Lightspeed Invites You to
Celebrate Aviation
... at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2009 (July 27 - August 2, Oshkosh, WI).
Come visit our tent outside Hanger B for demos, t-shirts, show specials,
free refreshments, video presentations, and more.
Click here to visit Lightspeed
online.
AIRPLANE
LAUNCHES ON FUEL-CELL POWER This Tuesday, the Antares DLR-H2
took off at Hamburg Airport in Germany using only power from fuel cells,
a feat that its builders say is a first for a piloted aircraft. The
motorglider, built by the German Aerospace Center, flies with zero
carbon-dioxide emissions and is much quieter than similar aircraft.
"This motorglider achieves new quality standards in the field of
high-efficiency, zero-emission energy conversion and clearly
demonstrates the progress that has been made in fuel-cell technology,"
the Aerospace Center said in a news release. The DLR-H2 is based on the
Antares 20E motorglider, and has a wingspan of 66 feet. With its
fuel-cell propulsion system, the aircraft can stay aloft for five hours
and reach speeds of about 105 mph. "With our successful first flight, we
have verified the feasibility of fuel-cell-powered flight and our next
steps will focus on improving efficiency levels and on extending the
service life of these systems," said Dr. Josef Kallo, Antares project
manager from the DLR Institute for Technical Thermodynamics. "At this
stage, we have only tapped into a fraction of the performance
capabilities of this technology for aerospace applications. The Antares
DLR-H2 will help us to make much greater use of these areas of
potential." More...
TCM'S
0200 LIGHTWEIGHT ENGINE NOW OFFERED TO PISTON MARKET Teledyne
Continental Motors announced this week that its O200 lightweight engine
is now for sale to the piston aircraft market. The 199-pound engine,
which is up to 40 pounds lighter than some earlier versions, is fully
FAA-certified and comes with a factory warranty and 2,000 hours TBO, TCM
spokesman Mac Little told AVweb. The O200 is similar to the
engine that Cessna is using for the SkyCatcher, but it is now for sale
to the individual buyer, Little said. The engine comes complete with
starter, ignition, and fuel systems, at a list price of $21,499. Orders
are being taken now and deliveries will start next month, the company
said. More...
Wireless Tire Pressure
Monitor System Available Now at Aircraft Spruce Aircraft Spruce introduces a wireless tire
pressure/temperature LCD monitor (TPMS). With the flip of a
switch, this battery-operated handheld unit displays the actual tire
pressure and temperature. Small, removable electronic valve sensors
transmit pressure & temperature within 25-50 feet of the aircraft.
Pressure can be read as PSI, KPA, BAR, or KG/CM2. Temperature can be read in Centigrade or
Fahrenheit. The monitor also has an alarm setting for high or low
pressure. Call 1 (877) 4-SPRUCE or visit AircraftSpruce.com
visit AircraftSpruce.com.
LSA
UPDATE -- ALLEGRO MOVES TO OREGON; NEW ONLINE TOOL HELPS
SHOPPERS Times have been tough lately for the U.S. aircraft
biz, but a bright moment occurred this week when Allegro announced that its LSA, formerly built in
the Czech Republic, will now be manufactured in Roseburg, Ore. "We
believe in the Allegro and the USA Light Sport market and will continue
with our expansion," said Doug Hempstead, president of Allegro USA. The
new location will make it easier for U.S. customers to deal with
warranties, parts, delivery and financing, the company said. The move
was prompted by the strong Euro currency, which made the airplane too
expensive for U.S. buyers, the company said. Australian customers will
also benefit from the move, because their exchange rate in relation to
the U.S. dollar is more favorable than the euro. Shipments from the
Oregon factory are expected to begin by August. Meanwhile, pilots who
are considering an LSA purchase now have some help to sort through the
almost 100 models now available. LSA guru Dan Johnson has created an
easy-to-use online tool at his Web site that helps buyers find the right LSA by
choosing preferences in 24 categories, such as price range, STOL
capability, and metal or composite construction. More...
Aspen Makes Going
Glass More Affordable! Aspen Avionics offers the most affordable glass cockpit solution
on the market today. And until July 31,
2009, Aspen has made going glass more affordable with
the Grand Glass Rebate program, offering a $1,000 rebate for all
purchases of an EFD1000 Pro PFD. Come see Aspen at EAA AirVenture
in Hangar B, Booth 2126.
Act quickly to take advantage of this
limited-time promotion.
FOR
BACKCOUNTRY PILOTS, A NEW PLACE TO STAY Pilots who are ready
to get out and explore the western U.S. this summer will find a warm
welcome in Bozeman, Mont., thanks to the folks at the Recreational Aviation Foundation. Volunteers have
built a new pilot shelter on land donated by the Gallatin Field
Airport (KBZN), with bath and shower facilities, lots of green
grass, a barbecue pit, and tie-downs. Pilots are welcome to stop by for
a lunch break or to camp overnight. "It is a free facility and a
wonderful aviation amenity," John McKenna, of the RAF, told AVweb
this week. "The Bozeman airport would love to encourage out-of-the-area
pilots to use it. They just need to know it exists." The public airport
offers two paved runways plus a grass strip, and fuel is sold on the
field. Yellowstone National Park is nearby, and the area is a popular
fly-fishing, hiking, and outdoor recreation destinations. "I know when I have
traveled across the country, finding a place like this pilot facility
would be like finding a gem," said McKenna. More...
PILOTS
IN ITALY PROTEST AIRSPACE SHUTDOWN Aviators in the U.S. who
received forwarded e-mails from AOPA-Italy in the last few days
soliciting contributions may have thought it was a scam -- the e-mail
offered a bank account number for direct deposits, or suggested that
readers "please call Antonella from Tuesday to Friday... giving us your
credit card number." But although the e-mails may seem suspect, the
appeal is legitimate, AOPA-Italia President Massimo Levi told AVweb
on Tuesday. "Unfortunately, it is a very serious issue," Levi said in an
e-mail. AOPA-Italia sent the e-mails to its local membership, and then
they apparently were forwarded widely. Levi said a large chunk of the
country's airspace has been closed to VFR traffic because of a financial
dispute between Italy's aeronautics agency and its air force. The plea
to its membership brought in the $20,000 AOPA-Italia needed to go to
court against what Levi calls "an illegal administrative act." He wrote:
"Italian pilots gave us the money in less than a week ... and we are now
ready to fight!" More...
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EPIC
"SCALED BACK" Epic Aircraft says it's working with customers
and creditors to try to restore operations after economic issues forced
curtailment of activity at the company's Bend build center last week.
Company spokesman Mike Hooper told AVweb Tuesday that all but
about 15 staff have been furloughed but that customers are allowed
access to their partially completed aircraft. He said some work is being
done but not at the rate before the furlough. "It's been scaled
dramatically back," he said. Hooper said parts and service departments
are in operation to support the existing fleet. The furlough appears to
mainly affect the build center. "We have owner airplanes that are in
varying stages of completion," Hooper said. He also said he's hopeful
the problems can be resolved. "We have a plan afoot," he said.
"Everyone's working to make a solution." AVweb has also confirmed
that Epic is involved in at least two current legal
actions.
RESEARCH
PROJECT AIMS TO HELP PILOTS AVOID TURBULENCE A new system to
help guide pilots away from severe storms and turbulence in remote ocean
regions is being developed at the National Center for Atmospheric
Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colo., NASA said this week. NASA is funding the development
of a prototype that should be ready for testing next year. The system
combines satellite data and computer weather models with artificial
intelligence techniques to identify and predict rapidly evolving storms
and other potential areas of turbulence. "Turbulence is the leading
cause of injuries in commercial aviation," said John Haynes, program
manager at NASA headquarters, in Washington. "This new work to detect
the likelihood of turbulence associated with oceanic storms using key
space-based indicators is of crucial importance to pilots." Turbulence
has been cited widely as a possible factor in the recent loss
of Air France 447 in the Atlantic Ocean, but it is not yet clear
what role, if any, it played in that accident. More...
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Business Owners: AOPA
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AIRVENTURE
PREPARATIONS NOW IN FULL SWING With the July 4th holiday
behind us, and the Arlington
fly-in going on this weekend, the next big thing on the aviation
world's calendar is EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh ... coming up in just
about two and a half weeks. The Notam is
out, and pilots planning to fly in should be studying it soon to be
sure they're familiar with all the procedures. Last-minute preparations
are under way on site to be sure the grounds, now substantially
reconfigured, are ready for the onslaught (click here for the new maps). The airshow schedule has been announced, and as usual it
features the world's best performers. Kirby Chambliss and Mike Goulian
take a break from the Red Bull Air Races to fly their solo shows. Sean
Tucker, Patty Wagstaff, Kyle Franklin, Debby Rihn-Harvey, the Aeroshell
Team and many more unique and spectacular acts will perform. The LSA
folks will have a new site for their Mall, where the FlyMart used to be,
which should provide great visibility for visitors shopping for a new
airplane. Hundreds of other exhibitors will have their latest airplanes and
cutting-edge gear of all kinds on display. More...
ON
THE FLY ... FAA is reviewing AOPA's suggestion to lessen the
impact of the Cessna rudder AD... Bob Hoover and Wayne Handley share
their insights in a new "Close Calls" DVD... Bell's 429 light-twin
helicopter is now certified in U.S. and Canada... The Arlington
Fly-In is happening now in Washington State, through Sunday... The
FAA has proposed an AD that would affect Pilatus PC-6
turboprops... A Platinum Jet executive pled guilty to charges
stemming from a 2005 crash. More...
YES! Powered by
AirFleet
Aircraft financing available? Yes! Flexible financing
programs for new and used aircraft are still readily available, and
AirFleet Capital can fix today's low rate for up to 20 years. In
this buyer's market with big tax incentives and historically low
interest rates, now is a great time to buy and finance the
aircraft you've been waiting for! Please call (800) 390-4324 or
request a quote online at
AirFleetCapital.com.
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...
Become a Mooniac
Now
There has never been a better time to own the fastest single-engine
piston plane available. Mooney Airplane Company is offering
generous incentives, low interest rates, the best warranty in the
industry, and immediate delivery from current inventory. In addition,
you may qualify for significant tax advantages with 50% bonus
depreciation this year.
Click here for the top 10 reasons to buy
a Mooney now.
Plus: Last week, in the wake of
several VLJ announcements, we asked AVweb readers if there are
still too many of these "personal jets" vying for space in an
increasingly tough aviation market; click through to see how your fellow
readers answered. More...
Entegra Release 9 the Very
Best Flight Deck System in Aviation
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.
AVWEB
INSIDER BLOG: SOMETHING YOU SHOULD SEE We get a lot of news
releases, and Glenn Pew admits that when some press notes about a tiny
wing-flapping drone came across his desk, he didn't give it the time of
day. In the latest installment of the AVweb Insider blog, Glenn
explains why he's having second thoughts — and shares the details.
More...
AVWEB
INSIDER BLOG: GREENER AIRPLANES, BLUER SKIES In the latest
installment of our AVweb Insider blog, editor Mary Grady laments
that it can be tricky to be both an aviator and an environmentalist but
is thankful for new technologies (and new ways of thinking) that help
bridge the gap. When we talk about airplanes getting greener, notes
Mary, it's not just emissions that make the difference.
More...
eBooks &
eVideos
Most titles on the AVweb Bookstore (including Jeppesen,
McGraw-Hill, ICAO, and many others) are also available as electronic
downloads. Why not consider an eBook in Adobe .PDF format? Instant
delivery. No shipping costs. Fully searchable, bookmarked, and
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Click here to learn more, and download a
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EXCLUSIVE
VIDEO: ASPEN EFIS IN THE DIAMOND DA20 The DA20 is a terrific instrument and
basic trainer, and now it has the option of a glass panel with the Aspen
EFIS system. AVweb's Paul Bertorelli recently checked out the
system with test pilot Rob Johnson. More...
Peter Drucker Says, "The
Best Way to Predict the Future Is to Create It"
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Last week, the
Cessna Pilots Society held their annual fly-in at Spearfish, South
Dakota, bringing over 50 Cessnas to bear on today's "FBO of the Week,"
Eagle
Aviation.
We were flooded with comments from pilots who
attended the event, many of whom told the tale of an overwhelmed FBO
pulling off the near-impossible without breaking a sweat. Apparently the
FBO offered a special rate on fuel to attendees and were
johnny-on-the-spot when it came to assisting pilots with their
tie-downs, serving up tasty barbecue, keeping the facilities "spotless"
in spite of the crowds, and (according to one attendee) even resolving
some issues with a rental car company on pilots' behalf. Jeffrey
Chipetine writes, "A full ramp coupled with a full field of
airplanes didn't faze them in the least. ... No matter what we needed
(including such odd things as a PA system), Eagle came through for
us."
Congrats to Laurie, Ray, and all the rest of the crew who got
name-checked in this week's nominations. There's no doubt you guys
worked hard to earn a nod as AVweb's "FBO of the Week"!
No Cute Cartoons, No Fancy
Covers, IFR Magazine Brings You the Facts IFR magazine has insightful facts to polish your
proficiency, updates on changing regs, and articles that help keep your
decision-making skills sharp in the demanding IFR environment.
Order your subscription online for
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PICTURE
OF THE WEEK: AVWEB'S FLYING PHOTOGRAPHY SHOWCASE Push the office door
shut, turn off the overhead light, put the cell phone on vibrate,
or do whatever it is you do to make sure nothing interrupts you for two
or three minutes: The latest installment of "Picture of the Week" is
cleared for take-off! Leonard Duncil
of Titusville, Florida treats us to a jaw-dropping sight in this week's
top photo — the C-47 TiCo Belle retaking the skies "after a
long rebuild, in time for the July 4 celebration." More...
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 Mariano
Rosales
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