Skydivers, parachutists, and pilots who wear parachutes soon will be allowed to go longer between mandated parachute inspection and repacking. The FAA has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to change the regulations and allow reserve parachutes and emergency parachutes to go 180 days between required repacks by FAA-certificated parachute riggers. The agency still […]
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Soaring Society of America celebrates 75 years
The Soaring Society of America will celebrate its 75th anniversary with a display of vintage and modern gliders at AirVenture 2007 in Oshkosh. Volunteer members of the Soaring Society of America will be available to explain all aspects of soaring, glider licenses and places to take a ride or begin instruction during the fly-in from […]
“Glacier Girl” to finish her mission
Legendary P-38 flying to Englandto complete “Operation Bolero” On July 15, 1942, an Army Air Force squadron left American soil on “Operation Bolero,” a World War II mission to support U.S. allies in Europe. Due to insurmountable weather problems, the entire squadron of six P-38s and two B-17s was forced to make an emergency landing […]
Sun ‘n Fun dedicates Scott Crossfield Way
Ribbon cuttings are, by their very nature, pretty boring affairs. A bunch of officials line up, some speeches are made and then the top-ranking official — usually the mayor — uses a giant pair of scissors to cut a ribbon and declare a building or a business officially open. At this year’s Sun ‘n Fun, […]
The games stays the same: “Compromise” FAA reauthorization bill still features fees
What has been touted by some as a “compromise” FAA budget reauthorization bill has turned out merely to shift proposed general aviation user fees onto owners of small turbine aircraft. The wording chosen by Senators Trent Lott and Jay Rockefeller of the Senate Commerce Committee does nothing to stop the FAA from imposing user fees […]
the buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
“As I understand the English language, light is not necessarily a good adjective one could say about anything. Light beer is not real beer and a light cigarette is not a real cigarette. The impression could be that a light airplane may not be a real airplane.” — Michael Meirer, co-CEO of Remos Aircraft “We […]
The little Mermaid: A Light Sport amphibiant hat’s pretty as a picture
The Mermaid amphibian had a problem. The problem was that it’s a Light Sport amphibian. Light Sport rules didn’t allow pilots to “reposition” landing gear in flight. Of course, the whole point of an amphibian is to allow a takeoff from land or water and a landing on the other, and that requires moving the […]
‘Top Gun’ takes top honors: But is it really thegreatest aviation movie of all time?
What’s the greatest aviation movie of all time? “Top Gun,” according to a poll conducted by the Experimental Aircraft Association. The 1986 blockbuster, which starred EAA member Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Tom Skerritt, Val Kilmer and Anthony Edwards, is a drama loosely based on the U.S. Navy’s “Top Gun” fighter training school. The movie, which […]
Xenon takes gyroplanes to a new level
If you’ve ever hankered for rotary wings but couldn’t see yourself flying the typical birdcage gyroplane – or affording a helicopter – take a look at the handsome Xenon. Looking as though a multi-million dollar Agusta helicopter had given birth to a pup, the Xenon is the inspired design of Raphael Celier, whose idea was […]