FCC WANTS GPS INTERFERENCE FACTS
The FCC has essentially asked LightSquared and the GPS industry to cut the rhetoric and provide it with the facts it needs to make a decision on LightSquared's plan to provide nationwide wireless broadband on radio frequencies and at power levels that have been shown to interfere with GPS signals. Last Tuesday, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski reiterated comments we first reported in June that the LightSquared plan will not be allowed to proceed at the expense of GPS. Since then, the GPS industry has said up to 500 million devices that use GPS in the U.S. could be affected. LightSquared says the number is more like 200,000 under its revised plan to move its initial deployment to frequencies a little farther away from GPS. According to the Washington Post both sides have been asked to be specific about the number and type of devices that will be affected by the revised plan. LightSquared has also been asked to specify how many towers will be activated in the initial deployment and their location. The comment period for the FCC rulemaking process ends Monday and LightSquared is turning up the heat on the GPS industry by intensifying its position that GPS manufacturers cheaped out on their devices. LightSquared said manufacturers failed to comply with Department of Defense standards to protect their devices from interference from neighboring frequencies. More...

FOUR-PLACE ELECTRIC AIRPLANE FLIES
Pipistrel announced the first flight of its oddly configured Taurus four-place electric aircraft that it plans to enter into the $1.65 million Green Flight Challenge. The aircraft flew Friday morning at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, where it had remained after the show while myriad issues relating to its FAA approval were sorted out. The aircraft looks like it came from Burt Rutan's drawing board, with twin fuselages and room for two occupants in each. It was creates specifically for the Green Flight Challenge and is the mating of two Pipistrel G2 aircraft with a central spar that also carries the 145 kw brushless motor, which is supplied with 450 pounds of lithium polymer batteries. The wing span is more than 75 feet. The first flight was apparently uneventful. More...

HYPERSONIC FLIGHT TEST LOSES ANOTHER VEHICLE
The Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle II launched Aug. 11 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, near Lompoc, Calif., with a goal of splashing down nearly 4,900 miles away -- and 30 minutes later -- near The Marshal Islands, but that didn't quite work out. The test flight was the product of DARPA funding and Lockheed Martin production and the arrowhead-shaped glider was attached to an eight-story-tall Minotaur IV rocket. It is part of a system intended to reach speeds of up to Mach 20 to deliver a military strike anywhere on earth within one hour. In Thursday's test, like a prior test, telemetry was lost prematurely. More...

TOXIC RAPTORS STILL GROUNDED, PILOTS LOSING CURRENCY
An investigation that grounded the fleet of F-22 Raptors back in May, "has since expanded to include all aspects of the aircraft," according to the Air Force Times, leaving deliveries on hold and pilots hoping for simulator time. There are less than 160 Raptors deployed (accounting for roughly $65 billion) and two F-22 simulators -- one at Langley and another at Tyndall Air Force Base. The actual jets have been grounded because they appear to be poisoning their pilots. Tests have found multiple toxins in the blood of Raptor pilots affected by symptoms similar to hypoxia while flying the jets. And the Air Force hasn't been able to source the problem, leading to a cascade of complications. More...

COAST GUARD RESCUES MARINES
Two Marines were plucked out of the Pacific by the Coast Guard, at about 2:30 Thursday morning, four hours after ejecting from an F/A-18D, 85 miles southwest of San Diego. Both men were listed in stable condition after being delivered to Naval Medical Center San Diego but suffered from injuries that included broken bones and hypothermia. Capt. Pete Brawn of Albany, Ore., and his weapons system officer had been flying as part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing out of Miramar in San Diego. They were flying with another F/A-18. That jet's crew reported it had lost contact with the accident aircraft at about 10:15 p.m. and saw debris in the water. More...

AFFORDABLE FLYING?
The Aerotrek A240 Light Sport Aircraft is a sleeper offering in the LSA market that may be running under the radar because of its lack of formal marketing infrastructure -- it sells mainly by word of mouth. The LSA mall at AirVenture Oshkosh didn't include Aerotrek in 2011, but the company did have a display manned by owner operators near the show entrance. For less than $80,000 Aerotrek offers a 120-mph cruise, precision-welded 4130 chromoly steel tube fuselage and aluminum wings and PolyFiber covering, plus a radio, transponder and Dynon EFIS. Well more than 300 Aerotrek aircraft have been delivered and are flying. The company says it holds costs down by not supporting a huge company infrastructure and owners say that doesn't hurt their ability to maintain their aircraft. AVweb caught up with one of them at AirVenture 2011. More...

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. What have you heard? More...

PODCAST: RV-8 FIRST FLIGHT -- THE DAY BEFORE
There aren't many people in the world who have the privilege of taking the first flight in the aircraft that they built. Brent Owens is one of them. AVweb's own experimental driver, Glenn Pew, caught up with Brent the day before first flight. This is that conversation. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: LYCOMING ON AUTOMOTIVE GAS
A significant subtext in the quest to replace 100LL with an unleaded equivalent is the use of automobile fuel or mogas in engines that are approved to burn it. The two major engine makers, Lycoming and Continental, have traditionally avoided the approvals required to do this. But Lycoming sees a place for automotive-type fuels in the supply chain, and beginning this week, in a series of three guest posts to the AVweb Insider blog, Lycoming GM Michael Kraft explains the company's views on how automobile fuels can be integrated into aviation. The blogs will run on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Read the first here, then share your own comments. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: LYCOMING EXPLAINS WHY PUMP GAS ISN'T MOGAS
In the second of three guest posts to the AVweb Insider blog on aviation fuels, Lycoming GM Michael Kraft expands on his explanation of why Lycoming approved some of its engines for automobile type gas. But not just any car gas. Lycoming favors and has specified an aviation-spec automotive gasoline whose parameters are more tightly controlled and guaranteed than are those at the corner filling station. Read more and join the conversation. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: LYCOMING'S VIEW -- AIRWORTHINESS BY DESIGN, NOT LUCK
In Part 3 of his guests posts to the AVweb Insider blog, Lycoming's Michael Kraft explains how the company arrived at its decision to approve some of its engines for an aviation-spec automotive-type gasoline. Read more and join the conversation. More...

VIDEO: AVIATION CONSUMER'S REMOS NXT FLIGHT TRIAL
Remos has a successful line of light sport aircraft, and now they've introduced a new and improved model, the NXT. Aviation Consumer's Paul Bertorelli flew the airplane recently, and here's his video report. More...

FBO OF THE WEEK: TAILWHEELS ETC. (KGIF, WINTER HAVEN, FLORIDA)

AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon does not go to an FBO — but to a flight school! Australian AVweb reader Steve Vette explains how Tailwheels Etc. at Gilbert Airport (KGIF) in Winter Haven, Florida make his recent trip to the States memorable:

While visiting Winter Haven, Florida, the wife and self were exploring from Dundee the area for local air fields. As we both are avid aviators, our interest is airfields and/or landing fields. We encountered a lady by the name of Kate. She informed us that her great great grandfather was one of the [founders] of this airfield. Suitably impressed with the credentials provided by the various people and staff, we decided to hire a Cessna 172 for an hour. When the aircraft was allocated and we strapped ourselves in, we went flying. The panoramic scenery (for us Australians) defies description! I have no hesitation in commending the staff and ground personnel for their services, their briefings, and [their] attention to detail. ... Our flight was a special memory for my wife and myself. I hereby would like to commend Tailwheels, Etc. flying facility for their sincere and courteous attention in all aspects towards both of us.

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!

SHORT FINAL

This happened a few weeks ago in Turin, Italy. An Alitalia airliner was kind of delayed behind a small Piper making his landing.

Alitalia:
"Torino tower, what is the speed of that small thing in long final?"

Piper Pilot:
"To begin with, this 'small thing' is all mine ... ."

Fiore Ambrogio
via e-mail

HEARD ANYTHING FUNNY ON THE RADIO?
Heard anything funny, unusual, or downright shocking on the radio lately? If you've been flying any length of time, you're sure to have eavesdropped on a few memorable exchanges. The ones that gave you a chuckle may do the same for your fellow AVweb readers. Share your radio funny with us, and, if we use it in a future "Short Final," we'll send you a sharp-looking AVweb hat to sport around your local airport. No joke. Click here to submit your original, true, and previously unpublished story. More...

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

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