THOUSANDS SIGN ON TO AOPA PETITION OPPOSING USER FEES
The Sun 'n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla., is where many pilots are this week, so AOPA is making the most of it to collect signatures on its anti-user fee petition. Giant boards posted at three sites on the field are staffed by volunteers handing out Sharpies to all comers, and they keep coming and coming. "It shows the intensity of feeling on this issue," said AOPA President Phil Boyer as he arrived at AOPA's big yellow tent on Thursday afternoon. "We've already filled up one petition, with 4,700 names, and a second one will be full by the end of today," added Sue Walitsky, AOPA's public-relations director. Boyer said he's hopeful that Congress will have worked out a position on the issue within the next few weeks. Since the current FAA authorization bill expires September 30, some kind of new plan needs to be in place by then. "We're just in Round 3 or 4 of a 10-round fight," he told AVweb, "and we're a bit bloodied, but in better shape than I thought we'd be." More...

AVWEB'S SUN 'N FUN PODCAST #3:
CESSNA PRESIDENT JACK PELTON REFLECTS ON THE COMPANY'S PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
AVweb sat down with Cessna chairman, president and CEO Jack Pelton at the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In this week in Lakeland, Florida. While the Wichita manufacturer is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, it is clearly focused on the future. More...

JEPPESEN TAKES TRAINING TO THE WEB
Jeppesen has teamed up with Diamond to create a Web-based private pilot curriculum specific to DA20 and DA40 aircraft. Being online "provides access to all the resources of the Internet," says Jeppesen's Kert Thielen. "It also means we can constantly update the content." The format will also make it easy for Jeppesen to re-design the course to be compatible with other aircraft types. The course follows the FAA's FITS training guidelines, which are scenario-based. The private pilot version will be available in November via Diamond Flight Centers, Thielen said. More courses for advanced ratings also are in the works. More...

ADAM PREPARES FOR PRODUCTION RAMP-UP
Englewood, Colo.-based Adam Aircraft admittedly has delivered only seven copies of its A500 inline piston twin since receiving type certification in May 2005. While it gained a production certificate in October, deliveries still have been slower than planned. To remedy the situation Adam aircraft has shifted its resources to production, but it also is engaged in "knowledge sharing" with Cirrus Aircraft, according to Adam Aircraft CEO Rick Adam. Under this arrangement, Adam Aircraft is sharing its composite lay-up know-how for pressurizedvessels, which Cirrus will need to manufacture its jet single. In return, Cirrus is sharing its expertise in volume production of aircraft with Adam Aircraft. The relationship makes sense since the two companies' products don't overlap and their respective airplanes are constructed entirely of carbon composites. More...

TEXAS TURBINES SOUPS UP CARAVAN
Texas Turbines says it can get more utility out of the world's best-selling utility aircraft. Company President Bobby Bishop told AVweb at the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In that the installation of a 900-shp Honeywell turbine to replace the 675-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 installed at the factory not only enhances performance, the more efficient Honeywell engine uses less fuel than similarly-sized powerplants. The performance improvements are impressive -- the plane takes off faster on wheels and floats, climbs faster and the Grand Caravan prototype they are testing cruises at 199 knots, about 30 knots faster than a stock airplane. The extra performance is especially welcome in icing conditions, where the Caravan has come under scrutiny in recent years. The Caravan project grew from Texas Turbines' popular turbine conversion of the de Havilland Otter. More...

LAMA AWARDS FIRST LSA AUDIT VERIFICATIONS
"How can a buyer have confidence that Light Sport Aircraft manufacturers are really in compliance with the ASTM standards? Who's guarding the hen house?" EAA's Bob Warner said his staff is asked that question "every hour of every day," and he's glad that now he has an answer. On Thursday morning at the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla., the first four independent audits of LSA manufacturers were announced. IndUS Aviation, Jihlavan Airplanes/Kappa Aircraft, Flight Design and Aeropro all recently completed the audit process. These manufacturers have complied with a program developed by the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association (LAMA) for third-party verification that all of their data actually meets the ASTM standards. Adam Morrison of Streamline Designs is a member of the verification committee, and said the process is very thorough. "We review all of their calculations and methodology," he told AVweb. For example, in one audit, questions arose as to whether the data in fact proved that the airplane met the G-force requirement to withstand a hard landing. "We said the data didn't seem convincing to us, and they were able to show us the actual testing data that in fact did show that it was all okay," Morrison said. More...

SPORTY'S AUCTIONING OFF MUSTANG
Here's your chance to buy one of the very first Cessna Mustangs and help a great cause. Hal Shevers of Sporty's Pilot Shop got position number 13 when Cessna began taking deposits on the much-anticipated entry in the entry-level jet market, and since he already has a Citation it was natural to assume that he would be flying it himself. He's apparently happy with his current ride and will, instead, auction off the $2.7 million airplane online to support The Sporty's Foundation, which supports youth-oriented aviation education and safety programs. "This is an exciting airplane and a unique chance for on of our customers to own a Mustang right now," said Shevers. The bidding begins June 4 and ends June 8, and bidders must pre-register. More...

BRAINTEASERS QUIZ #119: THOSE WHO CAN — TEACH
As a pilot racks up aerial experience, thoughts turn to passing along that largesse. Let the quest for the flight instructor's ticket begin. And, there will be a quiz. All FAR questions, here, are based on Part 61. (Click through to take the quiz.) More...

SAY AGAIN?: A NOTE TO READERS
Each month, AVweb publishes about a half-dozen columns on a range of aviation topics. If we do things right, these simply appear on the site, for all to read free of charge. What's less obvious is the behind-the-scenes work and thought that goes into these columns. That's another way of saying producing a monthly column isn't easy, nor is it sustainable forever. In that context, effective this month, Don Brown has ended his long-time popular column, Say Again?. More...

AVWEB'S NEWSTIPS ADDRESS ...
Our best stories start with you. 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. What have you heard? More...

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