07.26.21: Opening Comments, Redtail Piper 100i, AeroEducate Builds, Pelton Int'vw Part 1

Jack Pelton opens up a VERY busy first day of EAA AirVenture after a two year drought. He talks about how busy day 1 has been  and if they beat previous numbers. Avidyne introduced a whole new generation of glass panel cockpits for the GA biz... and also showed the work they are doing with AI for the up and coming cockpit. Stratos has flown their 716X to Oshkosh... the first of a generation of experimental jet kits that will precede the certified version in the coming years. The Curti Aerospace Zefhir is now on sale... the very cool-looking two place turbine e

07.29.21: King Schools APPs, Wally Funk an Astro?, Pelton Int'vw, Part 4

Today FAA Boss Steve Dickson got hit with the big question early on… What is the FAA going to do about recent mis-steps with the flight training interpretations and the need for L.O.D.A.’s to do what used to be simply allowed as standard procedure. But... Jack Pelton didn’t seem satisfied with Dickson’s answers... and said so. Administrator Dickson also dealt with questions about MOSAIC and the future reimagining of the Light Sport segment... a program that forecast will NOT be complete until the fall of 2023. And finally, Dickson dodged our questions abou

The Ultimate Safety Resource? ASR Can Be Seen At Their Strong Parachute Display #1018

It's been a great year for Aviation Safety Resources... As EAA AirVenture started, rong Enterprises and Aviation Safety Resources, were thrilled to return to the world’s largest aviation event, which is set to host over 600,000 attendees (and maybe much more than that...). Both companies will be exhibiting in Hangar A, Booth #1018 from July 26 to August 1. Representatives from Strong Enterprises and ASR will be present at the expo to showcase their products and speak directly with customers.

Also: The BushCat by SkyReach Is Available As A Certified Light Sport Aircraft (SLSA)

As we work our way through the light-sport aircraft industry, it's impossible to miss that certain aircraft attract certain people for different reasons... but if you’re looking for cost-effective, rugged and simple, you’ve probably come across the Aerosport Bushcat... and if you haven’t, you should. A Rotax powered two seat, side by side LSA, the Bushcat uses the best of the older ultralight style construction methods along with some significant updates to create a very solid little high-wing machine that won’t break the bank. Best of all, for

Carbon A1 Is A Rugged But Lightweight 10 Ounce ANR Headset Offering -- AirVenture Display #1032, Hangar A

US-based Pilot Communications USA, after a highly visible and popular unveiling at the 2021 Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo, is presenting its next generation of versatile aviation ANR headsets and Bluetooth cockpit accessories to the international avionics industry at the 2021 AEA Convention and Trade Show. Pilot Communication USA's Carbon A1 is a rugged but lightweight 10 ounce, ANR headset offering carbon fiber strength, and detachable comm cord adapters for different headset configurations -- be they fixed-wing, helicopter or military, noise canceling electret microphone, leather ear seals, ad

Also: Volocopter Acquires DG Flugzeugbau, Oshkosh is Coming!, NASA Selects AURA, Atlas V Rocket

The United States Air Force and the Drone Racing League, are expanding their partnership ahead of the 2021-22 DRL Allianz World Championship Season. Following a successful partnership with the league over the past four years, the USAF added new DRL activations, including custom content, virtual drone racing experiences, and season-broadcast integrations that will inspire drone pilots everywhere to aim high and prepare to fly. Tapping into DRL's fans who are 23x more likely to follow the USAF compared to the general U.S. population... Drone Delivery Canada, wi

The Training Program Includes A Video That Was Published By The USHST

The rotorcraft industry was well represented on day one of this year’s EAA AirVenture with a presentation from members of the U.S. Helicopter Safety Team (USHST). Team members included James Viola, President and CEO of Helicopter Association International (HAI), Bruce Webb Director of Aviation Education and Community Outreach at Airbus, Scott Boughton Owner at Palisade Aviation LLC, and Chris Hill Director of Safety at HAI. The USHST members provided an overview of their new online training course entitled “56 Seconds to Live”, which is the estimated life expectancy of a helicopter pilot that inadvertently flies into IMC (Instrument Meteorological Conditions) a

716 Gets Name From 0.7 Mach Cruise (402 Kt), Single Engine, And Six-Seats

By Rex J Alexander At AirVenture 2021, Carsten Sundin, president of Stratus Aircraft, introduced their company's latest venture into the light jet market, the Stratus 716X. The 716X is an experimental kit-built version of their future FAR Part 23/EASA CS 23 certified Stratos 716. The 716 gets its name from its 0.7 Mach cruising speed (402 knots), its single turbofan engine, and its six-seat capacity cabin. With a range of 1,500 nautical miles at a cruising altitude of 41,000 feet, the 716 is capable of flying far above most of the clouds, weather and turbulence that turboprop aircraft have to contend with. These p

FAA Administrator Emerges From DC Lockdown For First AirVenture Outing

By Gene Yarbrough FAA Administrator Steve Dickson made the annual “Meet the Administrator” conference at Oshkosh this year commenting on hot topics such as the recent flight training regulations, MOSAIC, and unleaded avgas. After the obligatory welcomes and introductions, the Administrator wasted no time and jumped in the deep end leading off with the fiasco of regulatory chaos that has the flight training industry in turmoil. Mr. Dickson stated the reason for the upheaval the ruling has caused is directly attributable to a regulation, which was written in a manner that did not meet or deliver the original or continuing inte

Curti/Zefhir Welcome You To Oshkosh -- And A Chance To See The Zefhir In Person at OSH Display #311

On June 22nd, 2018, the Zefhir light turbine helicopter successfully completed the first test of its exclusive parachute safety system when the technology was dramatically demonstrated. Zefhir is currently the only civil  helicopter equipped with a ballistic parachute. Installed above the main rotor, the parachute is designed as a backup for conditions where autorotation cannot be performed. The landmark test has validated the use of ballistic parachute safety systems in helicopters for the first time. Indeed, such a test has never been filmed or documented in the entire history of aerospace techn

Includes High School Merit And Veterans Scholarships

L3Harris Technologiesis relaunching its Pilot Pathway Scholarship program, effective July 26, to help ensure training is accessible to more aspiring pilots. The High School Merit Pilot Pathway consists of two scholarships – one for $30,000 and the second for $20,000. High school seniors will be able to apply for the scholarships from July 26 through October 31. Recipients will be announced in December 2021. The Veterans Pilot Pathway consists of two $15,000 scholarships and is open to applicants transitioning from serving in the U.S. Armed Forces to a civilian career. The Veterans Pilot Pathway will be open for applications between July 26 and September 14. Recipients are expected to be an

Come See The WACO Aircraft Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 and the WACO YMF-5 in Oshkosh Display #253

For over one hundred years WACO biplanes have graced the skies and have provided the ultimate sense of adventure for aviators and thrill-seekers across the globe. Today, WACO Aircraft Corporation is the world’s only FAA & EASA Certified manufacturer of new-production sport biplanes. Three models are currently available: the WACO YMF-5 Super, the WACO Amphibious YMF-5 and the Great Lakes by WACO. These flying masterpieces are handcrafted by a team of specialized artisans in Battle Creek, MI and are based on original type certificates and techniques from the 1920's and 1930's. Although they may appear to be original Golden Age aircraft, these fly

Also: The BushCat by SkyReach Is Available As A Certified Light Sport Aircraft (SLSA)

As we work our way through the light-sport aircraft industry, it's impossible to miss that certain aircraft attract certain people for different reasons... but if you’re looking for cost-effective, rugged and simple, you’ve probably come across the Aerosport Bushcat... and if you haven’t, you should. A Rotax powered two seat, side by side LSA, the Bushcat uses the best of the older ultralight style construction methods along with some significant updates to create a very solid little high-wing machine that won’t break the bank. Best of all, for

OFT-2 Will Set The Stage For The First Crew Flight Test

Due to issues at the ISS, NASA elected to stand down from Friday’s launch attempt of the agency’s second Orbital Flight Test (OFT-2) mission. Currently, the earliest available launch opportunity is 1:20 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Aug. 3. The International Space Station team will use the time to continue working checkouts of the newly arrived Roscosmos Nauka multipurpose laboratory module (MLM) and to ensure the station will be ready for Starliner’s arrival. Launch preparations will resume following a final decision from the International Space Station and Commercial Crew Program teams for the next opportunity to send Starliner on its way to complete the OFT-2 mission, which will set

The Gathering Raised A Total Of $1.7 Million Over The Course Of The Night

This year's Gathering was reportedly an engaging evening once again in 2021, honoring several people who have been important to EAA and the aviation community. Some key EAA members who were honored postmortem included Audrey Poberezny, Chuck Yeager, and Bill Harrison. Medal of Honor recipient Gen. Patrick Brady was also present and honored. The evening was also successful in terms of securing resources for EAA’s most vital education outreach and advocacy programs. The Gathering raised a total of $1.7 million over the course of the night.

King Schools Helps Bring You EXTENSIVE Coverage of AirVenture 2021

King Schools, Inc. is the world´s leading producer of aviation training videos and computer software. It was first established in 1975, when John and Martha began flying throughout the country to teach ground school courses. A decade later, they began producing video courses in a spare room of their house. Today, King Schools operates from an 18,000 sq. ft. complex, housing a dedicated video and software production facility. King has delivered more than 700,000 video-based knowledge courses and millions of short-subject video "Take-off" courses.

New Model Has Larger Wheels, A Headrest And An Adjustable Height Seat

The AeroCreeper is a tool for aircraft mechanics and owners born out of necessity as the solution to help them easily maintain and clean their planes without the usual pain and discomfort associated with the task. The father and son engineering team of Travis and Joel Hendrickson designed the AeroCreeper with adjustable heights so you can easily and comfortably reach all parts of the aircraft. The company has now introduced a new Deluxe model with a headrest, larger wheels and an adjustable seat. The base unit operates the same way as before -- to raise it, you lift the backrest, and to lower it you pull the seat up and lower the backrest to your desired height.

Fully Integrated Classroom And Flight Training System Provides A Turn-Key Solution

Colleges and universities now have available products and a dedicated team of support personnel from King Schools. The Cessna Pilot Training System - Classroom Edition (CPTS-CE) is a fully integrated classroom and flight training system that provides a turn-key solution for colleges and universities seeking to switch curriculum or develop a new aviation program. The system also makes it easy to work with an external flight school by providing an online tracking system the works well with both the curriculum and the Part 141 approvable syllabus.

Gogo AVANCE L5 and L3 Now Flying on 2,000 Business Aircraft

Gogo is the world's largest provider of broadband connectivity services for the business aviation market. We offer a customizable suite of smart cabin systems for highly integrated connectivity, inflight entertainment and voice solutions. Gogo's products and services are installed on thousands of business aircraft of all sizes and mission types from the personal jets (Cirrus G2+ Vision Jet), turboprops and light jets up to the largest global jets. It’s systems are utilized by the largest fractional ownership operators, charter operators, corporate flight departments and individuals.

After Takeoff At 800 Ft Above Ground Level, The Engine Lost Power And The Pilot Attempted To Return

On July 1, 2021, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a Vans RV-7A, N654C, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Pottstown, Pennsylvania. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, who was also the owner/builder of the experimental amateur-built airplane, a preflight inspection and engine run-up prior to takeoff were normal. During the initial climb after takeoff at 800 ft above ground level, the engine lost power and the pilot attempted to return to the airport; however, the airplane impacted terrain before the runway and a postcrash f

Aero Linx: The Air Safety Group The Air Safety Group is a voluntary group founded in England in 1964. It is composed of aviation professionals who hold the view that there have been, and to some extent still are, too many preventable accidents to Commercial Air transport aircraft. Furthermore, some of these accidents and their resultant casualties arise from inadequate action on the part of the aviation industry and its Regulatory Authorities. To address these concerns, The Air Safety Group has, since its inception, lobbied continuously to achieve improvements. Notwithstanding these concerns, however, the Group fully acknowledges the great improvement in safety that has come about since its formation

Obstacle An existing object, object of natural growth, or terrain at a fixed geographical location or which may be expected at a fixed location within a prescribed area with reference to which vertical clearance is or must be provided during flight operation.

“We are delighted to relaunch these Pilot Pathway Scholarship programs. They not only signify our commitment to training future pilots, but highlight the belief we have in the future of our industry. In addition to these scholarships, we have a series of further diversity focused scholarship programs planned for later this year. We want to ensure there is a career path for everyone who has the ability and desire to be a pilot.” Source: Rich Seagraves, Global Director of Operations, L3Harris Airline Academy, discussing some intriguing new scholarship opportunities...