Also: King Schools, AmSafe Certified!, One Week Wonder Update, Electric Planes over OSH18!, Jack Pelton Interview--Part 5

An interesting company by the name of Avilution is shaking up the status quo in the avionics world. Determined to find new solutions to age-old problems, Avilution has a decidedly different take on how we should build, equip, and operate our instrumentation. These folks are true electronic innovators. The legendary Lancair company has been through a number of owners and quite a few airplanes... but the latest owners of this speedy little company are making big upgrade

AirVenture Build Needs More Public Assistance to Complete Ambitious Goal

Maria Morrison As I write this, the sheet metal that once lay in pieces at the One Week Wonder tent now resembles the fuselage of an RV-12iS. The wings have already been completed, and the underside of the left wing has all its rivets installed. The lower tail cone is nearing completion, as well as the front fuselage. It was expected that all the riveting for both wings will be done by the time the airplane reached the halfway point in the week. Jonathan Porter is one of the 100 core volunteers helping the One Week Wonder become a reality. Known as “Captain Yaw,” Porter walks about the project with microphone in hand, interviewing people that are h

Actually; King Schools Can Teach You MORE THan A Thing Or Two...

For over four decades, student pilots and those flying commercial jets have enjoyed King Schools´ clear and simple video courses.  King Schools, founded by John & Martha King in 1975, has delivered more than 800,000 knowledge courses. King Schools is the world’s leader in FAA test preparation.  John and Martha King, are the first and only husband and wife to both hold every category and class of FAA pilot and instructor certificates.  John and Martha made it a point to educate pilots conceptually so the material is understood, rather than memorized.  King Schools is a customer-focused company that simplifies and clarifies aviation training mak

Two Sizes of New and Improved Tire Hit the Market

Michelin has added a new aviation tire to the market that is, according to head of Michelin General Aviation Robert Sevener, “the best tire you can buy for propeller-driven aircraft.” The Michelin Pilot has all-weather protection, an extra-long tire life, and is made from an ozone-resistant compound. Compared to the Goodyear Flight Custom III, the Pilot has more belt plies in the crown to reduce FOD, a 21% deeper skid, and wider grooves. In fact, the void of the two-grooved tire is greater than in Michelin’s former four-grooved model. The Pilot also has an optimized mold to track better on runways and taxiways, as well as wear more evenly. Sevener also says that the Pilot will hav

Check Out The Progressive Aerodyne Searey Elite and Searey Adventure at OSH Main Display #19

Progressive Aerodyne was founded in 1991 by Kerry Richter and his business partners, Wayne Richter and Paige Lynette. With a long family history of building ultralight amphibious aircrafts, the company took the opportunity to create a new amphibious aircraft design and named it the Searey. Thus, the Searey took form and began flying in November 1992. The next year, the Searey Classic was introduced to the general public and was very well received, assuring two years worth of orders for the company and marking a place for the Searey name in aviation history. Since then, Progressive Aerodyne has enjoyed a dominant position in the light sport amphibious exper

Pipistrel Displaying Extensive Aircraft Line… Including Production Electric Training Aircraft

International aircraft designer/manufacturer, Pipistrel Aircraft, is set to truly electrify the annual EAA AirVenture Fly-In and Tradeshow in Oshkosh, WI, July 23rd through the 29th. The company will not only be displaying an extensive group of aircraft offerings, but showing off its electrically powered training aircraft, the Pipistrel ALPHA Electro LSA – which is currently in production. The company will also have its Pipistrel Taurus Electro, one of the first two seat electric aircraft put in serial production.

Ready For A New Career?

Aspiring aviation mechanics have a new way to prepare for their FAA Oral, Practical, & Written Tests. King Schools has released online versions of their popular General, Airframe, and Powerplant Knowledge & Test Prep Video Courses. The online A&P Mechanics courses include updated video lessons and an integrated Test Prep section featuring an extensive database of FAA-style questions, online flashcards and timed practice exams. The new courses are also compatible with the KING Companion App for iPad or iPhone. The App allows you to download your lessons (videos and quizzes), and take them when offline. When back online, your course progress is automatically synchronized with King’s servers and availabl

Patty Wagstaff  Awards Scholarship To  Recipient At Oshkosh

By Tom Woodward In the world of free flying there are a many places to search for scholarships. Figure 1 Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization co-founded by Chris Olmsted and AJ Wilder dedicated to providing scholarships to determined individuals pursuing a career in aviation. Figure 1 Foundation acts as a conduit between investors and individuals to provide the highest quality flight training available to people whom otherwise may not have the means. So far in their two-year existence, Figure 1 Foundation has raised over $100,000 from sponsors towards these efforts.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Receiving Major Grant

SecDoT Elaine L. Chao has confirmed that the FAA will provide $180 million in infrastructure grants for the construction of two major taxiway complexes at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). Under the terms of a Letter of Intent, the first to be issued since 2011, the airport may proceed with the project immediately and be reimbursed for the federal share in a series of grants over the next several years. “This investment in two new taxiways at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport will help ensure more efficient movement of travelers and commercial goods through the fourth busiest airport in our nation,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elain

Investment To Support Expansion Of The Newton Room Concept In Nine Countries Across Europe

Boeing has announced a $5 million investment in Newton Europe to launch Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)-focused "Newton Rooms" across nine European countries.

Airtext Announces New Portable BlueTooth Iridium Texting Product at EAA-Oshkosh

Send Solutions, the manufacturer of Airtext, a low cost Iridium aviation text messaging product has announced the introduction of AirtextLT. The leader in low-cost aviation connectivity, does it again.  First, they introduced Airtext, a small, lightweight, certified aircraft texting  product.  Second, they introduced Airtext+, a small lightweight, certified aircraft talk and text product.  Now, at 2018 EAA Airventure, they are introducing an even smaller, lighter, and lower cost texting product that is portable.  Welcome Aboard - AirtextLT. “Initially we were filling the need in corporate aviation for low-cost connectivity. Airt

Young Man with Brain Tumor Sees Flight as a One-Time Opportunity

Maria Morrison Flying into Oshkosh is a memorable experience for all who participate. Some people come from nearby, while others make the trip from all around the world. One young man, Justin Kurtz, came to Oshkosh from Michigan (by all means a simple trip), via Alaska (less simple). In September of 2017, everything was going well for Kurtz. He had just been hired by Delta to fly a 737. Driving home one night, Kurtz fell asleep at the wheel. The subsequent medical evaluation found that he had a 4.5 cm brain tumor. After a 12-hour brain surgery in October, Kurtz was diagnosed with stage three brain cancer.

The All-New Flex – Light, Adjustable, Compact, TSO certified

The newest addition to the Clarity Aloft headset range is a big departure from previous designs and ushers in a new standard for in-ear headsets. “The Flex represents everything we’ve learned from years of developing headsets and having conversations with pilots about what’s important to them,” said Aloft Technologies President, Bill Waterman. Not only is it the lightest model yet from Clarity Aloft (which is saying something for the company who has been leading the industry since 2004), it is also the most customizable. Pilots using the Flex can set the microphone boom on the right or left, adjust the boom length and headband circumference, and collaps

In Both Piston and Turbine Iterations, The Legend Was... Well, Legendary

By Tom Woodward The Turbine Legend, originally called the Legend because the prototype was powered by a 575 HP Chevy Engine, first flew in 1996 and was built by Performance Aircraft. In 1999, the Legend was re-engined with a Walther M601 turbine of 724 shp and thus became the Turbine Legend. The Turbine Legend is a low wing, two passenger, tandem seat, retractable gear aircraft with a rearward opening, hinged canopy. The Turbine Legend was sold as a kit with an estimated build time of 6000 hours and many were professionally built. The company has changed hands a few times, but the company now handling the sales is PM Sports Fliers in Washington State, partneri

Waco, Great Lakes... Two Amazing Classic Biplanes Made by THE Classic Biplane Experts!

WACO Classic Aircraft of Battle Creek, MI, is the world's only manufacturer of a brand new 1930's era open cockpit sport biplane, the WACO YMF. Since 1983, WACO Classic has been building new production aircraft under the original FAA type certificate. There are currently over 150 WACO YMF's flying around the world. An updated classic, the YMF-5D features modern safety equipment, materials, and avionics. Customers have their choice in custom paint scheme, interior and instrument packages to suit their taste. Each biplane is built by hand, by experienced and skilled craftsmen, with over 5000 labor hours going into ea

When You Need to Move Your Bird With Safety and Confidence, Best Tugs Leads The Way

This year, at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, we are proud to unveil our newest line of electric aircraft tugs. Be the first to see and experience how aviation has evolved once again. The Alpha line is the latest addition to the Best Tugs lineup. They come loaded with standard features that will change how you look at dragger style tugs. A revolutionary pivoting design allows you to turn and move your plane without picking up and adjusting your tug. Everything you need to quickly load and unload your plane is easily within reach. With precise machining and innovative engineering, the Alpha is designed to simplify the way you

Sporty's Pilot Shop Is A Pivotal GA Resource!

Sporty’s Pilot Shop was founded over 50 years ago by a flight instructor, and ever since has been for pilots and by pilots. Hal Shevers was a young flight instructor when he began selling pilot supplies to his students from the trunk of his car. Soon there was a small store, then a larger one and finally a extensive company headquarters at the Sporty's/Clermont County Airport (I69) in Batavia, Ohio. From humble beginnings, Sporty’s has become the world’s premier pilot shop and the leading developer of aviation education programs. Sporty’s corporate philosophy is summed up by Founder/Chairman Hal Shevers: “The focus of our business remains educational. We educate pilots to

Now Approved By EASA, FAA, ANAC And Transport Canada

Tamarack Aerospace Group has received the last in a series of approvals from ANAC Brazil for its Atlas Active Winglets for the Cessna C525, C525A and C525B. This certification means that Atlas is now approved for installation on Cessna CJ, CJ1, CJ1+, M2, CJ2, CJ2+, CJ3 and CJ3+ business jets by all the major regulatory agencies including EASA, FAA, ANAC and Transport Canada.

“Aspiring mechanics have an especially bright future. King Schools recently completed an in-house study considering aviation mechanics and their future job prospects. Some highlights include a 9% supply and demand gap of new mechanics by 2027, as global airlines grow their fleets by 40%. Boeing predicts 101,000 new mechanics are needed between now and 2034. Airlines and local shops are offering better benefits, programs and salaries to attract aircraft mechanics to fill both new spots, and those vacated by retiring baby boomers. There is now, and will continue to be for many years to come, an aircraft mechanic shortage.”  Source: King Schools's Martha King, discussing the potential for new A&P's as King Schools an

A low-power, low- or medium-frequency (L/MF) radio beacon installed at the site of the outer or middle marker of an ILS.

Fun Places To Fly

We all ... well 99 percent of us ... went to Oshkosh because we think flying is fun. But while the journey is satisfying in itself, it's also nice to have fun flying to someplace fun.