LANCAIR EVOLUTION FIRST FLIGHT
Lancair’s latest kit-built aircraft, the Evolution, had its first flight at company headquarters in Redmond, Ore., last Friday. The all-composite speedster will weigh just 2,300 pounds empty but has a 750-hp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT-6 engine up front that will give it a maximum cruise of 330 knots. First flight, with Len Fox at the controls, appeared uneventful and lasted about 40 minutes. According to the Lancair Web site the company is planning to have the aircraft at Sun ‘n Fun, which begins in just two weeks. Actually getting the aircraft to market may prove to be more difficult, though.

(Click through for video.)

AFTER CANADIAN CRASH, COURT ATTACKS AIRLINE CULTURE
Mark Tayfel managed a relatively safe landing on a public street in Winnipeg with both engines out that was, said one man, "an absolute miracle," according to Canada.com. Unfortunately, Tayfel had initiated the flight with six passengers aboard and without enough fuel to reach its destination, and one of Tayfel's passengers, 79-year-old Chester Jones, succumbed to his injuries a few weeks after the crash. The trial regarding the 2002 crash apparently convinced the judge that a "culture" within the airline industry "pressures young pilots to break the law." Justice Holly Beard last week sentenced Tayfel to 240 hours of community service and a curfew. "It's clear the failure to follow aeronautics regulations is very prevalent," said Justice Beard while delivering Tayfel's sentence. And she would not lay blame for that culture squarely on Tayfel. More...

JAIL FOR DIABETIC PILOT
Pilot Ronald Crews was sentenced to 16 months in prison for lying about a medical condition that led in 2002 to his diabetic seizure while at the controls of a Cape Air Cessna 402. Crews, then 50 years of age, had flown with Cape Air for four years and had not disclosed to the FAA his insulin dependency. He will serve two years probation following completion of his jail term. The Feb. 8, 2002, flight out of Martha's Vineyard for Hyannis with four passengers aboard was spared potential disaster by the actions of one passenger -- a Cape Air security supervisor and pilot trainee. Melanie Oswalt, then 24, took the controls with 48 hours of experience under her belt and managed a gear-up landing at non-towered Provincetown airport at the north end of Cape Cod. The airport was closed at the time of the landing and located well beyond the flight's intended point of arrival. None of those aboard were injured. The U.S. Attorney's office says that Crews had for his entire career hidden the condition from the FAA. More...

CRASH 172 LOW, SLOW, POSSIBLY OVERWEIGHT
An NTSB preliminary report into the crash of a Kemper Aviation Cessna 172S that killed the company’s co-owner, Jeff Rozelle, and three others earlier this month near Indiantown, Fla., suggests the aircraft could have been overloaded by as much as 200 pounds. The report says it was carrying 808 pounds of people and baggage and had flown 1.5 hours after being topped up to a full 56 gallons of fuel. That would have left approximately 46 gallons (about 275 pounds) in the tanks at the time of the crash, for a total weight of about 1083 pounds. Useful load on the crash airplane was 861.8 pounds. Only 9.5 gallons was recovered from the tanks but the fuel and vent lines from both tanks were broken in the crash. More...

WHY AIRBUS TANKER BEAT BOEING
The Air Force says Northrop-Grumman’s proposal for a new aerial refueling aircraft based on the Airbus A330 was simply better than Boeing’s 767-based plan. Documents quoted by the Seattle Post Intelligencer say the Air Force will need 22 fewer Airbuses because it’s more efficient at refueling and has a faster turnaround time than the 767. The Boeing had the edge in communications, some aerial refueling capabilities and combat survivability. It all added up to a close competition that the Air Force suggests may have been tipped by the business skills of the two bidders. More...

LOCKHEED MARTIN'S COMPOSITE TRANSPORT
Lockheed Martin intends to have a prototype Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft in the air by October, just one year after winning the $50 million contract to produce the plane. The design may be roughly based off of a highly modified Dornier 328J regional jet, but made of synthetic fibers, resin and epoxy instead of metal. Where comparable aircraft could be built from up to 4,000 parts, the new aircraft will be made of just 306 parts and benefit from a weight loss of up to 30 percent versus conventional cargo aircraft. The Air Force is hoping that savings could allow heavier payloads, longer range and significant fuel savings while offering a structure more resistant to corrosion and fatigue. Composite materials are not less expensive than metal, but a faster build time, if achieved, will also contribute to an overall reduction in cost. The prototype aircraft will be smaller than the aging C-130 Hercules, but also more nimble and capable of delivering troops to shorter, rougher strips closer to the front lines. More...

ARLINGTON FLY-IN AND EAA
EAA and the Arlington Fly-In have reached a new working agreement that clarifies a 20-year relationship and defines the EAA's role to provide extensive promotion and coverage of the fly-in, and serve as a major sponsor for forums and workshops during the event. "We have set the stage for success in our shared missions," said EAA Vice President Adam Smith, "which is to promote recreational aviation in all its forms." The agreement will bring EAA judging standards to Arlington's aircraft awards program, along with two EAA SportAir workshops to be held on the fly-in grounds at other times of the year. The Arlington Fly-In is set for July 9-13 this year. One weekly ticket for a fly-in visitor arriving by aircraft is $24. Daily tickets are $15 for airborne arrivals. EAA's own AirVenture Oshkosh 2008 is set for July 28 through August 3. More...

ISRAELI FIGHTERS GROUNDED IN CANCER SCARE
Israeli fighter pilots routinely face a variety of on-the-job hazards but they likely didn’t expect a threat from inside the cockpit. According to YNet News pilots are being tested for cancer after a high concentration of formaldehyde was found in the cockpit of one of its F-16I (Storm) fighters. Now the Israeli air force is saying that most Storm pilots were exposed to the chemical. Intense exposure can cause cancer but Israeli officials say that the chance of the pilots developing the disease is remote. More...

ON THE FLY ...
Air Care conference deadline draws near ...
NemesisNXT will try for Oshkosh speed record ...
Boeing 787 wing box redesigned. More...

AVMAIL: MAR. 24, 2008
Reader mail this week about ADS-B, diesel engines, airplane theft and more. More...

AVWEB'S NEWSTIPS ADDRESS ...
Our best stories start with you. If you've heard something 200,000 pilots might want to know about, tell us. Submit news tips via email to newstips@avweb.com. What have you heard? More...

Columns | Features | What's New | Calendar | Brainteasers

THE PILOT'S LOUNGE #124: AN AIRPLANE WITH A PERSONALITY? LET'S NOT BE SILLY
Airplane drivers don't believe airplanes are anything other than inanimate objects. Airplane flyers, however, will enjoy what AVweb's Rick Durden has to say about a Piper Apache named ''Da Pop.'' More...

ALWAYS WANTED TO FLY A DC-3?

copyright © John Fleck

Entry Deadline: April 1, 2008

Flight Date: April 8, 2008 (7 a.m.)

Flight Location: Linder Airport, Lakeland, Florida

Winners Announced: April 3, 2008

To qualify, you must have a valid pilot certificate and current medical. (It doesn't have to be a U.S. certificate.)

Arguably the most important aircraft ever produced, the DC-3 ushered in the "modern" era of air transportation. But until you've sat in the left seat, gripped that huge yoke and tried to muscle the big bird onto final, you can't appreciate what life was like for the tens of thousands of pilots who have shaken, rattled and rolled in the confines of that cockpit.

Or maybe you're a former DC-3 pilot looking for a trip down memory lane. Whatever the motivation, now's your chance to fly left seat in the iconic aircraft, courtesy of Herpa Wings, AVweb and the owner of N143D, Dan Gryder, at Sun 'n Fun on April 8. You'll be in control as Dan guides you through takeoff, pattern work and even a few low and overs in a beautifully maintained but still very historic DC-3. All you have to do is tell us (and 200,000 AVweb readers) why you want to. Send us a short (no longer than 200 words) essay on the topic: "Why I Want To Fly The Herpa Wings DC-3."

E-mail your entry to fly-the-dc3@avweb.com by April 1, 2008.

(Click through for rules and details.)

FBO OF THE WEEK: BLUE DIAMOND AVIATION (RUSSELLVILLE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, AL)

AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Blue Diamond Aviation at Russellville Municipal Airport (M22) in Russellville, Alabama.

AVweb reader Robby Bendall calls the FBO "a welcome stop for anyone," recounting how he and a friend have made it their base of operations while airplane shopping:

Cm. Sgt. Harry Mattox has done an excellant job of building a good small town FBO and flight traing center. Recently a friend and I have been working on the purchase of his first airplane, a 172 that has been sitting for two years. He has welcomed us with open arms and has gone out of his way to help. We have used his facilities on and off since January of this year, and it and looks like we are about to finish up. Harry has auto-dispensed Jet A and 100LL, [plentiful] hangar space, and the nicest small town terminal with a courtesy car. Smiles abound.

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!

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: LOCKHEED U-2S "DRAGON LADY" COCKPIT TOUR
The Lockheed U-2 has been in service for over 50 years. It has been at the center of some of the most tense moments in America's history. AVweb's Glenn Pew takes you inside the cockpit on a guided tour with an active U-2 pilot. (Click through to watch.) More...

VIDEO OF THE WEEK: HELICOPTER INCIDENT ON THE HIGH SEAS
AVweb reader Jim Lin writes, "Here's a video of a scary helicopter incident at sea. Despite what the video description says, it looks like the pilot failed to keep the helicopter pinned to the deck of the pitching ship. You can see the heli get light on its skids on the swell prior to the actual liftoff and subsequent tail strike. That's one lucky deckhand!" (Click through to watch.) More...

ANYWHERE FROM TEXAS TO CALIFORNIA, BAD GUYS MAY BE AFTER YOUR BABY ...
As you read last week on AVweb, the Aviation Crime Prevention Institute has issued an All Points Bulletin to pilots/owners of Cessna singles and especially heavy haul Caravans, King Air models, and medium/heavy Cessna Cabin Class Twins to take measures to secure and guard their airplanes. Because the Mexican government is now seizing airplanes at an accelerated rate, the drug cartels need to quickly procure some American assets to replenish their illegal aviation fleet. AVweb's Mike Blakeney spoke with ACPI president Bob Collins to find out why and how they plan to turn your pride and joy to a life of crime. More...

SHORT FINAL

Overheard in IFR Magazine's "On the Air"

Departing Oakland for Redding, California, NorCal Departure handed me off to Oakland Center. I changed frequencies but attended to some other issues and couldn't remember if I'd checked in:

Me:
"Oakland Center, Skyhawk XXXXX, six thousand. I can't remember if we actually checked in or if I just thought about it."

Oakland Center:
"XXXXX, roger. No, you didn't check in — but it's the thought that counts."

Walt Odets
via e-mail

AVWEBBIZ: AVWEB'S BUSINESS AVIATION NEWSLETTER
HAVE YOU SIGNED UP yet for AVweb's NO-COST weekly business aviation newsletter, AVwebBiz? Reporting on breaking news, Business AVflash focuses on the companies, the products and the industry leaders that make headlines in the business aviation industry. Business AVflash is a must read. Sign up today at http://www.avweb.com/profile/. More...

MEET THE AVWEBFLASH TEAM

AVwebFlash is a weekly summary of the latest news, articles, products, features, and events featured on AVweb, the internet's aviation magazine and news service.

The AVwebFlash team is:

Publisher
Timothy Cole

Editorial Director, Aviation Publications
Paul Bertorelli

Editor-in-Chief
Russ Niles

Managing Editor
Meredith Saini

Contributing Editors
Mary Grady
Glenn Pew

Features Editor
Kevin Lane-Cummings

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