Pilot Briefings
EAA Annual Meeting
today at Theater in the Woods
All EAA members are
encouraged to attend the annual business meeting of the Experimental
Aircraft Association Inc. today at Theater in the Woods starting at 10
a.m. EAAers in attendance have the opportunity to cast votes to elect
eight Class I directors (three-year term).
The election will be the
first item on the agenda, which also includes presentation of the Annual
Report and Financial Statement; addressing of old business, and
consideration of new business. EAA President Tom Poberezny will preside.
The following individuals
have been nominated to be Class I directors. Incumbents are designated
by an asterisk (*).
Richard W. Beebe II*
Jerry Baker
Michael H. Dale*
John W. "Jack"
Harrington*
David C. Lau*
David R. Pasahow*
Robert Reece*
Dan Schwinn*
Alan R. Shackleton*
Paul J. Spanbauer
AeroConversions adds Throttle
Quadrant ST
AeroConversions this week said Sonex Aircraft LLC is allowing its
Throttle Quadrant ST, an optional addition for the standard Throttle
Quadrant, to be used in a center-cockpit control column aboard the
homebuilt airplanes.
The original
AeroConversions Throttle Quadrant is designed for mounting on the
cockpit sidewall. The Throttle Quadrant ST features a placarded backing
plate, angled control arm for instrument panel clearance, and dual
control grips for authoritative control from both sides of the cockpit.
The AeroConversions Throttle Quadrant, designed to work with the
AeroConversions AeroCarb and other carburetors, is an attractive,
simple, and easy to install throttle quadrant giving the sport pilot
positive and precise throttle control.
The AeroConversions
Throttle Quadrant works with the newest AeroCarbs fitted with optional
pull control (older AeroCarbs may be upgraded for pull control) or with
any other carburetor equipped for reversing pull-throttle actuation.
Customers may optionally attach external linkage to a hole provided in
the upper throttle arm to convert the AeroConversions Throttle Quadrant
to a non-reversing control.
The Throttle Quadrant
features an adjustable friction knob and an optional push-pull mixture
control bracket, integrated pull cable-end fitting, and an open-backed
design for easy installation and mounting. Maximum throttle arm throw
for both reversing and non-reversing attach points is 39 mm.
The AeroConversions
Throttle Quadrant includes the optional mixture control bracket, a
72-inch throttle cable assembly, and cable adjusters along with
installation instructions, which are written with enough general
information to accommodate installation in a wide range of aircraft.
This assembly package does not include a push-pull mixture cable for use
with the provided mixture cable bracket.
AeroConversions’ exhibit is in the
North Aircraft Display area, space 465.
Conquer the night
Momentum Interactive LLC has created the new FLITELite, a new
high-intensity light source that snaps onto your headset mic.
Touch it once and
FLITELite will beam right where you want it. Touch it again for lower
intensity and once again to turn it off—or simply wait, FLITELite will
automatically switch off in one minute. Its microprocessor uses software
that advances highly efficient LED systems to the next level.
Momentum says its
FLITELite is the first "smart" light that is a custom fit to
flex-boom headsets. Visit the FLITELite crew in Hangar C, Booth 3086, or
go online and order yours by August 1, 2006, to receive special show
pricing with free shipping.
Sunday’s crash victims
identified
The two people who died in Sunday’s crash of an Experimental airplane
approaching Wittman Regional Airport for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh were
identified this week. Clifford and Betty Shaw, of Edmonds, Washington,
died Sunday morning when their homebuilt Europa XS Monowheel crashed
short of Runway 27.
Witnesses reported the aircraft appeared
to stall while nearing the runway. The FAA and the NTSB are
investigating the crash.
Environmentally friendly
vehicles/alternative fuels
An area of the Ford Hangar is dedicated to demonstrating Ford Motor
Company’s aggressive pursuit of advancements to reduce the impact of
vehicle emissions on the environment.
One example is the Ford
Escape Hybrid, the first SUV to include full hybrid technology and the
2005 North American Truck of the Year. Another example is the Mercury
Mariner Hybrid, named 2006 Green Truck of the Year. Both are certified
as advanced technology partial zero emissions vehicles (AT-PZEV), and
both are eligible for the Ford Partner Recognition Vehicle Purchase Plan
with EAA members.
Both are full hybrids and
can be powered by the 2.3-liter DOHC four-cylinder gasoline engine, by
the compact electric motor independently, or by both in combination. The
electric motor is capable of powering the full hybrid Escape/Mariner at
up to 25 mph, which is for around town driving.
With Ford’s hybrid
technology, the generator restarts the gas engine when required (the gas
engine shuts down automatically for stoplights and when coasting). When
the gas engine is running, it helps recharge the battery pack. The
regenerative braking system also charges the battery pack each time the
brakes are applied, allowing the vehicle to never have the need to be
"plugged in."
The sealed nickel-metal
hydride (NiMH) battery pack is rated at 330 volts and stores electrical
energy for starting the gasoline engine and for added boosts in
acceleration performance. The battery pack comes with an
eight-year/100,000-mile warranty. Both vehicles’ EPA-estimated mileage
is 36 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway; the fuel tank holds 15
gallons, providing range in excess of 400 miles.
Learn more about Ford’s hybrid vehicles
at the Ford Hangar just off AeroShell Square.
Nemesis returns to AirVenture
It has been six years since a Nemesis has been to EAA AirVenture
Oshkosh, and that was to retire the plane to the Smithsonian National
Air and Space Museum. Not so this time.
Jon Sharp, flying the
NemesisNXT, will be attending AirVenture 2006, a first for this design.
The aircraft is based on the record-setting Nemesis that dominated its
class at Reno for many years.
In a matter of six years,
Team Nemesis went from a drawing on a bar napkin to delivering a total
of seven kits, an extraordinary feat for the small handful of people
composing Team Nemesis. "AirVenture is the ideal venue to show this
extraordinary plane and all that SLO Air Inc. has to offer,"
declares Kevin Eldredge, president of SLO Air.
Direct-To Avionics to distribute
Chelton’s new aircraft radio line
Direct-To Avionics said this week it had agreed to distribute to the
experimental aircraft market a new line of Chelton general aviation
radios, including a Com transceiver, a VHF Nav receiver, and a Mode-S
transponder. The new Chelton radio system will offer 8.33 KHz frequency
spacing, digital signal processing, digital transmission and receiving,
and low power consumption, the company said.
The new avionics line
will be available in several form factors, including panel- and
remote-mount, and integrated for the new Chelton Pro 10 EFIS. This suite
will be available to the experimental market in the second quarter of
2007.
According to Direct-To
Avionics president Kirk Hammersmith, "Our Chelton Flight Systems
EFIS suites and new Chelton radio systems, combined with our extensive
experience and rock-solid customer support, bolsters Direct-To Avionics’
position as the experimental aircraft market’s premier source for the
ultimate in EFIS systems."
For additional information, get a first
look at the Chelton radios at www.d2av.com/radios or stop by the
Chelton booth at Oshkosh (D-4047).
EAA/IFP supports Wisconsin
families through Make-A-Wish
In partnership with the International Federal Partnership (IFP), EAA is
once again welcoming Make-A-Wish children to enjoy an action-packed and
fun-filled day at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2006. This is the 10th year the
IFP has hosted the Make-A-Wish children and families. All of the
families this year are from various locations within Wisconsin.
The IFP, composed of
U.S., Canadian, and the Islands of the Bahamas government employees,
takes these youngsters and their families under their wing for a day of
tours, flights, visits, briefings, and air shows. One of the main
attractions for the kids is a flight in the Ford Tri-Motor, piloted by
Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager.
The flight begins at 9 a.m. today from
the Tri-Motor venue. After the flight Yeager presents each child with a
signed flight certificate to commemorate the occasion.
Dave Grantham, chairman
of the IFP and volunteer Make-A-Wish coordinator for the IFP, leads the
delegation of government personnel escorting the kids and their
families.
The children this year
are Cory, 17; Ben, 8; Peter, 16; and Mike, 13. The Make-A-Wish
Foundation grants wishes to children who have life-threatening medical
conditions.
Randy Hansen, EAA government relations
director and Make-A-Wish coordinator says, "This is the least that
we can do to support these courageous kids. Our thoughts and prayers are
with these youngsters and their courageous fights."
