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| AVflash! Impact Photos from Tuesday Crash | back to top |  |
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Moment-Of-Impact Photos Of Roush Crash
California photographer Brian Flanagan captured images of the last seconds of Jack Roush's Beechcraft Premier 1 as it dipped a wing and then pancaked on an infield area of Wittman Regional Airport Tuesday evening. The sequence shows the aircraft in a relatively steep bank over the runway before it hits hard, collapsing the gear as onlookers flee to safety. Meanwhile Roush, 68, has undergone surgery at a local hospital and is now in the Mayo Clinic for more treatment and recovery. At last report his condition was listed as serious but stable. The status of his passenger, Brenda Strickland, 61, hasn't been discussed in detail but her injuries were initially thought to be less severe than Roush's.
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| Electric Power Steals the Show at Oshkosh | back to top | |
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Rutan Dreams Of Electric Flight
Burt Rutan, in one of the seven talks he will be giving during EAA AirVenture this week, addressed the World Electric Symposium at the EAA museum on Friday, and said the "most impressive thing I have ever seen anywhere in aerospace" was a remotely controlled, dynamically soaring glider that he watched fly from the top of a mountain. He went on to talk about the electric aviation advances he would most like to see. First would be a self-launching sailplane. He also described an electric backup propulsion system that would consist of two pods that could be snapped on to the wings of an airplane and provide just enough power for an approach or a go-around, in the event the main engine fails. It could also boost power for high-density-altitude takeoffs. Such a device could save a lot of lives, Rutan said. But he added that the prospect he is most excited about is an idea inspired by remote-control model aircraft.
"I've been coming here since 1971, and the airshow hasn't changed that much," he said. "But go watch these guys who are flying RC 3-D maneuvers." Rutan referred several times to YouTube videos that show RC aircraft doing amazing things, such as flying onto a wall and sticking there, or diving straight toward the ground and stopping abruptly. He said he'd like to see an aerobatic aircraft with four propellers, which would give the pilot full control even at zero airspeed. Rutan said he'd also like to see indoor pylon racing with unpowered RC aircraft. "That's a new sport that I just invented, and I've challenged the guys at Scaled to do it," he said. The ultimate aim of his talk, he said, was "to inspire you to try new stuff."
Bye Energy, Cessna Team On Electric 172
Cessna is teaming up with George Bye of Bye Energy to design a proof-of-concept electric-powered 172, Cessna said this week at EAA AirVenture. "As we look at the landscape of alternative fuels for general aviation aircraft, the electric powerplant offers significant benefits, but there are significant challenges to get there," said Cessna CEO Jack Pelton. "We believe Bye Energy has gotten off to a good start in understanding those challenges and how to overcome them." Cessna said it expects to fly the electric Skyhawk by the end of this year, but Bye told AVweb he was shooting for the first quarter of next year.
Bye also said the first generation of the alternative 172 will have an auxiliary power unit powered by jet fuel to provide a four-hour range. Cessna has delivered more than 43,000 172s, more than any other general aviation aircraft.
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First Lindbergh Electric Aircraft Prizes Awarded
The efforts of Yuneec, Sonex and Lange Aviation were recognized at EAA AirVenture on Friday as the three were awarded the first Lindbergh Electric Aircraft Prizes. Yuneec took the honors for the best example of an electric aircraft, the E430; Sonex won for its efforts in developing subsystems and components; and Axel Lange took the individual achievement award for his development of the Antares 20E motorglider. The prizes totaled $25,000, but Erik Lindbergh announced shortly after the ceremony that all of the winners had agreed to donate their prizes back to the LEAP organization to help fund education programs that aim to inspire young people to participate in aviation.
The prizes were awarded at EAA's World Symposium of Electric Flight at the EAA museum. Lindbergh announced the prize program earlier this year at Sun 'n Fun, and since then he has been seeking corporate sponsors and also developing educational outreach. He spoke with AVweb at Sun 'n Fun about the project and what he hopes it will accomplish; click here for that podcast. |
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| New Toys and Tools for 696 Users | back to top | |
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Garmin 696 Gets Geo-Referenced Plates
Garmin made several announcements at an AirVenture press conference today. The biggest item is for GPSMap 696 owners who have complained that the approach plates don't show the position of the aircraft on the approach. Soon they can. The software upgrade for the 696 to support georeferenced charts is available now and the charts with that data will be available by the fourth quarter of this year. The upgrade is free to all 696 owners and there will be no change in the chart subscription price. Garmin's Jim Alpiser hinted that having access to this georeferenced data may allow Garmin to "sneak in some other cool features in the future." Garmin also added approach charts to their PilotMyCast weather and flight planning software for no additional charge. Jeppesen users can also get charts on their 696 and won't have to wait.
Jeppesen ChartView is available today for the 696. The upgrade to the GPS is $499 plus the applicable Jepp subscription fee. Jepp charts are the only option for many international users. International customers can also now get weather and text services through the newly announced GSR 56, which communicates via the Iridium satellite network. Garmin also announced the GDL59, which can download engine data to from the aircraft via a nearby wifi network, and gave more details on their Electronic Stability and Protection system that uses the autopilot servos to "nudge the pilot back to safe flight" when the autopilot is off but the system senses the aircraft is departing controlled flight. |
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| Klapmeier and Kestrel | back to top | |
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Kestrel Turboprop Debuts At Oshkosh
One aircraft attracting a lot of attention at EAA AirVenture this week is the Kestrel, a single-engine turboprop design that's been under development in the UK for a number of years. The project now has been taken over by Alan Klapmeier, one of the co-founders of Cirrus Aircraft, who left Cirrus about a year ago. Klapmeier recently announced that the project will be based in Maine and start down the long road to FAA certification. Here at Oshkosh, the Kestrel display is right next door to Epic Aircraft, which is selling a similar aircraft that has some common heritage. Adrian Norris, a spokesman for Kestrel, told AVweb that the two aircraft differ in substantial ways, and will diverge even more as Klapmeier re-evaluates and tweaks the airplane as he works toward a prototype design. In any case, the Epic aircraft is a kit, and the Kestrel will be certified.
Norris said the Kestrel is four feet longer, from nose to tail, than the Epic LT, and the cabin size is 27 percent bigger. Some changes that he expects will be made from the current proof-of-concept to the certifiable prototype are a redesign of the wing -- which currently curves across the front, and will be made straight -- and a new engine. The current engine is 1,200 hp. "It's more than we need and it's very expensive," Norris said. "We'll be looking for something slightly less powerful." He said the cockpit will be wider and the windows will be bigger, and the interior will get a thorough overhaul. No decisions have yet been made on avionics or pricing, he said. He anticipates about three years to certification, if all goes well. He said the entire program will cost about $100 million and the company is still looking to raise about $25 million of that. |
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| Hot Car Raises Big Bucks for Young Eagles | back to top | |
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Roush-Shelby Mustang Raises $375,000
It may be an aviation event but a car stole the show at the Gathering of Eagles fundraiser at AirVenture Oshkosh 2010 Thursday. The Ford SR-71 Mustang, the first-ever collaboration between NASCAR owner Jack Roush and the legendary Carroll Shelby, raised $375,000 for Young Eagles at auction. The car is, of course, an instant collectible and was purchased by an unidentified buyer from Texas. The sale was made more poignant by the crash of Roush's Premier 1 in a landing accident at Wittman Field on Tuesday.
Roush continues to recover but he's been transferred to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota where his personal doctor works. He had surgery in the hospital locally before being transferred to the Mayo and he remains in serious but stable condition. Get-well wishes are being accepted at Ford's exhibit on Aeroshell Square. |
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| AVweb Audio — Are You Listening? | back to top | |
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ADS-B Options from Trig AvionicsFile Size 8.8 MB / Running Time 8:30
Podcast Index | How to Listen | Subscribe Via RSS
Is ADS-B equipment on your shopping list for AirVenture this year? If so, you may want to stop by the Trig Avionics booth. Trig's Andy Davis shows Larry Anglisano around some of the company's offerings.
This podcast is brought to you by WxWorx XM WX
Satellite Weather
George Bye of Bye Energy: An Electric Skyhawk?File Size 5.4 MB / Running Time 5:17
Podcast Index | How to Listen | Subscribe Via RSS
Cessna said at EAA AirVenture that it will team up with Bye Energy to design an electric-powered 172. AVweb's Mary Grady spoke with George Bye at the Cessna tent at Oshkosh for more details about the project.
This podcast is brought to you by Conoco-Phillips
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| Our Video Reports Finally Get Off the Ground | back to top | |
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Art Nalls and His Privately Owned Harrier at AirVenture
Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos When some guys retire, they buy a sports car or maybe an LSA. Art Nalls bought a Harrier, and he flew it at AirVenture this week. AVweb sent a camera along.
This video is brought to you by Conoco-Phillips
AirVenture from the Air: A Flight Around the Pattern
Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos Once the place finally dried out, it filled up with airplanes — and here's a look at the campgrounds, AeroShell Square, and all the neat stuff you've been hearing about shot from pattern altitude.
This video is brought to you by Bose
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| Photo Galleries | back to top | |
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Photos from EAA AirVenture 2010: Details!
AVweb photographer Mariano Rosales was on his own today — we think someone may have stolen intern Adam for another important assignment — and that gave him a few extra moments to spend time with some of his favorite attractions here at Oshkosh.
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| The Top Reporter on Our Crack Staff ... Is You! | back to top | |
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AVweb's Newstips Address ...
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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
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| Names Behind the News | back to top | |
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Meet the AVwebFlash TeamAVwebFlash 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:
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