April 3, 2011

By The AVweb Editorial Staff

FIND THEM AT: Bose Pavilion SNF-009 Introducing: Our Best Pilot Headset Ever NEW Bose A20™ Aviation Headset Bose was the first to introduce active noise reducing headsets to aviation more than 20 years ago, forever changing the way pilots fly. Now the Bose A20™ Aviation Headset sets an entirely new standard, providing significantly greater noise reduction than currently available. It also features an improved level of comfort, clear audio, Bluetooth® connectivity, auxiliary audio input and priority switching. Learn more. AVflash! G650 Crash Over New Mexico back to top  Gulfstream 650 Down, Four Dead A Gulfstream 650 test aircraft went down near Roswell, NM killing all four people aboard. According to the Savannah Morning News, the plane, which is in the final stages of certification flight testing, crashed at the airport. The accident killed two pilots and two engineers, all believed to be Gulfstream employees. Initial media reports paint a confusing picture of what happened, although it appears the plane became briefly airborne on takeoff before hitting the runway hard and collapsing the gear. Photos from the scene show a large amount of smoke. Gulfstream was expected to issue a statement late Sunday. The 650 is the company's flagship intercontinental aircraft and it has 200 orders for the $65 million plane. First deliveries were expected in 2012. FIND THEM AT: D-051 D-052 D-053 There's Still Time! Today is the last day to take advantage of awesome pricing on original Zulu and Sierra headsets! Visit your favorite Lightspeed dealer at the show — or at home! Don't forget to find out what your current headset (even a non-Lightspeed headset!) is worth and trade up to original Zulu! While you are in the Lightspeed booth (D51), cast your vote for your favorite aviation charity. Learn more about Lightspeed Aviation and the Foundation at LightspeedAviation.com. Aviation's Town Square back to top  "Town Meeting" Issues: Avgas, Pilot Decline U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), who chairs the General Aviation Caucus in the House, visited Sun 'n Fun on Saturday to host a "Town Meeting" with a panel of GA leaders. Graves, who is a pilot himself, said it's important for all of GA to "stick together" to ensure that vital policy issues are addressed. Pete Bunce, head of GAMA, took on the issue of avgas, and said considerable progress has been made since the initial "sky is falling" concerns that arose several years ago when the EPA proposed to reduce allowable lead emissions. He commended FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt's efforts to address the problem, and said a lot of work has been done behind the scenes to educate the EPA and others about the safety issues involved in finding a replacement. Bunce and AOPA's Craig Fuller essentially said that leaded avgas is not going to go away until a reasonable and workable "drop-in" alternative fuel is available. "There is no reason to believe 100 low-lead will become unavailable in the foreseeable future," Fuller said. Another topic the panel tackled was the decline of new pilots. Bunce said GA needs to address the "elephant in the room" -- the poor salaries for professional pilots. "Nobody wants to talk about that," he said. Flight training is expensive, yet pilots are launching a career with salaries that won't pay their expenses, never mind their student loans, and "there is something fundamentally wrong with that equation," he said. Matt Zuccaro, president of Helicopter Association Intl., said the key to reaching the next generation is to find heroes they can look up to in the fields of science and technology, the way they look up to athletes and rock stars. He also suggested that GA needs to make better use of social media to reach young people. AVweb's Mary Grady met with Congressman Graves after the forum, click here for that podcast, with more details about the status of funding for the FAA, through-the-fence rules, and other GA issues. FIND THEM AT: B-078 B-079 B-090 B-091 Aspen Offers the Only Fully Redundant PFD Solution on the Market — At an Affordable Price With the Evolution 2000 or 2500 Package installed, a single button push turns the MFD 1000 into a fully functional backup PFD. No other GA glass cockpit system gives owners and operators this level of redundancy and confidence at any price. Ask about our 2K Savings special on the Evolution 2000 Package. Pilot Outreach back to top  Able Flight Awards First Career Training Scholarship Able Flight, which helps people with disabilities learn to fly, awarded its first-ever career-training scholarship on Tuesday at Sun 'n Fun. The scholarship will provide funding for Paul Lampasso, a former New York City firefighter, to attend a three-week course that leads to an FAA repairman certificate for light sport aircraft. Lampasso's first career goal was to be a professional pilot, and he was enrolled at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and had completed his private pilot training when he was diagnosed with cancer and had to drop out. After regaining his health, he joined the NYC fire department, where he served for 11 years until a knee injury forced him to retire. Lampasso worked as a first responder during 9/11 and the aftermath, Able Flight officials said, although he was supposed to be on reduced duty at the time due to his injury. He received his award from Cessna CEO Jack Pelton at the company's exhibit space at Sun 'n Fun. Cessna also presented Able Flight with a donation of $6,500. Lampasso, who lives in Florida, will attend training in California next month. FIND THEM AT: C-024 As Vital As Vision Never fly blind again when you sign up today for one of XM WX Satellite Weather's Aviator LT, Aviator, or Aviator Pro data packages. Enhance your situational awareness with products like Radar, Lightning, Winds, and more when you make XM WX a permanent part of your cockpit today. Come see the latest from XM WX Satellite Weather at booth C-024 during Sun 'n Fun 2010 or visit us online at XMWXweather.com/aviation. Sun 'n Fun After the Storm: Video Reports back to top  Video: Explorer Post 491's Sun 'n Fun Recovery Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos When an F1 tornado roared through Sun 'n Fun at Lakeland, Florida on Thursday, square in the path of it was a completed Kitfox that Explorer Post 491 hoped to raffle away. It was not to be. The storm destroyed the airplane, but not the post's spirit. AVweb's Russ Niles reports on how the Explorers are not just recovering but thriving. Don't see a video screen? Try disabling ad blockers and refreshing this page. If that doesn't work, click here to download the video directly. Video: Dramatic Sun 'n Fun Storm Footage Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos Less than 24 hours after a storm ripped through the airport, Sun 'n Fun 2011 was getting back to normal. But that was hardly the case Thursday, as this dramatic footage shows. Don't see a video screen? Try disabling ad blockers and refreshing this page. If that doesn't work, click here to download the video directly. FIND THEM AT: SNF-001 SNF-002 SNF-004 SNF-005 More Versatile than a Swiss Knife For more than 25 years, operators have relied on the Caravan models to meet the most demanding mission parameters. To which the Caravan replies, "Bring it on." Its confidence is backed by a remarkable dispatch reliability rate of over 99 percent and exceptional payload capabilities from its 675-horsepower engine. And when you consider the versatility, configurability, and sheer ruggedness of the Caravan line, the applications are virtually limitless. So, where will the Caravan take you? Visit Cessna.com. AVweb Audio — Are You Listening? back to top  Podcast: Extra Aircraft Still Eyeing Colorado File Size 2.9 MB / Running Time 3:13 Podcast Index | How to Listen | Subscribe Via RSS Extra Aircraft announced last year that it was going to build Extra 500s in Montrose, Colorado, but the process is taking a little longer than expected. Extra owner Ken Keith told AVweb's Russ Niles the last hurdles should be cleared soon. This podcast is brought to you by WxWorx XM WX Satellite Weather and Lightspeed Aviation. Click here to listen. (3.9 MB, 3:13) Podcast: GA Caucus Chair Rep. Sam Graves File Size 4.3 MB / Running Time 4:39 Podcast Index | How to Listen | Subscribe Via RSS AVweb's Mary Grady spoke with House GA Caucus Chair Sam Graves about progress on FAA reauthorization and other issues after his appearance at a town hall meeting at Sun 'n Fun. This podcast is brought to you by Bose Corporation and Aspen Avionics. Click here to listen. (4.3 MB, 4:39) Two Great Ways to Keep Your Engine Up to Speed Do you have a new engine core that's never been rebuilt or overhauled? Save up to $5,000 on a rebuilt engine. Do you have an original Lycoming factory engine that last left the factory as a new, rebuilt or overhauled engine? Save up to $1,900 on a new, rebuilt or ovehauled engine. For complete details, call (800) 258‑3279 to find an authorized Lycoming Distributor near you or visit Lycoming.com. AVweb Media: Look, Listen, Laugh and Learn back to top  Video: Dynon's New Portable Radio Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos Dynon is best known for its innovative glass displays for expertimental aircraft. At Sun 'n Fun 2011, it revealed a surprise: a new, full-featured portable handheld radio. Don't see a video screen? Try disabling ad blockers and refreshing this page. If that doesn't work, click here to download the video directly. This video is brought to you by WxWorx XM WX Satellite Weather and Lightspeed Aviation. Video: Waco Classics Great Lakes Revival Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos The Great Lakes biplane was the light sport aircraft of its day, and now Waco Classics is planning to offer a revised model with a Lycoming engine and updated structural and avionics additions. At Sun 'n Fun, AVweb's Russ Niles talked to Peter Bowers about the Lakes. Don't see a video screen? Try disabling ad blockers and refreshing this page. If that doesn't work, click here to download the video directly. This video is brought to you by Bose Corporation and Aspen Avionics. Avoid Even What You Can't See with XtremeVision™ 3D traffic (patent pending) and subscription-free weather are just a couple features of SkyVision Xtreme's intuitive ADS-B display. You can take advantage of this cutting edge technology today and make flying safer for you and those around you! Even better is the fact that the entire system costs less than other less-accurate avoidance systems! Highly accurate traffic and weather at your fingertips without subscription: Why wait? Click here now for more info. The Top Reporter on Our Crack Staff ... Is You! back to top  'Aviation Consumer' Hangar Survey Do you hangar your aircraft? Do you wish you could hangar your aircraft? Do you wish someone would rent that #$^% empty hangar you still own? Please take a moment to share your thoughts (or rants) in Aviation Consumer's survey. Thanks. Click here to take the survey. The results will appear in a future issue of Aviation Consumer. For subscription information, click here. AVweb's Newstips Address ... Our best stories start with you. If you've heard something 255,000 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. Fly More for Less Visit the AVbuys page for discounts, rebates, incentives, bargains, special offers, bonus depreciation, or tax benefits to help stretch your budget. We're helping you to locate and view current offers instantly, with a direct link to sponsors' web sites for details. Click for the resource page. Opinion & Commentary back to top  AVweb Insider Blog: The Show Will Go On AVweb staff have been on-site at Sun 'n Fun all week, including Thurday's shockingly destructive storm. As he dries out from the ordeal, editor-in-chief Russ Niles has one thought he wants to share via the AVweb Insider blog: Come out and support the show this weekend. Friday's forecast calls for sunny skies, and the volunteers have been hard at work cleaning up the mess and putting things back on track for the weekend. We'll be here, and we hope you'll join us for a weekend of, well — sun and fun. Read more and join the conversation. AVweb Insider Blog: Airliners as Interceptors — Not a Good Idea Or, if it is, Paul Bertorelli couldn't make the case in his latest post to the AVweb Insider blog. When ATC decided to vector a Southwest 737 to have a look at a NORDO Cirrus this week near Jacksonville, the incident exploded into yet another you've-got-to-be-kidding hairball rolling across Randy Babbitt's desk. If it weren't for bad luck, the man would have no luck at all — but we're wondering: What the heck is next? At least tower and ground now appear to be awake and alert at DCA. Read more and join the conversation. Get Them While They're Hot! Order the Light Plane Maintenance Toolbox CD now and get over two years of issues in searchable PDF format! Find out how much money you can save on annuals and overhauls! Click here to order now! The Franklins: How to Help back to top  ICAS Foundation's Kyle & Amanda Franklin Fund The aviation community is coming together to help Kyle and Amanda Franklin get back on their feet and eventually back in the air after their mishap at Air Fiesta at the Brownsville/South Padre Island Airport. If you'd like to contribute, click on the banner at right to visit the ICAS Foundation web site. Traditional Tactics Need a Fresh Approach Doing the same thing and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. Isn't it time to initiate a digital marketing program with AVweb that will deliver traffic and orders directly to your web site? Discover several new and highly successful marketing options to use in lieu of static print or banner campaigns. Click now for details. Names Behind the News back to top  Meet the AVwebFlash Team 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 Click here to send a letter to the editor. (Please let us know if your letter is not intended for publication.) Comments or questions about the news should be sent here. Have a product or service to advertise on AVweb? A question on marketing? Send it to AVweb's sales team. If you're having trouble reading this newsletter in its HTML-rich format (or if you'd prefer a lighter, simpler format for your PDA or handheld device), there's also a text-only version of AVwebFlash. For complete instructions on making the switch, click here. Aviate. Navigate. Communicate. BOOTHS AT Where to Find Our Sponsors at Sun 'n Fun 2011 B-001-009 Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. B-078-079 B-090-091 Aspen Avionics C-055-056 Avemco Insurance C-071-072 N-026 Avidyne SNF-009 Bose Corporation SNF-001-002 SNF-004-005 Cessna Aircraft N-083, N-088 Conoco-Phillips Aviation Lubricants MD-023B MD-024C Diamond Aircraft NE-039-040 N-062-064 AC-005 Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) E-030 ForeFlight A-065 General Aviation Modifications, Inc. (GAMI) D-082 Hilton Software (WingX) B-042 JP Instruments D-051-053 Lightspeed Aviation D-039-042 Lycoming Engines A-020-021 RMS Technology C-031 Spidertracks A-001-003 Trade-A-Plane C-024 WxWorx XM WX Satellite Weather