The NTSB has released a report stating the probable cause of the Nieuport 24bis crash on August 17, 2008 was likely the pilot’s failure to maintain control of the plane while maneuvering which resulted in the stall and spin. A definite cause was not released, most likely because the plane was consumed by fire.
The chapter held a trip to the Aerodrome on that day last year. That was the first fatality at the Aerodrome since it started in
Here are some unusual runways at some large airports. They looked very expensive to build
Premier Holidays : 4 Of The World’s Strangest Airport Runways.
Well, the start of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is now just over a month away and I see that it’s been a few weeks since I posted anything here. Pretty much all the events are set, so let’s run some of them down.
Advance online ticket purchase is extended to June 30. Visit LINK . AAA also has discounts, but EAA member discount is better.
As most of the people reading this know, the Doobie Brothers will be performing after the air show on Monday night. I won’t be able to report on it since I’ll be arriving on Tuesday. I also see that Jeff Dunham will be performing on Saturday night August 1, which is just after I leave. D’oh!
Major aircraft expected include an Airbus A380. US Air Force Thunderbird #8 will be on the grounds July 26 and 27th. White Knight Two will be at the show all week. Military planes include a C-17, C5M, F-18 .F-15, C-130. T-38, HH60, and A10.
Of course, plenty of new aircraft, warbirds, vintage and ultralight planes will be on display. The vintage type area is now a permanent building instead of a tent.
The biggest news for our chapter’s past president is the news that there are 4 buildings with flush toilets in the campground areas, and 4 large trailers with flush toilets will be on the show grounds.
The Fly-In Theater will be presenting the One-Six Right, Barnstorming, The Right Stuff, Six Days Seven Nights, Cloud Dancer, BAT 21, X-15, Pearl Harbor,
The daily air show will include:
Not everyone flys every day.
The International Visitors group is expecting many Japanese visitors, so they’re looking for translator assistance.
At the museum, the Founder’s Wing will be opened. This honors EAA founder Paul Poberezny and from the renderings I’ve seen, it looks like it is in the former restoration area near the center of the building.
The biggest change is the redesign of the main entrance. In the past, there were vendors to the far right and left of the entrance which didn’t attract many visitors. Now the entrance will spread out diagonally which should assist in traffic flow.
Over 500 seminars, 100 museum speakers, dozens of workshops and other activates will be offered. Visit LINK for more details.
If you’re flying in yourself, you better be familiar with the NOTAM. Here’s how to get your copy. The controllers were way to accommodating with this bonehead last year who didn’t know what he was doing. Here’s how not to arrive at Oshkosh LINK
The June AOPA Pilot magazine has several items on the Town of Plainville’s purchase of Robertson Airport. They credit a lot of the favorable impression voters had of the airport from the …” open house where more than 100 people took their first flights in GA airplanes…”
Has anyone been able to figure out how those people took those flights?
Technical writer Bob Cringely puts some holes in the recent GAO report on the statistic possibility of future GPS signal degradation. While his argument doesn’t clearly state how GPS assists in landing planes, he does point out why the report seems to be politically motivated by reporting the situation in the worst possible light.
I, Cringely » Blog Archive » WAAS Up? – Cringely on technology.
Could it be that some polititians have an interest in the recently unfunded eLORAN system?
GPS Satellite Failure and eLORAN Backup System – Popular Mechanics.
A small plane had an engine failure over Winter Haven on the way to Sun N’ Fun. Video was running in the cockpit. Here’s the story with video.
http://www.baynews9.com/
Here’s a brief overview of the space records of the original astronauts. Note that only two of them are still with us.
Gizmodo – The Magnificent Mercury Seven: NASA’s First Astronauts, 50 Years Ago Today – Mercury 7.
Need a countdown timer for IFR approaches? Ocean State Job Lot has one through April 8 for $2. You need to print out the coupon that can be found here. It has direct input buttons for the time.
On Saturday March 21, volunteer pilots and ground staff provided at least 92 flights under the EAA Young Eagles program.We’ll be going through the paperwork later today to get the final number.
We were very busy entering information into the computer so we weren’t able to get all the certificates printed at the event. Certificates and Cessna cockpit posters will be mailed to the children who didn’t get them at the event.
Photos from the event are available here.
Reporters from the New Britain Herald and Plainville Citizen were on hand. Reports are available at:
New Britain Herald article
Plainville Citizen article
Plainville Citizen photo gallery
Update: AOPA has an article with a video clip on their web site.
AOPA Plainville Airport story
This site has some interesting collections of photos and videos that are added to almost daily.
Today’s entry is about the largest and most unusual helicopters in the world.
http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2009/03/monstrous-aviation-part-2-huge.html
The Terrafugia roadable car has made its first test flight hop. Information on this product has been displayed at Oshkosh for the past two years. The vehicle has folding wings, and is intended to be LSA qualified.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/19/video-terrafugias-flying-car-lifts-off/
Effective April 30, 2009 the TSA is implementing sweeping security changes at airports that host commercial traffic. Think that won’t affect you? Think again. Flying to Worcester, New Haven, Hanscom, Albany, White Plains, Nantucket, Martha’s Vinyard, and Stewart will be affected, as well as learning and practicing at Bradley.
Separate security clearances will be required at every commercial airport.
A new web site www.aviatorsforliberty.org is being developed to address the continuing encroachment of our right to travel. So far, AOPA, EAA and NBAA haven’t posted comments on this change. The first public meeting to explain the implementation was held at Montrose County Airport in Colorado. The alarming summary of the meeting is circulating on many internet message boards. The proposed rules are not available for public inspection or comment since at the meeting the TSA emphasized this was a Security Directive thus circumvents any rule making procedures. The AOPA message forum has an active thread on the subject.
As always, it looks like airline interest political contributions have paid off for them. This will make private flying more difficult which takes away a major disadvantage the airlines have luring high-profit business and first class customers.