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In Flight USA Articles
Wathen Center Educates for the Future
By David Gustafson
The Flabob Airport Preparatory Academy hosts middle and high school students.Recognizing that a million professional pilots and A&P mechanics are going to be needed over the next 20 years, the Wathen Center, which is headquartered at historic Flabob Airport in Riverside, Calif. has initiated planning to train young men and women for those professions. The Center already has a successful middle and high school program on its grounds and is moving rapidly to establish the A&P program, while upgrading its flight training operations.
Falling in Love with a Cassutt, Part II
By Steve Weaver
Steve Weaver in the early ’70s with his Cassutt. (Photo provided by Steve Weaver)To anyone who has been stranded, immobile and silent on the side of a busy interstate, the whoosh of passing cars and the blasts of air from speeding tractor trailers rocking your vehicle is familiar. You sit in your crippled automobile on the verge and you change not a whit the traffic that ignores you and continues on its way. I can tell you though, when the stalled vehicle is an airplane, things change completely. Apparently, jaded though the public is, the sight of an airplane beside a busy road is enough to stop traffic. Within minutes multiple cars and trucks had stopped and I had dispatched one volunteer to phone the airport and tell my friend Jake to come to my aid.
In twenty minutes or so Jake arrived, a wide smile plastered on his face. Thankfully, with the cell phone still an invention of the far future, the police had not also appeared, and we began to noodle the problem of getting the airplane back into the air.
Red Bull Stratos – Successful First Manned Test Jump From an Altitude of 13.5 Miles
Falling in love with a Cassutt
Steve Weaver in the early 70s with his speedy Cassutt. (Courtesy of Steve Weaver)By Steve Weaver
In the summer of 1974 I was operating a Flying Service in the northern part of West Virginia. My days were full to overflowing as I jumped between management duties and flying, managing the bustling FBO when I could and flying when I was needed to fill-in for the other pilots.
The charter business was booming at that time and many of my days (and nights) were spent flying businessmen and freight all over the Eastern part of the US in the Navajo, the Seneca and the Aztecs that we operated for hire. During one such trip to a small airport in the Eastern section of Pennsylvania, an ad on the office bulletin board caught my eye.
“For Sale, 1937 J-2 Cub”, the sign said. I owned a 1939 J-3 at the time, but I’d always been curious about the earlier Cubs that used the 40 horse power Continental engines. I inquired about it from the lady running the little airport, and she stated that it had been her deceased husband’s airplane and she wanted to sell it to make room in the hangar.
Editorial: DO Sweat the Small Stuff
By Ed Downs
We have all heard the old standby, “don’t sweat the small stuff.” Typically, that advice is given when one needs to keep focused on the final outcome of a big issue. The general belief is that if one takes care of the big issues, the small ones will resolve themselves. A recent conversation, however, has caused this writer to rethink that sage advice. My past editorials have expressed concern that our current national leadership is openly hostile towards private aviation, both personal and business.
For example, this editorial section, and virtually every editorial section of all aviation magazines, have addressed the proposed “per flight” user fees. While engaged in a discussion regarding these fees, the comment was made, “what makes you think private aviation is being treated in a hostile manner other than simply asking rich guys to pay their fair share?” This writer was caused to pause and think. The suggested user fee tends to be a rallying point for those who support aviation, but is that the only issue? Intuitively, I felt safe in the views expressed in these pages, but was I working on facts, or gut feelings brought about by personal political preferences. What is it that has this writer so concerned about the future of our industry?
Adventure House Unearths a Great Aviation Series from the Pulp Era
By Mark Rhodes
The pulps of the 30s and 40s are a rich (though somewhat forgotten) treasure trove of American storytelling not necessarily at its best, but maybe at its most memorable and original. Memorable and even immortal characters sprang from the pages of these publications such as Tarzan (100 years old this year) as well as Doc Savage, The Avenger and The Shadow.
Less well known, but equally memorable was the series G-8 and His Battle Aces. This series was penned by Robert Hogan and had an impressive 110-issue run from 1933 to 1944. G-8 does not have the name recognition other pulp stalwarts like The Shadow might have even today; but he was a unique character in his own right. Other popular pulp characters such as Doc Savage and The Avenger were “Renaissance Men on Steroids” having multiple world-class talents like Physician, Scientist, Inventors, Athletes and so on. G-8 was a supernaturally talented aviator and spy but he did not have the extraneous talents or limitless bank accounts of the playboy/vigilantes like The Shadow. Interestingly enough, author Hogan was a fairly accomplished aviator having been an air cadet in the First World War and also having worked as a demonstration pilot for Curtis Wright. The Depression saw Hogan lose his job and helped pave the way for his career as an author.
Brazil is the Leader in South American Aviation
By Alan Smith
Embraer 190 with Lufthansa. (Mario Ferioli)As the largest nation in South America, Brazil covers nearly half the continent with a population of 201,103,330. It is just a bit smaller than the United States. Brazil’s largest cities are Sao Paolo, Rio De Janeiro, and Recife in the north. Recife has steel mills near the mouth of the Amazon, and Sao Paolo is the business and financial center in the southeast. The capital, built mostly during the 50s, is Brasilia located inland in the highlands. Brazil is bordered by every South American nation except Chile and Equador.
The Red Hawks
U.S. Navy’s Premiere Advanced Training Squadron
By Russ Albertson
Lieutenant Junior Grade Wes Tanner breaks away from us landing at NAS Kingsville. (Russ Albertson)VT-21, the “Red Hawks,” is one of the US Navy’s premiere advanced training squadrons, located at NAS Kingsville in southern Texas. Along with VT-22, this base is home to Training Air Wing 2 and provides advanced jet training for new Navy and Marine Aviators.
VT-21 has its roots in training squadron ATU-202, which was established in 1951 flying the Grumman F-6F Hellcat. ATU-202 was designated VT-21 in 1960 and since then the squadron has operated the Grumman F-9F Panther, Grumman F-9F8 Cougar, and the Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk.
Presently the Red Hawks, along with VT-22, operate approximately 107 McDonnell Douglas/ British Aerospace T-45 Goshawks at NAS Kingsville. The Goshawk was chosen to replace the aging Rockwell T-2 Buckeye and the Douglas TA-4 Skyhawk. The T-45 is a British designed aircraft based on the Hawker Siddeley Hawk that was first flown in 1974 as an advanced jet trainer for the Royal Air Force. In 1977, Hawker Siddeley merged with British Aerospace and continues to produce the Hawk.
Select Airparts & Julie Clark Flying High at Sun ‘N Fun 2012
LightSquared Faces Ever Increasing Opposition, But GPS Not Saved Yet
EAA Calls for Members Comments to the FCC
By EAA.org
After the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) concluded that LightSquared’s wireless broadband signals interfere with millions of GPS devices in use today - including for aviation navigation - the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on Feb. 15 that it is asking for more public comments prior to making the final decision to withdraw the Conditional Waiver Order issued to LightSquared last year. Withdrawing the Conditional Waiver Order will kill LightSquared plans to establish a high-speed wireless data network. The final FCC decision is anticipated no later than March 31, 2012, and if the waiver is canceled it gives a complete victory to the Save Our GPS Coalition, of which EAA is a member. The coalition has been vehemently opposing LightSquared’s proposal for the past year.
Pilot's Bill of Rights Introduced in House
Companion bill to EAA-supported Senate measure unveiled last summer
By EAA.org
Longtime EAA member Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), along with Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL), have jointly introduced the House version of the “Pilot’s Bill of Rights” that would provide aviators with more protection and access to information in FAA enforcement proceedings.
The bill (H.R. 3816) is a companion bill to the U.S. Senate version (S. 1335) introduced last July by EAA member Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK). That Senate bill, which was outlined to aviators by Sen. Inhofe last summer at EAA AirVenture 2011, already has 60 co-sponsors.
The 104th Aircraft Recovery Squadron
By Steve Weaver
I was driving the other day and I spotted a small airplane, mounted on a trailer and being towed down the interstate. I was wondering what sad occasion had brought it to such a low state and I fell to thinking about my old friend Willie Mason and the “104th Aircraft Recovery Squadron.”
Willie came into my life in the late 60s as a flying student, while I was teaching flying and running a small country airport. Something between us clicked and in the process of teaching him about flying we became great friends. Through the next few years he taught me about the art of the small adventure.
World War I Aircraft
By Alan Smith
The Curtiss JN-4 ‘Jenny” that trained U.S. Army pilots prior to their travel to France to fly French fighter aircraft. (Photo byBrian Karli at Amarillo Texas in 1918/Holcomb’s Aerodrome)When gunfire began in the First World War, the airplane was just 11 years old and had been in competition for five years. In America, however, the airplane was still an aerodynamic juvenile. No one had thought about using it to wage war. That would quickly change.
The Europeans had moved far ahead of the U.S. in aircraft design and manufacturing, largely due to the willingness of their governments to invest in aviation. In 1913, for example, the French allocated $7.4 million for aircraft development while the U.S government spent a mere $125,000. As a result, during the opening years of World War I the American aviators were still flying fragile Wright and Curtiss pusher biplanes. While European designers were busy developing relatively high-performance combat aircraft, American exhibition pilot Lincoln Beachey and race car driver Barney Oldfield were amusing spectators by chasing each other around dirt racetracks. It was almost as though Americans had not yet figured out what an airplane could be used for.
Back to Business
By Ed Downs
The editorial staff of In Flight USA made a promise to our readers last August when it was decided to print monthly editorials that dealt directly with issues of concern to the aviation community. We promised to go beyond the usual tone of topical editorials, which smartly criticize a situation and or people and then back away from the subject, satisfied that word crafting alone will solve problems. We promised to make sure problem identification was accompanied by recommended solutions. We committed to changing or altering the content of In Flight USA when needed to address issues of importance.
For example, our expressions of concern over national policies that effectively abandoned America’s leadership in space exploration and science has been answered by the inclusion of a new feature focused on enabling our readers to enjoy the transition from The Skies to the Stars. Recent political rhetoric and a continued strategy of creating a class struggle in America has resulted in an innocent bystander, business aviation, taking well publicized hits from political luminaries. While In flight USA has always carried news and features about the business side of aviation, the decision has been made to significantly enhance our coverage of this important partner in America’ s air transportation system. A dedicated section will highlight business applications of fixed wing and rotor aircraft in addition to the technological advancements propagated by this sector of aviation. Additionally, In Flight USA will cover the services provided by America’s network of FBOs that specialize in serving this important sector of aviation.
Chapter Leaders Get Update on EAA Reshaping
EAA President/CEO Rod Hightower and EAA Founder Paul Poberezny on Jan. 16 jointly sent a letter to the leaders of EAA’s nearly 1,000 chapters, outlining the reshaping and strengthening moves originally announced by the organization one week earlier. In the letter, Hightower and Poberezny highlighted how EAA members and aviators will benefit from those changes.
In addition, Hightower recorded a video that also focuses on the topic, (http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=1395608936001) which is currently available in the EAA video area (www.eaa.org).
The letter to EAA chapter leaders and members reads:
“As EAA chapters are among the most essential and valued parts of our organization, Paul and I are sending you this letter to update you on the facts regarding some of the changes within EAA announced last week and the background behind those changes.
Announcing the First Release of FAA Mobile
GAMA Responds to Ferfunctory White House Response
Knight Named Sun ‘n Fun Board Chair Succeeding Eickhoff
he chairmanship, vacated by the retirement of Bill Eickhoff, who served for the past 28 years as steward of the Sun ‘n Fun organization and its development as a highly respected not-for-profit enterprise within both the greater Lakeland area and the national and international general aviation communitThe Sun ‘n Fun Board of Directors elected Bob Knight, President of Knight Industrial Equipment, Inc. of Lakeland, Fla., as its chairman at their January board meeting. Bob assumes t
Bob Knight assumes the Sun ‘n Fun chairmanship after serving on the board for the past 10 years and most recently as its vice-chairman. He has been a highly engaged member of the board serving, among many duties, as the chairman of the board’s Master Site Planning Committee. The committee has overseen significant development in Sun ‘n Fun’s educational mission culminating last year in the dedication of the Central Florida Aerospace Academy (high school) on its year-round campus and the current construction of the Piedmont Aerospace & Technology Laboratory addition to its Florida Air Museum’s Tom Davis Educational Center.
The Taylor Aerocar
Story and Pictures by Wild Bill Hill
The future is strange to us, or at least that is the general consensus. When we think of the future, certain scientific anomalies dominate our consciousness: the personal robot, the teleportation device, the complete meal in a cup, the flying car, etc. We imagine that these are machines that would be built far off in the distant future, with teams of corporate or government backed engineers working tirelessly to produce such fantastic creations. After all, in what era could one have the knowhow or the money to make something like a flying car? The answer to that question is 1949.
User Fee’s: Paying Their Fair Share?
By Ed Downs
I doubt that many readers of this editorial are completely ignorant of the war being waged against business and general aviation. Yes, we are talking about the “per flight” user fees that have been recommended by our pals in Washington, DC. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB, essentially the White House’s accounting folks), have recommended that all turbine flights be charged a $100 per flight service fee for “ATC Services.” Small, piston engine aircraft and aircraft operating in uncontrolled airspace are specifically excluded. There are other odious details, but this writer will assume that our readers are already aware of this well publicized OMB recommendation and that you have already responded to the request by multiple aviation alphabet groups to participate in a petition appearing on the White House website, “We the People.”