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September 29, 2004
NewsWire Complete Issue
By The AVweb Editorial Staff
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 This issue of AVweb's AVflash is brought to you by ... LightSPEED Aviation
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The Sky Shook, The Earth Shook ... The Aircraft Rolled...
The Paul Allen funded, Burt Rutan designed Ansari X Prize inspired SpaceShipOne burned rubber (quite literally -- as a major component of its fuel) and scrolled through mach numbers most of the way
toward an apogee of roughly 337,500 feet over Mojave, CA -- the altitude yesterday quoted by on-location X Prize judge Gregg Maryniak. As with June's public launch, the flight might not be described
by anyone as passenger-soothing smooth, and again, both pilot and craft returned safely and with questions to answer. Mike Melvill (plus ballast equivalent to two passengers) piloted yesterday's
flight and set the clock running on the launch window for a second -- to be flown no later than Wednesday, October 13, at 8:34:04 a.m. in order to win the X Prize payoff of $10 million. Yesterday's
privately funded jaunt into space wasn't without drama. While flying straight up and reaching the end of the rocket's burn, Melvill (and craft) entered a series of oscillating rolls that peaked near
180-degrees per second (and had nothing to do with the earthquake felt on the ground during the flight). The motion itself may have seemed to many incongruous with Melvill's post-landing comment, "I
was very pleased with how the vehicle behaved." Rutan indicated that his team would provide notification of intent regarding a subsequent flight by afternoon, today (Thursday).
...What Happened...
Shortly after witnessing the rolls via video feed, AVweb asked Dick Rutan (Burt's brother) for his thoughts. "Well, his trajectory was 'up' so he made the altitude," Rutan said. Then he paused, looked
away, looked back, said, "OK," and left. As he did, another member of the press offered, "it looked like a missile out of control." And while that perception may or may not prove positive among
potential patrons of space tourism, SpaceShipOne is a technology demonstrator, not a production prototype. The cause of the roll anomaly was not readily apparent to Scaled Composite's crew upon
inspection of the aircraft, but "when we know what it is we'll tell everyone," said designer, Burt Rutan. Structurally, the aircraft itself was said to be an engine change short of ready to fly, which
is "normal."
...Does The Craft Have A Design Flaw?...
Without an early explanation for the roll during yesterday's flight, the general message offered by the team was that Melvill felt he had the control authority necessary to counter the movement. Data
showed the roll had dampened itself from 180 to 140-degrees per second prior to Melvill's application of corrective control inputs. Tonight the team will look at wind shear, thrust, pilot inputs and
other factors in search of a causal factor or chain. A roll suffered during the team's very public June flight was traced to wind shear and pilot induced oscilations. But Rutan yesterday told media
that the roll phenomenon has been consistent in the simulator, too. He also said the aircraft's performance has revealed at least one trait worthy of correction -- too much dihedral effect. Side
loads, Rutan said, (such as those imposed by wind shear) cause the aircraft to roll. The problem may be built out of future craft, but has proven difficult to correct in the already-built
SpaceShipOne.
Still, Rutan stated that preliminary inspection of the data from yesterday's flight did not suggest wind shear components would have induced loads likely to produce the aircraft's observed behavior
during Wednesday's flight. Melvill was quick to suggest that an errant foot to rudder could have been the cause, but was similarly not convinced he was the culprit. "Probably, I stepped on something
... I don't think so, but I've been wrong before." Whatever the cause, the roll did provoke mission control to recommend that Melvill shut down the rocket, which he did seconds later. "I could have
gone to 360,000 feet today," said Melvill. Burt Rutan added, "We had performance to beat the X-15's altitude record today, but we recommended Mike shut down due to the excessive roll rates."
Note: AVweb's coverage includes an image gallery.
Wednesday's flight was used as the launch pad for an even more ambitious private space race. Hotel chain owner Robert Bigelow is sponsoring a $50 million prize to the first team to put into orbit a
private spacecraft carrying five to seven people. Published reports say Bigelow will put up at least half the money himself in an attempt to develop vehicles that can dock with a new inflatable space
station he's developing near Las Vegas. NASA is reportedly helping out in the development of the space station. Bigelow's announcement ran along side news of a collaboration between Virgin Airways
founder Sir Richard Branson and the SpaceShipOne creators for a new commercial space venture. Two days before yesterday's launch, Branson
announced the creation of Virgin Galactic, a company that plans to build five SpaceShipOne-inspired ships to start routine space tourism flights. Branson said he's been thinking about the concept for
10 years but the Paul Allen/Scaled Concepts project cracked the technological barriers. American Mojave Aerospace Ventures ships would carry up to five passengers on suborbital flights, but Branson
said orbital flights and establishing a space hotel are also on his mind. He hopes to have the first paying customers (at about $200,000 each ... start you bake sales, now) on suborbital flights
within three years. Rutan said the first two commercial passengers would be himself and Branson. Also in the works is an annual X Prize Cup event and ... a reality television show.
Whether regulatory agencies can keep up to the light-speed pace of commercial space development is another question. In a statement that may have the Wright Brothers rolling over in their graves, FAA
spokesman Hank Price told AVweb that his agency needs Congress to give it the authority to regulate passenger flights to space but that appropriate legislation doesn't exist yet. A bill to
regulate passenger flights has passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is before the Senate but there's no word on how long it might take to become law. Price said the intent of the proposed law
is to ensure that those taking the flights assume all the risk themselves. Price likened space flight to other hazardous activities like mountain-climbing, where individuals are permitted to pursue
their passion in the face of recognized danger as long as they are fully aware of the risks and accept them. He said the test flights currently underway are within the FAA's existing mandate because
functioning crew members are considered a "critical flight safety system." No word was available on how the FAA may view passengers.
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Piper Cleans Up ... Again ...
If they handed out awards for sheer resilience in the face of adversity, The New Piper Aircraft Inc. would have to be considered a leading candidate. After weathering all sorts of business challenges
(some not of its own making, i.e., the Lycoming crankshaft debacle) the company now finds itself in a pitched battle with Mother Nature. Sixteen days after Hurricane Frances damaged production
facilities and effectively shut the company down, Hurricane Jeanne scored a direct hit on the Vero Beach company last weekend, likely postponing the planned resumption of production by another two
weeks. "We're continuing to deliver airplanes and ship parts," said spokesman Mark Miller. The company had just recalled about half of its 1,000 workers on Friday to get ready to start building
airplanes again when Jeanne slammed in. "Jeanne hit pretty much where Frances hit," Miller said. He said it's the first time he's aware of that any aircraft company has been hit by two hurricanes in
the same year and said support from suppliers, customers, dealers and governments has been terrific.
The two-week postponement on the resumption of production has more to do with cleaning up than it does with any actual damage to the facilities. Miller said that in the aftermath of Frances,
production facilities were being moved out of damaged buildings and into those that had survived the first hurricane. Turns out they stood up to Jeanne just as well and not a single airplane or
component was damaged. "We're clearing up lots of debris, though," said Miller. At least the recent hurricanes do not appear to have had the kind of impact the company's predecessor suffered in 1972,
when floodwaters invaded Piper's Lock Haven, Penn., plant. Miller said there are now about 150 Piper employees back on the job cleaning up the mess and getting ready for production. "We continue to
recover and rebuild as quickly as we can," he said. And they'll have help: The Cherokee Pilots Association has started a grass-roots effort to assist Piper employees. The group told AVweb this
week that it had collected more than $2,500 in less than 72 hours. The association's plan is to cap its efforts with a benefit fly-in BBQ at the Vero Beach plant on Nov. 14, 2004, when it plans to
present the funds to New Piper President Chuck Suma for distribution to the employees.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) is accusing the FAA of forcing potentially medically unfit controllers to work traffic at the Minneapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center. But
the FAA says the charge is nonsense and typical of the union's over-the-top indictment of normal procedures at the agency. Pat Forrey, NATCA's vice president for the Great Lakes Region, said in a news
release that three controllers flunked hearing tests and were told they needed to be retested (at their own expense) by an independent audiologist to maintain their medical certification. In the
meantime, they were to keep working because, the union says, staffing levels are so low that the agency couldn't afford to lose them. "In this case, the FAA dropped the ball, put safety at risk and
exposed itself as an agency in utter disarray," said Forrey. FAA chief spokesman Greg Martin said the union is misrepresenting the situation and noted the current collective agreement addresses this
sort of scenario. Martin added that it's relatively common "to get some variations on the hearing test" and that's why the agency allows for retesting. Although Forrey said in his news release that
requiring controllers to pay for the second test themselves was "an unprecedented move," Martin said it's actually part of the current contract. Martin said it's also normal to allow controllers to
keep working while the second test is being arranged. "There's no reason to put their medical certification at risk when (the test results) can be easily explained," he said. In the NATCA news
release, Forrey said he expects the controllers' medical fitness to be restored with the second set of hearing tests.
If you think of Citations, Hawkers and Challengers when you think of fractional ownership, it's time to think again. A fractional ownership program is coming to the far opposite end of the aviation
spectrum as LetsFly.org puts together quarter-share ownership arrangements for three types of Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA): the Zenith 601, Zenith
701 and the Zephyr. "There is no other way someone can fly less expensively than this," said LetsFly.org CEO Eldon Corry. For as little as $900 up front, one can be in the pilot's seat of an airplane
he or she could eventually own. LetsFly.org offers two basic programs. Under the $900 plan, the up-front contribution mainly covers insurance and allows the pilot to access the aircraft at a dry
rental rate of up to $50 an hour depending on the type of aircraft flown. Half of that rental fee goes into a purchase account to start paying off the cost of the quarter share. For $2,900, the pilot
takes ownership of the quarter share and pays off the balance through a private loan. The full quarter-share price is expected to be less than $25,000. The company already runs similar programs using
Tiger and Alarus certified aircraft through 60 flight center distributors and expects a lot of interest in the LSA option.
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Four people were injured in the crash of a Ford Tri-Motor replica at an air show in Fullerton, Calif., last Saturday. The Bushmaster 2000, a replica of the famed 1920s airliner, had just lifted off
from the Fullerton Municipal Airport when it began an apparently uncontrollable left turn. Published images show it arcing
over the crowd before barely missing the ATC tower and crashing onto a street. The pilot, Jay Yoshinaga, 45, of Gardena, Calif., was in fair condition and passenger Anthony Albanese, 46, of Brea, was
in critical condition at last report. Reportedly, the plane was being flown on a post-maintenance test flight. Two women in a car hit by the plane suffered only minor injuries. Rebecca Perez, 56, was
driving her 32-year-old daughter Valerie Perez to a doctor's appointment when the plane sideswiped their Hyundai. "There was this real loud bang and air bag going off, crashing noise and ... it
stopped my car," Rebecca Perez told the Monterey Herald. The NTSB is investigating.
The Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) is coming to even the farthest-flung (and most difficult to navigate) reaches of Canada, thanks to a deal between the FAA and Nav Canada, the private company
that runs Canada's civil air navigation system. Nav
Canada will build four ground stations (Winnipeg, Goose Bay, Gander and Iqualuit) to refine GPS signals and give a seven-foot lateral and vertical error margin on GPS approaches to airports
without standard ILS systems. The greater accuracy WAAS provides will reduce the current GPS approach minimums from up to 165 meters to 75 meters. Minimums for standard ILS systems remain at 60
meters. "We welcome this new collaborative agreement with the FAA, which promises to deliver significant benefits to our customers through increased accessibility to many airports," said John
Crichton, Nav Canada's CEO.
|
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General aviation's contribution to the effort to ease congestion at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport is, as was feared, the reinstatement of slot limitations and reservations. Although a new
rule has not been published (we couldn't find it as of Wednesday), the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) says that as of Nov. 1 only four GA operations per hour will be permitted at O'Hare
between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. The NBAA says the decision was reached at a meeting last Friday between the FAA and Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta. In an earlier press release, NBAA President Ed
Bolen tied the decision directly to the sudden closure of Meigs Field 18 months ago. "Since the overnight destruction of Chicago's Meigs Field (CGX) in 2003, more than 20,000 annual aircraft
operations were forced to utilize Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) and O'Hare, the two next closest airports to downtown Chicago," the NBAA said. "This is a classic example of where local
decisions at one airport affect other airports in the system," added Bolen. "This should be a wake-up call -- the aviation industry and government entities must look at airport access on a regional
and national level, not just on an individual airport level. One obvious solution is to invest more heavily in the reliever airport system." The NBAA expects only a brief comment period after the rule
is published and is urging members to comment. It claims GA interests were not consulted in the decision to reinstate the reservation system.
In what appears to be some backyard tinkering gone mad, a New Zealander who claims to have designed a workable cruise missile for $5,000 (about $3,500 U.S.) is now offering his services to the highest bidder. Bruce Simpson attracted a lot of attention last year when he said he could
build a jet-powered, stealthy cruise missile that could carry a 22-pound payload 100 miles to within 100 meters of its target. What's more, it would be built out of off-the-shelf items and "using
techniques that can be used in any suburban garage without raising suspicion or curiosity of neighbors," according to his Web site. Well, his tinkering caught the attention of the New Zealand
government, who put him out of the cruise missile business and forced him underground. The embittered Simpson, who claims to have lost his home and livelihood to the government's actions, is offering
to design a cruise missile, unmanned aerial vehicle or rocket-propelled vehicle for anyone outside New Zealand who's willing to pay him a decent wage and give him and his family a place to live.
"Whether you're a very small nation looking to extend its military capabilities while perhaps creating a highly profitable export industry, or an entrepreneur seeking to enter the massive market
low-cost UAVs, RPVs and other pilotless vehicles, or whether you just want a single missile to mount on your SUV as a roof ornament -- I'm your man," he writes. However, he claims he won't knowingly
build the hardware for anyone planning a terrorist act.
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ATTENTION, RENTER PILOTS! DON'T BE MISLEAD BY COMPETITORS' ADVERTISING!
Analysis of actual claims indicates that
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AOPA has asked the TSA to suspend the Oct. 20 compliance date of its new rule regarding background checks on foreign student pilots. AOPA says it's too much to ask for pilots and businesses to
adapt to the new rule, particularly since there are questions about its impact on U.S. citizens...
Cape Girardeau Airport in Missouri will be closed from Oct. 31 to Nov. 10 to allow for construction work. Local officials had hoped to keep 2,400 feet of one runway open for small aircraft but
it would have added $100,000 to the cost of the FAA-funded project and the agency said it couldn't be justified...
The Southwest Regional Fly-In will expand to three days in 2005. Organizers have also added an air show on Sunday to the growing event. The fly-in will be held May 13-15 but a site hasn't been
announced yet.
Drop us a line. If it caught your attention, it will probably interest someone else, too. Submit news tips via email to
newstips@avweb.com.
_______
COLUMNS
The Savvy Aviator #10: Mechanicals On The Road
Nothing is more exasperating to an aircraft owner than encountering a mechanical problem while far from home base. AVweb's Mike Busch offers some tips for dealing with such problems, and preparing for
them ahead of time.
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SKYWRITINGS
Why We Fly
A few weeks ago, AVweb asked (as our Question of the Week), "Why Do You Fly?" One reader chose to respond by sending the following extended answer, and we thought it was too good to keep to ourselves.
HAVE YOU SIGNED UP yet for AVweb’s NO-COST twice monthly Business AVflash? Reporting on breaking news, Business AVflash also focuses on the companies, the products and the industry leaders that
make headlines in the Business of Aviation. Business AVflash is a must read. Watch for a Business AVflash regular feature, TSA WATCH: GA IN THE "SPOTLIGHT". Sign up today at http://www.avweb.com/profile/
|
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*** PREVIOUS RESULTS ***
Last week, we asked readers to help us out by telling us a little about
their AVweb-reading habits. Specifically, we wanted to know how many
of you are devoted fans of our AVflash newsletter and how many of you prefer
to read your news directly from the web site.
It seems AVflash is the most popular feature of AVweb, with 45% of you
waiting feverishly on Monday and Thursday mornings for your dose of avnews.
Another 35% of readers reported that they get AVflash but use it mainly as a
reminder to visit the site and check out the full edition of NewsWire.
12% of you split your reading time, sometimes gleaning news from the e-mail
and sometimes getting it from the web site.
7% of readers seemed surprised that we have an e-mail newsletter,
and another 1% seemed surprised that we have a web site!
*** THIS WEEK'S QUESTION ***
Scaled Composites' SpaceShipOne made another successful launch into the
upper atmosphere on Wednesday morning — the first of three attempts at
winning the Ansari X-Prize. Does SpaceShipOne have the competition
sewn up, or is there still a chance for a dramatic turn of events?
Click here to register your opinion.
Have an idea for a new QOTW? Send your suggestions to
qotw@avweb.com. NOTE:
This address is
only for suggested QOTW questions, and not for QOTW answers or
comments.
Use
this form to send QOTW comments to our AVmail Editor.
Submit a Photo |
Rules |
Tips |
Questions
Current POTW Winner |
Past POTW Winners
Hey, is everyone feeling all right? Is there a pilot's flu going
around? Did you all skip work this week to drive out to the Mojave and
watch SpaceShipOne make its X-Prize run? We have to ask because — well,
frankly, you didn't send us many pictures this week. And we like pictures!
Lucky for us, the ones you did send in — like this week's winning photo
from Robert Bismuth of Seattle — are pretty eye-catching. See for
yourself. Hopefully you'll be inspired to send us a giant batch of photos
next week!*
* We'll even promise not to complain if you deluge us with
more pictures than we can handle!
Due to privacy issues, AVweb does not publish e-mail addresses of
readers who submit photos.
*** THIS WEEK'S WINNERS ***
|
 |
|
copyright © Robert
Bismuth
Used with permission of
Robert Bismuth |
"Yak-55 Skirts the Weather to Compete"
Robert Bismuth of Seattle, Washington writes,
"John Coffey flew his Yak-55 around a very inconvenient
thunderstorm on his way ... to compete in the IAC Chapter 67 Apple Cup.
Tricky as the storm made the flying, it was the perfect,
dramatic backdrop for his very muscular 360hp Yak!"
Click
here to view a large version of this image
Click here for a
medium-sized version
AVweb continues to receive a large number of excellent images for our
POTW contest. Here are some of the runners-up. Click on the links below to view
larger versions.
 |
|
Used with permission of
Travis Whittier |
"Through the Tail of a Tomcat"
We love seeing new perspectives on our favorite
flying machines, and Travis Whittier of
Glendale, Arizona
delivers in this creative photo — although we admit, we do
expect James Bond to step into frame any second ... .
Medium
Large
 |
|
Used with permission of
Ryan Pemberton |
"The Storm Has Passed"
It's tough to make the "POTW" finals with a
plane-and-rainbow shot these days, but the natural
beauty captured by Ryan Pemberton of
Spokane, Washington won us over.
Medium
Large
And a special bonus:
 |
|
Used with permission of
Chris Schwartz |
"Vandenburg Missile Launch"
Chris Schwartz of Newport Beach, California
writes:
"While flying home one evening at FL290 near Fresno,
I saw this streak of white heading upward. It was obviously
a missile launch from Vandenburg AFB and caused quite
a bit of chatter of L.A. Center as a result.
The center controller gave his e-mail address (over the frequency),
and I e-mailed him this photo also. Enjoy!"
Medium
Large
To enter next week's contest,
click here.
A Reminder About Copyrights: Please take a moment to consider the
source of your image before submitting to our "Picture of the Week" contest.
If you did not take the photo yourself, ask yourself if you are indeed
authorized to release publication rights to AVweb. If you're uncertain,
consult the
POTW
Rules or
send us an e-mail.
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AEROMEDIX.COM ADDS AVWEB COLUMNIST JOHN DEAKIN'S BOOK TO SITE
John Deakin's
new book, Full Throttle, tells his stories — from flying goods back and forth to Central America in a B-25 at the age of 19 to flying for Air America and later Japan Airlines, where
he became the world's highest-time 747 Captain. LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Each copy of Full Throttle will be signed by John Deakin at no extra charge. Order your copy by
calling (888) 362-7123 and mentioning this AVflash, or go online to http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/aeromedi/jd/avflash. |
COMM1 ANNOUNCES VFLITE GARMIN GPSMAP 296 INTERACTIVE GUIDE
The VFlite Garmin GPSMap 296
Interactive Guide is an advanced, self-paced digital learning program that provides training on all operational aspects of the Garmin GPSMap 296. With the Garmin GPSMap 296
Interactive Guide you quickly get familiar with operations by leveraging a visual, hands-on approach. It's the easy, proven way to get confident with all that Garmin's powerful new GPS has
to offer. Order online at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/comm1/avflash. |
LOOKING TO FALL ASLEEP? READ THE AIM, NOT ROD MACHADO'S PLANE TALK
Since over
75% of all aviation accidents result from human error, a comprehensive understanding of risk management is essential to every pilot's health. How do we help pilots be better risk managers? Have them
read NTSB accident reports and scare themselves without teaching much? Force them to listen to dusty lectures about safety that put them to sleep? Or have them read Rod Machado's Plane
Talk, which will not only keep them awake, but will also teach important lessons about human nature, risk, safety beliefs, avoiding temptation, developing an aviation code of ethics, and more
in an entertaining format? Order Plane Talk at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/machado/avflash. |
AFFORDABLE! NOW THERE'S A CONCEPT EMBRACED BY ALL PILOTS!
VTS's Multimedia Systems Training Tools
CD-ROM is designed and produced by pilots for pilots with the most interactive and thorough aircraft systems training software available on the market today. This software is a teaching tool
for CFIs and a comprehensive study aid for students and for aircraft owner/operators looking to sharpen and increase their aircraft systems knowledge. For more information and ordering
instructions, go to http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/vts/avflash. |
ATTENTION, MECHANICS! SOFTWARE FOR YOUR HARDWARE!
John Schwaner's The
Mechanic's Toolbox + Engineering Manual Companion has been a mainstay for mechanics for years. John has revised and updated this publication and put it on CD. The Mechanic's Toolbox
Program contains everything from "Ohm's Law for Mechanics," "Torque Wrench Extension Calculator," "Pressure Conversions," "Velocity Computing," and more to a Palm operating system, including:
"Alternator Charging System Checker," "Hose Shop," "Starter Analyzer," "Metals ID using Field Methods," and much more. Whew! This is immense! For complete details and to order (in the U.S. only), go
to http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/skyranch/avflash. | | _____________________________________
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AVflash is a twice-weekly summary of the latest aviation news,
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