August 1, 2011

By The AVweb Editorial Staff

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"I think we're onto something that will be useful into the future," he was quoted by the Oshkosh Northwestern as saying. Despite some challenges in 2010 after a rain-hampered AirVenture, EAA is on solid financial footing the meeting was told. According to the Northwestern's report, revenue last year was $40.4 million, a four percent drop over the previous year. "It was a difficult AirVenture (2010) from a weather perspective, but it will not affect the organization's long-term health or our ability to make valuable programming available to our members," EAA Treasurer Eric Gurley said. EAA added $3.9 million in debt to fund site improvements last year. It has $54.5 million assets against $20.8 million in liabilities. Compare and Save at the Pilot Insurance Center Don't pay more for life insurance coverage just because you fly. Contact Pilot Insurance Center to see how you can save. PIC works with A+ rated insurance companies to provide preferred rates for pilots. Call (800) 380-8376 or visit PICLife.com. EAA AirVenture 2011: That's a Wrap! back to top  Attendance Up At AirVenture AirVenture Oshkosh President Rod Hightower said Sunday preliminary attendance figures show about a four percent increase this year over the 2010 tally. Hightower also announced that more than 800 exhibitors, 2,500 show planes and more than 10,000 aircraft in total attended the event, which wrapped up Sunday. He proclaimed the show a "great success" and said the highlights included the first ever public tours of the Boeing 787, the return of B-29 FIFI and the celebration of centennial of naval aviation. Last year, EAA estimated attendance at 535,000, one of the lowest totals in recent memory and attributed in part to the bad economy and a rain-soaked beginning to the event. At the time, EAA spokesman Dick Knapinski said the method of calculating attendance had been changed and the stratospheric figures from previous year (the record was 855,000 in 1998) were probably optimistic. EAA still counts attendance by the number of bodies on the field each day and not by the number of tickets sold. Most people attend for multiple days. One face that was not on the grounds after noon on Tuesday was former president and chairman Tom Poberezny. He made a surprise retirement announcement and did not reappear, although his father and EAA founder Paul Poberezny attended various events. JA Air Center — When It Comes to Garmin Avionics, Go with a Name You Can Trust! Since 1965, pilots have trusted the avionics experts at JA Air Center. Whether you're looking for ship-in repair, custom installation, or a mail order purchase, no one knows avionics better than JA Air Center. Call (800) 323-5966 or click here. BUY, SELL, or TRADE your avionics and GPS equipment at JA Air Center Snap-Together UAV the "Sinter" of Attention back to top  Almost Instant UAV Flies 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. Scientists in the UK have produced a flying UAV in a process called sintering. The group designed the Southhampton University Laser Sintered Aircraft (Sulsa) on a computer (with eliptical wings like a Spitfire and a honecombed fuselage like a Bolingbroke) and sent it to 3D RPD. The company used the data to build up the aircraft's components in a heated chamber by layering nylon powder in the correct measure to create each part. All the parts were finished in five days and snapped together to create a seven-foot-long flying UAV. The scientists say there should be some pretty impressive real world applications for the technique. The most important advantage of the process, they say, is that complex parts that are hard to mould can be created through sintering. They claim that an aircraft can be put together in a matter of days and if, after testing, the design needs tweaking it can be reworked on the computer and "printed" out again. Second Annual ECAS to Land in Sweden Following the success of ECAS last year, the Second Annual Summit will explore the latest developments in the corporate aviation sector of Europe and new business opportunities and challenges in the region. It will also provide the platform for manufacturers and operators — as well as any organization interested in this marketplace — to explore all aspects affecting the future of this industry. A must-attend event for international business aircraft operators. Click here to learn more and register. Navy F-35 Struts Its Stuff back to top  F-35 On Parade 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. The naval versions of the F-35 demonstrated their capabilities in a pretty public way in the past week. Last Thursday an F-35C was launched from the ground-based steam catapult at the U.S. Navy's test facility in Lakehurst, NJ. The test seemed to go as planned with the aircraft leaping from the launch device despite the soaring temperatures in New Jersey last week. The Marine Corps also showed off the short-takeoff/vertical land variant (F-35B) they'll use. In what appeared to be an attempt to counter criticism of the program and its escalating costs, the Marines invited reporters to see the airplane perform the way the Corps says it needs an airplane to perform. The big fighter took off in less than 450 feet and then landed vertically in front of the invited reporters and Marine brass in searing heat and brow-mopping humidity. The Marine variant is "on probation" for two years and the program has to prove its worth to Congress. Senior Marine officers say it's vital that the aircraft passes muster. "There is no Plan B," said Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Jim Amos. "We need this airplane." WingX Pro7 Version 5 for iPad — Includes In-Flight Weather The new WingX Pro7 Version 5 Moving Map adds ADS-B In-Flight Weather, Terrain-Enhanced VFR Sectionals, IFR Low/High Enroute charts, ADS-B NEXRAD, TFRs, SUAs, and a lot more. All moving map views can be displayed fullscreen or side-by-side. Also included: Animated weather images, DUATS, A/FD, AOPA Directory with Yelp integration, Route Planning, FARs, E6B, and more. WingX is also available for Windows Mobile, Blackberry, and Android. Click here for more information. Opinion & Commentary back to top  AVweb Insider Blog: Eclipse — The Inside Story Our AirVenture coverage included a podcast interview with Dennis Maxwell, whose new book, The Great Eclipse, details the most costly business failure in general aviation history: The bankruptcy of Eclipse Aviation. On the AVweb Insider blog, Paul Bertorelli reviews the book and offers his own views on Eclipse's demise. Read more and join the conversation. Over 19,000 Happy GAMIjectors® Customers Can't Be Wrong! GAMIjectors® have given these aircraft owners reduced cylinder head temperatures, reduced fuel consumption, and smoother engine operation. GAMIjectors® alter the fuel/air ratio in each cylinder so that each cylinder operates with a much more uniform fuel/air ratio than occurs with any other factory set of injectors. To speak to a GAMI engineer, call (888) FLY‑GAMI, or go online for complete engineering details. Pilots, Test Your Knowledge back to top  Brainteasers Quiz #162: Global Consistency Is Near Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." The FAA is on an unstoppable quest to achieve universality in aviation terminology. See if your answers are consistently correct in this quiz. Take the quiz. More Brainteasers Finally! Professional Maintenance Management For Your Piston Aircraft ... Like Bizjets Get. Don't You Deserve the Best? Mike Busch and his team of world-class maintenance professionals provide the kind of professional maintenance management for hundreds of owner-flown piston singles and twins that used to be available only for corporate jets. No stress, no hassle, no wasting your time — and you'll save money to boot! Learn how they do it. AVweb Media: Look, Listen, Laugh and Learn back to top  Video: Oshkosh North and South 40 Breeze-By Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos Couldn't make it to Oshkosh this year? Too busy with work or short on free time? You'll only need three minutes to experience the crowded North and South 40 with us in this sped-up video we put together for those of you stuck at home. 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. 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. Your Favorite FBOs back to top  FBO of the Week: Metro North Flight Support (Newton Airport, Newton, KS) Nominate an FBO | Rules | Tips | Questions | Winning FBOs AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Metro North Flight Support at Newton Airport (KEWK) in Newton, Kansas. AVweb reader Andy Hill explains how Metro North made into our short list with a perk that's often overlooking — service for furry pax: They are pet-friendly and will make sure your dog has water before they fuel your plane! That's why we will stop there again! Oh, and they have really clean bathrooms for humans, too. 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! Get Into Today's Innovative Aircraft Kitplanes is where the pieces come together and dreams take flight. Order the world's #1 homebuilt aviation magazine and save now! The Top Reporter on Our Crack Staff ... Is You! back to top  Survey: Have You Had Your Airplane Painted Recently? If so, Aviation Consumer would like to hear about the results. Did the shop do a good job? Did it deliver on time? And what about the price? To take our survey, just click here, and it will take you right to our survey page. 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. Peter Drucker Says, "The Best Way to Predict the Future Is to Create It" It's easy for your company to be more proactive, flexible, and entrepreneurial with AVweb's cost-effective marketing programs. Discover the benefits of instant response, quick copy changes, monthly tracking reports, and interactive programs. To find out how simple it is to reach 255,000 qualified pilots, owners, and decision-makers weekly, click now for details. The Lighter Side of Flight back to top  Short Final Back in the mid-'80s, Piedmont Airlines began flying out of Worcester airport (ORH) in Massachusetts to Baltimore/Washington International airport (BWI). A flight crew requested their IFR clearance, and I dutifully rattled it off to them in typical New England air traffic control fashion. As I concluded, the response I received in a thick Southern drawl was priceless: Airplane 1234: "Woostasure clearance — do yuh hear how fayust I'muh tawkin'? Well, that's how fayust I listen. You wanna run that by me — one — moe — tawm — ?" Dave Khanoyan via e-mail 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.