Skylark Flyers Blog

While we’re not at AirVenture this week, reports from Oshkosh through EAA’s email notices, and EAA Radio are reporting quite a bit. A power transformer explosion at the north end of the field yesterday cut off power for a while, and a large plane was parked in the line-of-sight of their microwave link.

The biggest arrival was the Boeing Dreamlifter. It’s landing was held up a bit since the Harrier demo ran a bit late. That distracted the audience of the Foreigner concert.

The announcement that Vern Rayburn was being forced out as President of Eclipse Aviation by its investors was probably the biggest surprise of the day.

Today the much awaited jet pack will be flown. Representatives were up at 1 AM today doing a live prime time report for a station in New Zealand.

SPECTACULAR WARBIRD ACTIVITIES ALL WEEK

The annual warbird activities include five warbirds air show performances during the week (every day except Thursday, July 31 and Sunday, August 3), with a 60-minute demonstration on Tuesday, July 29, and the “Warbird Spectaculars” on Friday, August 1, and Saturday, August 2. In addition, a full schedule of the popular “Warbirds in Review” programs with World War II veterans, current aircraft owners and other warbird authorities will take place throughout the week.

The hundreds of warbirds expected at Oshkosh include an all-star roster of the best-known World War II-era aircraft, including B-17 “Flying Fortress,” B-24 “Liberator,” B-25 “Mitchell,” P-51 “Mustang,” P-38 “Lightning,” F4U “Corsair,” and many others. Some of the world’s top aviation museums and collections, such as the Commemorative Air Force, Lone Star Flight Museum and Cavanaugh Flight Museum, have warbirds participating at EAA AirVenture that complement the current military aircraft on display.

The schedule of guests at the Warbirds in Review programs held in the EAA AirVenture warbirds area is also an unmatched gathering. Such legendary pilots as Bob Hoover, Bud Anderson, Doolittle Raiders, Paul Poberezny and others are among the presenters at these informal and intimate sessions held each day at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

• Top warbird aviators are featured in the regular AirVenture forums series and at the special EAA AirVenture Museum “Speakers’ Showcase” programs throughout the week.
• The Warbird Spectacular air show performances on August 1-2 feature the full pyrotechnics and recreations
• World War II re-enactors with military vehicles present on the grounds
• A special concert on Friday night, August 1, at EAA’s Theater in the Woods in conjunction with the Disabled American Veterans, featuring actor Gary Sinise’s “Lt. Dan Band.”
• At non-air show times, the warbirds area is open for visitors to view the aircraft and talk to the owners and pilots of these airplanes, which are among the few remaining airworthy examples of these historic aircraft.

AFFORDABLE WAYS TO ATTEND AND ENJOY EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH 2008

Discounts on fuel along the route to Oshkosh, ride-share programs, airline discounts and onsite camping are among the ways AirVenture-bound travelers can make their trip even more valuable and affordable. The 56th annual edition of the EAA fly-in convention is July 28-August 3 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

It’s easy to find out more about each of these economical ways to enjoy EAA AirVenture through the www.airventure.org website, the comprehensive guide to help plan, attend and fully enjoy the event. Among some of features available are:

• EAA’s Rideshare Program gives a pilots and drivers the opportunity to share expenses with someone looking to ride along to Oshkosh, or if you are seeking a ride, the chance to find someone with a spare seat who is willing to share their journey to Oshkosh. Find out more at www.airventure.org/rideshare.
• Fuel discounts for EAA members flying to or coming home from EAA AirVenture. These special prices for fuel and, at many locations, special amenities for aviators, are available in the “Special Offers for Pilots” area at www.airventure.org/2008/flying
• Airline discounts for EAA members are available through Midwest Airlines and Northwest Airlines. These discounts are available with exclusive discount codes available in the “Airline Discount” area of www.airventure.org/2008/flying.
• The best and most economical way to enjoy the culture of the event known around the world simply as “Oshkosh” is by camping right on the grounds – either next to your airplane or in the drive-in Camp Scholler area. Camping is just $20 per night and puts you among fellow aviation enthusiasts for an unmatched experience. Another low-cost option can be private housing and room rentals that are always available during AirVenture. Find complete accommodation options at the “Planning/Where to Stay” area of the www.airventure.org website.
• Merchandise and food discounts for EAA members on the grounds. Just show your EAA membership card and receive 10 to 30 percent off on most items at designated EAA merchandise locations. Special EAA-member pricing is also available on selected menu items at food locations throughout the site.

AMENITIES, SERVICES AVAILABLE TO VISITORS AND CAMPERS

• Wheel & Sprocket’s “Mobile Bike Shop” has extended its hours during AirVenture from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day from July 26 to August 4. More than 100 individual services for attendees using bicycles in and around Camp Scholler are being provided
• This year, OfficeMax is offering a discount to EAA members, as well as office supplies, faxing, and copying to all exhibitors and attendees. A five percent discount is available for EAA members on all OfficeMax products at the event and throughout the entire year at all OfficeMax locations.
• Shipping services are available for the first time through GES, accepting all properly addressed inbound letters and packages (including camping gear) from UPS, DHL, FedEx, and more.
• FedEx is making its debut this year at AirVenture. It will provide campers and attendees with only an outbound shipping service.
• Gander Mountain is also making it easier for campers to have access to cots, tents, cooking equipment, lanterns, toilet paper, ponchos, and lawn chairs. These services are provided in Camp Scholler
• The Internet Café returns with 20 online stations in the EAA Welcome Center, where EAA members can check email while at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Member Village Camper is another Internet café offered to EAA members in the campgrounds. EAA members and attendees can also use 10 WiFi access points available throughout the grounds free of charge.

ROCKET RACING LEAGUE TO UNVEIL COMPETITION
Several flight demonstrations planned throughout week

The flight activities at EAA AirVenture will begin on July 29 with a single-ship demonstration to open the afternoon air show. On August 1-2, the first full demonstrations of the Rocket Racing League concept are planned, using large outdoor screens to showcase how competitors will fly a “raceway in the sky” via in-panel and 3-D helmet displays during actual competition. The flights will also highlight the aircraft and engine technology innovations that make this new competition possible.
Along with the public aircraft unveiling and demonstration flights, the Rocket Racing League is scheduled to make several other presentations throughout the week, including an evening program at EAA’s Theater in the Woods on Monday, July 28. During these presentations, the Rocket Racing League will present the “inside story” on the creation and development of this entirely new concept in aerial competition.
More information on the Rocket Racing League is available at www.rocketracingleague.com.

WORLD’S FIRST PRACTICAL JETPACK TO BE LAUNCHED

After 27 years of research and development, the Martin Jetpack will be launched at 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 29, at AeroShell Square on the EAA AirVenture grounds.

“Such a flying machine has been part of our imagination for decades, highlighted by science fiction movies such as “Buck Rogers” more than 75 years ago and by military attempts to produce a practical jetpack in the 1950s,” said the jetpack’s developer. “We have worked for nearly 30 years to develop this jetpack and are very much looking forward to unveiling the technology at Oshkosh.”

The developers of the “World’s First Practical Jetpack” state that their innovation is distinguished by a unique, patented technology. Capable of flying 100 times longer than the Bell Rocket Belt of the 1960s, it uses regular gasoline and complies with FAA Ultralight regulations.

‘Hints for Homebuilders’ Video Segments to be Taped

Homebuilders with hints and tips on aircraft building techniques will have an opportunity to volunteer and become a part of the popular videos of Hints for Homebuilders online video series. Homebuilders can send their tips, as well as the dates they will be at AirVenture and a contact phone number, to info@eaa.org. EAA will then contact the homebuilder and set a videotaping time during this year’s fly-in.

Among other events highlighting aircraft construction during EAA AirVenture 2008:
• The achievement of 30,000 certified experimental amateur homebuilt aircraft in the United States will be recognized by EAA in the “30,000 & Climbing” celebration

• Workshops throughout the week for those considering building an aircraft or for homebuilders wanting to learn more to enhance their skills. These mini-workshops are patterned after the highly successful EAA SportAir Workshops held throughout the year across the country.
• The Homebuilt Review will give homebuilders another opportunity to showcase their aircraft, but in the air. Between 15 and 20 homebuilt aircraft will fly in review during each of the sessions.
• Homebuilders can share camaraderie during the annual Homebuilders Dinner on Thursday, July 31, at 6 p.m. at the EAA Nature Center.
• The prestigious gold “Lindy” award will again be awarded to the Grand Champion Kit Built and Plans Built aircraft during AirVenture, with other aircraft awards also announced at the end of the event.

V-22 ‘OSPREY’ TILTROTOR AIRCRAFT

The V-22, developed jointly by Bell and Boeing, is the world’s first production tiltrotor aircraft. It is flown primarily by the U.S. Marine Corps and is designed to serve effectively on missions that had been covered by either helicopters or twin turboprop aircraft. The two Ospreys are scheduled to arrive at EAA AirVenture on Monday, July 28, during the event’s opening-day air show, and remain until Friday, August 1. The appearance will feature both flight demonstrations and ground displays of the aircraft, which are based at the Marine Corps Air Station in New River, N.C.

The U.S. Navy and Air Force also operate the V-22, which is designed for missions ranging from assault transport and search-and-rescue to special operations uses. The versatility of the Osprey allows it to take off and land similar to a helicopter, then turn its rotors 90 degrees to serve as a high-speed turboprop airplane. Its wings also rotate for compact storage aboard ships.

One of the items mentioned at today’s seminar on weather presented by Bill Babcock, was the pattern of early summer thunderstorms. He described how a line of storms holds together as it moves across eastern New York and western Massachusetts, but as it passes through eastern Connecticut and Massachusetts the colder air mass from Long Island Sound will cool the storm and cause it to lose a lot of energy. Bill said this generally happens near the I-495 area in Massachusetts, and I-395 in Connecticut. Also there are storms at the bottom of the image where he identified the warm water from the Gulf Stream

Take a look at this radar loop from this afternoon. It’s like the guy can predict the future!

(Image from wunderground)

I arrived today on the LST (Long Silver Tube) crying baby special. The weather here has cleared up, but there are low clouds all along the east coast. Word is that the Tiger Moth flight has stopped in Virginia, and the crew will be renting a car the rest of the way. A current weather view shows MVFR weather all the way from New York to Georgia.

Today Pete and I went to Fantasy of Flight. We visited there 2 years ago, and the main new attraction is a walk-through as you enter the museum. You enter a simulated C-54, and then jump out into the darkness. The wind hits you, as you are simulating a wartime parachute jump. Next you go along and see a mirrored area giving you the impression of coming to earth under a parachute. You then continue to an area with early flight displays. Balloons. early planes and a Wright engine are in this area. The lighting and display are very detailed throughout these areas giving a great impression.

Next you continue to the WWI area. Planes are bombing overhead while you are in the trenches with the fighters. Further down are the Germans in their bombed out underground trench areas. The only thing missing is the mud. Next is the WWII briefing room. Again the construction details are fantastic with a period movie projector showing the presentation (although it’s workings have been replaced with a video projector.

After the briefing, you go out to your actual B-17 bomber. You enter the back of the plane where the engine noise is deafening. The cramped areas, cold and noise are only a partial reminder of went into those flights. Going forward to the bomb bay area has another video under the floor of the doors opening, and the bombs dropping away. You then continue to the radio operator’s station and finally to the cockpit and the nose area below.

Exiting the plane, you see the outside of your plane with the maintenance crew working inside the wing. The Winter scene shows the difficult working conditions.

Tomorrow the Sun-N-Fun show opens. The area is quite muddy from the four inches of rain that fell yesterday. The weather looks good for the rest of the week.

Since the Connecticut exemption on aircraft repairs and parts is based on being competitive on neighboring states, this could eventually affect Connecticut too.

This came from the Massachusetts Airport Managers Association (MAMA)
Governor’s Proposal to Repeal Exemption on Sales Tax
To the MAMA membership:
By now, all of you know that Governor Patrick’s office is proposing to repeal an exemption on the sales tax of aircraft and aircraft parts in Massachusetts. Already, from various members of the state legislature (see Rep. Humason press release, below), this proposal has been met with opposition.
It was not too long ago that MAMA put forth a tremendous effort to support the authoring and introduction of this sales tax exemption bill. And thanks to people like Rep. Cele Hahn and Sen. Mike Knapik, this bill was subsequently passed into law, with the aviation industry and state economy being the beneficiaries. So I know I speak for MAMA when I say that this latest action by the Governor’s office is poorly guided and requires a “re-set” on the facts. With this in mind, from each MAMA member, I have two requests:
1) After soliciting your FBOs and dealers, please cooperate as soon as possible with the MAC, by providing to Lorraine Bohannon all current (2006-2007) data concerning aircraft sales, as well as sales on aircraft maintenance parts and maintenance. This data will augment that which was gathered in MAC’s 2005 survey.
2) Please contact your individual legislators as soon as possible and make them understand how maintaining the sales tax exemption on aircraft and aircraft parts has created for Massachusetts a competitive balance with neighboring states like New Hampshire and Connecticut; and how the sales tax exemption has, in fact, generated more aviation activity in the state, meaning more jobs and more revenue.
Thanks.
Russ Maguire, President
MAMA

Here’s the list of events we’re planning for 2008, along with other aviation events in the area.
The items in bold are our chapter events.

February 9th and March 8th are our regular monthly meetings at 10:00 AM

There is no meeting in April, and we return to our 2nd Wednesday of the month meetings on May 14th

February 16th-Pancake Breakfast
March 15th-Pancake Breakfast
March 29th-New England Safety Expo at Daniel Webster College, Nashua, NH
Apriil 8-13th-Sun-N-Fun, Lakeland Florida
April 19th-Pancake Breakfast
April-Date to be Determined-Tour Bradley (Yankee) TRACON and Tower
May 10th-Chapter 166 Young Eagle Day at Brainard
May 17th-Pancake Breakfast
May 17&18th-Hampton Fly-Market
May 31st-FAA Safety Seminar at Skylark
June 14th-Pancake Breakfast
June 23-24th-Rhode Island National Guard Open House & Air Show
July 12th-Pancake Breakfast
July 28-August 3-EAA Airventure Oshkosh
August 16th-Corn Roast & Cookout
August-Date to be Determined-Trip to Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome
September 6-7th-Great New England Air Show, Westover ARB, Chicopee, MA
September 13th-Young Eagles Day
September 21st-Simsbury Fly-In (Rain date Sept. 28th)
October 11th-Taildragger Fly-In & Safety Seminar
November 15th-Pancake Breakfast
December 5th-Skylark Christmas Dinner
December 13th-Pancake Breakfast

A poker run event with other chapters is also a possibility.

I live only about 1/2 hour away, so I plan on going all 3 days since I don’t have to pay for a flight, hotel and car. I also took an express CT Transit bus in so I didn’t have to pay the $19 to park in the garage at the convention center. On Wednesday I helped out at Bradley, but the people in charge of badging people didn’t want to have the AOPA volunteers badged since they would have to check us against the terrorist watch list. Since there was nothing in it for them, they didn’t want to do it. Connecticut still has a BIG problem where each department only works for itself, not for the benefit of the entire State. Low clouds kept arrivals way down anyway. Today’s weather was much better. 

I was planning on visiting the static display at Brainard tomorrow, so I saw most of the exhibits and went to some seminars today. I didn’t go to any ASF seminars since I’ve seen the ones offered already. This was the first time I was in the convention center. It looks like a top-notch facility, although the new parking garage is quite a bad design. (Thank goodness talks about moving the NE Patriots to that site was just a scam to get Boston to make concessions. It would have been a disaster.) On-site food is limited, but the Seattle Coffee Co. stand has decent selection at very reasonable prices, considering the captive audience. The adjacent area still has a lot of construction going on so food choices within walking distance is a bit limited.

I’ve been to previous Expos in Philadelphia, 2 in Atlantic City, and Tampa, and from what I’ve seen so far, I can say that this has been equal or better than those. The opening session was on light jets, and this type of audience always chuckles when we’re told how “affordable” they are. Phil made a brief statement, and said that so far attendance is the best it’s been for an east coast Expo. Thomas Haynes was the moderator, and presentations were made by the Presidents of Cessna and Williams, along with an owner/pilot of a jet plane.

I also went to the sessions on Managing Your Engine for Peak Performance, Flying your Airplane to Air shows and Aviation Events, and Fly-In Destinations in the East.

The Managing Your Engine seminar concentrated on operating the engine according to the POH. There wasn’t much in the way of new information for me. Of course, operating your plane often will save engine repairs down the road.

Flying Your Airplane to Air shows concentrated mostly on Sun-N-Fun and Oshkosh, along with this event. The presenter writes the annual NOTAM for Oshkosh, and he lives out there. A tip was to learn the engine settings for your plane to obtain a particular airspeed in advance so you can set it and then concentrate on the things necessary for high density traffic and be up to speed on visual identification.

Destinations in the East gave information on some of the better small airports and local attractions from Maine to northern Florida. Being from New England, many of the northern locations were a review, but there were some interesting airports to the south. The speaker advised us to not automatically assume you can’t land at airports labeled private/restricted on the sectional chart. Call ahead. Many owners welcome visitors, but don’t want to have their airport listed as public due to liability reasons.

The exhibition hall looked quite full. A row of tables along the back could have been removed if more space was sold, but there are still plenty of exhibitors.

The Cirrus Jet grew up to full-size from the model shown at Oshkosh. It’s still a non-flying prototype, but it does look nice with its 7 seat capacity. The PiperJet mockup is also present, along with Mooney. The Cessna LSA is also on the floor, and you can climb inside any of them.  One of the busiest booths I saw was from the FAA Safety Team. Of course that was most likely because our good friend Jim Adams was manning that display.

SWAG is also very good at this event. Some of the best I’ve found are: Jeppeson gives a canvas bag that includes the event program. Lockheed/Martin has notebooks with pen, Aerotrader has office supply kits, whistles, and airplane pens, Columbia Aircraft has free bottled water in several locations on-site. Aerorecords has mints, Alamo has clips with a photo slot. CATS has foam planes similar to JayJay the Jet Plane, Aspen Avionics has nylon backpacks, and AOPA Life Insurance has cell phone holders.  I also picked up a full-sized Aircraft Spruce catalog since I was finally at a show where I didn’t have to lug one of those back on a plane.

Tomorrow it’s more of the same plus the static display area.

According to the present schedule, the A380 will be making fly-bys over the Pratt & Whitney facilities in Middletown and East Hartford between 7 and 8 AM Tuesday morning, weather permitting. Exact times will be announced 30 minutes prior to the fly-by.

The plane will be parked near the Air National Guard facility, so public viewing will be limited once it’s on the ground.

It looks like you need to get up early if you want to see an A380 fly. Here is the tentative schedule for the US tour next week. All times are local

Oct 2- Dep TLS 0600 arrive BDL 0810
Oct 3- Dep BDL 0600 arrive CVG 0830
Oct 4- Dep CVG 1000 arrive SFO 1200
Oct 5- Dep SFO 1300 arrive TLS 0900+1