April 11, 2008

By The AVweb Editorial Staff

Fly With Bose® Aviation Headset X™ Enjoy an unmatched combination of full-spectrum noise reduction, clearer audio, and comfortable fit. Voted the #1 headset for the seventh consecutive year in Professional Pilot's 2007 Headset Preference Survey. Also rated "Best ANR Headset: The Aviation Consumer Product of the Year" by Aviation Consumer. Purchase by May 3, 2008, and receive a complimentary pair of Bose in-ear headphones ($99.95 value). Learn more and order. Quotes reprinted with permission: Professional Pilot, 2007 Headset Preference Survey, 12/07; Aviation Consumer, 8/07. » Try out the Headset X™ and other Bose Corporation products at booth SNF-009 at Sun 'n Fun Enjoying Our Time with Dan Gryder & the Herpa DC-3 back to top  DC-3 Dreams Cirrus Design co-founders Dale and Alan Klapmeier defied enormous odds to build a successful, profitable airplane company but it wasn't just the technology and innovation that made the SR22 the best selling single in the world. A fundamental love of aviation has driven them from day one (they aren't unique in that) and they were among the dozens of pilots who took part in the AVweb and Herpa Miniature Models offer to fly in aircraft that few others get to experience. Alan flew back seat in a taildragger Nan Chang CJ6 and Dale was his lead, flying the gorgeous Herpa DC-3. "It was a lot of fun," said Dale Klapmeier after he climbed out of the 20,000 lb. Douglas after flying it for an hour, including a low-level pass with six Nan Changs in formation, one of them with Alan in the back seat. All of this resulted from our essay contest inviting folks to tell us why they wanted to fly the 70-year-old twin-engine airliner and we'll be telling you more about our amazing few days with Dan Gryder and his beautiful airplane, plus the formation aircraft. Like the winners of our contest, Christa Mabry and Joe Kaminskas (thanks to his good friend Charlie Tipton), Dale Klapmeier handled takeoff, flight maneuvering and the landing of the big Three. All through that, brother Alan was not far away, on the Douglas's wing. Dale said that while technology has made pilot workload a fraction of what he experienced on this flight, there's just nothing like the smell, sounds and sensations of flying a piece of history. "This was just incredible," he said. Don't see a video screen? Try disabling ad blockers and refreshing this page. If that doesn't work, click here to download the video directly. Inflight. Every Flight. XM WX Satellite Weather has quickly become the leading way to fly for pilots across the country. With flexible display solutions from aviation's biggest names and the accuracy-assured data of WxWorx onboard, datalink weather from XM WX has been embraced by pilots and the industry alike. It's simply the best way to soar with confidence — inflight and every flight. Click here to learn more about XM WX Satellite Weather. » See why XM WX Satellite Weather is the official weather provider of Sun 'n Fun when you visit WxWorx at booths C-024-025 and N-036 at the show Dateline Lakeland — Top News from Sun 'n Fun back to top  Maule To Offer Forward Vision On All Its Aircraft At their press conference at Sun 'n Fun on Thursday, the folks from Forward Vision passed around one of their compact EVS-100 units, fixed up with a battery pack and a small video screen. Pointed at the front of the press tent, the image clearly showed the podium and each of the speakers, looking much like an old black-and-white video picture. The enhanced-vision system, which uses a long-wave infrared sensor, now will be offered as a factory-installed option on the entire line of Maule aicraft. It is to be used in advisory capacity only. It can provide a nuanced picture of the terrain when night falls or visibility is less than perfect, and can sometimes help in spotting traffic as well. Cost for the option is $21,900. The self-contained system is designed to be easily upgradeable, and it operates day or night. For Kit Manufacturers, 51% Solution Remains Uncertain Since the FAA issued its report on the "51-percent" homebuilt rule a few weeks ago, the homebuilder community and kit manufacturers have been fretting over what changes will be made, and what impact they will have. AVweb caught up with Glasair CEO Mikael Via at Sun 'n Fun on Thursday, and he was confident that whatever guidance the FAA eventually issues, his company will be able to cope. "We are already making pro-active changes in the Two Weeks To Taxi program," he said, in anticipation of FAA changes. The two-week builder-assist program for the Sportsman has been popular, with over 100 sold. But since customers already are doing the vast majority of the work, he said, only a small portion of the program will be affected. As for the rest of Glasair's line, Via said that existing kits that have already been approved by the FAA, will most likely not be affected, though the FAA has not yet made any official statement to that effect. He added that the Two Weeks To Taxi program has helped the company to produce a better, safer airplane. "By having worked with customers to build over 100 kits at our facility, because we're present and involved, we have that constant feedback and experience that allows us to constantly improve," he said. Discover the Thrill You are here when you discover that the thrill of hanging 10 has nothing on hanging around Cloud 9. In a brand-new Cessna Skyhawk, you too will discover life in a brand-new way, whether you're learning to fly or fulfilling the lifelong dream of owning a new Cessna. Call 1 (316) 517-6056, or visit CessnaYouAreHere.com. » Be there with Cessna Single-Engine at booths SNF-001-005 at Sun 'n Fun Training and Technology at the Show back to top  Delta Connection and Embry Riddle Team Up For Training Demand for pilots is so great that ab initio candidates can now go from zero time to the right seat of a regional jet in a couple of years. But any pilot with designs on flying for a major airline will need a four-year degree, and to make that easier, Delta Connection and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University have joined in a program to give students who earn their ratings at Delta Connection 36 credit hours toward a degree. In essence, that could shave about a year off a four-year degree program at ERAU, not to mention a sizeable chunk in tuition savings. Delta's Doug Blissit told AVweb on Thursday that demand for pilots has never been greater and virtually all of the 170 or so students Delta graduates find employment as professional pilots. For more, see DeltaConnectionAcademy.com. New LSA Designs Debut At Sun 'n Fun About a half dozen Special Light Sport Aircraft are showing at Sun 'n Fun for the first time this week, and each of them has an example on display in the LSA Mall. The Paradise P-I, a Brazilian design, has a classic Cessna 150 look on first glance, with a strutted high wing, tricycle gear, and mostly metal construction. But inside, the two seats ride close to the floor, for plenty of headroom, and the control yokes are recessed into the panel, providing legroom as well. The one on display has round gauges, but the company will install any avionics the customer requests, said sales rep Christopher Lee Regis. Also on display is the Urban Air Lambada, the first light-sport motorglider. Jeff Shingleton, who flew it down from New York, said "it gets better mileage than a Prius." Considering that it flies at 100 knots and sips just 2.3 gallons per hour with the motor running, that sounds about right. Turn off the engine and let it glide, and you can follow the cloud streets all day. Other LSAs showing at Sun 'n Fun for the first time are the Gobosh 700, Patriot AMD, SportAir's Sting S3, and the FlightDesign CT-LS. Avidyne Extends Interface Capability for Tactical WX Detection System Avidyne's TWX670 Tactical Weather Detection System has a Compatibility Mode providing a second output format for display of monochromatic lightning strike and storm cell information on a number of existing lightning detection-compatible displays. The TWX670's normal RS-232 output protocol supports the TWX670's TWxCell™ and Color Strike modes on compatible displays, including Avidyne's EX500, EX5000 and MHD300. With Compatibility Mode, the TWX670 provides an alternate protocol compatible with other manufacturers' displays. Click here for more information. Sign up to be an Avidyne Insider. » See Avidyne technologies in action at booths D-069-070 and N-028 at Sun 'n Fun Talking Tiger with Kevin Lancaster back to top  Tiger Builder Upbeat True Flight Industries is continuing to develop plans to produce a modern incarnation of the Grumman Tiger at a plant in Valdosta, Ga. President Kevin Lancaster says interest remains strong in the sporty four seater with the unique sliding canopy. "I get people saying to me all the time that they can't understand why the airplane hasn't stayed in production," Lancaster said. The next Tigers will come with glass cockpits and more power is being considered. Lancaster said he hopes to end the stop-and-go production of the aircraft with some innovative approaches to its revival. Lancaster's background will help with that. His specialty is taking underperforming companies and restoring them to profitability. He and his partners have revived numerous businesses in recent years, he said. "The most important thing is the product and if you have a good product you can sell it," he said. "The Tiger is a good product." Lancaster bought the assets from the former Tiger Aircraft Corp. which went out of business after its Taiwanese backers lost interest in the project. Don't see a video screen? Try disabling ad blockers and refreshing this page. If that doesn't work, click here to download the video directly. Avoiding Thunderstorms — Your life Can Depend On It! Few pilots are willing to fly through convective activity. Those who do soon discover why they're in the minority. Learn about effective ATC communications and the weather-radar equipment that can help you avoid convective activity — in a no-cost online safety course from the Air Safety Foundation. This knowledge will help you make sound decisions as a pilot-in-command. Take the no-cost Thunderstorms and ATC online course now. » Look for AOPA's Air Safety Foundation under the big yellow tent (booth SNF-008) at Sun 'n Fun While We Were at Sun 'n Fun ... back to top  Airline Woes Prove GA Worth Plenty of general aviation pilots here at Sun 'n Fun are doubtless very pleased to know they will be flying home when the show is over in their very own airplane -- instead of counting on airlines like American, which this week left more than a quarter million passengers stranded at airports across the country. And it's not over yet. The airline said it had "no choice" but to ground 300 MD-80 jets, almost half of its fleet, after FAA checks found that Airworthiness Directives that required a wiring inspection had not been completed. The incident, along with a similar one recently at Southwest, has been called a "wake-up" call for both the industry and the regulators, who are widely perceived as having a too-cozy relationship. "The airlines and FAA have spent too much time talking about how safe the system is without trying to ensure the continued safety," James Hall, former chairman of the NTSB, told Bloomberg News. "This is kind of a spanking, and that's certainly better than an accident." Several other airlines that fly the MD-80s or variants have also been affected, though less dramatically. Alaska Air, Midwest, and Delta airlines all cancelled some flights. Thursday evening, American had about half of its grounded aircraft back in service. Boeing Dreamliner Delayed Again Boeing announced on Tuesday that its 787 Dreamliner will be delivered 14 to 16 months late, but some industry analysts said that was good news, the Seattle Times reported -- it at least was a schedule they could believe. The original completion date had already has been pushed back twice. This week, the company added another six months, saying the airplane won't fly until October and will be delivered in the third quarter of 2009. Boeing also reduced its production goals, saying it will deliver just 25 of the airplanes next year, down from over 100 in earlier estimates. Some airlines that ordered the airplane have said they may seek compensation from Boeing for the delay. The company has accepted almost 900 orders, worth over $150 billion, for the airplane. Diamond DA40 A Fleet Favorite Airline Transport Professionals: Beijing PanAm, Empire Aviation, European-American Aviation, Galvin Flying Services, Middle Tennessee State University, Sabena Airline Training Academy, Utah Valley State College, Utah State University, and many more have all selected the G1000-equipped Diamond DA40. For value, efficiency, and safety, the Diamond Aircraft DA40 is the fleet favorite. Go online for information on all Diamond Aircraft. » Experience the Diamond Aircraft DA40 at booths MD-023B and MD-024C at Sun 'n Fun New on AVweb: SnF Coverage Continues Online back to top  Exclusive Video from Sun 'n Fun 2008: Vans RV-12 Light Sport Aircraft Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos Van's latest design, the RV-12, is a light sport aircraft already available as a partial kit and could be available as a complete aircraft soon. AVweb gets the inside scoop at Sun 'n Fun from Dick van Grunsven himself: Don't see a video screen? Try disabling ad blockers and refreshing this page. If that doesn't work, click here to download the video directly. This video brought to you by WxWorx XM WX Satellite Weather and Bose Corporation. (Video by AVweb's Glenn Pew and Kitplanes editor-in-chief Marc Cook.) AVweb's Blog Buzzing with Activity During Sun 'n Fun AVweb's only official blog is packed with off-the-cuff reviews, personal experiences, and fun diversions from our contributors on the ground at Sun 'n Fun. Look for new posts from our own Paul Bertorelli and Kitplanes magazine contributors Rick Lindstrom, Marc Cook, and Amy Laboda — all of whom are enjoying the sights, sounds, and gadgets at Lakeland. Read more. StickyCharts — Flight-Planning Charts — Makes a Great Wall Decoration, Too! Your favorite Sectional, Terminal, Flyway or USPlan charts printed on heavy-duty paper with adhesive backing. Dry-erase laminated from 3' x 4' to 4' x 9'. Sale prices. Makes a great gift. Order online at StickyCharts.com. AVweb Audio — Are You Listening? back to top  Dominican Republic to Sun 'n Fun Crowd: "Bring Your Plane and Come on Down!" (Recorded Live at Sun 'n Fun 2008) File Size 3.7 MB / Running Time 4:01 Podcast Index | How to Listen | Subscribe Via RSS The Dominican Republic is opening its doors to general aviation, and a large delegation of officials was at Sun 'n Fun to get the word out. AVweb's Russ Niles spoke to Secretary of State Jose Thomas Garcia. Click here to listen. (3.7 MB, 4:01) This podcast brought to you by Bose Corporation and WxWorx XM WX Satellite Weather. Delta Connection and Embry Riddle Team Up For Training (Recorded Live at Sun 'n Fun 2008) File Size 8.0 MB / Running Time 8:47 Podcast Index | How to Listen | Subscribe Via RSS Any pilot with designs on flying for a major airline will need a four-year degree — and to make that easier, Delta Connection and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University have joined in a program to give students who earn their ratings at the Delta Connection Academy 36 credit hours toward a degree. In this podcast from Sun 'n Fun, Delta's Doug Blissit explains the details. Click here to listen. (8.0 MB, 8:47) This podcast brought to you by Bose Corporation and WxWorx XM WX Satellite Weather. The AVweb Bookstore, The Most Complete Aviation Bookstore Anywhere Over 400 titles representing 52 publishers are in stock and ready for immediate delivery — as books, videos, or CDs. 100+ titles available instantly as fully searchable e-Book downloads. Whether you are a pilot, an A&P technician, or a kit airplane builder, if it's worth reading, it's available from the AVweb Bookstore. Click here to visit online. You're Still Wearing Sneakers, Right? back to top  AVweb's Sun 'n Fun 2008 Galleries: Out and About Between Assignments ... gallery ONE | gallery TWO | gallery THREE CLICK FOR LARGE IMAGES EACH IMAGE WILL OPEN IN A NEW WINDOW Airplane Rides in the D-25 Air Show Crowds Arrivals and Show Planes Taxiing to Parking D-25 Landing Courtney Godwin Gets an Autograph from Matt Chapman David Martin Chapman in Action Homebuilt Parking Diamond D-50 Chapman Greeting the Crowd Relentless Air Show Opens ... ... with the Skydivers! Quite a Trio! gallery ONE | gallery TWO | gallery THREE The Top Reporter on Our Crack Staff ... Is You! back to top  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. You're a part of our team ... often, the best part. Got Cylinders? Tell Us About Your Service History Our sister publication, Aviation Consumer, is conducting a survey on aircraft engine cylinder products. If you've done an overhaul during the past several years, the magazine's editors would like to hear from you on how the cylinders have performed. Just click on this link to take the survey. The results will appear in a future issue of Aviation Consumer. For subscription information, click here. Names Behind the News back to top  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 Contributing Editors Mary Grady Glenn Pew Features Editor Kevin Lane-Cummings Click here to send a letter to the editor. (Please let us know if your letter is not intended for publication.) Comments or questions about the news should be sent here. Have a product or service to advertise on AVweb? A question on marketing? Send it to AVweb's sales team. If you're having trouble reading this newsletter in its HTML-rich format (or if you'd prefer a lighter, simpler format for your PDA or handheld device), there's also a text-only version of AVwebFlash. For complete instructions on making the switch, click here. Aviate. Navigate. Communicate.