THE SINGLE-ENGINE TWIN-BOOM PUSHER
While the big-name airplanes in Aeroshell Square grabbed a lot of attention in Oshkosh last week -- Cessna's proposed LSA, Eclipse's newly certified VLJ (appearing in DayJet livery by the end of the week), and the soon-to-be-marketed HondaJet, to name a few -- plenty of interesting projects were on display around the fringes of the field as well. One of those was the prototype of the Ion aircraft, a sharp-looking little composite pusher with a twin tail-boom and tandem seating. "There was a lot of interest, it went even a little too well, we were kind of scared by all the attention," Vulcan Aircraft's Steve Schultz told AVweb after the show. "We haven't even flown it yet." And why not? The design seems pretty much ready to go. More...

FINAL NUMBERS IN FOR AIRVENTURE
Officials at EAA started early on to tell the media not to expect attendance this year to match 2005, when the spectacular show featured SpaceShipOne, Global Flyer, and lots more, and on Tuesday they confirmed that prediction. Estimated attendance was 625,000, a decrease of about 10 percent from last year. Nonetheless, said EAA President Tom Poberezny, "EAA AirVenture 2006 was a tremendous event." This year's show featured more new aviation announcements than any EAA fly-in in history. Also, said Poberezny, there were many new activities, such as movie premieres and the Beach Boys concert. He also cited other factors that may have affected attendance. More...

PASSENGER KILLED IN TAXI ACCIDENT
It is not the first incident of its kind and EAA has not yet expressed motivation to change procedures at AirVenture prior to hearing the NTSB's conclusions about a fatal accident, Sunday. Shortly after noon as the air show came to a close, a passenger in an RV-6 homebuilt was killed when a Grumman TBM Avenger ran into it from behind while taxiing at the Oshkosh airport. Both the Avenger (a very large WWII taildragger with limited forward visibility) and the RV were in line for departure at Wittman Field, on the taxiway on the east side of the airport's main runway, 18-36. The propeller of the Avenger sliced into the RV and passenger Gary Palmer, 63, of Nepean, Ontario, was killed. Palmer was president of EAA Chapter 245 in Ottawa. More...

FREEDOM OF FLIGHT, FREE
When he lost the use of his legs in a surfing accident, as with anyone in that position, Jim Kaler's life changed dramatically. He was no longer the pilot of Gulfstreams and Falcon 50s for a good-sized corporate flight department but that didn't mean he wanted to be restricted to piloting a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Within two years, he was back in the left seat of a Cessna Cardinal and the immense sense of freedom and independence it fostered gave him a mission in life. He started Able to Aviation, a non-profit group with a simple aim: to introduce (or re-introduce) those with physical disabilities to the wonders of flight and to do it at no cost to the student pilot. More...

ARMING THE DISABLED WITH CONTROL
The right arm of a disabled pilot has lots to do. Rudder and brakes are controlled with a rod that clamps to the pedals, enabling the full range of movement and combinations for air and ground handling. The device is STC'd and, with some practice, does everything your feet can. The pilot's right arm fits through a loop on the bar allowing simultaneous control, engine and instrument adjustments. Kaler said that once pilots are qualified, they fly with no restrictions. He said flight is a powerful motivator and tonic for the disabled. "Learning to fly inspires hope by getting someone out of the wheelchair and into the pilot's seat," Kaler said. "It provides emotional support by developing self-esteem and self-confidence through the liberating sense that they are out of their wheelchair." More...

THE DOLLARS AND SENSE
Kaler is adamant that student pilots pay absolutely nothing for flight lessons and everything possible is done to mitigate other costs, like living expenses. The training takes place near Sayville, N.Y., on Long Island, and students have to cover their own transportation costs. Cessna has recently become a major corporate sponsor and there are about a dozen other companies that help the organization through discounts on hotel rooms, meals, etc. Able to Aviation holds regular fundraisers to cover training costs. Kaler said he's been overwhelmed by the generosity of the local Long Island community and by sponsors like Cessna. More...

CESSNA LSA: UNDER $100K, OR NOT AT ALL?
Cessna's LSA proof-of-concept design was "mobbed every day," at AirVenture, Jack Pelton, Cessna CEO, told The Wichita Eagle. "I can't tell you how many have said, 'I'll write you a check today.' It's been unbelievable." With many still waiting for a new $40,000 airplane, Pelton said the trick would be to produce Cessna's LSA offering for under $100,000. "If we can do that, I think the market is very much there," adding that even that won't be easy. "As you dissect the cost, if you do business as usual, we'll never make the price point," Pelton said. "We're going to have to look at every possible place to be competitive." From what we heard in AVweb's audio news segment with Pelton, that very much means Europe, too. He said current estimates suggest Cessna could sell 600 LSAs per year. More...

NEW LEADERSHIP FOR NATCA
Pat Forrey will be the new president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) starting Sept. 1, replacing John Carr, who took office in September 2000. Forrey has worked as an air traffic controller at Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center for 18 years. The election campaign spanned a contentious time for the organization, as the leadership tried fruitlessly to negotiate a complicated contract with the FAA. Forrey said he will develop strategic long-term plans for the organization and engage diplomatically with the FAA, Congress, industry groups, and others. "My philosophy has many facets, but the main premise is this: Dialogue is imperative to solving problems," says Forrey in a statement on his Web site. The FAA issued a statement on Monday congratulating Forrey for his win. More...

GA SALES BREAKING RECORDS THIS YEAR
Shipments of general-aviation aircraft totaled 1,843 units in the first six months of this year, a 19-percent increase over the same period last year, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) announced last week at AirVenture. "This is the highest recorded billings for the first half of a year in general aviation's history," said Pete Bunce, president of GAMA. "With our manufacturers' current backlog, we are confident that this trend will continue throughout the remainder of 2006." Industry billings totaled $8.8 billion, a 35-percent rise over last year. The biggest increase was in business-jet sales, which rose 28 percent to 415 units, but the overall upward trend was evident in all aircraft segments, GAMA said. More...

SPORT AIRCRAFT SALES GROWING
Over in the Light Sport Aircraft segment of GA, sales also have been brisk. Just a year ago at AirVenture, the first 14 approved aircraft were on display. This year, the number of LSA-approved aircraft was up to 38, a pace of two new airplanes a month. "I think that pace will start to slacken a little," Dan Johnson, director of the LSA Mall, told AVweb at the show. He estimates that by next year, the Mall will host 48 different aircraft. This year, about 500 LSAs have been delivered so far in the U.S., and about 500 more will be in pilots' hands by the end of the year, Johnson said. With many manufacturers working now to ramp up production capacity, deliveries for 2007 could easily total 1,500 or even 2,000, Johnson said. More...

NTSB: SPECTRUM 33 WAS MISRIGGED
In its preliminary report, the NTSB says the controls of the Spectrum 33 (very) light-jet prototype that crashed on July 25 in Spanish Fork, Utah, just short of its 50th flight, were misrigged. "Specifically, the linkage was connected such that left roll input from the side sticks would have deflected the ailerons to produce right roll of the airplane," the report says. The jet entered a right roll almost immediately after takeoff. The roll continued to about 90 degrees right wing-down when the right wingtip impacted the ground. The two crewmen on board were killed. More...

MICROSOFT'S NEWEST FLIGHT SIMULATOR
For many wannabes it's the next best thing, but the same goes for many instrument pilots looking to keep their skills up. It's almost three years since Microsoft Flight Simulator's Century of Flight 2004 edition let you trade places with Orville and Wilbur in the original Wright Flyer. The latest flight simulator isn't quite so radical, but it does add the chance to fly a Grumman Goose, De Havilland Beaver, a Maule on Skis, a Cosmos Trike Ultralight, and a DG808 sailplane with a tow plane. Flight Simulator X -- pronounced as "Ex," not "ten," even though it is the tenth version -- made its biggest advances in realism and multiplayer modes. The FSX world is much higher resolution and contains dynamic objects you'd better watch out for. More...

ON THE FLY...
The Kestrel prototype is now flying in Bend, Ore....
Gulfstream will offer Synthetic Vision Systems on its jets...
Columbia Aircraft has adopted FITS training standards...
A close call on the runway at O'Hare. More...

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. More...

AUDIO NEWS
Online Now: Listen to, or take AVweb's audio news with you. (No iPod required.)

Find exclusive interviews featuring Cessna's Jack Pelton on his company's LSA, 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.

NEW ARTICLES AND FEATURES ON AVWEB
COLUMNS
The Savvy Aviator #34: Is This Engine Airworthy?
How do we assess whether a piston aircraft engine is airworthy? Compression tests and oil consumption are only part of the story ... a smaller part than most owners and mechanics think.
More...

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...

For local prices, enter your U.S. ZIP Code or Airport Identifier: Fuel prices provided weekly by AirNav, based on prices from the past 2 weeks. Changes are relative to last week.

AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Franklin Municipal Airport, at KFKN, Franklin, VA.

Offering up Franklin, Ben Jamey" Duffey" told us, "Franklin VA's airport (FKN) has the nicest staff (Jimmy Gray - Manager, in particular), Lowest fuel prices around, 24 hour weather, pilot briefing and bathrooms. Instrument approach with a nice long lighted runway. If you are traveling up or down the east coast - this is the place to stop for fuel, etc. Wonderful airport and great staff!"

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!

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: CESSNA'S LSA AND YOU
AVweb wants to know how news of a Light Sport Aircraft from Cessna is affecting our readers. Are you reconsidering the Pilot revoltion? Or is LSA something that just doesn't affect you? PLUS: Results of last week's Question, "What's Your Reason to Attend AirVenture?" More...

PICTURE OF THE WEEK
Team AVweb has survived another hectic (but fun!) trip to EAA AirVenture. Big thanks to all the "POTW" submitters past and present who stopped by the booth to say "hello." It's always nice to place a face with the name! And as much fun as we had cruising the grounds and taking our own pictures last week, we were anxious to dive into the "POTW" submission pile and see what you were up to while we were traveling. As it turns out, you've been busy! We received almost 150 submissions over the past two weeks and had a tough time narrowing it down to 10 or 20 pics to contend for this week's top prize. When all was said and done, we couldn't resist awarding this week's AVweb baseball cap — or rather, a matched set of AVweb caps — to father-and-son duo Greg and Brad Palmer of Palatine, Illinois. Though we didn't meet them at the show (that we know of), we think the Palmers captured the spirit of AirVenture perfectly.More...

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.

Today's issue was written by news writer Mary Grady (bio).

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