Hendricks County Aviation: Adventuress Leslie Bailey flies an airplane - Hendricks County Airport-Gordon Graham Field (2R2), Indianapolis, Indiana

Written by Leslie Bailey, Star correspondent 

Over the hum of the plane engine, I can hear Richard Stevens' voice through my headset loud and clear: "We've gone through the checklist, and you're ready for takeoff."

Stevens, 65, Indianapolis, is my instructor for my first flight school lesson at Hendricks County Aviation.

I sit motionless for a moment before realizing that Stevens is telling me that the plane is ready to fly and I'm the one who will be responsible for getting it into the air.

Less than an hour earlier, I didn't know the difference between a flap and an aileron, and now this man wants me to lift a 2,500-pound Cessna 172 SP off the ground?

Read more here: http://www.indystar.com

Plane spotting, the new fad among Japanese women

Years after women Japanese train spotters were given the nickname “Tetsuko,” which loosely translates as rail girl, officials of Narita airport and nearby Narita city recently coined the word “Sorami” — air girl — to describe members of Japan’s growing band of women plane spotters.

 

Just as a Tetsuko would crisscross the nation to photograph different trains, so a Sorami such as Ayumi Fukuda, a 34-year-old public servant from Takaishi, Osaka Prefecture, travels from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south to capture images of airplanes.

In May she was one of 27 participants in an event organized for Sorami in Narita, Chiba Prefecture.

“I don’t understand why airplanes can fly, and that’s why I’m attracted to them,” said Fukuda, a plane spotter of five years. The event was organized by “Narita Kuentai,” a group consisting of employees of the Narita municipal government and of Narita airport that works for the development of the local community.

After gathering at a hotel in the city, the participants, mostly in their 20s and 30s, were given a tour of a park close to the airport and taken to a Japan Airlines hangar to photograph planes.

“It’s huge!” “Beautiful!” the assembled Sorami exclaimed as they entered the hangar and set eyes on JAL’s Boeing 787, the state-of-the-art passenger jet nicknamed Dreamliner. Some lay on the ground to photograph the plane from a certain angle, while others posed in front of the jet for photos with mechanics, who were acting as tour guides.

Read more here: http://www.deccanherald.com

Millville, New Jersey: Boeing facility at milestone with helicopter

MILLVILLE — The 100th CH-47F to enter the work line at the Boeing Company helicopter modification center here now is ready for its first assignment with the U.S. Army, although no one was saying where that might be. 

Boeing held a rare public event at its municipal airport facility Friday morning to mark the moment. The facility has been open only since February 2010.

Its opening gave a badly needed lift to the economic outlook for the city and for the city’s airport operator, Delaware River Bay Authority.

The center employs 50 people and leases a major industrial space at a facility that still mourns the loss of Dallas Airmotive’s plant.

The twin-rotor cargo and troop transport helicopter is in heavy demand worldwide, with multiple nations, and particularly in Afghanistan. The Chinooks passing through Millville, though, are only for United States Army use.

Read more here:  http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20120625/NEWS01/306250024/Boeing-facility-milestone-helicopter

Seminar on future of unleaded Avgas - June 30 - Santa Monica Museum of Flying (KSMO)

Saturday, June 30, at 9 a.m., Lars Hjelmberg, founder of Hjelmco Oil, will take part in a seminar on the development of unleaded aviation fuel at the Santa Monica Museum of Flying. 

Attendance is limited to the first 250 people to register. Register at http://futureofavgas.eventbrite.com.

In 1979, Hjelmco Oil, developed an UN-Leaded 80/87 grade AVGAS. In 1991, the company developed an 91/96 grade UN-Leaded AVGAS, which is VERY close to 100 Octane. Coninental, Lycoming, Rotax and radial engine manufacturer Kalisz have all cleared the Hjelmco AVGAS 91/96 UL for use in some of their engines. The fuel has been widely used throughout Sweden for decades and millions of flight hours, including by the Swedish Air Force, and is the preferred fuel for general aviation there.

The fuel currently used in piston-powered aircraft, 100LL (low lead) AvGas, is the last leaded fuel in production. For years, environmental protection agencies worldwide have been working with refiners and other regulatory agencies to develop an un-leaded replacement for 100LL.

Tetraethyl-lead (TEL) used in 100LL AvGas acts as an octane booster to prevent engine detonation and pre-ignition. It also provides improved heat transfer for valve seats and piston rings. Due to the relatively small demand for AvGas, the TEL used in the AvGas has a very limited production.

There has been a lot of news recently about unleaded alternatives to 100LL, including a UL 91, which is being pushed by Lycoming Engines and TOTAL in Europe (see this news story – http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2012/120419lycoming-eu-bless-ul-91.html), 94UL, which is being pushed by Continental, a new 100UL being developed by a startup called Swift Fuel, and G100UL being developed by GAMI.

Additionally, recent national publications like Bloomberg have highlighted the potential health risks of leaded aviation gasoline. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&refer=&sid=aCfotEYJYr3Y

Lead emissions from piston-engine aircraft and leaded aviation gasoline are Federally-regulated. EPA received a petition to determine whether lead emissions from piston-engine aircraft endanger human health and the environment. The EPA is currently conducting a national-scale analysis of the local impact of lead emissions from piston-engine aircraft. It’s time to understand what the alternatives are to 100LL and where we are in the certification process.

The Museum of Flying is located ar 3100 Airport Avenue@ SMO Airport. 

Source:   http://www.santamonicadispatch.com/2012/06/seminar-on-future-of-unleaded-gas/

NORTH CAROLINA: State hopes remote-aircraft industry takes flight

North Carolina hopes to launch one of its next big industries out of a tiny airport in Hyde County. 

The Division of Aviation, part of the state transportation department, is drafting plans for a test range where private companies and academic researchers could try out unmanned aircraft and the cameras and other devices they might carry.

If they’re successful at getting an FAA permit for the range, officials will then ask the Federal Aviation Administration to make it one of six sites nationwide the agency will use to help determine how unmanned craft can be incorporated into U.S. airspace.

Having a test range in the state could spur research and development worth billions of dollars, said Kyle Snyder, director of the NextGen Air Transportation Center at N.C. State University, which is working with the state, other universities and private industry to find uses for unmanned aircraft.

In North Carolina, Snyder said, “We could do the building, the testing, the final production, the training and the maintenance on these aircraft. We could do the full life-cycle.”

Unmanned aircraft – also called remotely piloted aircraft – have been in use for years, most notably by the U.S. and Israeli military. Large U.S. military drones have carried out attacks during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Within the United States, the FAA strictly regulates the use of unmanned aircraft. About five dozen universities and law enforcement agencies across the country are certified to operate them.

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com

PHOTOS: Patriots Jet Team performs for the home crowd

The Patriots Jet Team flew L39 jets in formation over the Byron Airport in Byron, Calif., on Sunday, June 24, 2012. As part of a dedication ceremony for their new hangar, the Patriots Jet Team performed on their way back to their home base in Byron after performing over Sonoma raceway earlier in the day. 

Photo Gallery: http://photos.mercurynews.com

Memorial to honor 2011 Reno air race crash victims

RENO, Nev. (AP) — Organizers of the Reno National Championship Air Races are pursuing plans to build a permanent memorial for victims of last year's mass-casualty crash in Nevada.

Reno Air Racing Association officials are hoping the memorial can be installed at the crash site at Reno Stead Airport by the start of the Sept. 12-16 event.

They're talking to victims' families to determine what they would prefer, but have not yet come up with a specific design for the monument, association spokesman Mike Draper said.

Read more here:  http://www.sfgate.com

Lee County-Butters Field (52J), Bishopville, South Carolina: Airport hosts fly-in rain or shine

BISHOPVILLE- A little inclement weather kept a few pilots from flying into Bishopville but it couldn’t keep them away. 

Sunday in Bishopville at the Lee County Airport’s Butters field was supposed to be the site of several dozen aircraft flying in for the second year in a row for the South Carolina Breakfast Club’s bi-weekly meeting.  Mother Nature had other plans and the low clouds prevented any of the planes from actually landing.

It didn’t deter some of the dedicated few members that took alternate means of transportation such as a motorcycle or car. The preferred method is by aircraft but above all, fellowship was most important. The Club has a history that dates all the way back to 1938 and promises a home cooked southern breakfast, great fellowship and flying. This week it was Bishopville’s turn and breakfast was served at the South Carolina Cotton Museum, on West Cedar Lane. Every other Sunday pilots and aviation lovers in and around South Carolina meet at a different airport. As their website, www.flyscbc.com, states “That’s it! No dues, no meeting requirements. Breakfast is around $6 a plate and is ready around 9 a.m. Fly-in or drive. There’s always plenty and all are welcome.”

Just in case there was a brief opening in the clouds and a plane wanted to land, airport manager, airport commission chairman, pilot and instructor George Roberts was ready. He was standing yards from the runway with walkie-talkie in hand to give the all clear to land. Last year Roberts said there were more than 30 aircraft including a helicopter. Although he had hoped the good weather trend from the past week would continue it didn’t. Butters Field is a small country airport to say the least and it only allows pilots to use a visual approach for landing, minimum 1,000 ft. ceiling and three mile visibility.

Read more here:  http://www2.scnow.com

Aviation history takes to skies over Marlborough, New Zealand

The Ferrari of aviation in the 1940s soared over Marlborough on Saturday leaving its V12 engine ringing in the ears of spectators.

 A Russian World War II plane, the Yakovlev Yak-3, was the star of the show at the Omaka Wings and Wheels Day.

Parents and their children watched as owner and pilot Graeme Frew rolled the newly restored fighter plane overhead.

The Yak-3 was restored at Omaka Airfield by Blenheim engineers Jem Aviation.

Chris O'Connor installed the avionics and was, quite literally, taken for a spin on Saturday.

The plane bounced through the air like a speedboat, he said.

"Graeme [Frew] said `if you build it, you have to fly in it'. The performance is incredible and it's beautiful to roll.

"You come in low and then before you know it, you're back up to 4000 feet."

The Yak-3 was a great aeroplane to work on, Mr O'Connor added.

"The Russians knew what they were doing."

Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre trustee Graham Orphan said the Yak-3 was the Russian equivalent of a Spitfire or Mustang. But the Yak-3 could outperform both, he said.

Read more here:  http://www.stuff.co.nz

JetBlue eyeing Naples Municipal Airport (KAPF), Florida

JetBlue has expressed interest in serving Naples Municipal Airport with nonstop, low-fare service from several New York airports. The airline recognizes the airport’s 75,000-pound weight limit for aircraft, and the City of Naples Airport Authority is investigating the airlines’ request for a waiver of that limit for specified commercial service. Under consideration by the airport authority is the possible impact of heavier aircraft on the airport’s runways and taxiways.

 “Working with our attorneys and our board of commissioners to evaluate the weight-restriction issue is only an initial step,” said Executive Director Ted Soliday. “Our bylaws require meetings with the city council and the public to change the weight limit in any manner. Whether JetBlue begins service or not, attracting the attention of this premier airline is a great achievement for the airport and the Naples area.”

“Although our modern fleet of Airbus 320 and Embraer 190 aircraft exceed APF’s current weigh limits, they have a noise footprint similar to or lower than smaller aircraft currently utilizing the airport,” Scott Laurence, JetBlue’s vice president network planning and partnership, wrote in a June 19 letter. “I am confident JetBlue can be a good neighbor and an active, positive member of the Naples community.

“We are pleased with the market dynamics of the Naples area and are confident that JetBlue’s high-quality, low-fare air service will drive significant increases in travel to Florida’s Southwest coast,” wrote Laurence.

Read more here:  http://www.naplesnews.com

Cape Air shows map for success in tough times - Kirksville Regional Airport (KIRK), Missouri

By The Daily Express 

Editorial:

There are many who would argue small businesses can’t succeed, can’t expand, can’t get by in our recent and current economic climate.

To those people, we’d point to two words:

Cape Air.

Given the unparalleled success Kirksville’s commercial air service provider has seen, it’s easy to forget the precarious situation our local airport was in just two years ago.

Under previous carriers, ridership was down. Way, way, down. That meant the subsidy per rider, the amount the federal government was chipping in per ticket, was way, way up. Too high, in fact, to be sustained. As Air Choice One’s contract came to a close, the prospects looked dim for Kirksville to receive another Essential Air Service subsidy deal.

Enter Cape Air. Its slogan, “Mocha Hagotdi,” (which stands for “Make Our Customers Happy and Have a Good Time Doing It”), is kind of complicated. The recipe for success, however, couldn’t have been simpler.

Read more here:  http://www.kirksvilledailyexpress.com

Prior Aviation Service at Buffalo Niagara International Airport (KBUF), New York: Keeping local aviation aloft for more than 50 years

By Emma Sapong 

Across the runways from the new terminal at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport is a long-standing, local aviation business that has played a vital role in airport operations.

Prior Aviation Service has been a profitable business, serving as the private-sector arm of airline operations at the airport for 51 years, while operating its own separate charter flight service, flight school and numerous other services for the local aviation industry.

"Western New York is very much a good market," said David E. Mittlefehldt, the company's president and CEO, said of the charter business. "In fact a lot of companies depend on it exclusively to transport their employees around the country. There's definitely a huge need here."

Prior also handles other general aviation needs as a full-service, fixed-based operator. The company provides services to private and commercial aircraft, such as maintenance, hangaring and de-icing for major carriers.

Prior's hangars house corporate jets and other planes of several area companies; its own fleet transports business executives, celebrities and other private citizens, and its nationally accredited school trains about 50 pilots each year.

Such a broad-based approach to serving the aviation industry is almost a throwback in the evolving airport business.

Read more here:   http://www.buffalonews.com

Anticipation sky high for Blue Angels - Next weekend's event is final show scheduled at Pease Tradeport

PORTSMOUTH — For the last two years, Seacoast residents have been spoiled with the sights and sounds of some of the most renowned pilots and aviation performers the world has to offer.

Each year, in addition to thousands of local fans who flock to Portsmouth International Airport at Pease International Tradeport, tens of thousands more from the greater region have shown up to catch a glimpse of the high-flying superstars.

When the U.S. Navy Blue Angels perform with a host of others as part of the Service Credit Union Boston-Portsmouth Air Show later this week, it may be the last time in the foreseeable future that aviation enthusiasts can see such a vision soaring through the Seacoast skies. The Blue Angels last appeared on the Seacoast at the 2010 air show, which drew 70,000 spectators. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds headlined the 2011 air show last August.

Organizers of the popular summer attraction say they are thankful for all the benefits the air show has brought to the community, and beyond, over the years.

"We've had a tremendous time in the past two air shows," said Michael Kaufman, executive director and chief executive officer of the Daniel Webster Council of Boy Scouts of America, an event co-organizer.

The show is being jointly produced by the Daniel Webster Council, Boy Scouts of America and the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire. The organizations, along with more than 30 other local not-for-profit groups, will benefit from the show.

Kaufman said that each year, the show has not only brought a smile to the many flying fans of New England, but has also meant support for local businesses and nonprofits.

"It's put a lot of financial support in the coffers of Seacoast businesses," he said.

The show has also been a "blessing" for the Boy Scouts, said Kaufman, who added the money raised over the years has gone directly back to Scouts themselves.

"It's been a win-win for us," he said. "It's allowed us to showcase scouting by putting on a fun and unique activity in which the net proceeds come right back to our programs."

Money raised has helped the organization purchase equipment for the Boy Scout summer camp to ensure the youngsters have a quality experience, Kaufman said.

Steve Wade, chief executive officer of the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire, said the Seacoast has been fortunate to have the Blue Angels visit in 2010, after 20 years, and again this year.

"We've been incredibly lucky," he said.

After some bumps and bruises from logistical problems in the first air show related to scarcity of water and traffic, Wade said the organizations have learned how to put on the perfect type of show to ensure visitors are left with little to no complaints.

"We are in good shape and have a really good plan in place," he said. "We feel like we nailed it last year."

Wade also credited the assistance Service Credit Union has given as the lead sponsor for the event.

Funds raised over the year, according to Wade, have made a huge difference for the brain injury association. He said the last few years, the organization has had the money to help transition people who have brain injuries back into their homes and out of care facilities.

"We've been able to get people back into their communities," he said.

Funds raised from the air show have also helped the organization create a concussion awareness program with 10 high schools across the state, he said.

With more funds expected from the upcoming air show, Wade said the group will try to reach out to families of returning war veterans to see how they can help as well.

Another stakeholder in the air show over the years has been the Pease Development Authority, which opens up the entire tradeport for the show.

Airport Manager Bill Hopper said preparation for the show is a lot of work, but it definitely pays off when the roar of the Blue Angels can be heard booming through the tradeport.

And while this year's show is technically the last one, organizers say they are planning to take a step back to collect themselves and assess any potential for future shows at the tradeport.

"It's up in the air," Kaufman quipped.

Source:  http://www.seacoastonline.com
-

At a glance 

Service Credit Union Boston-Portsmouth Air Show

When: June 30 and July 1

Where: Portsmouth International Airport at Pease International Tradeport

Performers: U.S. Navy Blue Angels, Black Diamond Jet Team, U.S. Army Parachute Team "Golden Knights," air show legend Sean D. Tucker, aerobatic superstar Michael Goulian, Wingwalker Jane Wicker and the NHANG KC-135 Stratotanker

Featured aircraft

F4U-5 Corsair: A carrier-capable fighter aircraft, primarily during World War II and the Korean War.

P-51 Mustang "Quick Silver": American-made long-range single-seat fighter aircraft primarily engaged in service during World War II. The Quick Silver, also known as "The Resurrected Veteran," celebrates our nation's Armed Forces. B-25 "Panchito": The Disabled American Veterans Flight Team brings its iconic World War II-era aircraft. The B-25, which gained notoriety in the famed Doolittle Raid over Tokyo 70 years ago, shares a modern-day mission with DAV: reminding people of the sacrifices veterans make for freedom.

Static displays: The show will offer various on-ground displays and fund-raising events. Food vendors will be on hand, and an ATM will also be on site. Visitors may also bring in their own food.

Tickets: General admission is $25 for adults and $20 for children. There is a $10 fee for parking. There are several premium seating options and private chalets that include VIP parking passes available for purchase in advance. All tickets can be purchased at www.BostonPortsmouthAirShow.com.

Friends hold benefit for injured Mercy Flight pilot

Friends of Joe Knox, the Mercy Flight pilot injured in a tractor accident two months ago, came together Saturday to raise money for Knox by holding a yard sale.

Besides the physical and emotional pain Knox faces, he is also burdened by medical expenses. Friends hoped by holding the yard sale they could help lift some of that burden off his shoulders.

“It’s a long process,” former Mercy Flight nurse Amanda Check said. “He has braces on, and all that costs, and just being out in Seattle, food for his family, lodging, and follow up doctor appointments, it all adds up.”

For a man who has helped save so many lives for more than 15 years, they say a yard sale was the least they could do for him.

“He’s one of the most positive guys I’ve ever met, just very hardworking, just fun to be around, overall just a great, great person,” Mercy Flight nurse Brian Schruth said.

More than 40 friends, co-workers, and others who had known Knox through Mercy Flight and his volunteering in the community, donated hundreds of items to be sold. They hoped to raise at least $1000.

With dozens streaming onto the lawn and the thought of Knox in mind, his friends said they had no doubt they could do it.

“If anybody else was in that situation, he’d be right there for them also,” Check said.

Friends will also hold another benefit Saturday, June 30, at the Sting Sports bar from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.   There will be a raffle, silent and live auctions, and entertainment.

Source:   http://www.krtv.com/news/friends-hold-benefit-for-injured-mercy-flight-pilot/

Related:

http://www.giveforward.com/michaeljoeknox
 

Virgin Galactic gearing up for first space flight

 

LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- Virgin Galactic is gearing up to give people a travel experience that is literally out of this world. 

The company, which is a part of Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, is preparing to be the first business to provide commercial flights to outer space.

Virgin Galactic just recently opened their new headquarters in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where they continue to work on launching their first flight.

“It certainly is a dream, and I dream all the time, and I love to try to make dreams come true,” said Branson.

So far, more than 500 people have put down a deposit to be a part of Branson’s dream.  Most of those individuals have paid the full ticket price of $200,000.

“You can compare them to the first commercial airline passengers, and the first people that bought those huge car phones back in the 80s. You know it was those people that made those businesses possible, and enabled the technology to develop,” said one Virgin Galactic employee.

If all goes well, it won’t be too long before Virgin Galactic launches their first flight. They’re hoping to embark on their inaugural voyage at the end of next year.

Source:   http://www.azfamily.com

IndiGo plane becomes first to land using fuel-saving technology

No-frill carrier IndiGo on Saturday became the first Indian airline to carry out a landing at the Kochi airport using a system that allows an aircraft to be guided by a sophisticated on-board navigation system instead of ground-based radars. 

In carrying out this precision landing, an Airbus A-320 aircraft used the Required Navigation Performance (RNP) approach, which provides accurate and shorter flight paths and secure trajectories.

RNP, by allowing the use of on board systems and satellite-based Global Positioning System (GPS), frees the plane from dependence on conventional ground-based navigation installations.

An airline spokesperson said Saturday’s first regular RNP flight was 6E-345 from Bangalore to Kochi. RNP approach would continue to be applied by IndiGo whenever its aircraft land at Kochi, with its entire fleet being equipped with the system.

Read more:   http://www.thehindu.com

LIVE: World Aerobatic Yak-52 Championship

LIVE: World Aerobatic Yak-52 Championship

15:40 23/06/2012

MOSCOW, June 23 (RIA Novosti)

RIA Novosti will broadcast live the opening ceremony of the third World Aerobatic Yak-52 Championship on June 23 at 3.40 p.m. Moscow time (11.40 a.m. GMT). Participants from 10 different countries will be performing stunts.

All of the aerobatics are judged by a panel, which scores the participants on the difficulty of the stunts performed, synchronicity, and staying within a precise area or otherwise be docked points. The championship will run until June 30

The Yak-52 is a two-bladed counterclockwise nose prop plane used as an aerobatic trainer for students and is able to fly upside down for as long as two minutes and its maximum speed is 177 miles per hour.

Watch Live:   http://en.rian.ru/russia/20120623/174191420.html

Russia celebrates 75 years of legendary Moscow-Vancouver flight

Russia celebrates the 75th anniversary of a 63-hour flight from Moscow to Vancouver, Washington, US, via the North Pole.

The main celebrations, including an air show, are being held near the native town of the legendary Soviet pilot Valery Chkalov in the Nizhni Novgorod region.

In June 1937, Soviet pilot Valery, Chkalov, Georgy Baidukov and Alexander Belyakob made the legendary flight on an Tupolev ANT-25 plane. It was a non-stop distance flight, which covered 8,811 kilometers.

The flight pioneered the polar air route from Europe to the American Pacific Coast.

Interfax

http://english.ruvr.ru

Piper Seneca : "This Is How I Roll," Paola Pivi, Freedman Plaza, Central Park

Courtesy of New York City Parks.

There's an airplane in Central Park.

How it got there this week isn't totally clear, but it did not fly to its current position, in Doris C. Freedman Plaza. This airplane is "art," a piece by artist Paola Pivi entitled "How I Roll."

So why's this plane so special? Well for one, this baby is a six-seat 1977 Piper Seneca that is "airborne but flightless," continually rotating 360-degrees, held aloft by its wingtips. Second, we can't remember a time when there's been an entire airplane in Central Park, of any size. Thirdly, it's supposed to evoke a "child's dream come to life."

Read more:  http://www.jaunted.com

Photo Gallery:   http://www.flickr.com/photos/alectabak/7420984308/in/photostream/
 

Art in the Parks:  http://www.nycgovparks.org/art/art299

Mt. Vernon, Illinois: Airport hosts convention - The Ercoupe Owners of America National Convention will last through the weekend

MT. VERNON — — Thursday was the first day of the Ercoupe Owners of America National Convention, which will last through the the weekend, hosted by the Mt. Vernon Outland Airport. 

David Winters of Clarksville, Tenn., has owned his plane since 2004. He said he used to fly a Citation jet, which is much bigger than the Ercoupe, which seats two.

The planes were designed pre World War II and about 6,000 of them were produced. Winters said the planes were once quite popular and were even sold at Macy’s during the first years of production in the mid 1940’s.

The plane was designed for non-professional pilots, with cutting-edge safety features that don’t allow is to stall out. One unique feature of the Ercoupe is the lack of rudder pedals — the plane is flown entirely using a control wheel instead and like driving a car.

Winters stripped his plane, which is named Frolic, of paint and removed the upholstery to make it lighter and said it only weighs about 860 pounds. His plane gets about 17 miles to the gallon and is relatively easy to learn to fly, he added.

Frolic is a work in progress — Winters has been working on her and replacing parts since he purchased the plane.

“When I first started flying, every time I took off, something fell off,” Winters said. “I don’t think I will ever be finished [restoring the plane].”

Read more here:   http://register-news.com

Portsmouth, New Hampshire: First Blue Angel set to roar into city on Tuesday

PORTSMOUTH — Aviation enthusiasts should expect some activity in the skies overhead Tuesday, June 26, as the early arrival of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels is sure to make some noise over the Seacoast. 

According to airport manager Bill Hopper, Blue Angel 7 will arrive at Portsmouth International Airport at Pease around 5 p.m. Tuesday. The visit comes only days before the Service Credit Union Boston-Portsmouth Air Show, scheduled for June 30-July 1.

The exact arrival time of the first Angel is not set in stone, said Hopper, calling it a "moving target."

Blue Angel 7 Lt. Mark Tedrow of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, serves as the narrator for the team during flight demonstrations. Tedrow arrived in Portsmouth in late November aboard an F/A-18 Hornet to build interest in the upcoming air show.

The entire team is expected to arrive Wednesday, June 27.

Read more here:   http://www.seacoastonline.com

Coast Guard aviators in Belle Chasse get a new skipper today

 

Rusty Costanza/The Times-Picayune

Command of Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans, home to five MH-65C Dolphin helicopters such as this one, changes hands this morning.

Almost two years after he assumed command of about 120 Coast Guard personnel and their five of MH-65C Dolphin search and rescue helicopters, Cmdr. Frederick Riedlin hands the reigns of Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans to Cmdr. Michael Brandhuber. The 10 a.m. ceremony will be at the agency’s air station in Belle Chasse, which became a hub for Coast Guard helicopters in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Brandhuber becomes the latest in the line of Coast Guard officers to oversee the aviation operation since the agency first established an air station at Lake Pontchartrain in 1955. Since then, the Coast Guard estimates its New Orleans-area flight crews have saved more than 5,500 people, making it one of its busiest air stations.

The Coast Guard’s aviation compound has been located inside the Naval Air Station-Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse since 1957.

The air crews respond to search-and-rescue calls in a region from the Florida panhandle to Memphis, Tenn., to the Louisiana-Texas border to deep within the Gulf of Mexico, home to thousands of offshore platforms.

They also fly an array of other missions, including law enforcement – and regularly provide aerial security over New Orleans parade routes during Carnival season.

Read more here:  http://www.nola.com

Flight Inspections ENAV provided by Piaggio P180 Avanti II

 

http://youtu.be/rIeDcdt-Wwo

June 22, 2012 by ENAV

Captain Enzo Maria Feliziani

About ENAV TV

ENAV is the Italian company that provides Air Traffic Control service, as well as other services for air navigation, in Italy skies and in national civilian airports.

ENAV personnel guarantees the air traffic management from 39 Control Towers 24 hours a day.

Westmoreland County Air Show taking off this weekend - Arnold Palmer Regional Airport (KLBE) - Pennsylvania

The Navy’s Blue Angels’ squadron of F-18 fighter jets will pierce the skies above the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport at 650 mph this weekend, buzzing the airport at a mere 50 feet above the ground.

“You won’t hear me coming until I’m gone,” said Lt. C.J. Simonsen of Coon Rapids, Minn, one of six Blue Angels pilots who will perform Saturday and Sunday at the Westmoreland County Air Show.

Spectators will see the Navy jets fly so close together in a diamond formation that just 18 inches will separate the planes speeding at 460 mph, said Simonsen, the lead solo pilot in the No. 5 F-18.

“It’s very, very challenging flying, The amount of teamwork and trust we have between the six pilots is unlike any other I’ve been a part of. It’s a trust that we build in training ... from January to mid-March,” said Simonsen, who is in his third and final year with the Blue Angels. The team will perform in 35 cities and conduct 70 shows.

Read more:  http://triblive.com

http://www.palmerairport.com/Airshow12Flyer.pdf

Flying High in Clinton County, Pennsylvania

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LOCK HAVEN — Piper Cub planes from across the country landed in Lock Haven to take a trip down memory lane. 

 It was the annual Sentimental Journey.

A few winds of the propeller and the Piper Cub planes were ready for take-off.

Hundreds of Piper Cub pilots were filling the skies in Lock Haven, for the 27th annual Sentimental Journey.

Pilots said they live for cruising in their Cubs on hot days.

“It’s a low and slow cub plane and you fly with the windows open. They don’t go very fast anywhere, it’s like driving an old car,” said Leo Janssens of Florida.

Every year, the fly-in brings aviators back to Clinton County to travel back in time, and remember the days when these vintage aircrafts were made in Lock Haven.

“It`s really grass roots aviation at its best. There`s no computers in these airplanes, they`re just tube and fabric and it`s what they call flying by the seat of your pants. It`s really how you feel,” said Dana Holladay of Maryland.

“It`s just great to be with the other Cub pilots and with the people that are really down to earth, yet their pilots,” said Janssens.

Many pilots said they return to the Sentimental Journey each year because they`re allowed to wind up the propellers, climb in the cockpit and take off. And it`s one of the only fly-ins in the nation that allow them to do so.

“Flight line isn’t shut down all day doing air show after air show to get to fly their planes, and they really enjoy doing that,” said Kim Garlick, Sentimental Journey Secretary.

Planes constantly take off for sightseeing trips, as pilots share their love for flying with others.

“These pilots are awesome, they have so much fun, so friendly, they make this fly in work,” said Garlick.

“It`s just a pleasant airplane to fly around the airport, on a sunny day like this is. It`s fun. It`s a step back in time again and it`s lovely,” said Janssens.

People can check out the Piper Cubs and take a sentimental journey of their own through Saturday.

Story and video:  http://wnep.com

Greenwood, South Carolina, hosts first, free aviation expo

GREENWOOD, SC (FOX Carolina) - Get ready to get a firsthand look at legendary aircraft this weekend at the first Aviation Expo held during Greenwood's The Festival of Flowers. 

The Greenwood County Airport will have vintage and classic full-sized planes for families to check out in person, and a full fleet of RC-model planes fly crazy patterns that will make your head spin.

The event begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. on Saturday. There will be food and aviation-related vendors as well.

The expo is part of Greenwood's annual mega-event, The Festival of Flowers. Both are free and open to the public.

Source:   http://www.foxcarolina.com

A summer camp with airplanes

GRAND FORKS — Sixteen-year-old Matt Adamson spent his Wednesday morning with his head in the clouds — literally. 

 The Plymouth, Minn., native was flying a Cessna 172S aircraft with assistance from University of North Dakota flight instructor Jakee Stoltz, as part of the 29th annual UND International Aerospace Camp.

Taking place all this week, the camp invited high school juniors and seniors from all over the country who are interested in aerospace sciences to UND. The participants were treated just like UND students and given a chance to fly planes in the university’s fleet.

“I really wasn’t expecting it to be like this,” Adamson said. “I thought I would just be riding in a plane.”

Instead, Adamson and 26 other camp participants were allowed to control the airplanes they were riding in — with guidance from their instructors of course. It’s UND’s way of giving high school students a taste of what it would be like to study aviation.

Before the young pilots could take to the skies, they spent time in lectures and flight simulators to gain a better understanding of the science of flying.

“There’s quite a big difference between having goggles on in a simulator and actually flying,” Stoltz said.

The Wednesday morning flight was the second one of the week for the camp participants. In addition to completing an introductory flight and an instrumental flight, they also got a chance to try their hand at a night flight and a cross-country flight.

Before takeoff, each camper and their flight instructor completed an aircraft inspection. Then it was up to the camper to radio to the control tower and request permission to take off.

“It was a lot of fun,” Adamson said after he landed. “I was actually flying the plane for most of the flight.”

Also included in the camp schedule were sessions on air traffic control, aviation management and unmanned aircraft systems, allowing students to hear about more than the piloting aspect of aerospace sciences.

Read more:  http://www.thedickinsonpress.com/event/article/id/59127/

Poplar Grove, Illinois: Museum hosts World’s Fair exhibit

The Vintage Wings and Wheels Museum, 5151 Orth Road, Poplar Grove, will host a 1893 World’s Fair exhibit opening at 7 p.m. Thursday. 

Doors open at 6 p.m. Performance by RJ Lindsey as Daniel Burnham starts at 7 p.m.

Read more:  http://www.rrstar.com

 http://poplargrovewingsandwheels.com

Akron’s inflatable airplane is oddity of sky in 1950s

The concept had sky-high potential. Unfortunately, it went over like a lead balloon. 

 In the mid-1950s, Goodyear Aircraft Corp. of Akron designed, developed and produced an experimental airplane that could fold up into a bundle and fit in the trunk of an automobile.

The Inflatoplane was an aeronautical oddity made of rubberized nylon fabric that pumped up like a tire. Within 10 minutes of unloading, the lightweight aircraft was filled with air and ready to fly.

Goodyear engineers heralded the contraption, which maintained its shape by internal air pressure, as the first of its kind in the United States.

“Named the Inflatoplane, the new Goodyear aircraft plane, developed under joint Army-Navy auspices, can be flown from a small field and attain speeds that will satisfy anyone wishing to avoid the bumper-to-bumper Sunday afternoon traffic,” the company boasted.

The prototype was a one-person craft 19.7 feet long with a wingspan of 22 feet and an empty weight of 205 pounds (or 329 pounds with its 20-gallon gas tank full).

With the pilot seated in the front, the Inflatoplane resembled a glider — albeit one composed of mattress stuffing. The fuselage, tail and cockpit were made with two walls of rubberized fabric connected by nylon threads.

Read more and photos:  http://www.ohio.com/news/local-history-akron-s-inflatable-airplane-is-oddity-of-sky-in-1950s-1.314732

Flight School Hosts Open House

American Flyers at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport hosting open house and free barbecue lunch on July 7

ATLANTA, Ga., (June 20, 2012) – American Flyers Flight School at the DeKalb Peachtree Airport will be hosting an open house and barbeque on Saturday, July 7. American Flyers is welcoming everyone with an interest in aviation to come to the airport for a fun-filled and informative afternoon. This free event begins at noon with a BBQ lunch, and continues with a facility tour and a presentation by a certificated flight instructor.

Guests are invited to ask any questions they may have, check out the training aircraft displayed on the flight line, and experience a flight for yourself in one of the state-of-the-art flight simulators.

Additionally, every guest that attends will receive a certificate for two free hours of instruction in one of the flight simulators. All attending pilots are invited to stay after lunch for a free FAA Wings seminar on summertime flying considerations, presented by an American Flyers senior instructor.

Lunch is served promptly at noon, so guests are encouraged to arrive 10 – 15 minutes early. There is no need to make reservations and guests are encouraged to bring friends and family. American Flyers is located on the west side of the DeKalb Peachtree Airport at 1950Airport Road, Atlanta, Georgia, 30341. For more information, call678-281-0631 or visit http://www.americanflyers.net/about/aviation_seminars.asp

American Flyers has been training pilots since 1939, and operates seven FAA-accredited schools in six states and one in Mexico City, Mexico.

Florida man flies, rescues, his 1,000th animal

GREENVILLE, Ala. — On a recent June day, Jeff Bennett flew his four-seat plane from the mangrove-dotted Florida Keys, past some angry thunder clouds to the fertile hills of Greenville, Ala. His mission: to save 23 dogs destined for death row. 

Bennett, a 53-year-old retired businessman, donates his time, fuel and plane to Pilots N Paws, a South Carolina-based charity that enlists small plane pilots to transport animals from overcrowded shelters that have high euthanasia rates to foster homes, rescue groups and less-crowded shelters that don't kill the animals.

Bennett's been airlifting animals for more than 3 years. Bennett is a dog lover; he has four of his own, including one that he adopted after a flight.

He's carried mostly dogs, some cats, the occasional snake and once, a potbellied pig — earning his small Cirrus aircraft the nickname "All Species Airways" around the Pilots N Paws community.

But this month was special. On the Greenville trip, Bennett picked up his 1,000th animal.

"This is a mile marker," said Bennett, who had a pointy party hat decorated with pirates picked out for the special canine.

It's a number few of Pilots N Paws' 2,800 volunteer pilots reach, said Deborah Boies, the group's president and co-founder.

"We have only one other pilot who has accomplished that goal," said Boies. "It's extremely unique. He is truly one of the most dedicated people to Pilots N Paws."

Read more and photos:  http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/florida-man-flies-rescues-1461759.html

First solo flight for Mr. Crowe - Moree, New South Wales, Australia

Mr Crowe said that getting his license has been a challenging experience. 

“I’m just lucky that I have a good instructor. Fred (Nolan) is very patient and concentrates on the main things like safety,” he said.

Mr Crowe has been in training to get his license through the Moree Aero Club and recently built up enough hours to fly solo in an Cessna 162 Skycatcher.

The two-seater Skycatcher is a newly designed aircraft from the famous Cessna manufacturer and is aimed at the rapidly expanding light sport aircraft market.

The Continental 0-200 engine has 100hp and delivers fuel economy of about 16-18 lt/hr, which at 200km/hr cruise speed, gives a very economical 8lt/100 in car talk. This is about 17 cents per kilometre aviation fuel cost.

The Cessna is based at the Moree Aero Club, of which Mr Crowe is a member.

He believes that in time he will use his license for a number of things.

“I will use my license around the farm to check up on the crops and eventually I’ll use it to go and visit relatives,” Mr Crowe said.

He has always been interested in planes and used aviation around the farm.

“I still have a lot to learn to complete the course - there is handling skills, air law, physics - so I’m an embarked student,” he said.

The Skycatcher is a new Cessna airplane and only a few of them are in Australia at present.

It is a first for Moree that it is to be based here, together with a second example owned by Malcolm Harris from Mungindi. 

Source:   http://www.moreechampion.com.au

SALT LAKE CITY: New Life Flight helicopters among best in the world

Mike Tillack, center, the first trauma patient transported on a new Agusta Grand, talks with nurse Andrea Clement, left. Mike's daughter Stevie Tillack is below. 

(Photo: Ravell Call, Deseret News)

SALT LAKE CITY — William Duehlmeir, with Intermountain Medical Center's trauma program, knows the importance of getting an injured patient to the hospital as fast as possible. 

"Speed matters. Seconds count," he said. "The first 60 minutes is critical."

Typically, the fastest way to get a patient to a hospital in Utah is by medical helicopter. Now, Utah has three of the most sophisticated medical helicopters in the world.

Wednesday, Intermountain Medical Center officially unveiled two of its organization's three new medical helicopters recently added to its signature Life Flight service. All of them are Agusta Grand 109s.

"They're fantastic," said Life Flight pilot Rob Anderson. "There's really not an option that's available that's not on this aircraft. If you were to draw (a helicopter), you couldn't add anything these don't already have."

The new aircraft are specifically designed for high altitude flying. The helicopters were originally made for rescues in the Swiss Alps.

In 1978, Intermountain Healthcare debuted its Life Flight program. In 1993, two K2 helicopters were added to its fleet. In 2004, they added two Bell 407 helicopters.

The new Agusta Grand helicopters are 50 mph faster than the Bells, Anderson said, can carry 2,000 more pounds of people and equipment, and the twin-engine aircraft can fly on just one engine if the other goes out.

The new helicopters include the latest safety technology, including a "collision avoidance system" to avoid mountain and midair collisions, auto-pilot and the latest navigational tools including "Highway in the Sky" and other instruments that help a pilot in low or no visibility conditions.

"The technology in this aircraft is just off the scale," said Life Flight director of operations Bill Butts.

In 2003, Life Flight suffered the only two fatal crashes in its history, both within a five-month period. The helicopters involved in those incidents were K2s. One of the fatal crashes involved a mechanical failure, the other was due to foggy conditions.

"This is much improved technology that will help us in flying in inclement weather," Intermountain spokesman Jess Gomez said of the new helicopters. He said the decision to fly is ultimately left up to the team of pilots.

Read more:   http://www.ksl.com

Yakima, Washington: CubCrafters finds upward flight path

This editorial appears in the June 21, 2012, Yakima Herald-Republic. 

 Yakima is developing a niche aircraft industry on planes big and small. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with the landing gear designed and manufactured by Yakima's GE Aviation Systems, began carrying passengers late last year. On a smaller scale, or at least on smaller planes, Yakima's CubCrafters is taking off with its production of light sport aircraft.

The Dreamliner is a twin-engine commercial jetliner with room for 210 to 290 passengers. CubCrafters seeks a different market entirely; nearly 90 percent of its production is in the light sport category, the Sport Cub and Carbon Cub. Both of those Cubs are single-engine, propeller-driven craft that seat two.

A common theme that applies as they ply the skies: Whether large commercial craft or small sport craft, the highest potential for growth lies overseas.

CubCrafters especially is in an expansion spurt and is on pace to build 60 new planes this year, up by almost a third over last year. The company now has 125 to 130 employees, higher than its peak employment levels before the economic recession ravaged the industry in 2008, and up from 70-80 workers four years ago. Base prices run from $134,950 for the Sport Cub to $163,280 for the Carbon Cub.

The company just entered the European Union market with shipments to the United Kingdom. The EU, Australia and Brazil have eased sales of the light sport category by adopting the industry's design standard.

The domestic market is more mature, with many pilots weighing the benefits of rebuilding an old plane versus buying a new one. CubCrafters gets about 20 percent of its business in rebuilds, but the company profits most from selling new planes. Down the road, the highest profit potential, the company believes, is overseas.

Like the export-dependent agricultural commodities this area produces, the aircraft industry needs to know its overseas market and adjust its strategies accordingly. It also needs elected officials who understand the importance of trade and can serve as advocates for its industries.

Whether a 200-seater or a two-seater, it's a global market -- one in which the Yakima Valley increasingly finds ways to play a role.
 
* Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are Sharon J. Prill, Bob Crider, Frank Purdy and Karen Troianello.

Source:   http://www.yakima-herald.com 

Virginia Beach man charged with pointing laser pointer at Oceana aircraft

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - 56-year-old Robert Bruce of Virginia Beach was indicted on six counts alleging that he aimed a laser at Naval aircraft. 

According to Peter Carr with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Bruce aimed shined a laser pointer at Naval Aircraft flying from Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach on or about April 11, 2012 and June 2, 2012.

A law was passed in February 2012 making it illegal to aim a laser pointer at an aircraft.

Carr said Bruce was charged on two counts of interference with flight crew, two counts of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft and two counts of assaulting, resisting or impending certain officers or employees.

According to Carr, Bruce could have a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the interference charges, a maximum of five years in prison for aiming a lase pointer at aircraft, and a maximum of 25 years in prison on each charge of assault. 

Source:   http://www.wavy.com

Airplane part crashes through man’s roof - Bangor, Maine

Courtesy of the Bangor Fire Department 

The 3 inch airplane engine piston that crashed through a Bangor man's roof Tuesday, June 12, 2012.

 

The hole in the ceiling caused by the airplane engine piston that fell through the roof of a Bangor man's house Tuesday, June 12, 2012.

Dylan Martin, Bangor Daily News 

The hole in the ceiling caused by the airplane engine piston that fell through the roof of a Bangor man's house Tuesday, June 12, 2012.

“We got to around 1,500 feet and we heard a loud bang and the plane started shaking,” said Rick Eason, faculty adviser for the University Flying Club in Orono, who took off with the pilot at around 7:25 p.m.

After the two made a safe emergency landing at Bangor International Airport, Eason said he was soon contacted by the airport’s control tower, “and they asked if I lost something from my plane.”

As Eason soon figured out by comparing data from his GPS device with the time of the incident, as well as a reported call to Bangor Fire Department’s Station 6, a small piece of the Cessna 172 did break off. It crashed through the roof and into the front room of a Bangor man’s house on Peruvian Way in the Judson Heights neighborhood, according to the Bangor Fire Department.

“He said it was still hot,” Interim Fire Chief Rick Cheverie said.

The unidentified falling object turned out to be a piston connecting rod, a part 1 inch in diameter and 4 inches long that connects the arm and head of a piston inside a plane engine’s cylinder, Cheverie said. It fell through the attic and sheetrock ceiling of the house, leaving a noticeable mark on the hardwood floor of the foyer.

The fire chief said no one in the house was hurt, but he estimated the house had more than $5,000 in damage.

“It could have been a much different outcome,” Cheverie said, referring to a child who was cycling near the house at the time of impact.

Eason said the homeowner, who asked not to be identified, was 15-20 feet away when the small destructive object came crashing through his roof.

“We’ve never had anything like this. We haven’t had any in-flight problems like this,” the flight instructor said.

Eason said he reported the incident to the Flight Standards District Office in Portland, a regional division of the Federal Aviation Administration, in accordance with FAA regulations.

“We don’t know why it happened,” said Soren Hansen, the flying club’s mechanical officer.

Apparently, Hansen said, one of the engine’s six cylinders split in half and the piston rod shot out and crashed through the Bangor man’s roof. The Cessna 172 is one of the flying club’s two available aircraft.

The maintenance officer said this plane in particular was “probably” getting close to its overhaul period, a recurring time when mechanics take the engine apart for maintenance. Hansen said he estimated it was around hour 1,500 out of the 1,800-hour limit for time between maintenance checks.

FAA spokesman Jim Peters said a federal inspector has confirmed the details of the incident, and the FAA is now waiting for Eason to send a report after the aircraft is repaired. Peters said the FAA is also awaiting contact with the Bangor homeowner to record the details of the accident.

It’s important for FAA to record all details of an incident like this, because if similar occurrences have been reported, it could point to a larger manufacturing problem with the plane’s model, Peters said. However, this does not appear to be the case in this instance, he added.

Source:   http://www.sunjournal.com

GREAT STORY: Business is soaring for CubCrafters

SARA GETTYS / Yakima Herald-Repu 

Zeus Wilson welds intake tubes at the newly expanded parts and welding shop at CubCrafters on Wednesday, June 13, 2012. The shop makes parts for both the planes CubCrafters builds and also parts for rebuilds and kits.

Story and photos:    http://www.yakima-herald.com

By MAI HOANG
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

YAKIMA, Wash. — In the lobby at CubCrafters headquarters on South 16th Avenue, the company has posted maps of the United States and the world.

Various places on each map have little pins with flags showing sales of CubCrafters. Most of those pins are currently on the U.S. map. But more and more, they’ll be showing up on the world map.

Growing worldwide interest in light sport aircraft, a category of less-expensive planes, has contributed to recent growth for the Yakima manufacturer.

So far this year, the company has increased production by 25 percent and has outgrown its welding and machine shop, which prompted it to lease 15,000 square feet at the former Western Recreational Vehicles facility on West Washington Avenue. Employment has increased from 70 to 80 workers during the economic downtown four years ago to 125 to 130 now, surpassing peak employment levels from early 2008.

CubCrafters, founded in 1980, is on pace to build 60 new planes this year, which would be a 28 percent increase from last year and the most ever in one year, said owner Jim Richmond.

"There’s more optimism" about the market, he said.

Outlook brightens

Nearly all those planes — 90 percent — will be light sport aircraft. The company currently manufacturers two light sport models: the Sport Cub and the Carbon Cub.

The Carbon Cub is the more powerful younger brother of the Sport Cub, the initial light sport model introduced in 2005, shortly after the category was adopted by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Light sport aircraft has become appealing because it’s less pricey: The base price of the Sport Cub, for example, is $163,280, about 32 percent less than the Top Cub, the standard category aircraft that CubCrafters also builds. The Sport Cub is even less expensive, with a $134,950 base price.

Over the last few years, several countries, including those in the European Union, Australia and Brazil, have adopted the light sport aircraft design standard set by the industry, enabling manufacturers like CubCrafters to sell their aircraft without having to make big changes.

Unlike the United States, other countries do not have a large inventory of used planes, so the price point of light sport aircraft is appealing for those looking to buy a new plane, said Dick Knapinski, a spokesman for the Experimental Aircraft Association, a recreational aviation organization based in Oshkosh, Wis.

"CubCrafters, to their credit, are taking advantage of it," he said.

Recently, CubCrafters shipped two Carbon Cubs to the United Kingdom, marking its entrance into the European market.

Dan Johnson, who runs bydanjohnson.com, a website about the light sport and recreational aircraft industry, believes there’s great potential in the world market. He speculates that in 20 years, most light craft will be sold outside the United States.

"(Manufacturers) could end up selling substantially more aircraft outside the U.S.," he said.

Busy with rebuilds

That’s not to say that CubCrafters’ business in the United States has matured, although the company has seen a year-over-year increase in domestic sales of its aircraft, Richmond said.

He said it’s taken a few years for a significant number of U.S. general aviation pilots to experience a light sport aircraft first hand.

And those pilots don’t hesitate to document and share their experiences on social media outlets like Facebook and YouTube. Such posts often prompt more interest from potential buyers.

"The fleet is selling airplanes for us," he said.

Still, CubCrafters faces tough competition — not from other plane manufacturers, but from the thousands of older planes still in operation.

Many pilots are often faced with the decision of either rebuilding an existing plane or buying a new one, and many choose to rebuild. CubCrafters still benefits from this market, as about 20 percent of its business comes from rebuilding old planes, repairs and assembly kits, which provide parts.

This side of the business has kept the company’s parts and welding shop busy. While the company finishes a new plane every four days — about 5.4 planes a month — the shop can generate up to 10 planes’ worth of parts in the same period.

But rebuilds are hard to schedule because they are all different. That is, some planes may have more damage than others, so it’s better to sell a new plane, Richmond said.

That has driven the company to keep innovating on new models. With the parts and welding shop relocated to a new facility, the company now uses space at its main plant for research and development, experimenting with modifications and new features.

"The challenge is to come up with something compelling enough to make the choice of buying a new plane rather than to rebuild," Richmond said.

Story and photos:    http://www.yakima-herald.com