From: AVflash@avweb.com (AVweb's OSHflash) Sender: AVflash@avweb.com (AVweb's OSHflash) Errors-To: AVflash-errors@avweb.com Reply-To: AVflash@avweb.com (AVweb Support) To: OSHflash mailing list:; Precedence: Bulk Subject: OSHflash 01.2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- OSHflash AirVenture 2001, Day 2 Wednesday, July 25, 2001 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *********************************************************************** * * * Welcome to Day Two of AVweb's one-of-a-kind coverage of EAA's * * AirVenture 2001, direct from Oshkosh, Wis. Each day for seven * * days, AVweb will bring you all the latest news, our exclusive * * image galleries, live ATC from the OSH tower, the best shopping * * deals from our AirVenture sponsors, plus Rick Durden's OSHtalk. * * If you can't make it to Oshkosh, sit back, strap in and hold on! * * * *********************************************************************** _______________________________________________ AVweb's Top Stories From AirVenture 2001: MOONEY AIRCRAFT FURLOUGHS WORKERS... AVweb has learned that a rumor involving the furlough of 85 percent of Mooney Aircraft Corporation (MAC) employees appears to be true. The Kerrville (Texas) Daily Times newspaper told AVweb that their local sources confirm that employees in MAC's assembly division and several other departments were furloughed for at least two weeks on Monday. Workers in the preflight, maintenance, and parts and paint shop will begin a furlough on Friday, July 27. Mooney certainly isn't the only general aviation manufacturer to feel the economic downturn, but the lousy timing of the furlough will only add to the daily rumors swarming MAC like so many biting gnats. ...AMID UPPER MANAGEMENT CHANGE In other MAC news, CEO Chris Dopp has resigned effective immediately, MAC Senior Vice President of Planning Mike McConnell told AVweb. Dopp's father, Paul S. Dopp, remains as chairman, and the ownership of the company has not changed. Why the younger Dopp is an ex-employee is something on which company officials will not elaborate, though AVweb was told that a new CEO will be named shortly. Rumors about the company have been flying fast and furious, although MAC's presence at Oshkosh debunks at least one ... that Mooney would not show. "We're here in full force and selling airplanes," McConnell told AVweb. On the issue of $300,000 in delinquent taxes and penalties, McConnell says the company is working with county authorities this week to pay past-due 2000 assessments. NOTE: Check out AVweb's prior coverage of Mooney's tax troubles at . SPORT PILOT NPRM: FAA SAYS NOT THIS WEEK... The Sport Pilot proposal is moving along, the FAA's Sue Gardner said yesterday, but FAA officials from Washington told AVweb the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking will not be ready this week. The buzz has been that FAA chief Jane Garvey might announce the NPRM's publication at her "Meet the Administrator" session on Friday, but Scott Brenner, the FAA's public affairs chief, told AVweb that is "very unlikely." Earl Lawrence, EAA's vice president for government relations, remained optimistic, noting that past predictions of the proposal's demise were unwarranted: "I heard two weeks ago the whole thing was dead. ... We'll just have to wait till Friday and see," he told AVweb. ...BUT IT'S MOVING ALONG... Gardner, who's been shepherding the Sport Pilot proposal through the federal bureaucracy, came to Oshkosh yesterday morning to answer the questions of the many, many pilots who are interested in it. She couldn't say exactly when the NPRM will be released, but told AVweb, "We're working with the OMB [Office of Management and Budget] now, answering their questions ... so that's a good sign." Gardner also said her office is working on an Advisory Circular to be released in draft form this fall, which will attempt to clarify for pilots the many details and interpretations of the complex rule. She also emphasized that the FAA will welcome comments from the GA community about the NPRM, will accept comments via the Internet, and will give due consideration to each one. ...AND ENTHUSIASM, INTEREST ARE HIGH The forum attracted a crowd to the cavernous Eclipse Pavilion early on Opening Day. Questions touched on topics from maintenance matters to "Why can't the rules allow my Cessna 150 to qualify as a Sport Plane?" to one youngster who wondered if she could really get a license to fly on her 17th birthday, no strings attached. "Yes, you can, and we hope you do," answered Bob Warner, of EAA. One man stood up to say that the Sport Pilot proposal is a great thing for aviation, and everyone should stop worrying about the details and get behind it -- he earned a big round of applause from the audience. Gardner said, "We're very excited about this at the FAA," but after years of work, a big sigh of relief will greet the publication of the NPRM -- till that happens, the danger still looms that it might be killed in the bureaucratic pipeline. NOTE: AVweb's image gallery features pictures of yesterday's Sport Pilot forum, at . CLEAR SKIES WITH INCREASING CIRRUS... Yesterday morning, Cirrus Design President Alan Klapmeier announced that production of the SR22 had practically reached one per day and the 67th SR22 (the 200th Cirrus delivered to a customer) would be in the hands of its new owner this week. While some 650 aircraft wait to be delivered, those waiting for the SR20 will now be getting an SR20A. Production of the SR20 had been halted to add the "A" and the refinements that come with it. Plus, to help more pilots get into the air in a Cirrus, the company is partnering with AirShares Elite, a fractional-ownership-for- GA outfit that offers a quarter share of an SR22 for $50,000, plus a $575 monthly maintenance fee ... plus $55 an hour. It may sound expensive, but you get some of that $50,000 back by reselling the plane at the end of the four-year term. ...AS SR22 FLIES IN FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP Keeping his company and aircraft at the forefront of the GA light-plane industry, Klapmeier is eager to embrace new technologies as they arrive, including FADEC and diesel power ... just as soon as manufacturers can certify them. While the timeline for those are still floating somewhere between "We don't know" and "Good luck," the fractional ownership program is available now. AirShares Elite offers to able-walleted pilots online scheduling, and at the airport they will find the airplane pulled out, shined, stocked with amenities of their personal preference, and ready to go. Able-walleted nonpilots can also have a pilot ferry them to their destination and back. Clearly, Cirrus and AirShares hope the concept will spread to the corporate/executive crowd as the best new way from here to there on your schedule ... and on time. CARTERCOPTER SHOOTS FOR OSH '03 The AirVenture faithful are not at a loss for new technology this year. Yesterday morning, Jay Carter Jr. of CarterCopter gave several hundred forum attendees an update on a technology he believes will change the face of flying. Carter has big goals, the most immediate of which is to have his aircraft break the MU-1 barrier. If the CarterCopter's forward speed can exceed the tip speed of its rotor, it will have made history, accomplishing something many believed could not be done. The CarterCopter is steeped in technology that the company believes will eventually propel the gyroplane to 400 mph at 50,000 feet. So far, the flight tests have taken the odd bird to just 139 mph at a couple thousand feet, but Carter is optimistic, knowing that radical new technology takes time. Time they have, but patience is getting a bit harder to come by. NOTE: Check out AVweb's earlier coverage of the CarterCopter at , and for more about the company, visit their Web site at . CRASHES MAR AIRVENTURE A 56-year-old pilot was killed yesterday morning when his plane went down just miles from Wittman Field. The man was the sole occupant of the plane, reported to be an Experimental category Giles 202. Winnebago County officials say the accident happened at 8:47 a.m., a couple miles south of the north-south runway. Also, on Saturday, Airtex Products Inc. owner Donald Stretch and a passenger were killed when his Cherokee Six went down in a field en route to EAA AirVenture. The plane crashed in a soybean field just seconds after Stretch, 57, of Yardley, Pa., and Lori L. Cheviron departed a private airstrip in Chenoa, Ill. Stretch was the second-generation owner of Airtex, the well-known aircraft interior business. TICK TOCK TO KITTY HAWK Only 875 days, 21 hours and 13 minutes to go -- according to EAA's official "Countdown to Kitty Hawk" clock, unveiled yesterday at AirVenture 2001. The project -- to build a reproduction of the Wright 1903 Flyer, as historically accurate as possible -- is scheduled to culminate in the recreation of Orville and Wilbur's first flight 100 years to the minute after it was achieved, on December 17, 2003. Also yesterday, EAA officially announced that Ford Motor Company will sponsor the effort. Ken Hyde, who was commissioned to build the aircraft, said yesterday the program is two months ahead of schedule. "I think the Wright Brothers would be proud of us," he said. NOTE: AVweb's image gallery features pictures from the Countdown kickoff, at . AMELIA EARHART RIDES AGAIN While much of the world's fascination with Amelia Earhart lies in her disappearance, some would rather celebrate her accomplishments. To that end, Greg Herrick, president of Historic Aviation, purchased a 1927 AVRO Avian and recruited Amelia look-alike Carlene Mendieta from Sonoma, Calif., to recreate Earhart's famed 1928 solo flight across the United States. Her round-trip journey will begin in Rye, N.Y., reach its westernmost point in Glendale, Calif., and return to New York. Mendieta is a low-time pilot with about 300 hours, but has a fascination with vintage aircraft and says she's honored to be chosen to commemorate Earhart's famous transcontinental accomplishment. NOTE: Check out AVweb's pictures of the Avian and Mendieta at , and for more information about the flight, go to . AIRVENTURE ON SPEEDVISION ... BUT FOR HOW LONG? Speedvision is running prime-time coverage of AirVenture 2001 tonight, Saturday and Sunday (check your local listings), but for Speedvision, airplanes aren't the only thing flying high -- the rumors are, too. The FOX network is now working out the details of its acquisition of the cable channel and with FOX's current love of NASCAR, fears are that cuts will come to the 30-plus percent of Speedvision's programming currently devoted to aviation. The avfaithful are circulating a petition to secure their beloved pixels, but even the Speedvision representatives here at Oshkosh seemed less than secure about the possibilities. IN-FLIGHT WEATHER FOR THE REST OF US Datalink technology may finally be approaching affordability for GA pilots. Bendix/King recently began installing flight-information stations that will enable pilots to access weather data in the cockpit for a fraction of the cost now associated with such services. According to Gary Stuteville of Honeywell, the ground-based system can uplink much faster than satellite-based systems, giving pilots a more up-to-date picture of actual conditions. Eleven ground stations are up and running, with plans to cover the entire U.S. by early 2003. Text-based weather data will be free to pilots with Bendix/King equipment, while graphical weather will be available for about $50 to $100 per month. OWN YOUR OWN LOCKHEED SPY PLANE In 1939, Sidney Cotton flew sorties to gather information for countries that would one day be locked in war with Germany and Italy. The remarkable thing about Cotton's intelligence-gathering was that he did it blatantly, often right under the nose of the enemy. As the war drew near, Cotton spirited his Lockheed L-12 back to England, but this week, it's at Oshkosh. This is one piece of history that can be yours, if the price is right. Owner Steve Oliver is accepting offers on N12EJ, the oldest L-12 still flying. Take a look, give Oliver a call, and you can be the one to fly this extremely rare bird to OSH next year! NOTE: At you can find out more about the L-12, and you can see it in AVweb's image gallery at . CHECK OUT AVWEB'S COMPLETE COVERAGE: OSHflash is AVweb's daily summary of the all the news and events at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2001. For more on the sights, sounds and goings-on, including AVweb's exclusive RealAudio programming and one-of-a-kind image galleries, be sure to check out AVweb's EAA AirVenture 2001 Web site: _________________________ OSHTALK AUDIO PROGRAMMING "OSHtalk, Day Two: CAP, Women with Wings, aeromedical news and more." Join OSHtalk host Rick Durden as he greets guests from the Civil Air Patrol and the second annual Women with Wings caravan to OSH. Also hear from 95-year-old pilot John Miller on learning to fly a Jenny, plus AVweb's Dr. Brent Blue with the latest aeromedical news. __________________________________________________ AirVenture Sponsor News and Special Offers AVweb has a small army of writers, editors and photographers in Oshkosh this week to bring you our exclusive coverage. We simply couldn't do it without the generous support of these fine companies: * PHILLIPS 66 * TELEDYNE CONTINENTAL MOTORS * SIMCOM * OMF AIRCRAFT * GARMIN INTERNATIONAL * AEROBATICSOURCE.COM * AVIONICS WEST * FLIGHTCOM SHOP FOR PHILLIPS 66 AVIATION OILS ONLINE AT THE PHILLIPS 66 E-STORE High-quality Phillips 66 aviation oils are now available online. Visit to purchase any product in the Phillips 66 family of aviation oils. Stop by the Phillips 66 booth (#104) during AirVenture with any questions about your aircraft's lubrication. TELEDYNE CONTINENTAL MOTORS OFFERS A NEW WAY TO MAINTAIN YOUR ENGINE Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) has a whole new way for airplane owners to maintain their investment. Genuine Continental kit parts let owners fly with confidence, knowing that every component in their engine is a factory original. Leave nothing to chance: Insist on genuine Continental replacement parts. Kits include: top-end overhaul kit, lower-end overhaul kit, camshaft kit, major overhaul gasket kit, major overhaul hardware kit, and through-bolt kit. Visit TCM at the West Main Aircraft display area 99-102 and talk to TCM's technical staff, or go to TCM's Web site: . SIMCOM TRAINING IS TAILORED FOR PILOTS' NEEDS! SIMCOM Training Centers, a division of Pan Am International Flight Academy, offers value-priced training programs using advanced teaching techniques and state-of-the-art simulators, to ensure each client receives the most for their training dollar. Recognized for its outstanding customer service, SIMCOM offers initial and recurrent training programs for business and general aviation pilots, with smaller classes to maximize one-on-one interaction with instructors. Discounts available when more than one person attends a specific program, for returning clients, and for our Pinch Hitter program. Visit the SIMCOM training experts at Booth 4080-81 during AirVenture, or go to . "I COULD LIVE IN THIS AIRPLANE," SAID ONE OMF VISITOR "It's so comfortable and the instrument panel is so easy to read!" This and other ooh's and aah's are being heard around OMF Aircraft's OMF-160 Symphony aircraft. The Symphony is a two-seat, high-wing aircraft, fully certified in the Normal category. The aircraft's spacious interior has been designed to bring true flying comfort and safety to both the pilot-in-command and an instructor or passenger, offering all the freedom of the skies! Order now! Delivery in three months! See this aircraft in person during AirVenture at Booth 422, or go online at . GARMIN HANDHELD GPS UNITS NOW RECEIVE INSTANT JEPPESEN UPDATES ONLINE! No more waiting on the postman to deliver diskettes -- go online. This new GARMIN service gives pilots quicker access to time-critical data. The updates are affordably priced at $35 for a single update, and an annual subscription for 13 consecutive updates, every 28 days, is only $295. Go to to order, or stop by GARMIN's booth (#1073-76) during AirVenture for full details. Don't have a GPS? Find the right GPS for your navigation needs at GARMIN's booth, or online at . COME MEET PATTY WAGSTAFF IN PERSON AT THE AEROBATICSOURCE.COM BOOTH! If you're attending EAA AirVenture 2001, mark your calendar and make sure to stop by the AerobaticSource.com booth (#3002) to meet Patty Wagstaff in person. Patty will be at the booth today from 2 to 3 p.m., Friday from 9:30 to 11 a.m., and Sunday from 9:30 to 11 a.m. She'll be autographing books, videos and apparel from the AerobaticSource.com collection. Patty will also autograph any book, video or apparel item you order online from her Web site during the show. Simply indicate in the "remarks" section of your order that you'd like it autographed by Patty. AVIONICS WEST'S DAY TWO, LOWEST PRICE OF THE YEAR, ONE-DAY-ONLY SPECIAL Today's special is Lowrance Avionics AirMap 100, the most compact, full-featured aviation mapping GPS available. The AirMap 100 features a high-resolution display, easy-to-read graphics, point-and-shoot cursor navigation and route planning, extended runway centerlines, nearest-airport information, field-upgradeable software, antenna, PC cable, yoke mount, cigarette-lighter adapter, and has the most complete and detailed mapping ever. To check out Avionics West's too-low-to- advertise price for the Lowrance Airmap 100, send an email to . To order, phone 1-805-934-9777 or click . FLIGHTCOM SETS INDUSTRY STANDARDS AGAIN WITH THEIR HEADSET HYGIENE KITS Headsets are an intimate piece of flying equipment -- they come in contact with hair oils and saliva during every use. Knowing that regular hygiene maintenance is important, Flightcom introduces four hygiene kits for the 4DX, 4DLX, 5DX, and the passive and ANR Denali headsets. SPECIAL OFFER: $5 off each kit through July 31 by ordering at . OSHKOSH ATTENDEE ALERT! Come by Booth 2110 in Hangar B for a demonstration of this and other Flightcom products. ________________________________________ We Welcome Your Feedback! Comments on AVweb's daily EAA AirVenture 2000 coverage should be sent to . The AVweb AirVenture 2001 News Team: Want to subscribe or unsubscribe? Change/update your email address? Forgot your AVweb password? No problem! Simply go to our Member Services menu: . AVweb, the Internet's Aviation Magazine and News Service. ________________________________________ Copyright (C) 2001, The AVweb Group. All rights reserved.