The amphibious Seawind 300C certification test airplane crashed Aug. 16, killing the company’s test pilot and destroying the aircraft. A “temporary interruption of business has been instituted,” said the company’s founder and CEO, Richard Silva, a few days after the crash. “It will be in effect until we can determine the cause of this event […]
The Albatross Lady: Julie Fetco and her flying yacht
Her name is Julie Fetcko, but those who have met her at air shows call her “The Albatross Lady.” She and her husband, John, own and fly the spectacular Grumman Albatross of that name, turning up at air shows and fly-ins all across America, summer after summer. They bought the Albatross as a “flying motor […]
A (really) Young Eagle
How early is too early to get your kids into aviation? The Webb family of Appleton, Wis., thought it was about time that the youngest, 9-month-old Cheslee, learn what EAA AirVenture and the Young Eagles program was all about. Note the placement of the “Young Eagle” button on her shirt. Kirk Webb, the proud papa, […]
Avemco lowers rates again: Broadens coveragefor homebuilts andlow-time pilots
Avemco Insurance Co. has lowered its rates and broadened its coverage on models ranging from technically advanced aircraft to homebuilts. Rates have been reduced for all Cirrus and Columbia models, as well as Diamond’s DA-42 Twin Star and select homebuilt aircraft, according to Jim Lauerman, Avemco’s chief underwriting officer. “We’ve made several moves to ensure […]
“Preaching to the choir”: GA advocates and elected officials rally Air Venture crowds against user fees
In the fight for user fees, the airlines are using a time-tested tactic: Divide and conquer. “We’ve been told that the bulk of GA won’t have to worry about user fees,” EAA President Tom Poberezny said during one of several forums on user fees at last month’s AirVenture. “That’s called divide and conquer. We’re all […]
Inhofe attacks Senate’s FAA reauthorization proposal: Calls it “a sweetheart deal for the airlines”
General aviation user fees are “the most misunderstood issue” currently before Congress, declared Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.) during an interview at AirVenture 2007. Inhofe, GA’s greatest friend in the U.S. Senate, also spoke to a large crowd, curious about the status of the user fees debate, at the EAA Member Village. Long a member […]
Aviat Aircraft adds enhanced vision to Husky
Aviat Aircraft has become the first general aviation manufacturer to offer a low-cost enhanced vision system for light airplanes. Aviat president Stu Horn announced at AirVenture that the low-cost ForwardVision EVS-100 enhanced vision system is available as optional equipment on new Huskys and as a retrofit to existing Huskys. Previously, the only EVS systems offered […]
Bright new engine ideas at AirVenture
Although Light Sport Aircraft and Very Light Jets got most of the publicity at EAA’s AirVenture this year, anyone with an interest in engines might have seen it differently. Six engine manufacturers and developers made what they considered to be major announcements at AirVenture, and most others at least held news conferences, if only to […]
Adam Aircraft’s Rick Adam moving on: Turns over day-to-day leadership in long-planned transition
Adam Aircraft’s board of directors named John D. Wolf as chairman and CEO earlier this month, replacing company founder Rick Adam. Adam had said earlier this year that he was planning a transition as the company moved from development to manufacturing, but the actual decision was made only days before the announcement, said Shelly Simi, […]