While the declining value of the US dollar hasn’t made travel easier for people in this country, it has made it more affordable for people around the world to come to the EAA Convention. Last year there were 2081 international visitors registered as of Friday July 30, versus 1986 at that time in 2009. The most came from Canada with 543 visitors. Other countries with large numbers of visitors were Australia with 354, Brazil with 225, France with 126, Germany 135, New Zealand 101 and South Africa with 147. Countries with representation in 2010 that were not present in 2009 were Czech Republic, Columbia, El Salvador, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Romania, and Vietnam.
Samson Motors Switchblade
There have been several new designs presented at the EAA Convention that are planes that can convert to road vehicles. The desire for a vehicle that can provide transportation at your destination, or during inclement weather is surely high on the list for potential pilots.
Samson Motors is developing a two passenger three-wheel vehicle. When in flight, it will be powered through a ducted fan. Last summer, the ground handling of their Switchblade prototype was being worked on. They have an X-Plane simulation developed, and they are still working on getting the body, suspension, engine and transmission finalized. There is still a lot of work to be done before this design becomes a flying prototype, but it’s an interesting concept. For more information, visit their web site.
Antilles G-21 Super Goose
I try to look for the most unusual items on the convention grounds, and one I think meets that criteria is the Antilles Seaplanes Super Goose. The plane is based on the Grumman Goose, but has been inproved with new construction and turboprop engines. This gives it improved performance and payload capability. It has a 12,500 lb. maximum takeoff weight, and a 5,000 lb useful load. Normal cruise speed is over 200 kts., and it has a range of over 1,200 miles. Visit their web site for more information.
Ford Participation at EAA Convention
Ford Motor Company has continued to expand its presence at our convention. Last year they not only presented the opening day Chicago concert and the Fly-In Movie Theater, they also had a large display area with moderator Hank the robot. Ford provided a unique Shelby-Roush designed Mustang with design features inspired by the SR-71 reconnaiss
ance plane. The car sold for $375,000 at the annual Young Eagles auction.
Ford also hosted a Crusin’ Legends car show featuring car clubs across the midwest, and a parade of Model-Ts.
Other Ford displays were the bucking bronco, people could try hands-free parallel parking, shuttles around the grounds, autograph sessions, and free ice cream delivered to campers.
Even though Ford is an automotive company, they have an aviation history with the Ford Tri-Motor plane, and their massive production of B-24 bombers during WWII.
Sikorsky Firefly Electric Helicopter
Sikorsky Aircraft Innovations project had their Firefly electric helicopter demonstration at last year’s EAA Convention. It is based on an existing design, and just had the power system replaced with a motor and batteries. The plane only has about a 15 minute endurance since it’s only a test project to learn about the system efficiency, reduced complexity, reduced maintenance, noise and vibration.
For more information, visit link
Pure Electronic gnition for Certified Aircraft
The first electronic ignition system STC for Lycoming and Continental engines are being developed my http://www.electroair.net. The system replaces one magento and provides a 20 deg spark duration and up to 30 deg of spark advance to five better engine performance and fuel savings. Several thousand of their previous generation unit are in place in experimental engines. It takes about 5 hours to install.
Electric Flight AirVenture 2010 Review
In addition to the all-day electric flight symposium held at last year’s convention, there were several other seminars. The titles of those were NASA Puffin, Flight Design on Electric Aircraft, Affordable Electric Flight, Electric Motorgliders, Antares 20E and H2, Designing E-Airplanes, E-Flight Motor Controllers, Green Flight Project, Electric Airliners, Electric Aircraft Design, the 2nd Century of Flight, Personal Electric Aircraft, Electric Airframes, E-Flight Motor Design, Swift Stratum Battery, Advanced Batteries, Advanced Battery Systems, Electric Flight Research Discussion, Advanced Electric Concepts, Pipistrel Taurus Electro, Changes in Electric RC.
There’s sure to be more there this year.
Rolls Royce Offers Young Eagles Scholarships
Rolls-Royce has introduced a flight training scholarship program for kids who have taken a Young Eagles flight, and completed the majority of the Sporty’s online private pilot course.
Six scholarships are available toward flight training, and one scholarship is available for the complete private pilot program. Visit http://www.youngeagles.org/programs/scholarships/scholarships.asp for more information
Legends of Flight 3D Movie
I’m a lot behind updating posts, so let’s see if I can get a bunch of entries in before the next big event.
A few months ago, I went to the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford to see the Legends of Flight 3D movie at their 3D theater. While any 3D movie is going to be full of visual gimmicks, I didn’t find this movie to have an entertaining story to accompany the effects.
All the flying 3D effects were computer generated. This is needed since 3D cameras wouldn’t be able to safely fly in aerobatic formations. Unfortunately, the flight sequences are unrealistic, such as a Stearman biplane doing a roll very close to the ground, and other planes flying very close to ships. The other 3D effects are computer aided design (CAD) fly-throughs of a Boeing 787. That brings me to the other problem. This film is primarily an advertisement for Boeing. There were 3D views of the crowd viewing the 787 rollout, and a few scenes of the Airbus 380, but the biggest problem is that so much of the film is spent within staged Boeing design conference meetings.
Yep, nothing like spending $7 for a 50 minute movie to watch people in a conference room.
The film credits state it was funded by Boeing, so some self-promotion is expected, but there isn’t much in the film about any flight “Legends”
Connecticut Aircraft Property Tax Generating Lots of Press
On our home page, I have several links to documents on governor Dannel Malloy’s proposal to impose the property tax on aircraft, and to add the 6.35% sales tax on services and aircraft storage. There’s been a lot of press on this issue, and only the state’s Budget Director has a printed comment in favor of implementing the tax. Everyone else knows this is a job killing proposal. Even mayors from towns that would receive the tax money are skeptical that the tax will bring in as much money as the Connecticut bureaucrats say.
About the only correction is that this proposal won’t cause planes to move out in the future. I know that it is already happening just based on the threat.
From the Connecticut Post: Aircraft tax: a flight risk for business
A blog on the legal aspects on Aviation Technology at the University of Mississippi quotes AOPA’s letter. Connecticut governor’s tax bills take aim at general aviation
Another blog from Ari Good, an aviation attorney in Florida writes, A Bad Idea in Connecticut.
Forbes magazine blog says Tax Hikes On Cars, Planes, Jewelry and Drags In Connecticut Budget
The National Air Transportation’s Inside Washington Blog says: States Need To Start Valuing GA And Not Taxing It!
Dean Saucier, the National Business Aviation Association regional representative has taken the lead on communication for this issue. NBAA Mobilizes Grassroots Campaign Against Connecticut State Tax Proposal
Republican state senator Rob Kane and state representative David Labriola, who both represent the area served by Oxford airport have come out against the proposal since they believe it will cost jobs, and be very detremental to the airport. Oxford Delegation Says Gov’s Proposed Aviation Taxes Need to be Shot Down
On March 7, the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee held a hearing on the overall tax bill. Here is the AOPA testimony from regional representative, Craig Dotlo.
CTNewsJunkie, Connecticut’s online news source has a couple of articles on this topic: (Budget Director) Barnes Defends Tax Package. Where he states “he doesn’t believe it will completely drive the industries out of the state.”
I guess driving 95% out of the state is OK. It’s ironic how one of the big beneficiaries of this tax package will be his namesake airport in Westfield, MA.
Also from CTNewsJunkie is the article: Aviation Group: Malloy’s Revenue Bills Would Be ‘Catastrophic’ For Industry which has several photos of Skylark Airport.
And finally, chapter member Derek Schwalenberg got to testify at the hearing. He was prominantely mentioned in an Associated Press article Conn. budget chief defends Malloy tax increases which was picked up by many news organizations, such as the Hartford Courant , Providence Journal, CNBC, WTIC Radio, and Bloomberg Business Week.
As of this posting, the bill has not advanced out of committee.