AT OSH, GA SQUARES OFF AGAINST THE AIRLINES
Alphabet groups and two industry leaders declared war against the Air Transport Association (ATA), which represents most U.S. Airlines, in the latest chapter in GA's effort to prevent the imposition of user fees on general aviation. EAA President Tom Poberezny spoke yesterday to a large audience at AirVenture, declared the airlines as the "enemy" and referred to the gathering of GA leaders at Tuesday's forum as "the opening salvo in the united front" against the FAA's apparent determination to impose fee-for-service charges for a variety of aviation services. More...

WEAKEN RESISTANCE, DIVIDE AND CONQUER?
At the Tuesday forum, AOPA President Phil Boyer said his group, which represents more than 400,000 pilots, will be lending its considerable political clout to the effort, even though he's been told it's not his fight. He said that at debate between himself and Airline Transport Association President Jim May. May said piston-powered aircraft would be exempt from the user fees (which in speculated form hit a mark closer to business jets) and the vast majority of AOPA members unaffected. Boyer said he didn't take the bait and AOPA will continue to fight fees that, at least for now, shouldn't affect most pilots, but would be a firm step in an unwelcome direction. More...

THE FUEL TAX, AND WHAT'S "REALLY" GOING ON
Through the current system of fuel taxes, GA contributes about $500 million to the FAA. The ATA is looking for about $2 billion in relief with its proposal. If only turbine-powered, non-scheduled aircraft are left footing that bill, it means business jet owners could be faced with up to $100,000 in extra fees each year, according to the math done by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA). "This is a very serious, very immediate threat," said NBAA President Ed Bolen. Cirrus and Cessna leaders were not at a loss for words, either. More...

HONDAJET TO GO ON THE MARKET
If you missed yesterday's AVweb homepage update, the HondaJet's flight toward certification has begun. An enthusiastic Michimasa Fujino gave the news to a crowd of reporters yesterday morning at EAA AirVenture. Under dazzling lights that bathed the jet in a brilliant glow, Fujino, who designed the airplane and has shepherded its creation, announced that Honda is now committed to take the jet to the marketplace. Honda will form a new company based in the United States to see the project through to certification and production. But they won't go it alone -- Honda is teaming up with Piper Aircraft to provide a global sales and service network. Certification is expected in three to four years. Honda will start taking orders later this year. More...

HONDAJET SPECS
The seven-seat jet has reached 43,000 feet and 412 knots so far in 240 hours of flight testing, and is expected to have a range of over 1,000 nautical miles, according to Honda's preliminary figures. Final specifications, as well as a price point, will be forthcoming later this year. The two GE-Honda HF118 turbofan engines are mounted on pylons extending vertically from the inboard section of the wings. The company says the result is better outside and inside for aerodynamics and ergonomics, respectively. The jet's distinctive features, which include a "natural laminar-flow" wing and nose, "help it achieve far better fuel efficiency, larger cabin and luggage space and higher cruise speed than conventional aircraft in its class," according to the company's news release. More...

PIPER TO PLAY ROLE FOR HONDA
Piper Aircraft President James Bass said the new arrangement signals the launch of "a significant and meaningful relationship" between the two companies. The synergy will extend through sales and service to engineering collaborations and beyond, he said. No merger or takeover is in the works, however, and Bass said the arrangement won't affect Piper's plans to develop a jet of its own. There is plenty of room in the market for a Piper jet that wouldn't be going to head to head with Honda, he said. Does that mean Piper would offer a smaller, more personal-size jet? "You could make that assumption," Bass said. More...

CESSNA'S NEXT-GENERATION FLYBY
"It will set new standards in performance, comfort and safety, and will be backed by Cessna's worldwide sales, distribution, training and service infrastructure," said Cessna CEO and president, Jack Pelton of the company's "Next Generation Piston Aircraft" (NGP). The design's surprise appearance came during Monday's unveiling of Cessna's concept LSA (which was expected). The un-announced arrival of Cessna's NGP, however, simply dropped jaws. A close look shows fixed tricycle gear, a cantilever forward-swept wing, front and back access doors plus a baggage door, and subtle compound curves. With the introduction of two brand new aircraft designs -- the proof-of-concept LSA, and the forward-swept wing five-place(?) piston-single -- Cessna has re-entered the race and put its money where its mouth is. More...

CESSNA LSA UNVEILED
The proposed Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) made its debut at AirVenture Oshkosh Monday to an eager sun-drenched crowd. LSA's are defined by a maximum gross weight of 1,320 pounds, maximum level-flight speed of 120 knots, and no more than two seats ... so that much was no surprise. Cessna's uncommitted proof-of-concept offering features a strutted high wing spanning 30 feet and side-by-side seating in a cabin with a maximum width of 48 inches (hop into your local Cessna 152 and add six inches). The cockpit is accessed via upward opening doors and sports large windows and dual control sticks. More...

ETHANOL-FRIENDLY AIRCRAFT ENGINE
Aircraft Engine Services, which hopes to begin selling the REV 220 and REV 300 V-6 aircraft engines next year, says the mills will tolerate a nip of ethanol. AES head Luc de Gaspe Beaubien said the engines, which are finishing certification testing at their manufacturer, Rotax, in Austria, will be certified to burn automotive gasoline with 10 percent ethanol content (matching current trends). There are currently no aviation engines permitted to use ethanol/blended gasoline. De Gaspe Beaubien also told a press conference that the engines are performing well and he expects 2007 to be the watershed year for them. More...

100 DIAMONDS GET YOU POINT2POINT
Point2Point Airways, a next-generation air-taxi/charter company based in North Dakota, announced yesterday at Oshkosh that they've placed an order for up to 100 airplanes from Diamond Aircraft. "We aim to be the world's first personal airline," said Point2Point CEO John Boehle. Diamond will deliver 10 of its DA42 TwinStars starting next month. Boehle also holds delivery options for the D-Jet, due to make its public debut here at AirVenture later today. The TwinStar is the right size and has the right capabilities to meet the growing needs of his company, Boehle said. More...

CIRRUS' TURBO FOR THE FLIGHT LEVELS
Although the Cirrus SR22 is no slouch in the cruise speed arena, it still trails Columbia's 400 by 40 knots or so, especially when the Columbia hits the high teens. The Cirrus answer to this appeared at OSH in the form the new SR22-GTS Turbo, which promises to deliver 200-knot cruise speed in the low flight levels. Cirrus expects the turbo SR22 to be available sometime this fall, for an add on price of $59,800, bringing the total price for a typically equipped new SR22 to $509,795 -- a price that includes a new lighter Hartzell composite prop. But that's not the only new twist. More...

HOT VISION, PICK YOUR PRICE: $69,375 OR $9995
Kollsman Commercial Aviation Systems arrived at Oshkosh with a forward-looking infra red (FLIR) camera poking out the top of a C-Model Mooney. The GAViS (General Aviation Vision System) lets pilots see through haze, smoke, light fog, mist, and night by seeing differential heat. This is a simpler version of their million-dollar, enhanced-vision system used on Gulfstream jets. "The main thing is night ops, night VFR ops," said Exec Vice President Randy Moore. At $69,375 -- and that's the show special -- you'll pay a lot for that safety. Forward Vision just announced that the next 100 customers for its FLIR can get the entire system for $9995, and with extra features. More...

INSIDE EAA PHOTO FLIGHTS
Ever wonder where the EAA gets pictures of all those pretty airplanes for their calendars and magazines? Well, if you come to Airventure with a showpiece, you might find out. David Hirschman, the new editor of Sport Aviation, has the pleasure of walking around the show and leaving notes for airplane owners saying the EAA would like to photograph their airplane. The note invites the owner to a briefing where they learn how to fly in formation with an EAA photo plane. (You're invited to ride along later this week, via podcast.) More...

AROUND THE WORLD: THE LONG WAY
Barely a year after its official introduction, Diamond's DA42 diesel TwinStar is making a name for itself as a mega long distance flyer. Two were flown into AirVenture, from Germany, one across and the Atlantic and, get this, the other eastbound across the Pacific. We'll have an interview with the three Swedish pilots who navigated their TwinStar around the world as part of tommorow's podcast. More...

AIRVENTURE SPECIAL DELIVERIES -- FROM US, TO YOU...

Podcasts: Tuesday's file included Cessna's Jack Pelton, Diamond's Peter Mauer, EAA's Tom Poberezny, and a trip to the Oshkosh tower. Watch this spot, Thursday, for more voices from the show...

Garmin GPSMap496 flight review. Try before you buy...

The Cessna LSA gallery (from Monday's homepage updates)...

Cesnna's "Next Generation Piston Aircraft" gallery. Currently labeled the Cessna NGP the aircraft made three passes down Runway 36 at Oshkosh, Monday. All images by Kenneth Kovac...

AVweb's Oshkosh Picture Galleries are alive and well. Click through to come wander the grounds of AirVenture. We'll even loan you a press pass...

Expect another special issue of AVwebFlash to arrive in your inbox, Friday.

AVWEB'S NEWSTIPS ADDRESS ...
What have you heard? There might be something to it. If you've heard something that 130,000 pilots might want to know about, tell us. Submit news tips via email to newstips@avweb.com. Our best stories start with your tips.

PODCASTS
Online Now: Check AVweb's podcast index for special off-day reports you may have missed. And watch for more 'casts this Thursday and Saturday.

AVweb's podcasts feature exclusive interviews with industry gurus, like: TCM president Bryan Lewis, NATCA president John Carr, New Piper CEO Jim Bass, Hal Shevers for Sporty's Pilot Shop, Light Sport guru Dan Johnson, Excel Jet's Bob Bornhofen, Adam Aircraft's Joe Walker, FAA administrator Marion Blakey, Cirrus Design's Alan Klapmeier and more. AVweb's Podcast index, is online, now. You'll hear things you won't find anywhere else.

AVWEB'S BUSINESS AVFLASH
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/More...

FBO OF THE WEEK: OCEAN AIR AVIATION, NORTH BEND, OR

AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Ocean Air Aviation, at KOTH, North Bend, OR. Offering up Ocean Air, Scott Burton told us, "The elegant and relaxing facilities make it worth the stop coupled with the extraordinary service and friendly people. Denise runs that FBO as best as I have ever seen and always with a smile. Truly one of the best FBOs I have been to and the service is impeccable."

Keep those nominations coming. Click here to nominate your favorite FBO and here for complete contest rules. AVweb is actively seeking out the best FBO's in the country and another one,submitted by you, will be spotlighted here next Monday!

AVwebFlash is a twice-weekly summary of the latest news, articles, products, features, and events featured on AVweb, the internet's aviation magazine and news service.

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