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What Ive always been told, is true, Canino said. There was the sound of a rushing freight train. Everything in the hangar shook, the ductwork was banging against the metal walls. I thought the building was moving. Then the wind was gone and the rain beat on the roof. The surviving hangar is the core of the operation so business has continued without interruption, and that includes heading to Sun n Fun.
 copyright © John Fleck |
We've chosen the winners to fly left seat in the Herpa Wings DC-3 at Sun 'n Fun!
Aircraft owner Dan Gryder has opened up another flight for a left-seat winner, so we were able to pick two of our favorite essayists from more than 200 entries. First and foremost, we say thank you to Dan and to every AVweb reader who took the time to share their DC-3 stories and aspirations with us.
Joining us for DC-3 flights on Tuesday morning, April 8, will be Joe Kaminskas of Biglerville, Pennsylvania and Christa Mabry of Batavia, Illinois. Both have confirmed that they can be there for the flight, and we'll be inviting a couple of the runners-up to come along with us as passengers.
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| Joe Kaminskas |
Joe's a former airline pilot and had his first flight as a child in a DC-3. Throughout a long career, he's always wanted to fly one, but this is his first opportunity to do so. Joe didn't enter our contest himself, but his friend Charlie Tipton made a convincing argument on Joe's behalf with this essay:
Why I Want (Joe Kaminskas) to Fly the Herpa Wings DC-3
A DC-3 took my friend Joe for his first flight in 1950. The experience inspired him to become a pilot, and he has since relished flying in GA, USAF and airline service. Now retired, he is a dedicated vintage aircraft aficionado and a walking encyclopedia of historic aviation knowledge. However, the major regret of his career is that he never got to fly a "Gooney Bird."
I've seen Joe's poignant enthusiasm for the DC-3 when he toured Basler's conversion shop. I've watched him beam as he climbed into the left seat of a static display, and I've felt his contagious excitement during air show fly-bys. As someone who was privileged to fly the C-117D variant, I fully understand the thrill of flying this venerable icon. But I've already had my chance and now I'd like to see Joe finally get his.
Selecting Joe for the opportunity to take the controls of N143D would be a wonderful surprise for a deserving aviator in his twilight years. It would also give him closure to a journey that began with a teenage dream 58 years ago in the back of a DC-3.
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| Christa Mabry |
Somehow, Christa managed to squeeze in flying lessons while raising four boys. She now flies at least four times a week in the family 182 her husband is a pilot, too and is working on her instrument rating. Here's her essay:
Why I Want to Fly the Herpa Wings DC-3 ...
Somewhere between starting the laundry and emptying the dishwasher, I find time to sit with my coffee to read my AVwebFlash e-mail (which, by the way, I love).
I do not claim to be an aviation/airplane bluff, but [I] know the DC-3 is a BIG plane! Being a mom of four boys has not made learning to fly easy for me, but it does give me motivation to keep reaching for all the information I can get my hands on to make me a better pilot. As pilots, we all know the hard work and dedication it takes to reach each goal we set for ourselves. But for me, it's also to encourage my boys to never give up on what they believe in or dream of! Flying the DC-3 would be the icing on the cake for my boys, in more ways than I could ever imagine.
Now back to the laundry.
Thanks for your time.
AVweb will be at the
big spring airshow held annually at Lakeland, Fla., this April
8 - 13, providing full coverage -- video, podcasts and text updates,
every day. Sun 'n Fun this year includes all the latest gear,
gadgets and aircraft ready for prime time ... and may include
some early previews of big announcements to come later at AirVenture
Oshkosh. And don't forget the airshow; the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
will be there this year and Lancair's turbine evolution is expected
to be there, too. If you're thinking of flying in, be sure you've
seen, read, and understand the NOTAM and choose another method of transportation
if you think the flight might make you uncomfortable. (AVweb
has been made aware by some pilots that the arrival situation
is not for them.) Of course, if you can't go, just watch your
inbox -- we'll be putting as much of the excitement from Lakeland
that we can fit in there (virtually). Plus, if you do make it
to the show, and have a video or video content you'd like to share
with AVweb readers, just send an e-mail to AVweb
video editor Glenn Pew at gpew@avweb.com.
We'll see what we can do ... .
Can't wait for the daily AVwebFlash e-newsletter? Watch our Sun 'n Fun coverage as it unfolds at http://www.avweb.com/news/snf.
Boeing has successfully flown
the worlds first fuel-cell-powered aircraft and it took its time
announcing it. The Diamond Dimona motorglider has flown three
times since February out of an airfield at Ocana, south of Madrid.
The aircraft took off on a combination of battery power and the
fuel cell but used the fuel cell alone to cruise at 3,300 feet
and about 55 knots for 20 minutes. Boeing is actively working
to develop new technologies for environmentally progressive aerospace
products," said Francisco Escarti, Boeing Research &
Technology Europe (BR&TE) managing director. "We are
proud of our pioneering work during the past five years on the
Fuel Cell Demonstrator Airplane project. It is a tangible example
of how we are exploring future leaps in environmental performance."
According to Boeing, fuel cells make sense for small manned and
unmanned aircraft but theyre not likely to be used for airliners.
But theyre also not ruling anything out. The company will continue
to investigate their potential, as well as other sustainable alternative
fuel and energy sources that improve environmental performance,
Boeing said in a news release.
Related Content:
AVweb
video coverage of the announcement
Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos
Boeing has flown a manned aircraft on hydrogen fuel cell power and while the announcement may seem to come out of the blue, Boeing has put the fuel cell-powered Diamond Dimona through its paces outside of Madrid, leaving behind only a trail of H2O exhaust. AVweb's Glenn Pew has the full story:
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Don't see a video screen? |
Related Content:
More
details on Boeing's hydrogen-powered demonstrator plane
While pedestrians have the right of way,
you dont see many sticking their arm out and marching across a
freeway. Likewise, military pilots who use military operating
areas to hone their skills and get a little afterburner time are
asking that civilian pilots understand the kind of screeching
halt their presence in MOAs can cause. Youre talking about tens
of thousands of dollars of taxpayers money, retired F-16 pilot
Lt. Col Fred Clifton told AVweb in a podcast
interview last week. Clifton also noted such interruptions
eat into already-scarce flight time by fighter jocks thanks to
military cutbacks. Similar sentiments have been expressed by forum
contributors to AVwebs blog, the AVweb Insider, in which
Editorial Director Paul Bertorelli also pleaded
for some consideration for the fighter operations.
Clifton explained that if civilian aircraft cross an MOA during an exercise, the drill has to be stopped and the aircraft have to fly in circles, wasting fuel, while they wait for the plane to get out of the way. Of critical importance, said Clifton, is that civilian pilots find out if the MOA is active before crossing. If it is active, its best to fly around or even cut a corner (corners arent usually used by the fighters because they need too much room to turn). The lively dialogue was sparked by a podcast interview with California Pilatus PC-12 pilot Patrick McCall who complained that he and another aircraft were intercepted and shadowed at close range by an F-16 in the Gladden MOA in Arizona. The FAA and military are looking into the allegations. Clifton said hes intercepted civilian aircraft in MOAs and says it can be done without undue hazard to either aircraft because military pilots are trained to fly at close quarters. Was it aggressive? Yes, he said. Was it hazardous? No.
AirGator Inc. says its new
NAVAir Approaches 3D offers "unparalleled situational awareness"
to pilots by offering a three-dimensional view of the aircraft
during approach, viewable on certain pocket- or tablet-PC products.
The system shows the aircraft's position in both the plan view
and on the vertical profile and works with AirGator's NAVAir moving
map or NAVAir Approaches simple interface. After providing visual
position representation through a successful approach and landing,
the system then automatically displays the aircraft on the airport
diagram for better awareness while taxiing. Pricing for the viewer
is $249 with 12 months of data updates and program enhancements.
After that, subscription renewals are $189 per year. And, remember,
you'll need something to view it on. The company is inviting you
to watch a demonstrations of the product, here and here.
The NTSB is proposing changes
to regulations that concern reporting and notification with regard
to aircraft incidents, accidents, or collisions, because they
currently do not adequately cover unmanned aircraft. The notice of proposed rulemaking seeks comment
prior to July and suggests that the definition of "aircraft
accident" be made to include "unmanned aircraft accident."
Specifically, revisions would be made to 49 CFR part 830 to cover
unmanned aircraft for the period starting from the time the vehicle
is activated and concluding when the vehicle is deactivated. A
UAV accident would be indicated by any person suffering death
or serious injury, or substantial damage done to the aircraft
while it is in operation. These additions, says the NTSB, "will
enhance aviation safety by providing the NTSB with notification"
of the aforementioned events.
When ATA Airlines filed for
bankruptcy, Thursday, it immediately and without warning halted
all flights; after 35 years in operation, the airline Thursday
left its passengers stranded and nearly all of its 2,200 employees
are now unemployed. The sudden stoppage was explained by ATA in
a statement that said FedEx had cancelled a charter agreement
with the airline, leaving ATA unable to offset fuel prices. World
Airways and North American Airlines, two airlines acquired by
ATA's parent group, ATA Acquisition Inc., are not in bankruptcy,
according to court documents. While ATA warned other airlines
of its impending shutdown, asking them to help its soon to be
stranded passengers. Northwest Airlines said it will honor ATA
tickets for flights to and from Hawaii and Cancun through May
3 for a fee of $100 per leg. Southwest will honor any tickets
issued to is own customers, or provide those customers with refunds.
For those passengers that arrived at ATA check-in points to empty
counters said they received no notice of their flight's cancellation.
They are encouraged to seek financial return from their credit
card companies (if that's how they purchased their tickets). ATA
frequent fliers currently can expect their accrued mileage to
be worthless. Employees say they got phone calls, some at 3 a.m.
letting them know their services were no longer required.
Some may have anticipated this day was coming, but an announcement last month from the airline stated that ATA would close its hub at Midway, ceasing domestic flights there on April 14 with a stop to international flights falling on June 7. ATA follows Aloha Airgroup Inc. into Bankruptcy. Aloha ceased operations on March 31.
U.S. Aviation Group claims to be the first
nationwide program catering to general aviation pilots seeking
fractional ownership of an aircraft. Each share begins with one
pilot, in any community between the two U.S. coasts, according
to the company. That pilot may purchase a 1/6 share of a 237-knot
Mooney Acclaim, a Diamond DA40 XLS, or a 1/10 share in a light
sport aircraft -- each to be held for three years. The company
then finds five other pilots willing to put their money where
their mouth is and fills in the rest of the shares. U.S. Aviation
Group then applies a monthly fee ($587 for the Diamond) and maintains
the aircraft's needs from hangars and insurance to maintenance
and cleaning. The company then charges hourly use rates with a
limit of hours per year (75 for the Acclaim). For LSA owners,
use rates can be as low as $43 per hour.
At the top end, the Mooney will cost its pilot a $120,500 buy-in, plus a monthly management fee of $737.50 and an hourly rate of $129, according to the company's Web site. The Diamond has a buy-in of $66,000 and the LSA weighs in at $15,000 for its lesser share. After a checkout, according to the company, pilots just "show up and fly." The company covers "your initial transition training and regular recurrent training" as part of the program and includes Bose headsets for each occupant. Owners hold a titled interest that could be to their taxable advantage (they may depreciate costs associated with business use of the aircraft). At the end of the three-year period, the company sells the aircraft and divides the proceeds between the owners.
After three years of operation,
Wathen Aviation High School (WAHS) is expanding to include more
students in grades 9-12 on the grounds of Flabob Airport, in Riverside,
Calif. Children at the school have the opportunity to develop
hands-on skills through a variety of airport projects (like restoring
a Stinson 108 to airworthiness) and can earn free flight lessons
from participation. Students previously restored and flew an Aeronca
Champ to Oshkosh and back. "We think aviation is a great
way to motivate kids to learn," says Wathen Foundation executive
director John Lyon. A trustee at the Thomas W. Wathen Foundation,
which owns Flabob airport, Major General Pat Halloran once flew
the SR71 Blackbird -- now he shares with students his firsthand
experience of the Cold War and the world's fastest airplane. While
unique, WAHS is a free public charter high school and enrollment
(which is now open for fall 2008) is open on a first-come, first-served
basis.
Courses at the high school teach to state and federal standards. For more information or to enroll, contact Kathleen Swift at (951) 222-4466.
China Eastern Airlines is denying reports of rebellion by pilots in the wake of a series of cancelled flights last week. The airline says high winds forced the pilots to turn around and return to their originating airports ...
Australia is restricting importation of portable laser devices after a series of laser pointing incidents at aircraft. The government is considering imposing regulations similar to those in place on guns and other weapons ...
Three young pilots are flying a Cessna Mustang in a round-the-world speed record attempt. At our deadline, Jared Isaacman, 25; Douglas Demko, 26; and Shaun Leach, 27, were a half-hour ahead of the previous record holder as they neared completion of the 22,000 mile trip.
Columns | Features | What's New | Calendar | Brainteasers
The nice part about Newark (and New York City) in the morning is ... leaving. AVweb's CEO of the Cockpit has a good day, for once.
Click here for the full story.
A circling approach is a visual game made safer with the right mix of math, estimation and skillful instrument flying.
Podcast
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to Listen | Subscribe
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As you read on AVweb, air traffic controller Patrick Eberhart of Detroit Metro TRACON is this year's winner of the NATCA Archie League Awards. In this podcast, you'll hear the dramatic audio of Eberhart guiding an aircraft with malfunctioning instruments and low fuel to a safe landing. Plus, you'll hear other amazing recordings, featuring some other finalists from this year's Archie Awards.
Click here to listen. (13.4 MB, 14:41)
Podcast
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to Listen | Subscribe
Via RSS
Monday's podcast with a California pilot who was intercepted and shadowed by an F-16 in a military operating area (MOA) ignited a firestorm of debate on our blog, the AVweb Insider.
Lt. Col Fred Clifton, a retired F-16 pilot who now instructs at the Air Force's weapons school at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, joined the debate from the military pilot's perspective. AVweb's Russ Niles spoke with Clifton about why it's important that civilian pilots be aware of and avoid active MOAs.
Plus, the original story and podcast about Pilatus pilot Patrick McCall's brush with an F-16 generated several listener comments that we'll share.
Click here to listen. (10.6 MB, 11:35)
Recommend a Video | VOTW Archive
We've seen some low-flying aircraft in the past, but this clip, originally from Military.com, gave a us a little thrill (on the rare occasions we weren't peeking between our fingers):
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Don't see a video screen? Try disabling ad blockers and refreshing this page. If that doesn't work, click here to download the video directly. |
Don't forget to send us links to any interesting videos you find out there. If you're impressed by it, there's a good chance other AVweb readers will be too. And if we use a video you recommend on AVweb, we'll send out an official AVweb baseball cap as a "thank you."
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| Overheard in IFR Magazine's "On the Air" |
Heard on the scanner over Adelaide, South Australia:
Airliner (I think it was a Qantas, but I didn't hear
the start of the transmission):
"We won't need to divert into Adelaide now. The passenger
is feeling much better now that he has been moved to business
class."
Controller:
"Amazing what recuperative powers business class has."
Leigh P. Bunting
via e-mail
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