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Latest EAA AirVenture
News & Highlights

Warbirds Grounded By Misfueling Scare

The usual warbirds show didn't come off on Thursday at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. The reason — concerns about possibly contaminated avgas. Apparently, an unidentified warbird pilot checked his fuel and alerted warbird operations of a possible problem. "We were within 30 seconds of starting," said one T-6 pilot.

According to Joe Schumacher, Director of Aircraft Maintenance for EAA, it was not certain that the fuel was contaminated, but rather than take any chances, the warbirds stood down and the show was scrubbed. A joint statement from Phillips Petroleum and Basler Flight Service was issued late on Thursday saying that in response to "concern expressed by several aircraft operators concerning coloration and aroma of fuel," samples were "collected from the aircraft in question and the trucks that serviced these airplanes. Samples were sent to the Wisconsin Bureau of Retail Petroleum Services in Fond du Lac, Wisc. Tests showed the fuel in question meets the specifications of Avgas and proves that it is not contaminated with either Jet A or diesel fuel."

At least one warbird owner/pilot was initially convinced that the fuel was contaminated. T-34 pilot Richard Russell told AVweb, "I'm sure it was bad." Russell said that he had topped off with 31 gallons of fuel. He said that the fuel smelled and felt suspicious.

AlliedSignal Unveils World's Priciest GPS Portable

Forget anything you've ever heard about Oshkosh, the biggest reasons pilots come here are to "see" new toys and to "buy" new toys, and the manufacturers never disappoint. Thursday AlliedSignal and recently acquired Skyforce gave assembled reporters the skinny on the new Skyforce IIIC portable GPS moving map display. With a list price of just under $2,500 dollars, it's going to be the most expensive portable on the market, but AlliedSignal/Skyforce is convinced it will be the best.

Using the Skyforce IIIC is a breeze. If you have one working finger, it can get you where you want to go, and with an incredibly high quality 16-color moving map, all it will take is one good eye to see it. According to Skyforce's John Prior, "There is simply no competition." Big words, but the Skyforce IIIC may just live up to them. Move the small joystick to a location on the map, hit a single "go to" button, and wait a couple of seconds for the heading and distance to appear on the screen. There's no denying it's a sweet set-up, but $2,500 dollars is an expensive option for something you unplug from the cigarette lighter and stick in your flight bag. How will AlliedSignal/Skyforce overcome that perception? Easy. Instead of thinking of it as an expensive portable GPS, Allied/Signal will tell you to consider it an "inexpensive" panel-mount. Skyforce Managing Director Mel White: "One of the benefits is being able to put it in the panel, because people are willing to spend more for a panel. When you view it as a panel- mounted GPS, it's outstanding product for the money…when you look at it as a portable product, yes it's a top end product."

If you plan to panel mount the IIIC, be prepared to get a Form 337 STC, but once you have it, mount away. You have the choice of four different mounting options depending on where you want to place it and how much space your panel has left. For folks who claim their current GPS systems are unreadable in direct sunlight, the Skyforce IIIC promises clarity in all lighting situations, and will angle 45 degrees side to side for your viewing pleasure. The Skyforce IIIC will go into production soon, and will be available for purchase by the end of September.

Get Your Jepp NavData Via The Net

Internet-savvy Jeppesen NavData users can now get their GPS database updates via their computer. Jeppesen customers will initially have to buy a datawriter that will give them the power to download digital information and transfer that data to a data card which can then be inserted into Garmin, Trimble, Magellan, and Northstar GPS units. After the first year of service, Jeppesen is promising the subscription price will be cut in half. Prices will vary depending on what type of GPS you have, but with, say, the current annual upgrade price of $950 for a Garmin GNC 250, you can figure on quite a savings. Since the datawriter will also lower the expenses involved with sending NavData cards through the mail, Jeppesen says it will be able to reduce the overall cost accordingly. Jeppesen expects to begin taking orders for the datawriter during the last part of 1998.

NBAA, EAA Join Vowels For AirVenture '98

What do a $46 million dollar Gulfstream bizjet and a $46,000 Piper Super Cub have in common? They'll both take wing and they'll both get you where you're going — granted in different levels of style. But National Business Aviation Association president John W. Olcott says they have more in common than just the obvious. Olcott argues one type of flying supports the other. As proof of this "synergy", EAA AirVenture '98 is saluting seven decades of corporate aviation. What role does corporate/business aviation play in general aviation? Olcott's conversation is sprinkled liberally with the word "continuum" as he talks about how many of his corporate pilot members are also EAA members, and how what happens to business aviation is important to G.A. as a whole.

If all of G.A. goes the way of business aviation, then all should go well. Corporate numbers are good and getting better. Olcott rattles off the figures as if he's done it a few times before: business aviation is growing at a rate of 5% each year, about 10,000 U.S. companies fly 17,000 turbine and 35,000 piston-engine aircraft. Olcott says business owners are learning corporate airplanes and helicopters maximize their two most important assets: people and time.

What's the benefit of corporate flying over airlines? Olcott says it becomes very obvious when companies try to make travel plans. "Business jets can go to approximately ten times the locations that have any type of commercial service and 100 times the locations that really have convenient service. Airlines serve 500 airports but concentrate that service on only 50 locations. Business can go to 5,000." Unlike the rest of G.A., the business of bizjets actually started trending "up" during the recession of the late 80's and part of it was due to downsizing. What was bad for employees was good for corporate flight departments. According to Olcott, "Downsizing required employees to be more productive-one area that had to increase in productivity was in travel." Despite what you might think, it's not just the Warren Buffets and Bill Gates who fly corporate-a recent Lou Harris poll showed 50% of those flying biz are middle managers, 20% are professional and technical people, 15% are senior management, and 15% are top management.

Will the information age change that? It's too easy nowadays to fax, teleconference, e-mail, and phone. Olcott argues we'll still need to fly. "Has using the fax machine reduced your need to travel and meet face to face with customers?" To Olcott, the future of biz is bright.

Feel The Need For Speed?

The Legend, a high performance, V-8 powered composite tandem aircraft that appeared on the market a short time ago now looks even more like a miniature JPATS military trainer: it's got a new turboprop engine.

The Legend airframe was designed originally for up to 1000 horse power and 500 mph so the engine swap wasn't a major feat of engineering. In the process of replacing the V-8 and it's associated water cooling system, the airframe lost 330 pounds. With the new turboprop installation, the new empty weight is less than 2000 pounds.

The free-shaft Walter M601D turboprop engine, similar in design to the Pratt and Whitney PT-6, is manufactured in the Czech Republic, and is rated at 657 horse power, 724 horses for takeoff. It is used mostly in an eastern European commuter aircraft called the Let 410, which strongly resembles the Beech 1900. There is another model of the engine, a different dash number actually, which is FAA certified for retrofit on Beech King Airs. The prop is also from the Let 410 commuter aircraft, but was designed to operate in a whole different performance environment than the speedy Legend.

As you would expect, the combination small airframe-big engine of the Legend performs like a rocket. Though the Legend's turboprop engine was installed just this past April, before Sun & Fun, there are still things that need to be optimized with the new combination, especially the propeller. When cruising in the mid teens, arguably lower than optimum altitude for the Legend, speeds of 300-335 knots are quite common. With some prop tweaking, the company hopes to see normal cruise numbers in the 350 knot range.

Jeff Aukland, president of Legend Aircraft, told of a recent takeoff from Legend Aircraft's home airport, Johnson County, near Kansas City: "I've got a hobbs meter that works on the master switch in this aircraft. On a recent flight, I jumped in, did my usual start and warm up, then taxied out and was cleared for takeoff. From the time I turned the master switch on until I reached 17,500 feet was just 8 minutes! Fuel burn was only 6 gallons." Now that's a rocket ship.

What's the price of all this speed and performance? The complete kit less engine from Legend is $79,850; the firewall forward package, including engine, prop, engine mount, wire harness, engine gauges, and power levers is $45,000. The company estimates that a builder could have a flying airplane for $160,000 to 170,000. Where would you like to go for lunch?

Very, Very Young Eagles

Circlemasters of Brookfield, Wisconsin are conducting introductory u-control model airplane sessions at Oshkosh's Pioneer Field during EAA AirVenture '98. Their whole purpose for conducting the dual sessions is to introduce more kids to aviation, since many pilots were captivated by flying u-control or radio control models when they were young. The group set up two 60 foot and one 40 foot flying ring near the north edge of the beautiful grass runway at Pioneer Field, and would be glad to show anyone how to fly a u-control model during the convention.

New Wittman Hanger

Also at Pioneer Field is the new Steve Wittman Hangar, a memorial to Wittman field's namesake. The hangar resembles the FBO where Wittman once operated in his glory days. A visit is like stepping back in time, with airplanes chronicling Wittman's years as a mechanic, homebuilder and air racing legend. His tool bench is even a part of the display, with tools scattered across the top as if the master craftsman will return after a short test flight.

Several important airplanes occupy the hangar, including Steve's first homebuilt, the Hardly Ableson. This crude airplane was scrapped together from parts and pieces at the time, and included a Harley Davidson V-twin motorcycle engine which produced 12-14 horsepower. Wittman taught himself to fly in the simple craft.

The Pheasant H10 biplane, in which Steve made many transcontinental racing flights in the late 20's also sits in the hangar doorway, beckoning visitors inside. Buttercup, the predecesor of Wittman's Tailwind, and the prototype Tailwind is there, too, a reminder of how visionary this man was back when his light, efficient designs were the talk of EAA conventions in the sixties. Worth a visit.

Poberenzy, Schmoberezny...You Can't Park There!

Anyone who has driven to AirVenture Oshkosh knows how serious the EAA's volunteers are about directing traffic. EAA founder Paul Poberezny discovered today just how serious. Paul was demonstrating a couple of non-standard items in his P-51 to Chuck Yeager, who was about to fire it up and go formation flying with Connie Bowlin in Glamorous Glennis. As these two icons of aviation leaned into the cockpit, a volunteer walked over and announced "Sir, I'm sorry but you're gonna have to move that car." Someone in the stunned crowd said "Hey, lady! Do you know who that is?" Paul and Chuck handled the interruption with aplomb, finished the briefing, and Paul moved his car. Just goes to show you that PIC time doesn't mean a thing when you're driving on the grounds at EAA AirVenture.

OSH '98 Articles and Features

"Keep It In Tight, Cherokee...
Put It Down On The Green Dot"

It's the world's most prestigious ATC job: working OSH during EAA. From the ranks of Great Lakes Region, 168 of the most senior controllers applied, but just 48 were chosen to wear the pink shirts, and those are the best of the best. AVweb’s Rick Durden spent a few hours in the tower cab watching these talented men and women doing their separation stuff. Whew! These folks sure as heck earn their pay during AirVenture week!

Gunfight at the OSH Corral

Patty Wagstaff and Sean D. Tucker held their first combined airshow at OSH Thursday. The ersatz competition provides AVweb contributor Bill Scherer an opportunity to poke some good-natured (but wry) fun at the two close friends. If this doesn’t tickle your funny-bone, we’re not sure what will. AVweb also provides you with our review of this staged “competition,” probably not a contest true-blue lovers of aerobatics will be enthused about, but those who enjoy professional wrestling matches may well find it entertaining.

It's Not Just A Fly-In

Tom Gresham concludes his first-timer’s adventure to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh with more exploration and discoveries in the markets and buildings that populated OSH. Along the way he earned his first painful OSH blister and emptied the contents of his wallet into the cash registers of a few exhibitors. Tom’s insights into what he learned this first time around give a good sense of why this place keeps attracting enthusiasts year after year. Will Tom be back next year? What do you think?

OSH '98 Photo Gallery - Day Three

Tons of great photos of Thursday’s thrilling airshow, plus dozens of our staffers’ discoveries of the unique, exotic, beautiful, weird and wonderful at EAA AirVenture ’98. The Photo Gallery is proving to be one of the most popular portions of AVweb’s special Oshkosh coverage. Truly the next best thing to being here yourself.

Don't forget to visit AVweb again tomorrow for more OSH '98 coverage!

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