietrich at Sun 'n Fun 2010 about progress to
date.
Click here to listen. (4.6 MB,
5:04)
THOMAS
NORTON OF NORTON AVIATION
Norton
Aviation, based in Sarasota, Fla., offers personalized training for
pilots transitioning into light jets like the Eclipse, Mustang, or
Phenom. AVweb's Paul Bertorelli caught up with Thomas J.
Norton at Sun 'n Fun in Lakeland for some insight into the
challenges and rewards of learning to fly a single-pilot jet.
Click here to listen. (5.3 MB,
5:45)
EMBRAER
UPDATE
AVweb's Russ Niles speaks with Embraer's
Clint Clouatre about the company's light jet programs and the
current market.
Click here to listen. (3.0 MB,
3:19)
LINDBERGH
AWARD WINNER JACK PELTON
Cessna CEO Jack Pelton,
winner of the prestigious individual Charles Lindbergh Award, spoke with
AVweb's Russ Niles about the significance of the award and a
little about the airplane business.
Click here to listen. (5.2 MB,
5:40)
MIKE
DUCKER, COO OF FEDEX, LINDBERGH AWARD WINNER FOR CORPORATE
BALANCE
The Lindbergh Foundation's Corporate Award for
Balance recognizes the work of companies that demonstrate a dedication
to the environment and quality of life in their business practices. This
year, the award went to FedEx, and AVweb's Mary Grady talked with
FedEx COO Mike Ducker at the Sun 'n Fun Museum just prior to the
celebratory awards dinner.
Click here to listen. (4.8 MB,
5:11)
CRAIG
FULLER, PRESIDENT OF AOPA
General aviation dodged a bullet on
user fees, but there are plenty of other challenges ahead. Craig
Fuller talks with AVweb's Mary Grady at Sun 'n Fun about
those challenges, including NextGen, avgas, and more, and also the
opportunities that GA will be facing in the future.
Click here to listen. (9.1 MB,
9:55)
FSS'S
ROLE
AVweb's Russ Niles speaks with Lockheed Martin's
Jim Derr, who's in charge of the company's flight service
contract.
Click here to listen. (5.8 MB,
6:13)
MOONEY ON
THE RISE
After 18 months of idled production, the Mooney
Airplane Company is thinking about firing up the factory again.
AVweb's Russ Niles spoke with Mooney's Susan
Harrison.
Click here to listen. (3.3 MB,
3:35)
FLIGHT
TRAINING ON YOUR IPAD
A San Jose company has developed flight
training apps for your mobile device. AVweb's Greg Lane talks
with Mike Shiflett of MS Aviation.
Click here to listen. (3.5 MB,
3:47)
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DICK
JACKSON'S FABULOUS S39
 Before
he built helicopters, Igor Sikorsky designed and built well-regarded
fixed-wing aircraft, including Dick Jackson's fabulously restored S-39
amphib. Jackson brought his S-39 to Sun 'n Fun 2010, and AVweb
took a tour.
SPOT'S
NEW MESSENGER MODEL
 As
121.5 MHz ELTs are being phased out, aircraft owners are looking for
alternatives. One of these is the Spot satellite messenger device. It's
not technically an emergency beacon, but it can provide similar
functions. At Sun 'n Fun 2010, the company showed us its new model.
KESTREL
TURBOPROP
 On the
show line at Sun 'n Fun is a largish single-engine turboprop that looks
like an Epic — but it isn't. It's the Kestrel turboprop. Here's
AVweb's report on this intriguing aircraft.
KING
AIR 350I CABIN TOUR
 Hawker
Beechcraft's King Air has been in continuous production longer than any
other turboprop in history. The latest variant, the 350i, emphasizes
cabin amenities, and this detailed video from AVweb tells the
complete story.
WACO
YMF-5D BIPLANE FLIGHT TRIAL
 If you
think the glory days of classic biplanes are long gone, check out Waco's
new YMF-5D — with a full glass cockpit, no less. Paul Bertorelli
flew it at Sun 'n Fun and says it's a high-zoot hoot.
DELTAHAWK
ENGINE UPDATE
 DeltaHawk will be the first to admit they've been
plodding along on the diesel engine certification project ... like,
forever. Actually, it's been 14 years — but they think they'll have
a production engine available this year. Here's Kitplanes
editor Marc Cook with an update.
LOCK
AND KEY UPGRADE FOR PIPER NAVAJO
 Piper's
Navajo was one of the most successful cabin class twins, mainly because
it carries a lot at a good cruise speed. But it hasn't been made since
the 1980s, so Mike Jones Aircraft has developed an extensive upgrade
program for the Navajo called the Lock and Key. Here's a report.
DIAMOND
MOTOR GLIDER FLIGHT TRIAL
 At Sun
'n Fun, Diamond announced the reintroduction of its HK36 motor glider,
and AVweb's Russ Niles took a demo flight with Great Lakes
Aircraft's Andy James.
LANCAIR
EVO UPDATE
 Lancair's piston Evolution is one of the most
ambitious kit aircraft ever, and it has an equally ambitious engine,
Lycoming's IE2 electronic powerplant. At Sun 'n Fun, Lancair's Doug
Meyer gave us an update on the program.
PARIS
JET AT SUN 'N FUN
 Dale
Snodgrass is widely known as the most experienced F-14 pilot in the
world. At Sun 'n Fun 2010, he debuted with a new aerobatic demo team,
flying the famed Paris Jet.
BERLIN
AIRLIFT FOUNDATION'S C-54 SPIRIT OF FREEDOM
 In
1948, the newly minted U.S. Air Force did a remarkable thing. When the
Soviets blockaded land links to Berlin, the Air Force sustained the city
by air for nearly a year. At Sun 'n Fun, the Berlin Airlift Foundation
displayed a C-54 used in the operation. (It's actually a Navy R-5D, but
the airplanes are identical.)
UL
POWER'S UNIQUE LIGHTWEIGHT ENGINE
 Aircraft engine development isn't exactly a major
growth industry, but we do see new products from time to time. At Sun 'n
Fun, Kitplanes
editor Marc Cook talked to Gus Warren about the unique, lightweight UL
Power engine for LSAs and kit airplanes.
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FAA
LAUNCHES INCURSION CAMPAIGN
 The FAA is starting an
aggressive campaign aimed at curbing runway incursions in general but GA
deviations in particular. At Sun 'n Fun 2010, Wes Timmons, the FAA's
director of runway safety, unveiled a new campaign called "If
You've Crossed The Line, You've Crossed The Line." As the name implies,
the campaign is aimed at reminding pilots to pay attention to
controllers' instructions and only enter the protected runway space with
permission. Timmons told AVweb that 75 to 80 percent of
incursions are caused by GA aircraft and that needs to improve.
LIGHTSPEED
REACHES OUT TO NON-PROFITS
 Lightspeed Aviation is inviting
customers and all pilots to help promote worthy aviation-related causes
through its Lightspeed Aviation Foundation charitable program.
Lightspeed has selected 20 non-profit aviation charities to be potential
beneficiaries of a unique online charity drive. At a news conference at
Sun 'n Fun 2010, Lightspeed CEO Allan Schraeder said the purpose of the
drive is to promote aviation, draw more people into it and make it
better for the planet. The company is putting up a minimum of $50,000 to
support at least five non-profits accomplishing those goals tub there's
an important interactive aspect.
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DAILY
COVERAGE FROM SUN 'N FUN 2010
For quick access, here are links to our daily coverage of the
show:
- AVwebFlash:
Tuesday,
April 13, 2010
- AVwebFlash:
Wednesday,
April 14, 2010
- AVwebFlash:
Thursday,
April 15, 2010
- AVwebFlash:
Friday,
April 16, 2010
- AVwebFlash:
Saturday,
April 17, 2010
- AVwebFlash:
Sunday,
April 18, 2010
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