NTSB DECISION ON CROSSFIELD CRASH EXPECTED WEDNESDAY
An air traffic controller didn’t tell Scott Crossfield he was headed for a storm, but then Crossfield didn’t ask, either. That’s the conundrum the NTSB will face when it votes Wednesday on the probable cause of the April 2006 crash that killed the legendary test pilot and goodwill ambassador for aviation. A report in the Washington Post on Sunday quotes NTSB investigation documents as saying the Atlanta controller working Crossfield’s Cessna 210 flight as it crossed through northern Georgia could see significant weather in Crossfield’s path but didn’t warn him because he thought the data was outdated. But even though the weather was obviously deteriorating, Crossfield hadn’t asked for regular weather updates and just after 11 a.m. he issued his final radio call. "Atlanta, this is Seven Nine X-ray. I'd like to deviate south. Weather." More...

RARE BEAR CHARGES TO VICTORY AT RENO
The highly modified F-8F-2 Bearcat Rare Bear, flown by John Penney, blew away the competition in the Gold final of the National Championship Air Races at Reno-Stead Airport on Sunday. The exotic machine finished the final with an average speed of 478 mph, 44, mph faster than second place Sherman Smoot flying Czech Mate, a Yak 11. Third spot went to Stewart Dawson in the Spirit of Texas Hawker Sea Fury. Dawson was less than two mph slower than Smoot. The final day of the event went off without tragedy as the crowd paused to pay their respects to the three pilots who died at this year's meet. More...

VLJ MARKET LOOKING BRIGHTER, ACCORDING TO ANALYST
A European company that has studied the emerging very light jet market says it's painting a rosier outlook for the sector than it has in the past but there are more caveats than a law library in his assessment. Phillip Butterworth-Hayes, of PMI Media, told AVweb Sunday in a podcast interview to be released on Friday that interest in VLJs seems to be sustained and new market possibilities are opening up but (and there are several of them) the next 12 months will likely be the harbinger of things to come, especially in the air taxi business." A lot will depend on just how robust the aircraft are," Butterworth-Hayes, author of the report, said. He said they're going to be called upon to fly far more hours in more rugged conditions than business jets are normally flown and many are far less expensive than the low-end business jets. More...

FOSSETT "FREELANCERS" SPARK TFR
The FAA has imposed a temporary flight restriction over the area being searched for Steve Fossett after a the pilot of a privately owned aircraft not formally engaged in the search began an impromptu sweep of the area on Friday. According to an Associated Press report, the pilot was contacted and told whoever contacted him that he was trying to claim a $10,000 reward offered on the social networking Web site YouChoose.net for information leading to the discovery of Fossett. However, getting some stick time over the Nevada wilderness wasn’t what YouChoose.net had in mind, nor did it please searchers. More...

GOOGLE FOUNDERS GET PRIME PARKING FOR THEIR BOEING AND GULFSTREAMS
Pity the lower-class Silicon Valley billionaires. While their drivers have to battle traffic for an hour to get them to their private jets at public-use airports, The New York Times is reporting that Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have exclusive access to a NASA airport that is seven minutes from their offices. While Google isn't saying anything about the $1.3 million annual rent deal, which allows Page and Brin to land and park their Boeing 767-200 and two Gulfstream Vs at Moffet Field, NASA is claiming it's being done in the name of science, not convenience. "It was an opportunity for us to defray some of the fixed costs we have to maintain the airfield as well as to have flights of opportunity for our science missions," Steven Zornetzer, associate director for institutions and research at NASA's Ames Center, told the Times. "It seemed like a win-win situation." More...

ANTIQUE AIRCRAFT OWNERS URGED TO COMMENT ON FAA DRAFT ORDER
Those who own and fly old, rare and discontinued aircraft are being urged to comment on a draft order (MS Word document) under consideration by the FAA that would determine how the agency handles what it calls "abandoned" and "orphaned" type certificates and supplementary type certificates. The agency's preamble makes the point that it needs to be in reliable contact with the custodians of TCs and STCs for all certified aircraft still flying and the proposed national policy is aimed at that. That naturally has the owners of historic airplanes nervous about their future flying and they're hoping everyone with an interest in the issue will comment by the deadline on Oct. 5. More...

CRASH PILOT ALLEGEDLY ATTACKED BY ANGRY COMMUTERS
The South African media is sorting out the facts after at least one news outlet reported that the occupants of a vehicle hit by a Tiger Moth in an accident on a road south of Johannesburg Wednesday attacked the injured pilot while he was still strapped into his seat. The pilot, Glen Simpson, is reportedly doing well in hospital but the crash killed his passenger and the driver of a bus that was struck by the plane. One other vehicle was also hit and a total of 23 people were injured, most of them on the bus, which carried 40 people. There's some question whether the attack actually took place, however. More...

CLIFF ROBERTSON IS NAA'S ELDER STATESMAN
An actor who's won wide acclaim for that talent (including an Oscar) has been recognized for his lifelong devotion to aviation. Cliff Robertson will be awarded the Wesley L. MacDonald Elder Statesman of Aviation Award at NAA's annual awards night Oct. 29. Throughout his acting career, Robertson has made numerous aviation-related shows but his list of accomplishments in the real world of aviation is every bit as long. He's on EAA's President's Council and was the founding chairman of the Young Eagles program. He rarely misses Oshkosh or the opportunity to promote aviation and that, in part, is why AVweb's Ann Devers has been tireless in her promotion of Robertson for this award. More...

(Keep reading for our exclusive Monday audio interview with Robertson.)

AVWEB'S MONDAY PODCAST: PILOT'S PILOT CLIFF ROBERTSON (AND SOON-TO-BE NAA ELDER STATESMAN OF AVIATION)
To the rest of the world, he's known as the ruggedly handsome actor who won an Academy Award for the 1968 classic Charly — but to the flying fraternity, Cliff Robertson is a respected pilot, tireless volunteer, and collector of precious warbirds. On Oct. 29, he'll be presented with the National Aeronautic Association's Wesley L. MacDonald Elder Statesman Award. AVweb's Russ Niles spoke with Robertson about his life in airplanes and about the search for his friend, Steve Fossett. More...

Columns | Features | What's New | Calendar | Brainteasers

WHAT'S NEW FOR SEPTEMBER 2007
This month, AVweb's survey of the latest products and services for pilots, mechanics and aircraft owners brings you life vests, videos, window tints, engine management systems and much more. More...

LEADING EDGE #9: UNUSABLE FUEL
It's one thing to run out of fuel before your destination; it's another to have fuel on board that you can't get to -- or you forget to get it. More...

FBO OF THE WEEK: LANCASTER AVIATION (KLKR, MCWHIRTER FIELD, LANCASTER, SC)

AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Lancaster Aviation at McWhirter Field (KLKR) in Lancaster, South Carolina.

AVweb reader Alex McDowell recommended Lancaster for the usual reasons — "down-home hospitality, excellent service, and very reasonable rates" — but like many pilots, Alex discovered the true value of good service during an unscheduled stop for emergency maintenance. Alex writes:

Suffering complete electrical failure upon takeoff from a military base, I diverted 95 miles out of my way because I knew I could count on them really taking care of me. I wasn't disappointed. Gary's team jumped right in, troubleshooting my problem while I enjoyed reading all the heartfelt notes to parts manager Carrie from deployed service men and women in appreciation for the many care packages she has sent to these overseas troops. Sandy loaned me the crew car overnight, and the gang had a fix in the works by the time I arrived back at the airport. Fred the pooch was even keeping my parking spot on the ramp warm! Neil, Mark and Justin had me repaired, refueled, and ready to go before lunch, but I couldn't pass up the invitation to stay for the barbecue chicken and fixin's Mike had been grilling up all morning. I had been anxious to get back home for meetings the next day, and the gang made sure I made it on time, but I sure hated to leave the wonderful family atmosphere.

Alex will definitely return to Lancaster Aviation and recommends any other pilots in the area check them out.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!

VIDEO OF THE WEEK: HOW TO CRASH A BOEING 720
This week's "Video of the Week" comes to us from Spike/iFilm and goes all the way back to 1984, when NASA and the FAA worked together to crash a Boeing 720. Their intent was to study the influence of a fuel additive designed to suppress fire, but ours in the year 2007 is — well, honestly, to watch a very expensive aircraft go down in the name of research. (Click here to watch.) More...

ON THE FLY ...
Strand-in organizers say their blog site has been hacked and replaced ...
Hawker Hurricane crash kills pilot at British air show ...
Diamond D-Jet serial number 002 flew Friday. 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...

AVMAIL: SEP. 17, 2007
Reader mail this week about Marion Blakey's legacy, ELTs, and lots of comments about the search for Steve Fossett. More...

AVWEBBIZ (AVWEB'S BUSINESS AVIATION NEWSLETTER) REPORTS FROM NBAA
AVweb's award-winning editors will be at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Convention and Trade Show September 25-27 to cover all the business and commercial aviation news. Enjoy daily show news, podcasts and videos delivered to your inbox in the AVwebBiz newsletter. If you don't already get our AVwebBiz newsletter, click here to subscribe at no cost. More...

SHORT FINAL

Overheard in IFR Magazine's "On the Air"

While flying through Joshua Approach airspace in Southern California:

Joshua Approach:
"Bonanza Five Victor X-Ray, be advised you have traffic at your 12 o'clock 10 miles, an F-15."

Bonanza 5VX:
"Roger, we'll be looking, no contact."

Approach:
"Bonanza Five Victor X-Ray, traffic should be no factor but should be fun to watch."

Cessna 123:
"Not in this wild machine."

Approach:
"That's OK, I fly a Skyhawk, too."

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

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