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April 23, 2009
By The AVweb Editorial Staff
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FIND THEM AT:
D-051
D-052
D-053 |
So, Have You Changed Your Mind About Who Makes the World's Best Headset?
We're sure meeting a lot of folks who have. And they tell us it's all about the comfort, sound quality, and the best ANR they've experienced. Add Bluetooth capability and the fact that the
Zulu comes with either battery or panel power, and we think you'll agree that no other headset gives you the complete Zulu package. To learn more,
go to
ZuluChangeYourMind.com. 
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Top News: Swift Fuel Changes the Game for Earth
Day |
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 Teledyne Continental, Hawker Beechcraft and Swift Fuels marked Earth Day Wednesday by announcing successful test flights of a Bonanza
fueled with the Swift Fuel cellulose-based biofuel that is being touted as a replacement for 100LL. The maker of the fuel claims
it can be made for half the cost of avgas and deliver more miles per gallon. Swift is confident the fuel will prove out. "We project that Swift Fuel will extend aircraft range through increased
efficiency and could cost up to 50 percent less per gallon than 100LL," said Swift spokesman Jon Ziulkowski, "This will be a big boost to piston aircraft operators and something we are proud to be
involved in." TCM and HBC seem to be encouraged.
Swift and TCM began talking last year and the flights are the culmination of those discussions. TCM has also been testing high octane motor fuels as an alternative to avgas. "This is another big
step in our sustainability initiative and technology leadership at HBC," said Ed Petkus, HBC vice president, Product Development and Engineering. "It is also something that will delight general
aviation pilots."
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FIND THEM AT:
Cessna Display
SNF-001
SNF-002 |
You Won't Need SVT to See Where No-Cost Fuel Can Take You, But We're Throwing It in Anyway
If you buy one of a limited number of 2008 Cessna 350 or Cessna 400 aircraft from existing inventory, Cessna will supply you with $25,000 in fuel at no cost to you and upgrade your
state-of-the-art Garmin G1000 integrated flight deck with new Synthetic Vision Technology. Supply of eligible aircraft is limited, so act fast and
contact your
Cessna representative today. 
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 This week's Sun 'n Fun show overlaps Earth Day, and the fact has not been lost on the aviation community. Tuesday night, the Lindbergh Foundation debuted a new documentary film by Miles O'Brien, formerly of CNN,
who accompanied Patty Wagstaff to Kenya to report on her work training pilots for the Kenya Wildlife Service. On Wednesday, foundation director Knox Bridges said he expects that support for that
project will be ongoing for the foreseeable future. "It's such a good fit for our mission," he said. John and Martha King, who are supporters of the Lindbergh Foundation, introduced a new program
called "Aviation Green," which encourages pilots to contribute 8 cents for every gallon of fuel they burn to support the foundation's projects. The idea is to provide an alternative to "carbon offset"
programs, contributing instead to support the foundation's work to preserve the natural environment through the smart use of technology. "We want to provide an opportunity to do something positive for
the environment," John King said. "We need to promote 'comfortable environmentalism.' Asking people to give things up is not effective."
The Kings also announced the foundation's grant winners for this year, which included projects to improve wastewater treatment in developing countries, to research the impact of wind turbines on
birds, and to investigate the impact of genetically modified crops on soils. One aviation project was funded, the Electraflyer electric
airplane project by Randall Fishman. Fishman has built a single-seat airplane, a modified motorglider, that runs on batteries, emissions-free. He is now working on a two-seat version that will be
marketed in a kit version. Each grant is for $10,580, the amount that Lindbergh spent to build the Spirit of St. Louis.
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FIND THEM AT:
D-028
D-029
D-030
D-031
D-032
D-033 |
Gulf Coast Avionics — Your One-Stop Shop for Avionics, Instruments and Pilot Supplies
See us at Sun 'n Fun booths #D28-33! Take advantage of show-special rebates and pricing from major manufacturers like JPI, ICOM, and others. Stop by our booth daily for great deals on great
products, and be sure to ask about instant savings on specially marked products. See our interactive showroom conveniently located on Lakeland Linder Airport or shop our comprehensive e-commerce site
at
GCA.aero. 
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Sporty's Picking Up Where Young Eagles Leaves
Off? |
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 From now on kids who take a Young Eagles flight will leave the airport with more than a cherished memory.
Sporty's Pilot Shop has teamed up with EAA to ensure that all of the approximately 100,000 youth who take a Young Eagles flight with an EAA volunteer pilot get a logbook and access to Sporty's online
training program. Sporty's President Hal Shevers said the program grew out of his desire to "move Young Eagles from the right seat to the left seat" with a tangible foundation for future training.
"How many parents know their child may take flying lessons at any age? " Shevers said. "And how many parents understand the lifetime opportunities that open up for their children through a passion for
flight?" he asked.
EAA President Tom Poberezny said it's another inducement for young people to turn their Young Eagles experiences into a potential lifelong interest or even career. "This solid instructional
program, combined with the encouragement and mentoring that these young people will receive from the EAA community, will give Young Eagles a boost in fulfilling their aviation dreams," Poberezny
said.
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FIND THEM AT:
Bose Pavilion
SNF-009 |
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 eighth consecutive year in Professional Pilot's 2008 Headset
Preference Survey. Purchase by May 2, 2009 and also receive a complimentary Bose premium flight bag ($80 value).
Learn more and
order. 
Quote reprinted with permission:
Professional Pilot, 2007 Headset Preference Survey, 12/08.
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 Rick Schrameck, CEO of Epic Aircraft, launched back-to-back news
conferences this week -- one on Tuesday and another on Wednesday -- to show off a handful of new designs available to the experimental market. On Tuesday, he unveiled a scale model of a twin-engine
turboprop named Elegance that he called a "next-generation King Air," which can be built in several different versions with seating for 8 to 11. Prices range from about $2 million up to about $5.5
million for a fully certified factory-built airplane. He said he is also working on a five-passenger twinjet that will fly later this year, which will sell for about $1.9 million in the experimental
version, or about $2.3 million certified. On Wednesday, he brought out two more models, which he said were his original designs when he launched the company back in the summer of 2000. Now he is
bringing them out with new options. The single-engine Focus is available in four versions, from a Rotax-powered LSA to a two-seat turboprop with cruise speeds above 400 knots. The five-seat Polar
airplane is available with turbine or piston power.
Schrameck also said the company is working with the FAA to certify its Escape and LT single-engine turboprops, but they are taking it slow to keep costs under control. As for all the other models,
he said he plans to move some of them along to certification as well, but will let the market decide which ones will take priority. Epic over the last few years had flirted with Canadian and Russian
certification for its composite aircraft, but now is moving forward with the FAA. The company had announced a partnership with Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya about a year and a half ago, but
Schrameck said this week that deal is on hold.
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FIND THEM AT:
C-092
C-093
C-094
C-095 |
AV8OR™ Handheld
The AV8OR Handheld is the portable and affordable MFD built specifically for pilots, by a company that knows pilots. With navigation routing, planning, and weather information for the aircraft
and the automobile, the AV8OR Handheld uses aviation software and symbology you understand. Its 4.3-inch touch screen is larger and easier to read than competing GPS systems, with an intuitive
interface derived from the pilot-friendly, panel-mounted Bendix/King multi-function display systems. For more information,
visit
BendixKing.com/AV8OR. 
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The real estate market is tough everywhere but while airpark sales are feeling the crunch, lots are still selling in projects like Big South Fork Airpark in Tennessee. In a podcast interview with AVweb, Bill Armstrong, one of the partners in the project, says sales have dropped but the developers are convinced that
luxury "second home" developments will rebound with the rest of the economy. In the meantime, they're offering unprecedented deals to attract customers and increase the curb appeal of their project.
For instance, a "show special" at Sun 'n Fun includes a free T-hangar at the well-equipped airport that forms the eastern boundary of the development.
The airpark boasts a 5,500-foot runway with a GPS approach. There's an FBO on the field and both avgas and jet fuel are available. Armstrong said the field is home to everything from a Velocity to
a King Air and will easily handle business jets. In addition to the aviation amenities, the airpark has equestrian facilities and riding trails throughout. Some of the lots are on a taxiway to the
runway and the rest of the one- to three-acre properties are accessibly by roads in the rolling property.
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FIND THEM AT:
B-004
B-005
B-006
B-007
B-008
B-009 |
Aircraft Spruce Exclusive Sun 'n Fun Show Special:
10% off H3R Aviation Halon Fire Extinguishers, April 21-26
According to a recent Aviation Consumer magazine article, "A portable Halon extinguisher is the way to go, and products from H3R Aviation lead the market." Aircraft Spruce offers the
largest selection of H3R Aviation Halon fire extinguishers, from a 14-oz. flight bag accessory to a 150-lb. wheeled unit for the flight line. All are in stock and ready to ship at Aircraft
Spruce. Call 1 (877) 4-SPRUCE or
visit
AircraftSpruce.com. 
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| Click for more photos |
Tuesday was the first day the show was officially open to the public, and we sent staff photographer Mariano Rosales off to check our the Sport Plane area.
Click here to view photos.
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| Click for more photos |
With the sun high in the sky and very few clouds in sight, staff photographer Mariano Rosales made his way over to "Paradise City" to check out the ultralights.
Click here to view photos.
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FIND THEM AT:
C-024
C-025
C-026
N-036 |
Having XM WX Satellite Weather On-Board Is Not a Luxury — it is a necessity, and when it comes to getting the most accurate and reliable weather information
onboard, more pilots trust XM WX Satellite Weather than any other satellite-delivered weather service. Come see the latest from XM WX Satellite Weather at booth #C-024 during Sun 'n Fun
2009, or visit us online at
XMWXweather.com/aviation. 
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FIND THEM AT:
C-071 |
Avidyne Introduces Release 9 of the Entegra Integrated Flight Deck
Avidyne's Entegra Release 9 Integrated Flight Deck System represents the next generation of integrated flight deck systems for light general aviation. The Entegra Release 9 retrofit for
Cirrus SR20 & SR22 includes dual XGA high-resolution IFD5000 displays, dual-redundant FMS900w systems with a QWERTY-style control/display unit, next-generation fully-digital VHF radios, and dual
WAAS/RNP-capable GPS receivers. Find out more about The Best Flight Deck in Aviation at
Release9.com. 
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FIND THEM AT:
MD-035-A |
3 Airplanes ... 3 Levels ... 1 Edition ... Ice
New for 2009, Cirrus Aircraft shakes the lineup with a new way to spec out your new Cirrus. SR20, SR22, and Turbo models are now available in three
well-equipped trim levels - "S," "GS," and "GTS"; Known Ice Protection is ready to go on SR22 and Turbo models; or choose an all-new premium interior and
exterior upgrade package dubbed "X-Edition."
Visit
CirrusAircraft.com for details. 
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Nominate an FBO
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Rules
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Tips
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Questions
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Winning FBOs
AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to the FBO at Mexico Memorial Airport in Mexico, Missouri (KMYJ).
AVweb reader Jim Smith told us how the staff at KMYJ don't take trouble lying down:
I stopped at the Mexico Missouri FBO to visit Zenith aircraft next door. I inadvertently left my master switch on during my stay and, of course, had a dead battery when I returned. The FBO manager
stopped what he was doing to help me. He first brought out a battery on a two-wheel hand cart, but the batteries wouldn't turn over my C182. He then attempted a hand prop, but the compression was
too much. A few calls, and he found a 24 charger. He brought the charger and some tools. He took off the plate and literally climbed inside to place the battery clips. After about 10 minutes, the
airplane started. He then re-installed the plate and sent me on my way. Jay (employed by the city of Mexico) would not take any money and was genuinely glad to help. Very rare service indeed in
these modern times. KMYJ has become a must-stop for me in the future, if only to support a real aviation server.
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!
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The Top Reporter on Our Crack Staff ... Is
You! |
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 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.
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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
Webmaster
Scott Simmons
Contributors
Jeff van West
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