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This issue of AVweb's AVflash is brought to you by …
NEW OREGON AERO SEAT
PROVIDES SAFETY, COMFORT FOR RV-10 Oregon Aero has taken a giant
leap in seat comfort and safety with the introduction of its new "High-G
Safety Seat." The highly engineered seat provides maximum flexibility,
safety and pain-free flying and is installed in the prototype RV-10. The
seat remained intact during rigorous crashworthiness testing without any
damage to the seat frame, pan or cushion. Oregon Aero also provides seat
cushions as an option for all of Van’s RV-series aircraft. Visit
Oregon Aero at AirVenture Booth 3137, or check out all of Oregon
Aero’s products online at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/oregon |
The Top Headlines From AVweb's Expanded, Illustrated News Coverage At
AVweb's
NewsWire.
IT'S
AIRVENTURE!
The best of the best and the just plain bizarre will this week shed all
semblance of humility to usher in the next generation of aircraft,
avionics, and aviation hopefuls. There is perhaps no other event in the
aviation world so full of products and promise(s) for general aviation
as AirVenture Oshkosh. The market (that's you) will decide what stays
and what goes and AVweb plans to bring you -- the ultimate judge -- all
the facts, the flops and the fantasies.
Special Coverage Breakdown: Just for AirVenture, AVweb will be
offering...
- A Special
Preview, highlighting the great companies and products at
Oshkosh that ultimately bring AVflash to your inbox twice each week, 52
weeks per year, free
- A special Wednesday AVflash (replacing our normal midweek
coverage)
- A special Friday AVflash
- STREAMING
VIDEO coverage of major events and personalities at Oshkosh
brought you in conjunction with our AirVenture partner, www.airsidetv.com.
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TURBOWX –
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OSHKOSH
PREVIEW...
All the general aviation world is already streaming into EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, setting
up and getting ready for the official opening tomorrow morning. Cirrus Design is showing off its
new SRV, a VFR-only version of the company's SR20 model, priced at
$189,900. Cirrus is also announcing the conversion of its fleet to
all-glass cockpits, and a Centennial Edition of its SR22 will be
unveiled at the show. Beechcraft
also will display a Centennial Edition of its Bonanza. Mooney will debut its 50th Anniversary
Ovation 2DX, plus new paint schemes for all of its planes. Light jets
will be lacking as Cessna's new Citation Mustang will
make the rounds in mockup only and Eclipse is not expected
to have an actual airplane at the show either. More...
...NEW
CHOICES FOR HOMEBUILDERS...
While all the big manufacturers appear in force at AirVenture, the heart
of the show (and it seems the field from which all good things come) is
the experimental and kitplane fleet. New Glastar is showing off its
all-new aircraft, the "Sportsman 2+2," a
taildragger that can be converted to tricycle gear, floats, or skis. Two
optional rear jumpseats can accommodate pax up to five feet tall. Award
winning designer John Monnett, Jr.'s Sonex Ltd. will unveil two new
designs: the Xenos, a two-place, all-metal motor glider, and the Waiex,
which meets the known criteria for the FAA's yet-to-be-real Light Sport
Aircraft category. Glastar's Sportsman is being marketed as a kind
of aerial SUV, able to carry two pilots, full fuel, and 300 pounds of
outdoor gear. More...
...AS
WEAK ECONOMY GRINDS ALONG
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) reported on
Friday that 1,031 units (aircraft delivered) for the first half of
2003 represents a drop of 13.8 percent from the same period last year.
Shipments of single-engine piston airplanes actually were up 1.4 percent
over the same period last year -- from 663 to 672. Riding that trend, Mooney, whose plant was shut down just
a year ago, is now building aircraft at the rate of about five per
month, and last week the company said they expect to be at seven per
month by January. Tiger
Aircraft made an offer to pay $2.8 million to buy a controlling
interest in Commander
Aircraft's parent company, Aviation General, The Oklahoman reported
last week. More...
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TURNING UP THE POWER
FOR GENERAL AVIATION AT AIRVENTURE 2003 The technology that will
power general aviation aircraft through the skies for years to come is
showcased this week at AirVenture 2003 in the Teledyne Continental
Pavilion adjacent to Exhibit Hangar C. Teledyne Continental Motors, in
conjunction with Honda, have a brand new piston engine on display.
Aerosance has added more aircraft types to their STC list for the
PowerLink™ FADEC technology. Teledyne Mattituck Services has a
brand new engine for the experimental aircraft marketplace. And Gill
Battery has added STCs to its already long list of aircraft applications
for their Original Equipment Batteries. There's a lot happening at
Teledyne Continental Motors and this week you can see it all at
AirVenture 2003 in Oshkosh. http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/tcm |
THE
FUTURE IS NOW...
Negotiators from the U.S House and Senate got together on Friday and
came up with a final version of the four-year, $59 billion FAA
reauthorization bill that has GAMA
gushing. "The conference bill is extraordinarily positive," said
GAMA President Ed Bolen in a news release. The bill, known as the Century
of Aviation Reauthorization Act, authorizes significant funding for
the FAA, clarifies the FAA's management structure, establishes a $100
million fund to reimburse general aviation for losses resulting from the
September 11 attacks, calls for the return of GA ops to Ronald Reagan
Washington National Airport, and more, says GAMA. Next step is for the
full House and Senate to vote on the bill and send it to President Bush.
More...
...FROM
VORS TO GPS, FAA DELIVERS TRANSITION "ROADMAP".
The FAA on Friday released a
"roadmap" that it says will allow the development of air traffic
procedures pilots can use with onboard technology to navigate to any
point in the world using only geographic coordinates. "With its high
degree of precision, Required Navigation
Performance -- or RNP -- allows us to fly more planes, more closely
and more safely than ever before," Administrator Marion Blakey said in a news
release. RNP and RNAV airspace and procedures, coupled with
increasing aircraft fleet usage of GPS, will form the foundation for
moving toward a satellite-based air traffic management system in the
U.S. -- within two decades -- the agency said. More...
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GETTING THE MOST
OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT IN YOUR CLUB? TimeSync's ScheduleMaster
online aircraft scheduling service offers advanced features like standby
scheduling and notification of cancellations. ScheduleMaster helps your
club improve aircraft utilization and will make your members happy. Add
AccountMaster, an integrated billing system that works with Peachtree
and QuickBooks. OSHKOSH SPECIAL: One month FREE trial or free set-up.
For a FREE online demonstration go to http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/timesy |
GARMIN
TO ACQUIRE UPS AVIATION TECHNOLOGIES
Late last week, Garmin International
announced it will acquire UPS
Aviation Technologies (UPSAT), a subsidiary of United Parcel
Service, for $38 million in cash. Garmin spokesman Pete Brumbaugh said
the company could not yet release many of the details, but they will
discuss the deal at an AirVenture press conference. The deal seems to
give Garmin a strong hold on the soon-blooming certified WAAS-enabled
GPS market. The WAAS-enabled, STC-approved UPSAT
CNX-80 is now shipping, making GPS ILS approaches a reality and
opening up thousands of airports in IFR conditions. UPSAT, headquartered
in Salem, Ore., has been involved in the development of Automatic
Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) technology and WAAS navigation
systems. UPSAT will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Garmin
International and will change its name to Garmin AT Inc., when the deal
is finalized. More...
NEW
FAA CHIEF BLAKEY TO MEET THE GA CROWDS AT AIRVENTURE
FAA Administrator Marion Blakey, who took over the helm from Jane Garvey
last September, makes her first visit to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh this
week. Blakey
will appear at the perennial "Meet The Administrator" event on
Thursday morning. The open session includes an often-boisterous and
always-interesting question-and-answer period. Thursday evening, Blakey
will present the 2003 National General Aviation Awards to the Flight
Instructor, Maintenance Technician, Avionics Technician, and Aviation
Safety Counselor of the Year. On Friday, she will present
an airworthiness certificate to EAA for its 1903 Wright Flyer
reproduction, authorizing its commemorative flight this December at
Kitty Hawk. More...
RAYTHEON'S
SALES, DELIVERIES RISE
In its second-quarter report last week, Raytheon Co. said government and
defense sales are up 7 percent. Raytheon, headquartered in Lexington,
Mass., is the parent of Raytheon Aircraft Co., which builds Beechcraft
and Hawker piston planes and bizjets. Raytheon Aircraft delivered 26
piston aircraft in the quarter, compared to 20 in the same period last
year. The entire Beechcraft product line will be on display at EAA
AirVenture, starting tomorrow, including the Beechcraft Bonanza and
Baron, the King Air family -- the 350, B200 and C90B -- as well as the
Premier I, which is making its second appearance at Oshkosh.
More...
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EXCITING NEW
PRODUCTS FROM ASA! 2004 Pilot Test-Preps and Maintenance
Test-Guides are now available, and a NEW Commercial version of the
Virtual Test-Prep DVD Ground School Series joins the already popular
Private and Instrument courses. ASA offers a complete line of aviation
products for pilots and maintenance technicians from textbooks and
checkride essentials, to the Flight Timer and On Top PC simulator.
Don’t miss out, see ASA at AirVenture Booth 2076, or online at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/asadirect |
NASA:
SIGNIFICANT FUEL SAVINGS IN FORMATION FLIGHT
Trying to imitate birds that conserve energy by "surfing" on the wakes
of other birds in V-formation flight, NASA surfed an F/A-18 in the
wingtip vortex of a DC-8 late last month, and recorded
a 29-percent fuel savings. NASA said last week that the airplanes
flew at 25,000 feet with a separation of about 200 feet nose-to-tail. Earlier experiments with
two F/A-18s showed only an 18-percent fuel savings. While many bird
species have figured out that formation flight benefits them, NASA noted
that nowhere in nature do you find large and small birds cooperating to
achieve this apparently greater efficiency. Related information is
available on the NASA Dryden Web site. More...
KABLOOM,
KAPLUNK, KERSPLASH ... AND ON TO KETCHUM
A Cessna Citation 525 bizjet ditched last Tuesday
morning, just a few hundred feet from shore near the town of Coupeville,
Wash. "This was just a huge roar ...then I heard a big kabloom and big
kaplunk!" local resident Sue Koleada told KOMO TV. The pilot, James Ray,
80, and his companion, Helcia Graf, 73, and their yellow Labrador
retriever swam away from the jet and were picked up by nearby boaters.
Other than minor cuts and bruises, all were fine. Less than two hours
after the crash, the three headed home to Ketchum, Idaho, in a rental
car. The 525 was climbing out of Victoria, B.C., at FL330 when Ray
"stated a problem" with the jet and requested the closest field,
according to the FAA's preliminary report. A salvage crew will recover
the jet. More...
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FLIGHT TRAINING REBATE
FROM OMF Earn a new FAA rating, fly one of general aviation's
most exciting new aircraft and save money, all at the same time, with
OMF Aircraft's new Flight Training Rebate. OMF and its distributors are
offering a $2,000 rebate to anyone who purchases a Symphony 160 between
July 28 and August 15, 2003, and a new FAA rating in their Symphony 160
within two years. To learn more about OMF's flight training rebate, stop
by OMF's AirVenture outdoor display next to the entrance to Building D,
or call 1-866-OMF-1600, or visit http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/omf |
ON
THE FLY...
U.S. Hot Air Balloon
Championship under way in Anderson, S.C....
AOPA taking
nominations for CFI, technician, safety counselor awards...
USA Today's education site named NBAA's
AvKids.com a "Best Bet"...
Dayton's Inventing
Flight attracted 650,000 visitors, but lost money...
FAA's Hughes Technical Center will drop-test an ATR
42-300 Wednesday...
Castle Airport, Calif., will get funds from Military Airport Program.
SHORT
FINAL...
I was in the pattern at FXE one night and I heard an aircraft taxiing
out from Banyan Air Service tell the tower that he saw some debris on
the taxiway. As the aircraft got closer the pilot said it looked like a
pair of goggles on the taxiway. Discussion then ensued between the
aircraft, the tower and the security guard in a truck being vectored to
the location, about what type of goggles, Scuba, Snoopy type Flying
goggles, Foggles etc. Once it was established that they were flying
goggles or foggles the controller asked if any other debris was sighted
and the pilot said no but he would be on the lookout for any doghouse
parts or a beagle on the run.
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WHAT IS THE WEATHER
LIKE TODAY AT OSHKOSH? WSI, the Trusted Leader in Aviation
Weather, is publishing a free website of WSI aviation weather for the
region surrounding Oshkosh leading up to and during AirVenture 2003. The
site offers surface prognostics, satellite imagery and WSI's industry
leading NOWrad® Radar Summary. If you are attending AirVenture
visit WSI at Booth 3090-91 for up-to-the-minute weather conditions for
the show, or go online where the site will be available through the
event and for a short time thereafter at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/wsi |
_____________________________
AVweb's AVscoop Award...
Congratulations and an AVweb hat go out to Martin Myer, this
week's AVscoop winner. Submit news tips via email to
newstips@avweb.com.
Rules and information are at
http://www.avweb.com/contact/newstips.html.
_______________________________________
New Articles and Features on AVweb
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AIRMANSHIP
CRM From The Instructor's Viewpoint
Flight instructors are in a unique position to observe the habits of
pilots, especially CFIs who teach two-pilot crews in simulators. AVweb
presents a review of some common Cockpit Resource Management (CRM)
issues.
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COLUMNS
As the Beacon Turns #66: Artful FLYING -- A Journey of a Thousand
Miles
Flying can be beautiful, and pilots can be artists. Not just the
skywriting types -- but anyone who has a passion to be better, to pay
attention, and to seek out ways to be a true aviator without trying to
impress others. AVweb's Michael Maya Charles is on that journey.
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Sponsor News and Special Offers
FREE access to AVweb and AVflash is provided by the
support of our fine sponsors. We appreciate your patronage.
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SHOPPING DEALS PILOT INSURANCE CENTER
(PIC) WANTS YOU TO COMPARE AND SAVE! Compare and save on your
life insurance with PIC's exclusive rate plans designed for pilots. For
the month of July, call or visit PIC's website for a quote and they will
pick up the tab on a one-year subscription to Flying Magazine. There is
only one Pilot Insurance Center. A+ RATED CARRIERS. NO AVIATION
EXCLUSIONS. FAST SERVICE. Go by PIC's AirVenture Booth 2065-66, or call
1-800-380-8376, or browse http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/piclife
VISIT AEROMEDIX
AT OSHKOSH FOR BIG SAVINGS ON OUR GREAT PRODUCTS!! Aeromedix is
bringing their entire line-up of quality products to AirVenture this
year, and everything is discounted! Aeromedix will have the popular E-Ox
portable oxygen systems for less than $200, Nonin FlightStat pulse
oximeters at their lowest price ever, ReliefBand anti-nausea devices,
and the new 406 Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) from ACR Electronics,
all at special Oshkosh prices! Go see Aeromedix at Booth 3002/3003 and
take home everything you need for a great summer, or go online at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/aeromedi
AVIONICS WEST NOW
OFFERS HANDS-ON TRAINING ON THE NEW UPSAT GNX80 You'll be
setting behind a real CNX80 and MX20. Learn the product before you fly
it or attend Avionic West's class to see if the CNX80 is the product for
you. Garmin GNS 430/530 classes offered also. Sure, vendors at
AirVenture offer some great deals in avionics but we offer the same low
prices and you don't have to fight the crowds to reap the rewards.
Avionics West has the all new Lowrance AirMap 500 in stock and at an
introductory price. Also, find great prices on the Garmin GPSMAP 196 and
the accessories. For more too-low-to-advertise prices, call 805
934-9777, or send an email to pricing@avionicswest.com or
go online at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/avionics
TRACK IFR AIRCRAFT IN
REAL-TIME WITH AVWEB EDITION OF FLIGHT EXPLORER Whether you are
looking for a particular airborne aircraft, need a list of all flights
bound for your airport, or curious about how many aircraft are cruising
above FL400, the AVweb Edition of Flight Explorer gives you a real-time
picture of all IFR aircraft in-flight over the U.S. and Canada. This
informative service is just $9.95 a month at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/fe
FOR AVWEB SUBSCRIBERS
ONLY! SPECIAL SAVINGS ON FIRST FLIGHT GEAR! Shop for First
Flight Centennial apparel and collectibles online, by entering
promotional code "AVWEB" for a 10% discount on everything. While there
enter the Getaway of the Century sweepstakes. The lucky winner will be a
part of the Kitty Hawk activities on December 17. Other prizes include
commemorative watches and more. Order, enter the sweepstakes, and secure
VIP events seating at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/100g
UNLOCK
THE SECRETS OF YOUR AUTOPILOT It is acknowledged that the JFK,
Jr. crash may have been prevented had he received adequate training in
the use of his autopilot. ElectronicFlight Solutions will release the
CompleteLearning™ Autopilot Module for Bendix/King KAP 140, KFC 225
and S-TEC 55 at EAA Venture 2003. An autopilot can be your best friend
in single-pilot, high-workload situations, yet the FAA does not mandate
any form of autopilot training in order to earn a rating. The
Electronicflight CompleteLearning interactive autopilot training
software is an industry’s first. Order now and get the pre-Oshkosh
special pricing of $125 at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/efs/index_pilotshop.html
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REMINDERS
FREE U.S.
SHIPPING ON SUPERIOR QUALITY CHASE-DURER PILOT CHRONOGRAPHS!
Beautifully crafted chronograph watches in styles for both men
and women online at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/chasedur
FREE HEADSET WITH
ANY COMM 1 RADIO SIMULATOR PURCHASE! Fly confidently by training
with Comm1 audio INTERACTIVE CD-ROMs designed to teach pilots how to
communicate safely and professionally. Build skills and confidence on
the ground to saving money and aggravation. Comm1's new line of
INTERACTIVE navigation training CD-ROMs are perfect for visualizing
WHERE and WHAT the aircraft is doing. See all Comm1's programs at
AirVenture Booth 3095, or go online to order at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/comm1
HOWARD FRIED'S FINAL
"EYE OF EXPERIENCE" SERIES AT SPECIAL PRE-PUB PRICE You only
have two more weeks to take advantage of the pre-publication price of
$21.95, regular $24.95, on the last of the "Eye of Experience" series at
http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/fried
FREE AUTOGRAPHED KLYDE
MORRIS POSTER WITH ANY PURCHASE of Klyde Morris apparel and
other kool stuff. See Klyde and all his kool stuff at AirVenture Booth
802, or go online at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/kms
BE A PILOT &
JEPPESEN TEAM UP TO OFFER PROSPECTIVE PILOTS FREE LOGBOOKS The
Be A Pilot program offers prospective pilots an introductory flight
lesson for $49. With support from Jeppesen, a long-time leader in
training supplies, when a participant redeems the Be A Pilot flight
lesson certificate they will receive a FREE logbook. Introduce someone
to flying at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/beapilot
PHOTON MICROLIGHTS
OFFERS SUMMER SPECIAL! SAVE $5.00Photon Microlights come in
various colors and are the smallest—but brightest—lights for
pilots and sportsmen...women too! On all orders of $30 or more save $5.
Order a red one for the airplane and a white one for reading small
print. The Microlight Knife makes a perfect gift. All at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/photon
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SPONSOR NEWS
WITHOUT TWO
WORKING MAGNETOS, YOUR FLIGHT IS LIKELY TO BE TOAST! Yet mags
aren't often inspected correctly-or at all. Find out about the proper
way to do magneto inspections in the upcoming August issue of LIGHT
PLANE MAINTENANCE. The advice offered could be a lifesaver. Get your
subscription at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/belvoir/lpm
SUPPORT
THOSE WHO BRING YOU FREE AVFLASHES! Stop by and tell AVweb
sponsors how much you appreciate their support of your FREE AVflash
issues. AVweb will be in AirVenture booth 4144-45. For a list you can
print out and take with you go to http://www.avweb.com/shopping/sponsors.html
_____________________________________
We Welcome Your Feedback!
AVflash is a twice-weekly summary of the latest aviation news,
articles, products, features and events featured on AVweb, the
Internet's Aviation Magazine and News Service.
http://www.avweb.com
Letters to the editor intended for publication in AVmail should be
sent to mailto:editor@avweb.com.com.
Have a comment or question? Send
it to mailto:newsteam@avweb.com.
Today's issue written by News Writer Mary Grady:
http://www.avweb.com/contact/authors.html#mgrady
AVweb's editorial team: http://avweb.com/contact/authors.html.
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