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November 7, 2009
By The AVweb Editorial Staff
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Bill Fanning, Co-Founder of the Pilot Insurance Center, Says the Zulu Is Quieter, More Comfortable and Has Better Sound Quality Than Any Other Headset He's Ever
Tried.
When asked for a recommendation, his answer is always "Zulu." Come by booth 831 at the AOPA Summit and learn more about why Zulu is changing the minds of pilots
everywhere. Or
go to
Lightspeed's web site
and read the stories we're receiving daily from pilots all over the world.
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Many aviation advocacy groups share a goal to work toward diversifying the pilot population, and in an effort to encourage more women to consider aviation careers, Women in Aviation International
teamed up with AOPA this week to create a Women's Wing for the Aviation Summit in Tampa. "We offered seminars and mini-forums about careers, about following your passion, and exploring why would a
person want to learn to fly," said Amy Laboda, editor in chief of WAI's Aviation for Women magazine. The group also hosted a breakfast for women pilots and book signings with aerobatic pilot
Patty Wagstaff and Susan Butler, author of East to the Dawn, one of the books that inspired the new Amelia Earhart movie. A Frasca Piper Warrior simulator and a flight instructor were stationed
in the Wing to offer a chance to any women who wanted to give it a try. The space also provided a meeting place for women to meet other women in aviation, or to ask questions about careers and flight
training.
The aim was to get connected, get inspired, and get informed. "We had a lot of fun," said Laboda. "It's all about the camaraderie." AOPA also sponsored a forum on women leaders in aviation on
Friday afternoon, featuring WAI President Peggy Chabrian; Martha King of King Schools; Jessica Cox, an inspirational speaker and the first person without arms to earn a sport pilot certificate; Arylnn
McMahon, 2009 National CFI of the Year; airline captain and aerobatic flyer Debby Rihn-Harvey, and Melissa Rudinger, AOPA vice president.
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As Vital As Vision
XM WX Satellite Weather provides comprehensive in-flight weather data directly to your cockpit. Never fly blind again when you sign up today for one of XM Weather's Aviator LT, Aviator, or
Aviator Pro weather data packages. Enhance your situational awareness with data products like Radar, Lightning, Winds, and more. Come see the latest from XM WX Satellite Weather at Booth #731
during the AOPA Summit or
visit us online at
XMWXweather.com/aviation. 
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The SR-71 Blackbird was one of the most distinctive and powerful aircraft ever built, and one of the select group of pilots who flew it visited AOPA Summit in Tampa this week to tell the story of
the airplane and its place in history. Brian Shul, a retired Air Force pilot, has written a book about his experiences with the airplane, and
came to Tampa to talk about it. "It was a fantastic airplane," he said, between talking to visitors who stopped by his booth to view the special-edition book, illustrated with unique photos from
Shul's personal collection, on sale for about $400. The Blackbird was a wonderful airplane to fly, he said. "It would always give you more speed when you needed it," he said. It was purely a spy
plane, with no weapons on board. The pilot's defense was speed and altitude. The fastest he ever flew in the jet was over Mach 3, Shul said, once when he was being shot at. The SR-71 could cruise at
85,000 to 90,000 feet. Its entire crew was one pilot and a navigator in the back, both encased in astronaut-style spacesuits.
The Limited Edition book includes a presentation box, a numbered certificate, and the signatures of four prominent Blackbird crew members, including the author. A portion of the proceeds from
sales of the book goes to military family assistance programs. Shul gave a talk about his experiences on Friday afternoon. He also sat down with AOPA Pilot senior editor Dave Hirschman for a chat,
which is archived online at the AOPA site.
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Ultra Electronics — Flightline Systems
Proud sponsor of AVweb AOPA coverage and makers of the AuRACLE engine management system — the premier engine monitoring system certified as primary for over 350 model aircraft. Come see
us at booth #603, where you can learn about the right AuRACLE for your aircraft and the exciting twin-engine CRM2120, which will be available in early 2010!
Click here for more
details. 
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Everyone can participate in this week's AOPA Summit in Tampa via the Internet, with a slew of new online features being tried out for the first time. Folks with interests in common can meet up via
AOPALive.org, or use the meet-up function to connect with live people at the show. David Allen, webmaster for mytransponder.com, a
social media site for pilots and aviation enthusiasts, is working with AOPA to help engage the pilot community. "We've had such a great time, and we're learning stuff," he said on Friday morning.
Several people stopped by to meet up with Walter Fricke, who later in the day would be accepting AOPA's Laurence P. Sharples Perpetual Award for his work providing GA transportation for wounded
veterans. "AOPA is trying to bring the show to the virtual audience, and to bring that audience to the show," Allen said.
Saturday's meetups will include sessions on how to make aviation more social, online weather, a discussion for student pilots, and a chance to talk with members of the Flying Physicians
Association. From its main stage, the Summit will be streaming video of a Town Hall session with AOPA President Craig Fuller, a session on medical certification, and more. The online features are open
to all, not just AOPA members.
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Fly with the Acclaimed Aviation Headset X®
Enjoy an unmatched combination of full-spectrum noise reduction, clearer audio, and comfortable fit with the Bose® Aviation Headset X. Voted the #1
headset for the eighth consecutive year in Professional Pilot's 2008 Headset Preference Survey. Purchase by December 31, 2009 and receive a complimentary pair of
Bose in-ear headphones ($99 value).
Learn more and
order. 
Quote reprinted with permission:
Professional Pilot, 2008 Headset Preference Survey, 12/08.
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"This is what every pilot is dreaming of, when they go to the airport to learn to fly," said John McKenna, as he watched one slide after another of beautiful wilderness views scroll by on the wall
of his group's new display at AOPA Aviation Summit in Tampa this week. McKenna is one the pilots who helped to launch a new nonprofit group, the Recreational Aviation Foundation, to protect access to backcountry landing strips on public lands. This is their first
appearance at the AOPA show, and they went all out, with the constant flow of alluring photos, a tent, and a mock campfire set up under some virtual trees to get visitors thinking about just how much
they always wanted to get out and explore. The setting reflects the origins of the group, which began with a bunch of pilots sitting around a campfire, and wondering who was going to protect their
backcountry access. "And we realized, if it's not us, who's it going to be?" said McKenna. "And if not now, when?" Already the group has a number of successes under its belt, including an agreement
to maintain three public-access landing strips in Death Valley that were in danger of being shut down by the National Park Service, and the construction of a new strip on national forest land in
Montana. And the group has some new ideas in the works, too.
"Now we're working to raise private money to buy private land and build backcountry strips for public use," McKenna said. Already the group has received a donation of land, 152 acres from Ben and
Agnes Ryan, near Glacier National Park, complete with a landing strip already in place.
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AV8OR ACE™
The new AV8OR ACE from Bendix/King by Honeywell is the latest in paperless, full Electronic Flight Bag solutions — a highly affordable, portable system for the cockpit. Its
compact, lightweight design includes airborne navigation, all FAA charts, airport diagrams, weather, traffic, automotive, and multimedia capabilities. With its geo-referenced charts and large,
easy-to-use touchscreen, the AV8OR ACE lets you clearly read your charts as you stay on course. For more information,
go online. 
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File Size 4.0 MB / Running Time 4:21
Podcast Index
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How to Listen
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Subscribe Via RSS
The credit market is still tight, but those who want to buy an airplane and have the financial credentials to match should have no trouble. AVweb's Paul Bertorelli talks with Jim
Blessing of AirFleet Capital.
This podcast is brought to you by Bose
Corporation and WxWorx XM WX
Satellite Weather.
Click here to listen. (4.0 MB, 4:21)
File Size 5.6 MB / Running Time 6:05
Podcast Index
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How to Listen
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Subscribe Via RSS
There's still a big gap between the number of male and female pilots, but Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University makes sure all students are welcome and given every opportunity for success.
AVweb's Mary Grady speaks with Susan Sharp, ERAU's program coordinator for aeronautical science and advisor for the campus chapter of Women in Aviation.
This podcast is brought to you by Lightspeed
Aviation and Ultra
Electronics.
Click here to listen. (5.6 MB, 6:05)
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Business Aviation Will Help Companies Not Only Survive
But Prosper During the Current Financial Crisis
To be your most productive, and your most efficient, you must keep flying. Because in so doing, you will emerge from these times even stronger than before. And you will replace the uncertainty that
surrounds many, with the confidence and courage to light the way for all.
Visit
CessnaRise.com. 
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Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb
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Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos
So what if new aircraft sales are in the tank? You can still fix up an older airframe to near new standards. Two companies at AOPA Summit were offering such upgrades, and a third,
Premier Aircraft, is offering a premium upgrade to new Diamond DA40s that can include air conditioning, plus a second alternator and comfy upgraded leather seats. Nexair Avionics saw an opportunity
in Avidyne's sophisticated Release 9 EFIS and is selling legacy Saratogas with this big glass upgrade. Sierra Industries is taking a similar tack, but they're using Garmin's G500 in their Super
Centurion upgrade. This video offers a quick glimpse at products from all three companies.
This video is brought to you by Lightspeed
Aviation and Ultra
Electronics.
Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb
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Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos
In this video, veteran Reno Racer Thom Richard tells what it's like to wail around the pylons at Reno in a Formula 1 race aircraft. It's powered by a 100hp O-200, but Invictus
— which was on display at AOPA Summit in Tampa this week — is still capable of nearly 250 MPH. It's hot, high-G work, but it's also six minutes of one of the biggest shots of adrenaline in
aviation.
This video is brought to you by WxWorx XM WX
Satellite Weather and Bose
Corporation
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Get Rewarded for Flying Safe
If you've been flying the same airplane without incident for 12 months or more, then insure with Avemco® and receive 10% claim-free credits the first year
and 15% the second! To receive a no-cost quote, call us at (888) 241-7891 or
visit us
online. 
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Submit a Photo
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Rules
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Tips
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Questions
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Past Winners
Each week, we go through dozens (and sometimes hundreds) of reader-submitted photos and pick the very best to share with you on Thursday mornings. The top photos are featured on
AVweb's home page, and one photo that stands above the others is awarded an AVweb baseball cap as our "Picture of the Week." Want to see your photo on
AVweb.com? Click here to submit it to our weekly contest.
*** THIS WEEK'S WINNERS ***
The AOPA Summit has been keeping us busy this week, so we're only just now finishing up our weekly survey of the "POTW" submission box. While submissions dropped off a tad this week
(back to the normal volume we'd expect for this time of year), the quality hasn't taken any sort of dip at all.
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copyright © Josh Cawthra
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Waiting ...
Josh Cawthra of Seattle, Washington recently spent some time on assignment in Anchorage. A man after our own heart, Josh spent his days off
scouting Lake Hood and other natural wonders for photo opportunities — and came across this Cessna "enjoying the lovely fall morning" in a secluded spot on the lake.
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"One Day He'll Understand How Cool This Really Is ..."
Rob Gontarek of Plano, Texas took his four-year-old son up in the ever-photogenic Aluminum Overcast at Oshkosh and snapped this incredible
photo. It's a priceless view that any of us would enjoy, and (as Rob so knowingly put it) "one day he'll understand how cool this really is."
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copyright © Rebecca Wells
Used with permission |
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Check Ride Time
Rebecca Wells of Locust Grove writes, "I turned around from taking a study break to find my cat Boston intently viewing the CRJ200 poster." Why do
we have a sneaking suspicion that Boston will be in ground school pretty soon ... ?
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copyright © R. Blake Mathis
Used with permission |
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Practice Makes Perfect
Blake Mathis of Madison, Alabama satisfies our appetite for aerobatics with a shot snapped while "out for a day of fun and games with a Citabria and
Super Decathlon."
All in a day's work, eh, Blake? (One of these days we're going to trick you guys into entering some kind of "trade places with the AVweb staff" contest, and you can sit here
looking at pictures all day while we go out and have cool adventures with a camera!)
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copyright © Brett J. Grooms
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Frozen in Time
Brett Grooms of Goose Creek, South Carolina caps off this week's edition of "POTW" with a burst of adrenaline that should keep us all on the edges
of our seats until next week.
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Want more? You'll find bonus pictures at the slideshow on AVweb's home page. Head over there and have a look.
Click here to submit your own photos to "POTW."
—
A quick note for submitters: If you've got several photos that you feel are "POTW" material, your best bet is to submit them one-a-week! That gives your photos a greater chance of
seeing print on AVweb, and it makes the selection process a little easier on us, too. ;)
A Reminder About Copyrights:
Please take a moment to consider the source of your image before submitting to our "Picture of the Week" contest. If you did not take the photo yourself, ask yourself if you are indeed authorized to
release publication rights to AVweb. If you're uncertain, consult the POTW Rules or or send us an e-mail.
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Garmin Glass for the Diamond DA20!
Diamond Aircraft is celebrating the introduction of the lowest cost certified glass cockpit airplane with a time-limited spectacular introductory offer. Every purchaser of a new DA20
equipped with Garmin G500 will receive a no-charge avionics upgrade and free SVT (Synthetic Vision Technology), a $9,685 value!*
Visit
DiamondAircraft.com
or call (888) 359-3220.
* Some terms and conditions apply.
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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.
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