1 in 2000 Chance of Winning

Anyone who knows me understands the name of my blog. For those who don't know me, let me tell you that I would sacrifice a part of my anatomy for a plane.

As of today, I have a 1 in 2000 chance of winning one. The Dakota Territory Air Museum is raffling a plane and there are only 2000 tickets available for sale (well, now there are less than that). If I win, I'll be a very happy camper. I'll be sitting, impatiently, by my phone come August 17th.

3rd Time Is A Charm For Oregon Balloonist

Kent Couch has finally made his dream come true after 2 failed attempts in 2006 and 2007. Kent strapped 150 helium-filled party balloons to his lawn chair, packed his coffee, his BB gun, a parachute and 2 GPS devices and lifted off from Bend, OR.

After a 9-hour trip, Kent set down in Cambridge, Idaho to amazed onlookers. Kent was quoted as saying, "If I had the time and money and people, I'd do this every weekend."

Personally, I think that with the expense of 3 attempts to fly from Bend to Idaho, he could have obtained his Balloon or Sport Pilot Certificate with the money spent so far. But, to each his own.

New Poll

I have had numerous people (well, 1 or 2) ask me to change my blog name. Having "My Left Nut" showing up on your Favorites doesn't appeal to those few. So, the big question to be decided here is: Should I change the name of my blog?

As former Mayor, Richard Daley used to say, "Vote for me, and vote often". Like Mayor Daley, I allow votes from people who are long dead. Also like Mayor Daley, you may vote more than once. Finally, you can be registered as Democrat, Republican, Independent or Vegetarian Party...it doesn't matter. Everyone is welcome to vote.

If you have a suggestion for a new blog name, please leave it in the comments for my consideration (or ignore-ation).

Windows® Movie Maker® 101

"Mom" wanted some help adding audio to a video slide show. Here it is. If you have any additional questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Sorry that the screenshots are a little fuzzy. In the process of converting, something happened. It should still be helpful though.

Video of Fireworks in Stayton, OR - 7-4-2008

Stayton put on a great fireworks show this year. The had a number of "faux finales" and it really got the cheers going from the crowd. The grand finale brought the house down. Good job Stayton.

Parking was not quite as nice as the show. Next year, I won't even start my car until ½ hour after the show is over. Parking was dusty and with only a single driveway for 1,000's of cars...well, you get the picture. I finally parked and listened to Luciano Pavarotti sing Puccini's "Nessun Dorma". Awesome!

Video Stills - Stayton Fireworks - 7-4-2008

Stayton 4th of July Parade - July 4, 2008 (Redacted)

If you want to see high-quality pictures of the parade, check out Celine's blog. She takes absolutely fanatastic photos. If she ever decides to give lessons, I'm first in line.

(I'll have to figure out how to stop my hands and body from shaking to even take a "decent" photo)

Long Weekend at the Red Apple

Karaoke at the Red Apple. A nice, clean and friendly bar. If you get hungry, prepare yourself for some GREAT chinese food served by Sue.

Born To Be Wild


All My Ex's Live In Texas

This Man And This Woman

Realize

Every Rose Has Its Thorn

I Cross My Heart

Epiphany

Dead Or Alive

Tunguska Anniversary 6-30-1908

100 years ago, today, a huge fireball descended near the remote town of Tunguska in Russia. The object was estimated to be 50 feet across and exploded 3-5 miles above the earth where it leveled an area of 830 square miles. People 100 miles away were knocked to their feet and and the explosion was equivalent to a yield of 10-15 megaqtons of TNT. There is still debate as to whether the object was a comet or a meteor. Amazingly, there were no fatalities due to the remote location. Had this occured in a larger city, the devastation would have been complete and far-ranging.

To see when the next blast will occur, check here for current impact risks. Remember to keep your head down.

O/T But Interresting

This has nothing at all to do with flying, but the artistic side of me found it interesting.

Only 6 days left to send your name to the moon

NASA is giving everyone a chance to send their name to the moon on a microchip. Register here to get your name on the chip and to print out your certificate of participation or save as a .pdf file.

The deadline is June 27th, so don't delay.

What Does It Take To Be An Airline Pilot? (Humor)

Big Brass Balls

From Short Final

Overheard in IFR Magazine's "On the Air"

While on a trip in a Grumman Cheetah from Marathon, Florida Keys to Exuma in the Bahamas, I ran into a large area of clouds hanging over Andros Island. They'd been classified as benign when I'd received my weather briefing about an hour and a half earlier. I penetrated with a warning from Miami Center:

Miami Center: "Grumman XXXXX, I show a large area of weather ahead of you. How would you like to proceed?"

Grumman: "My Stormscope shows it's not active. I'll continue on course."

[a few minutes later]
Miami Center: "Grumman XXXXX, say flight conditions."

Grumman: "It's a little bumpy, but other than that it's fine."

[a few minutes later, after it suddenly turned active]
Grumman: "Miami Center, Grumman XXXXX, experiencing ... severe ... turbulence. Request ... lower."
[I went up and down at about 2000 feet per minute. The Stormscope lit up all around us. We were tossed on our side.]

Miami Center: "Grumman XXXXX, unable lower at this time. I'll have to call Nassau to get lower."
I righted the airplane. Everything flew around the cockpit. I saw a hole and aimed for it.

[a few minutes later]
Grumman: "Miami Center, Grumman XXXXX, we're out of the weather now. Sorry about the deviation, but I could not hold altitude or course."

Miami Center: "Not a problem, I understand."

A passing airliner overheard this ...
Airliner: "Miami, Airliner XXXX, that guy that penetrated the weather over Andros — what kind of airplane did he say he was flying?"

Miami Center: "A Grumman."

Airliner: "Like a big Grumman?"

Miami Center: "No, like a little Grumman Cheetah.

Airliner: "A Cheetah? Wow, he's got a lot of balls."

Miami Center: "Airliner XXXX, I'm sorry, sir, you broke up. Say again?"

Airliner: "I said, he's got a lot of balls."

Miami Center: "Airliner XXXX, I'm sorry, sir, you are coming in broken up again. I believe you said (ahem) that he was a very brave man?"

Bob Brayman - Marathon, Florida Keys

A Few Minutes Of Perspective

RVator #2 Is Online

Issue #2 of the RVator is online. The biggest write-up surrounds the RV-12 and answers many of the questions concerning E-LSA vs. S-LSA.

Summer Survival

Okay, it's the time of year where everyone dusts off the cobwebs and takes to the air. We have current charts, we've done our T&G's until we feel like we won't scare ourselves, or our passengers. So, what's left?

Looking back to the loss of Steve Fossett, I wonder if he survived the crash, yet succumbed to the desert. We are all great pilots and the odds of crashing are minute....but.

Humans can live for weeks or even months without food (maybe a year in my case [wink]), Humans are hard-pressed to go 3 days in summer heat without water. At 8.3370 pounds per gallon and hoping for enough water to potentially last for weeks, I would have to offload passengers, fuel or baggage. Not always an option. So, how can I get water? I've spent a lot of time in the desert Southwest and can attest that a solar still works and the components weigh in at a few ounces.

So, water is taken care of...what's next? Food. Now before you start packing in those packs of Oberto® Beef Jerky, think about this: Jerky = salted protein. Yes, you want some salt, but protein digestion requires vast quantities of water (we crashed in the desert, remember?). The foods that you want are fats, sugars, starch and a bit of salt. I find that dehydrated fruits are a great source of energy, weigh little and travel well. For pure energy, nothing can beat a Snickers® Bar for packed calories and fat with a bit of sodium and protein. Only downside is the melt factor.

Let's see...water, food. What's next? How about fixing any injuries to ourselves or our passengers. Is our first aid kit going to do it? I worked many years as a Trauma Tech and I can tell you that band aids and a bit of Neosporin® won't be worth @#%! in a major accident. What do you have in your first aid kit to stop REAL bleeding? I wanted something compact, sterile, individually wrapped with something to tie around an affected limb and it had to be absorbent. Hmmmm....Viola! Maternity pads fit every criteria. For those going “EWWWwww”, think back to Vietnam and the field dressings. Basically a maternity pad in army green...No? These pads are cheap ($44.99 for a case of 288 works out to a little over 15¢ each) and you could split the case among other flying friends. Last, always carry a Leatherman-type tool with you. A knife is a wonderful survival tool, but the pliers can be used to break off parts of the airplane. Longerons make a great splint.

Even though we are stuck in the desert, the nights can become bitterly cold and there is still no substitute for a space blanket. I must admit, as I've aged and the weight of sleeping bags have come down, my space blanket is augmented with the sleeping bag. A very light summer bag can become a 3-season bag with the addition of the space blanket.

Next I want to signal rescuers. A few options here. Fire works, but if I'm out in dry scrub, I would really hate to start a major range fire. You quit smoking and don't carry matches or lighters anymore. Good for you. But, what do you do for a fire? You have all of the tools right on your plane. A few lengths of wire and your plane's battery will work pretty well. For those of you who want a bit “more power” (insert testosterone grunts here), put a bag of fine steel wool in your survival kit. Take a piece of steel wool as big as your fist and pull and twist two “arms” on opposite sides to a length of about 12”. Place your kindling on top of the steel wool and connect your wires to the ends of the protruding arms. Touch the wires to the battery terminals and instant fire. It can become quite bright with a fully charged battery and the flash may be enough to signal help. If you don't believe that steel wool burns, take some ØØØ steel wool from your shop and touch a 9 volt battery to the wool. What if fire is too risky? Those CD's you listen to make excellent reflectors and you can use the center hole to aim the reflection. I carry a 5mw green laser that will shine to about 20,000 feet. No, I do not want to shine it in the cockpit, but it leaves a visible “track” that can be shone ahead of the aircraft flying overhead.

Finally, what doomed Steve Fossett was that he failed to file a flight plan. He was only going for a local flight and they have yet to find him. ALWAYS file a flight plan and hopefully you'll use little of your emergency kit. But, take it along, just in case.

Safe flying.

Good News For West Coast Pilots

The FAA has issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM)

(notice item 9, highlighted in red)

This proposed rule would--

1. Replace sport pilot privileges with aircraft category and class ratings on all pilot certificates.

2. Replace sport pilot flight instructor privileges with aircraft category ratings on all flight instructor certificates.

3. Remove current provisions for the conduct of proficiency checks by flight instructors and include provisions for the issuance of category and class ratings by designated pilot examiners.

4. Place all requirements for flight instructors under a single subpart (subpart H) of part 61.

5. Require 1 hour of flight training on the control and maneuvering of an airplane solely by reference to instruments for student pilots seeking a sport pilot certificate to operate an airplane with a V_H greater than 87 knots CAS and sport pilots operating airplanes with a V_H greater than 87 knots CAS.

6. Remove the requirement for persons exercising sport pilot privileges and flight instructors with a sport pilot rating to carry their logbooks while in flight.

7. Remove the requirement that persons exercising sport pilot privileges have an aircraft make-and-model endorsement to operate a specific set of aircraft while adding specific regulatory provisions for endorsements for the operation of powered parachutes with elliptical wings and aircraft with a V_H less than or equal to 87 knots CAS.

8. Remove the requirement for all flight instructors to log at least 5 hours of flight time in a make and model of light-sport aircraft before providing training in any aircraft from the same set of aircraft in which that training is given.

9. Permit persons exercising sport pilot privileges and the privileges of a student pilot seeking a sport pilot certificate to fly up to an altitude of not more than 10,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) or 2,000 feet above ground level (AGL), whichever is higher.

10. Permit private pilots to receive compensation for production flight testing powered parachutes and weight-shift-control aircraft intended for certification in the light-sport category under §21.190.

11. Revise student sport pilot solo cross-country navigation and communication flight training requirements.

12. Clarify cross-country distance requirements for private pilots seeking to operate weight-shift-control aircraft.

13. Revise aeronautical experience requirements at towered airports for persons seeking to operate a powered parachute or weight-shift-control aircraft as a private pilot.

14. Remove the requirement for pilots with only a powered parachute or a weight-shift-control aircraft rating to take a knowledge test for an additional rating at the same certificate level.

15. Revise the amount of hours of flight training an applicant for a sport pilot certificate must log within 60 days prior to taking the practical test.

16. Remove expired ultralight transition provisions and limit the use of aeronautical experience obtained in ultralight vehicles.

17. Add a requirement for student pilots to obtain endorsements identical to those proposed for sport pilots in §§61.324 and 61.327.

18. Clarify that an authorized instructor must be in a powered parachute when providing flight instruction to a student pilot.

19. Remove the requirement for aircraft certificated as experimental aircraft in the light-sport category to comply with the applicable maintenance and preventive maintenance requirements of part 43 when those aircraft have been previously issued a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category.

20. Require aircraft owners or operators to retain a record of the current status of applicable safety directives for special light-sport aircraft.

21. Provide for the use of aircraft with a special airworthiness certificate in the light-sport category in training courses approved under part 141.

22. Revise the minimum safe-altitude requirements for powered parachutes and weight-shift-control aircraft.

Update On Floating Priest From Brazil

Brazil's navy has ended its search for a priest who vanished more than a week ago while floating over the Atlantic strapped to 1,000 helium-filled balloons in a bid to raise money for charity. The Rev. Adelir Antonio de Carli, 41, has been missing since April 20.

Update On Jim Cone RV-12 Build

Jim Cone has finished the left wing of his first-to-build RV-12. Here are his build pictures. Jim claims 99 hours to complete the first wing. His second should go even quicker. Hope Vans gets their follow-up kits going soon.

If We Ever Get A Sunny Day In Oregon...

...I just may try this. You can read all about solar balloons here.

Brazilian Priest Floats To Points Unknown On String Of Balloons

Folks, you can't make this stuff up.

According to the AP:
SAO PAULO, Brazil - A Roman Catholic priest who floated off under hundreds of helium party balloons was missing Monday off the southern coast of Brazil.

Rescuers in helicopters and small fishing boats were searching off the coast of Santa Catarina state, where pieces of balloons were found.

Rev. Adelir Antonio de Carli lifted off from the port city of Paranagua on Sunday afternoon, wearing a helmet, thermal suit and a parachute.

He was reported missing about eight hours later after losing contact with port authority officials, according to the treasurer of his Sao Cristovao parish, Denise Gallas.

Gallas said by telephone that the priest wanted to break a 19-hour record for the most hours flying with balloons to raise money for a spiritual rest-stop for truckers in Paranagua, (emphasis added) Brazil's second-largest port for agricultural products.

Video here. More video. (both in Portuguese)

It's SPRINGTIME(?!?!?) In Oregon

Oh-kayyy. Enough winter already!

I took these a little while ago in our "big" town of Stayton. It's the closest city to do any kind of shopping.

Why does it always snow when I'm there? This IS April...isn't it???

RV-12 Build Pictures

Yep, Jim Cone got the first RV-12 wing kit and he seems to be flying through construction...if his photos are any indication. If he can get all the component kits in a timely fashion, we may see the first owner-built RV-12 flying by this summer. Jim is a 4-time offender, having built 2 RV-6A's, a -7A and now the -12. With his experience, he may even be flying by the end of spring!

Update 3: Rare 5.4 Earthquake Hits Illinois

Janet Clem, 37, looks at the damage to her home in Mt. Carmel, Ill. Friday morning April 18, 2008 after the 5.2 early morning earth quake.(AP Photo/Daniel R. Patmore)

Picture from CNN showing damage in Louisville, KY

A 5.4 earthquake hit Illinois early this morning. It was located at 38.520°N, 87.873°W. The rare tremor hit at 04:36:56 AM [CT].

If you felt the quake, you can go here to record your observations. There have been no reports of any damage so far.

A record of past Illinois earthquakes can be found here.

CNN is reporting some minor damage in Louisville Kentucky.

Interestingly, today is the 102nd anniversary of the Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire.

The N-Prize Is Here

A prize has been announced for the launch and orbit of a microsatellite. You can view details here.

Redrawing The Map Of Oregon (?)

Scientists have measured over 600 earthquakes off the coast of Oregon in the last 10 days. Scientists state, "feedback related to the abrupt earthquake ‘swarm’ suggests that such swarming is generally accepted as a prelude to a volcanic eruption"

Above is a suggested map after the event is over.

Jerald Greenberg Shares His RV-12 Demo Flight

Thank-you Jerry, again, for letting us all experience SnF 2008 and the RV-12.

Jerry wrote: "Here's a 10min 6sec raw video of the "the yellow canary" (N912RV) taking off from Plant City Airport on 4/11/2008. My pilot was "Gus" a very capable pilot & a nice guy who was PIC during my almost 30 minute demo ride. I had control of the plane a few hundred feet after takeoff for a climb out of 70 knots @ 850 fpm.

This RV-12 was a very nice, smooth and comfortable LSA to fly. I've flown high winged Tecnam P-92 Super Echos, a FantasyAir Allegro 2007 and low winged Tecnam Sierra ... my favorite.

The previous slide shows had a picture of the Tecnam Sierra which has a sticker price of $141,000 ... very well decked out, and worth every penny. I felt that the RV-12 performed just as well as the $141,000 bird. (IF Van's Aircraft was on the NYSE ...I'd say BUY)

I performed shallow turns ...a very responsive plane ... easy to keep straight and level ... smooth ... only bumps were my being unable to hold the camera steady (Kodak P880 picture and video camera, no anti-"shake" mechanism built in). Not sure the the proper terminology but the plane just wanted to fly straight and level.

Gus also performed some slow speed, full flaps stall on this video. One of these stalls broke down and to the left (may not be on the vid) ... but was easily fixed by lowering the nose and inputting some left rudder.

My turns felt good ... didn't feel like I was slipping or skidding at all and my feet never activated the rudders. Having never flown a plane with a glass cockpit, I had no idea where the turn coordinator (ball) was anyway!"

KITPLANES Magazine: Vans RV-12 LSA Light Sport Aircraft

Video: Demo Ride In Prototype #1 RV-12

Thanks to JerryG150 who has been keeping us up-to-date on the RV-12 from SnF 2008.

More Video

Getting Out

EAA Interviews Van On The RV-12 And The 51% Rule

Technology Getting Better and Prices Falling

It seems to me that I saw another version of this in the $100K range not too long ago. Now, $15K...WOW! Forward Vision® is making this attainable for GA pilots. Hopefully, this would entirely eliminate CFIT.

2nd Jerry Greenberg Video of N421RV From SnF 2008

Thanks for taking the time to let us all be there, Jerry!

Hi-resolution stills of the RV-12

Jerry Greenberg has posted a slide show from SnF 2008. VERY heavy on the RV-12 pics (grin).

Thanks for sharing, Jerry.

Note: Jerry has already placed his order for the -12. The photos are excellent. You could almost do a plans-built just from the photos.

RV-12 N412RV Video Walkaround From SnF 2008

New RV-12 N412RV Detail Photos

Drool bib alert!

These new photos make me want to blow the budget and start on a wing kit. I still believe that the response to the -12 will be far beyond expectations.

RV-12 Price Posted (Sort of...)

Photo courtesy of Vans website

Vans has posted a partial price list for the RV-12 kit. The only price posted thus far is the wing kit at $5480.00 with a lead time of 4-6 weeks.

The wing kit will be pre-punched and is priced $900.00 less than the RV-9/9A wing kit. I predict that the -12 will outsell every other model in short order.

Am I the only one going over their checkbook to see how soon they can start building?

Video: Boeing Testing New Hydrogen-Powered Plane

A Boeing hydrogen-powered plane is now undergoing testing. Boeing's experimental aircraft is powered by hydrogen fuel cells is off the ground and Boeing said this week it had successful tested the hydrogen propulsion of its new unmanned ISR plane.

The breakthrough is "full of promises for a greener future," Boeing Chief Technology Officer John Tracy told reporters at the company's research center in Ocana, Spain, where the aircraft was on display, according to a report from the Associated Press.

The development was "a historical technological success for Boeing (and) ... full of promises for a greener future," Tracy told the news conference. Boeing said in a statement that, "Using a Ford Motor Company-developed hydrogen engine," it had "successfully tested the hydrogen propulsion system of its High Altitude Long Endurance -- HALE -- unmanned aircraft."

Boeing said the HALE was "designed to stay aloft for more than seven days and carry payloads weighing up to 2,000 pounds. Potential applications include battlefield persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, border observation, port security and telecommunications. The long endurance autonomous aircraft will be a propeller-driven, lightweight structure with a high-aspect-ratio-wing."

Created by OnePlusYou

Nipple Rings & Terrorists?

A woman from Texas had to remove her nipple rings after TSA agents demanded they be removed at Los Angeles Airport. The woman, 37 year-old Mandi Hamlin, was able to remove one nipple ring but had to use pliers to remove the second ring.

Hamlin had set off alarms while being screened. She offered to have a female agent examine her, but the TSA required she remove the piercings.

Unless the terrorists have devised a new type of IED that can fit into a nipple ring, this seems a bit overkill. The fact that our borders are as porous as a screen door and anyone can come into the country seems to have gotten past King Duhbya and his War on Terror. We sure won't have any nipple ring IED's going off anytime soon.

Hamlin has demanded an apology from the TSA. I think $he may be demanding $omething more $ub$tantial in the future.

New Video From "Groucho" Bryan Duke

Bryan Duke again has a great new video. Sit back, tighten your seat belts and enjoy.

My Jaw Dropped

This has absolutely nothing to do with flying. I watched this video and was speechless afterward.

Name That Plane 2 Contest (HINT)

Ohh-kay...no guesses yet in the Name That Plane 2 contest. The CASH PRIZE is still in play!

A hint: The aeroplano is a venturi ducted fan that ran the full length of the aircraft and the pilot sat on the top of the tube. Let's get a winner this time.

Video of Saudi Airlines 777 Landing with Hole in Wing

"SA FLIGHT from Jeddah to Riyadh on 10.03.08. Damage on right wing of 777 just a few minutes before landing at 900 m altitude. Hydraulic lines cut and fluids are draining huge hole in the top of the wing. This looks like mechanical failure of certain parts - it happend with a very loud bang."

Updated 3-14-08: N412RV Flies!

According to Vans, RV-12 N412RV:

"On March 12, Van took advantage of a good patch of weather and made a short first flight. He reported that the new wing flew much like the old one and the elevator was slightly lighter. (The following day, today, the weather was miserable – gusting winds and blowing rain – so we will have to wait for more details of flying qualities and performance.)

Final details of the kit and kit pricing are being analyzed and worked out. No orders will be taken, waiting lists established or bribes accepted before April 8."

Wings of Freedom March 13-23

If you're anywhere near Dallas Love Field, take the time to tour the great bombers of WWII. If you have an extra $325.00 to $425.00, take a flight aboard one of these historic aircraft.

Admission to the walk-through tour is only $12 adults and $7 for children 12 and under. No reservations are required. Be advised that if you take the young ones that they may become addicted to flying as I did when my dad took me to my first airshow.

NTSB Releases Preliminary Report For Titusville Crash

The NTSB has released the preliminary report for the accident that claimed 3 lives on March 1 at Arthur Dunn Air Park in Titusville, Florida.

The report states that the Velocity Aircraft, N244CU, departed the runway and collided with the Vans RV-8, N128RV.

Here is a partial from the report:
"According to witnesses, the purpose of the arriving flights was for the participation in the Experiment Aircraft Association's (EAA) monthly pancake breakfast. There were several witnesses that had arrived at the airport in airplanes just prior to the accident. The witnesses stated that a flight of 4 RV-8's landed in formation. Following uneventful landings the 4 RV-8's were exiting the runway at intersection B. The lead RV-8, N128RV had entered the intersection and was midway between runway 15 and the parallel taxiway when it was struck from the left side by the Velocity.

Witnesses stated that the Velocity had landed on runway 15 following the flight of 4 RV-8's and departed the runway on the left side entering a grassy area separating the runway and taxiway. The Velocity continued in the grass and witnesses stated that they observed the Velocity collide with the RV-8 in a left bank and with full engine power. Both airplane's exploded into a fire ball.

On scene examination of the RV-8 found it in a grassy area adjacent to intersection B. The wreckage was on a heading of 280-degrees. The fuselage, cabin and upper left wing were consumed by the post impact fire.

On scene examination of the Velocity found it inverted 330 feet beyond the RV-8 coming to rest on a heading of 330-degrees. The fuselage, right wing and cockpit were consumed by the post impact fire."

RV-12 N412RV Rollout

Note the new ("not yellow") paint scheme. If I can make the drive, I'll try to get some pics of the RV-12 and post them here.

Realtime Tracking for Endeavour and the ISS

NASA realtime tracking.

Direct Link For STS-123 Endeavour Flight

NASA TV This link will open in Windows Media Player®. Endeavour is scheduled for launch at 2:28 a.m. EDT.

Raw Video Footage of Titusville Crash

Here is KXLY raw video footage from the crash of a Velocity aircraft with a Vans RV-8 on March 1, 2008.

New Airline Safety Video

Name That Plane 2

There was no winner in the first "Name That Plane" contest, so the CASH PRIZE will roll over to the new contest. The correct answer to plane #1 was "Optica Scout".

Again, the rules are simple. Name the plane and collect the cash. Here is plane #2.

Light Plane Violates Washington, DC Airspace

Shortly after 6:00 PM on Wednesday, a light plane flew into the Washington restricted airspace. The twin-engine Beech flew in from the North at 14,500 feet and below the 18,000 feet floor of the restricted space.

Two F-16's scrambled and intercepted the aircraft within the restricted airspace. The fighter pilots identified the aircraft and escorted it outside of the restricted airspace.

Federal law enforcement admits the plane was in airspace near the U.S. Capitol but did not say how close it was.

In this day of EFIS and GPS and post 9/11, these incursions should never happen. If we are to maintain a reasonably open sky for ourselves, these incursions need to cease. With presidential campaigns in full swing, we pilots must be extra vigilant to TFR's that may pop up with little notice.

Lake Villa, IL Man Makes Poor Choice For Landing

Lake Villa resident Robert Kadera, 65, unfastens a tension cable to remove ski landing gear from his 1949 Piper Clipper as he prepares it for transport Monday at Ernie's Service Center in Vernon Hills. Kadera, who landed his plane on the Marriott Lincolnshire Golf Course Saturday, had the plane towed to Ernie's by the Lincolnshire Police Department. Police and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating charges and whether to revoke his pilot's license. (Tribune photo by David Trotman-Wilkins / March 3, 2008)

Robert Kadera, 65 made a poor choice of landing sites that could mean charges will be brought against the Lake Villa pilot.

Police received numerous worried calls about a plane circling twice, and then touching down at the Crane's Landing golf course at the Marriott Lincolnshire Resort. Officials thought they might have a crash with victims.

Kadera was running late for his son's tennis tuneup so he had hopped in his Piper Clipper with his 14 year-old son, Isaac. They flew above the congested roads and landed at a golf course across a highway from the tennis club, where skis on the underside of plane glided across the snow-covered fairway.

Police would not allow Kadera to fly his plane off the fairway at the Marriott resort. Instead, the plane was towed following a 7-hour operation.

Heartstopping Landing Attempt

Amazing new video today of a Lufthansa jet, flying from Munich to Hamburg with 137 passengers, veering back and forth in 150 mile per hour gusting winds. The plane came within "a split second of crashing" and after just touching down, a wing tip hit the runway and the plane bounced sideways on the runway. The now-hailed pilots shot back up, tried again and landed safely.

Titusville Crash Update And video

The Orlando Sentinal is reporting that a third person has died following the crash of 2 homebuilt aircraft yesterday. There is no information on the person who died and it is not known whether it was the pilot or passenger.

How Stupid Can The Non-Flying Public Be?

This comment, from an article written on the Titusville, Fl crash made me laugh and want to strangle the author. My comments are in yellow.


"#1 Phil White - Nedw smyrna Beach Fl - 3/2/2008 3:38:00 AM Why do the Federal and State authorities continue to allow experimental planes to be built and fly. Are these planes checked before their first flight by any authority or does someone just build the plane and take off? So, Phil...they were flying something that was built over a weekend with chewing gum and electrical tape, huh? Try putting 4, 5, 6 or more years of your life into building an aircraft. Too many people die in these planes and something should be done to regulate them as automobiles are. Phil, do you realize that more people are killed each year in cars, than were killed in the entire Vietnam war? (57,695 killed by cars in 2006 - 52,000 American soldiers were killed in battle in all of Vietnam) If you want to see a lot of deaths, go to the NTSB aviation database and search for all Cessna/Fatal. The reason why the experimental class of aircraft has seen a rise in accidents is because more are now flying. For comparison, which automobile has the greatest number of accidents? The Toyota Corolla. Because it's unsafe? No, because it is the all-time largest selling automobile is existence. After working 10 years as a trauma tech, I can assure you that cars kill much more than aircraft. You can't build and experimental automobile and drive it without federal and state authorities looking over your shoulder! Usually most of these crashes are experimental planes with an older person behind the controls. Older pilots are evidently not as regulated as the older people with automobile licenses are. They should probably be checked more often both mentally and physically the automobile owners." Okay, now you hit a sore point! I lived in Cape Coral, Fl "the home of the newly wed, and the nearly dead", I can attest that older drivers are NOT checked, physically. Try flying with anything wrong. Have a heart attack...they take away your driver's license? Nope...but a pilot will be grounded. The funniest part is that the "old pilots" were on the ground in their RV-8 and were hit by the Velocity aircraft. The comments that this "expert writer of commentary" left show how poorly the non-flying public understands flying. We need to educate them

Name That Plane

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Does It Snow In Oregon?

Idea For Sorting Rivets

I was reading Matt's RV-7 Project blog and wondering if there is an easier way to sort various-sized rivets that sometimes come "grouped" into a single bag.

My idea is to take a piece of Delrin® or other hard plastic and use a router to cut an angle, equal to the angle of the rivet head, along the length.

At the botton of the groove, an additional slot that is equal to a specific length rivet would be routed. You could have multiple sorters for different size rivets.

You should be able to pour the rivets into the trough and they should settle into the groove and all rivets beyond the depth of the groove would stand "proud" of the trough. Remove these and you should have all equal length rivets.

A (very rough) drawing of the cross section shows above.

Comments?

Update On Titusville Crash

According to the Daytona Beach news-journalonline.com

"TITUSVILLE -- Two Spruce Creek residents were killed Saturday morning in an airplane collision at the Arthur Dunn airport, according to wire and witness accounts.

According to Keith Phillips, president of the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 288 in Spruce Creek, the two men aboard -- William Hess and Phil Schacht -- were taxiing on the ground in an experimental aircraft when another plane lost control while trying to land and struck their plane.

Phillips was in the air at the time and witnessed at the accident. Members of the EAA club were flying to Titusville for a pancake breakfast.

Two unidentified men in the other aircraft were severely burned and were taken to the Orlando Regional Medical Center, according to wire reports."

2 Dead 2 Injured in Florida Crash

Photos courtesy Associated Press

Photo courtesy of KOMO News

Cell phone image by Susanne Cervenka of Florida Today.

According to Channel 6 in Florida, 2 people were killed and 2 were severely burned when two planes collided at Arthur Dunn Airpark in Titusville.

Early reports claim that one aircraft was on the ground and another aircraft was circling and approaching to land.

The accident occured at the monthly pancake breakfast of the EAA Chapter 866.

There are no reports of who was killed or gender or ages.