DRONE TESTS TO EXPAND
Military drones will soon be mixing it up with regular air traffic in up to 10 "airspace bubbles" the FAA and Department of Defense are creating to test and prove the safety of integration of unmanned aerial systems. According to AOL Defense the plan is contained in the proposed FAA reauthorization bill that will be back before Congress in September and is designed to show that UASs can safely operate in "heavily-traveled commercial airspace in all conditions across the United States." More...

GROUPS PETITION FAA TO CHANGE SPORT PILOT
Industry groups have petitioned the FAA, saying changes should be made to the sport pilot rules to fix flaws that prevent the regulations from meeting their stated goals. According to language in the rules, their intent is, in part, to create public access to general aviation and increase the population of eligible professional pilots. According to a petition submitted to the FAA by AOPA, EAA, GAMA and NAFI, one problem with language in the rules is that student sport pilots who take instruction from sport pilot instructors are prevented from counting their time toward a higher rating. And that, they say, does not serve to promote the rules aforementioned stated goals. More...

U.S. MILITARY RUNS FROM MOTHER NATURE
The U.S. military Thursday moved aircraft from bases aligned with the forecast path of Hurricane Irene as private pilots organized emergency services for the already-stricken Bahamas. An estimated 78 military aircraft were to be moved off of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base at New Hope, N.C. The exodus included F-15Es and KC-135 Stratotankers. In Jacksonville, Marines moved V-22 Ospreys, AH-1W Super Cobras Hueys and Super Stallion helicopters from New River Air Station to safer locales. Meanwhile, a pilot-oriented U.S.-based nonprofit was organizing disaster-relief flights to aid with recovery in the Bahamas. More...

BOEING'S 787 DREAMLINER, NOW CERTIFIED

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The FAA Friday approved certification of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, launch customer ANA is expecting delivery on Sept. 26, and three years of delays mean Boeing's profit on the design is still a long way off. ANA has scheduled the first commercial flight for Oct. 26, out of Tokyo for Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Boeing is currently sitting on $16.2 billion of 787 parts, collected through June 30, according to Bloomberg News, and challenges are still ahead. Boeing's 787 inventory represents about 35 nearly finished airframes, many still awaiting engines and interiors. And production changes made through the certification process mean some of those aircraft will remain sitting for several months. More...

REBELS SHOW GADDAFI'S A340
One of the biggest spoils of war taken by the rebels in Libya was opened up to the media on the weekend. Muammar Gaddafi's private A340 has been turned into a kind of ridiculous retreat for rebel leaders, although the irony of their latest occupation doesn't appear to be lost on them. Clad in fatigues but perched delicately on overstuffed leather furniture, the rebels gave media a glimpse into Gaddafi's sense of personal style. The aircraft cost $74 million in 2003. More...

BURNING MAN AIRPORT OPENS

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There's a new airport opening in Nevada today (Aug. 29, 2011) but you'll need a ticket to fly there and it will be gone without a trace in 10 days. Burning Man, the formerly impromptu, uh, cultural gathering in the Black Rock Desert, runs until Sept. 5. About 50,000 people create an almost instant city where "radical self expression" is among the guiding principals. Well, few cities that size are without an airport and each year a group of Burning Man participants who are pilots and aviation enthusiasts create a temporary, FAA-designated (88NV) facility called Black Rock City Airport. In a podcast interview, airport Communications Director Dean Siracusa says the airport is laid out on the dry lake bed and features a 5,280-foot runway which can, and regularly does, accommodate light jets. More...

PODCAST: 88NV HERE TODAY, GONE NEXT WEEK
Black Rock City Municipal Airport (88NV) is likely busier than most Nevada GA airports for the next week, but after that it will be gone. AVweb's Russ Niles spoke with Dean Siracusa, the airport's communications director, about the airport and the event it supports, Burning Man. More...

HAND TRANSPLANT RESTORES FLYING DREAM
As the aviation industry looks for ways to make becoming a pilot easier, a 28-year-old New Jersey woman is proving there are few barriers to someone who really wants to fly. As NBC 40 reported last week, Jessica Arrigo caught a virus when she was seven that cost her both legs and hands. She's had prosthetic legs for 20 year and a few years ago, she received a hand transplant; now she's working toward her PPL. "I was like, I could do that, I could fly a plane, why not?" she told the TV station. More...

FORMER CHINESE FARMER BUILDS FLYING SAUCER

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A former Chinese farmer with little formal schooling who later worked as an automobile mechanic has designed and built at least one ultralight that briefly flew (before crashing) -- he has now moved on to a flying saucer. Shu Mansheng's project is a structure powered by eight motorcycle engines mounted vertically. They drive individual fixed-pitch wooden propellers. The engines are arranged in an inner and outer group of four engines each. An open cockpit located in the center is mounted above spokes that both support the engines and extend to an outer circular ring. Supporters will be hoping for a more positive outcome than the innovator's last attempt. 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...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: TACKLING WEATHER IN LSAS
LSAs were never intended to be heavy weather airplanes, yet you can equip them with the latest datalink weather capability. Whether you choose to depends a lot on your previous experience, as Paul Bertorelli discusses in his latest post to the AVweb Insider blog. Read more and join the conversation. More...

AVWEB INSIDER BLOG: SUKHOI'S T-50 -- THE END OF U.S. DOMINANCE?
Maybe, says Paul Bertorelli in his latest post to the AVweb Insider blog -- but the real threat isn't whether the T-50 is competitor to the F-22 but whether the panic that is could set off a cascade of political overreaction. Read more and join the conversation. More...

VIDEO: KENT PIETSCH AT ABBOTSFORD AIR SHOW
Most of us who go to air shows have seen Kent Pietsch's Interstate Cadet routine. Here's an up-close look at what makes it one of the most impressive flying displays on the circuit. More...

FBO OF THE WEEK: ARLIN'S AIRCRAFT SERVICE, INC. (BELGRADE, MONTANA)

AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Arlin's Aircraft Service, Inc. at Gallatin Field Airport (KBZN) in Belgrade, Montana (near Bozeman).

AVweb reader C. J. Costanti recommended the FBO:

We had just completed a couple days of fly fishing and visiting family in Bozeman, and while preparing to depart, our Baron developed a significant fuel leak. Naturally, this occurred after hours, when the maintenance staff had gone home for the night. Not only did line service tow us back to Arlin's hangar, but they contacted their mechanic and he was working [on] the problem within minutes. They turned a stressful and unexpected turn of events into a positive experience and outcome. The Baron was buttoned up and ready to go early the next morning on the ramp, and we completed our trip home. Many thanks and kudos to Alan, Clint, and all the folks we met at Arlin's. Great service on arrival and departure, clean facility, and, most importantly, great people. We'll be back.

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

When flying in Northern Australia, Flight Service Brisbane asked a colleague for a "short count." Without pause, he replied:

"Sure! Toulouse Lautrec was a short count."

He told me later he'd been waiting years to say that. (Australians!)

Callum
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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