Pilot Briefing

Piper touts rebound

Piper Aircraft Corp. is alive and, well....

The bad news is that Piper still is operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. But the good news is that Piper is building airplanes — lots of airplanes — and the company's party line is much more upbeat than it has been in some time.

"We are in business and we are here," Piper proclaimed in a statement at AOPA Expo '92 in October. "Good for us and good for you...but *bad* for the competition who has been saying we are gone forever." Piper had an indoor booth and an outdoor static display, including a new Saratoga and Malibu Mirage, at the Expo in Las Vegas — evidence that the company is ready to get back into the ring when it looked to many like Piper was down for the count.

Piper has delivered almost 100 aircraft in the past nine months, including 31 in the first two months of the third quarter (July and August) alone. The company plans to pass the 100-delivery mark by the end of this year. Sales of spare parts, which Piper admits had all but dried up for awhile, have increased by 60 percent since July 1991, when Piper filed for bankruptcy.

Further evidence of fiscal progress at Piper came when the company paid off its secured lender's mortgage, which a year ago totaled more than $11 million. "With that debt being paid in full, we are now in a much better position to finalize our reorganization plan and emerge successfully from bankruptcy," said Piper President Charles Suma. The federal bankruptcy court has given Piper management until February 1993 to submit a formal reorganization plan.

Company leaders hope a reorganized Piper will be shielded from some of its liability exposure after emerging from Chapter 11. Meanwhile, Piper continues to entertain offers from investors.

Some 310 employees now are building Warriors, Archers, Senecas, a Super Cub, and a Mirage, Suma said. Saratogas are to go into production in March 1993, and Mirage production should increase to two per month by June, he said.

Wagstaff wins Aerobatic title — again

For the second consecutive year, Patty Wagstaff has earned the title of U.S. aerobatic champion at the National Aerobatic Championships in Denison, Texas.

Last year, Wagstaff became the first woman pilot ever to win the championship since the men's and women's competition was combined in 1972. Her margin in 1991 over second-place competitor Kermit Weeks was 168 points. This year, she won by 517.67 points, with a score of 11,293.896 points compared to second-place Mike Goulin's total of 10,776.226 points.

"For years, I trained mentally to win," said Wagstaff, of Anchorage. "This time, I trained not to lose. I talked to [three-time titlist] Clint McHenry, and he said it gets harder each time. Mentally, this was harder."

Wagstaff flew to victory in her Extra 260 unlimited aerobatic monoplane, which is a familiar sight on the air-show circuit.

"The level of talent and the capabilities of the aircraft being flown have been upgraded considerably in recent years," said Steve Morris, president of the International Aerobatic Club (IAC), which hosts the competition. "Competition aerobatics is becoming a highly refined sport that's challenging and exciting for all who participate."

Competitive aerobatics is an Olympic-style contest, with pilots flying prescribed sequences of maneuvers. Judging is similar to that in figure skating or gymnastics. For information on how you can get involved in the sport, call the IAC in Oshkosh at 414/426-4800.

AOPA Closely Involved in GPS Development
More progress seen on GPS system

Movement continues to be made toward a fully operational Global Positioning System, and work is progressing — with AOPA's help — toward implementation of GPS approaches.

The twentieth satellite in the GPS constellation was expected to be launched either this month or early in 1993. The last launch, in September, brought the number to 19 satellites. The full constellation will consist of 21 operational satellites and three spares.

Already, many pilots are taking advantage of the highly precise capabilities of GPS for VFR navigation. But "operational status," which will be transparent to many current users, won't be declared by the Department of Defense — the agency responsible for GPS — until the full constellation is in place. The target date for declaring the system operational is 1994. Until that occurs, there may be "holes" in satellite coverage, and some satellites may be taken off line for testing.

Work continues on getting GPS receivers certified for IFR enroute and terminal use. In October, the FAA published a proposed technical standard order for GPS receivers. The proposed TSO-C129 includes "extensive changes" made to an earlier proposal as a result of user comment. Further comments will be considered before the current proposal is made final. For a copy of the TSO, contact Ms. Bobbie J. Smith, Technical Analysis Branch, AIR-120, Aircraft Engineering Division, Aircraft Certification Service, FAA, 800 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20591; telephone 202/267-9546.

Meanwhile, the FAA is developing GPS approach procedures for IFR pilots. AOPA, which has played a key role in promoting GPS for general aviation use, is assisting the FAA in its GPS approach research at the FAA Technical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Using AOPA's Beech A36 Bonanza, 14 AOPA staff members who are instrument-rated pilots will fly a total of 96 approaches in the test program. The Bonanza will be used to study approach procedures for lightplanes; other aircraft will be used to study other approach categories.

Most early GPS approaches will be published for locations that already have another nonprecision approach such as VOR or NDB approaches. Eventually, GPS approaches could be established at just about any airport — a terrific advantage over current approaches that use dedicated ground-based hardware. One official involved in the testing program estimated that pilots may see the first GPS approaches in place by mid- 1993.

A new report by the GPS task force of RTCA, Inc., calls implementation of the GPS system "the greatest opportunity to enhance aviation system capacity, efficiency and safety since the introduction of radios and radio-based navigation more than 50 years ago." According to RTCA — a nonprofit organization representing a cross-section of the aviation community that advises the FAA on technical issues — GPS is "a here-and-now capability that will provide major operational benefits to all users of the air transportation system." AOPA participates in the RTCA task force.

At an October RTCA meeting on the task-force report, AOPA President Phil Boyer — in a videotape presentation — commended the progress that already has been made on GPS and urged its further development (for more on Boyer's remarks, see "AOPA Direct" in the December 1992 Pilot).

Swiss trainer earns certification

The fully aerobatic Swiss Trainer, designed — as its name implies — in Switzerland, has earned U.S. type certification from the FAA.

Powered by a 160-hp Continental O-320, the Swiss Trainer is stressed to plus 6 and minus 3 Gs. It seats two in a side-by-side, canopy- covered cockpit and is suitable for both basic training and aerobatic instruction missions. The airplane cruises at 130 knots with 75-percent power.

The manufacturer, Swiss Trainer Corp., is currently considering several manufacturing sites, including possibilities in the United States and Malaysia. A decision on where to build the airplane (costs in Switzerland prevent its production in its birthplace) should be made by early 1993, a company spokesman said in November. Once production has spooled up, marketing of the Swiss Trainer in the United States is planned.

Demonstrator models of the airplane have appeared at numerous air shows and aviation conventions here, including Oshkosh and AOPA Expo '92. For more on the Swiss Trainer, see " Aerobatic Import," January 1992 Pilot.

Contact the company at one of the following two addresses: Swiss Trainer Corp., 13420 Reese Boulevard West, Huntersville, North Carolina 28078; telephone 704/875-9514, fax 704/875-0781, or Swiss Trainer Corp., 505 Northern Boulevard, Great Neck, New York 11021; telephone 516/466- 2873, fax 516/694-8117.

SB affects tens of thousands of engines

Teledyne Continental Motors has issued a mandatory service bulletin (SB) that eventually will affect some 70,000 airplanes and cost each owner about $2,000.

Under the SB, which was announced by Continental in October during AOPA Expo '92 in Las Vegas, all Continental 360- and 520-series engines withAirmelt crankshafts must have the cranks replaced with VAR crankshafts at or before the next overhaul. Continental, which plans to sell replacement shafts at an average price of $2,000, estimates that there are about 70,000 affected aircraft in the field. Because replacement will occur at overhaul, when the engines are apart anyway, additional labor costs should be minimal, the company maintains.

Continental President Bryan Lewis said that no specific incident or accidents sparked the enactment of the SB, but that field experience with both crankshaft types had shown that the VAR shaft simply holds up better. Over its recent history in the field, he said, the Airmelt crankshaft has had an "unexplained failure rate" of one in 10,000 per year, compared to a rate of one in 50,000 for the VAR shaft.

"Frankly speaking, [the Airmelt shaft] has a high amount of liability," Lewis said. "Because we feel strongly about it, we made it a mandatory service bulletin."

He said Continental would try to offset the financial burden placed upon owners by offering the replacement cranks at a price that is 60 to 65 percent below current levels.

Lewis said he knew of no plans by the FAA to issue any airworthiness directives aimed at the Airmelt shafts.

For more information on the SB, contact Continental at 205/438- 3411.

FAA offical urges more teamwork

Barry L. Harris, the FAA's deputy administrator and an active general aviation pilot, advocated a stronger relationship between his agency and AOPA during an address before the opening general session of AOPA Expo '92 in October.

"We want to continue what more and more is looking like a partnership between the FAA and AOPA," said Harris, considered by many to be general aviation's leading advocate within the FAA. "And in my judgment, it will take a strong partnership if general aviation has any hope of reinventing itself and prospering."

Lamenting the GA industry's decade-long decline, Harris said, "Finding the good news has been like panning for an ounce of gold under a ton of dirt." But he pointed out that there is some good news, including the recent enactment of new Primary category and Very Light Aircraft certification rules.

"The FAA has changed, and that's good news," Harris declared in his keynote speech at the Las Vegas gathering. "I'm sure there were times over the past 10 years when you were convinced that the FAA's policies were designed to destroy general aviation, [but] I believe there are good reasons for the general aviation community to feel comfortable, even optimistic, about its relationship to the FAA. And I would hope you also feel more welcome in the [National Airspace System]. But that's just the ounce of gold. We have yet to pan the ton of dirt."

Harris called for congressional passage of tort reform legislation to relieve general aviation of the burden of excessive product liability costs, and the enactment of tax policies more favorable to GA. He blamed Congress for forcing the FAA to spend tax dollars on wasteful programs. And he warned GA pilots to be on guard against pressure from Congress to charge increased user fees for GA use of the NAS.

Harris said he spoke not just as an FAA official, but as a pilot. "I was a general aviation pilot before I came to the FAA, and I will be a general aviation pilot after I leave the FAA. I just hope AOPA will give me my membership back."

Appointed by President Bush in 1989, Harris is a former businessman, local government official, and ex-Army officer who brought three decades of business management and pilot experience with him to the FAA. He is a commercial airplane and helicopter pilot with instrument and multiengine ratings and has logged more than 3,000 flying hours.

Introducing Harris as "a friend of general aviation inside the FAA," AOPA President Phil Boyer pointed out that Harris had taken a special interest in many GA issues that AOPA supported, including airport access rights, DUAT weather briefings, loran navigation, aviation education, appropriate pilot certification rules, and the delay of Mode S transponder requirements. Harris also takes a strong positive stance on affirmative action and aviation education programs within the agency and has spearheaded efforts to revamp FAA air traffic controller candidate screening and training.

Transportation Secretary Andrew Card, who could not attend the convention in person, delivered remarks via videotape during the opening session of AOPA Expo '92.

Young Lindbergh memorialized

Most of us picture Charles Lindbergh at the pinnacle of his glory, the Atlantic conquered, his name a household word. But even The Lone Eagle had to start out somewhere. Hundreds of aviation enthusiasts gathered at Souther Field in Americus, Georgia, in October to dedicate a 20-foot-high memorial citing Lindbergh's first solo flight.

The keynote speaker, 97-year-old Glenn Messer, described the young Lindbergh's appearance at his Souther Field hangar, where Messer and others sold World War I surplus equipment. Messer recalled the time in May 1923 when he helped Lindbergh assemble his JN4 Curtiss Jenny. "When we finished rigging his plane, Lindbergh, who was very shy, came to me and said, 'I might be a little rusty; would you mind testing it for me?' It was then I realized he had never soloed before." The audience frequently broke into roars of laughter as Messer spoke of Lindbergh's arrival on an Excelsior motorcycle, his airplane check-out, and the events that followed.

At the unveiling, artist Bill Thompson said, "I wanted to avoid the typical statue one might expect, having him hold a model airplane or something like that. When he came to Americus to buy his plane, Lindbergh had never soloed. He was a wing-walker and parachute jumper. I decided to show him standing on the wing of a plane, clutching tightly to a strut, shielding the side of his head from the force of the wind with his other hand, while his coat tail and scarf flapped in the wind. It was a romantic age, a time when all the world thought anyone could do anything in the United States...and Lindbergh, The Lone Eagle, proved it." — Don D. Emerson

Beech introduces revised Super King Air 200

Fitted with new four-blade propellers and substantially more soundproofing, Beech's reworked Super King Air 200 is said to be quieter and smoother than the previous 200. Those new, 94-inch-diameter metal props are now factory balanced and fitted to a low-friction aluminum hub; provisions for connecting prop-balance equipment are hard-wired into the airframe to help simplify field balancing.

A total of 32 "dynamic vibration absorbers" have been attached to the airframe; they resonate at various frequencies and help absorb vibration in certain acoustic ranges. The interior has been restyled to resemble the more modern King Air 350s.

In the cockpit, a new flap actuator switch is used, and a 24- pound-lighter air conditioning system helps increase useful load.

Pricing will be announced next year, according to Beech.

In other Beech news, an improved Starship, the 2000A, has debuted. It is faster and has greater range and payload than the original Starship. According to Beech, new exhaust stacks extract more power from the airplane's two 1,200-shp Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67A turbines. These changes result in a 5-knot speed increase at FL310 and a 20-knot increase at FL370. A 400-pound increase in maximum gross weight is joined by increased fuel capacity of 3,700 lb, up by 202 lb. Basic equipped price for the 2000A is $4.77 million. — Marc E. Cook

Metal Fatigue Cause of Earlier Crash
Gavilan project to continue

According to a recently released report, the crash of the Gavilan Model 358 earlier this year was caused by metal fatigue in the crankshaft of the 350-hp Lycoming TIO-540-W2A engine. The investigation was led by the National Transportation Safety Board and involved Lycoming and the airframe manufacturer, Aero Mercantil S.A., a Colombian company.

The Gavilan was on a ferry flight from Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, back to Colombia when the engine failed while the airplane was on a VFR approach to Columbus, Mississippi. The airplane crashed short of the airport in trees and received substantial damage. The pilot received only minor injuries.

The airplane, which resembles a diminutive Cessna Caravan, was built in Colombia but was designed by General Aviation Technical Services, a team of former Piper Aircraft engineers in Lock Haven. The Gavilan was in the United States undergoing an engineering audit by GATS and on a demonstration tour for the aviation press and potential investors. AOPA Pilot flew the airplane a few days before the crash.

The Gavilan is designed for cargo-hauling and rough-strip operations, with the capability of carrying up to eight people. Its docile handling, rugged airframe and landing gear, and powerful engine would seem to make it an ideal airplane for such missions and a modern-day replacement for aging Cessna 206s, 208s, and other utility aircraft.

Aero Mercantil is working with investors to finance production in Colombia. Construction of a new prototype is scheduled to begin soon, with Colombian certification to U.S. FAR Part 23 standards and first deliveries set for 1994. For more information, contact El Gavilan S.A., Apartado Aero 6781, Bogota, Colombia; fax 57-1-212-8952. — Thomas B. Haines

Seattle lawyer John W. Sweet, AOPA 231073, is the first recipient of the Oregon State Bar Association Aviation Section's Jim Barron Award for distinguished service in the advancement of aviation law, aviation safety, and the resolution of aviation disputes. The award was established as a memorial to the late Portland aviation attorney Jim Barron.

Some 52 pilots took part recently in the twenty-sixth semiannual Sebring Aerobatic Contest in Sebring, Florida. Champions included Pitts S-2B pilot Aileen Watkins of Stuart, Florida, who placed first in the Basic category, the entry-level competition level. In the Sportsman category — the most popular skill level at Sebring, with 22 pilots participating — Alejandro Sardi of Caracas, Venezuela, won first place, also in an S-2B. Eduardo Haupt of Curtiba, Brazil, captured first place in the Intermediate category flying — what else — an S-2B. Ken Bishop of Heathrow, Florida, took first place in the Advanced category in an Extra 230. Top honors in the Unlimited category — the highest skill level in aerobatic competition — went to Phil Knight, a member of the U.S. aerobatic team. Knight, of West Palm Beach, Florida, also flew to victory in an Extra 230. John Lillberg of Boynton Beach, Florida, who also is a member of the national team, won the Unlimited Freestyle program in an Extra 300S. "We have watched this event grow from a local contest to a regional event, and now...it's turning into an international competition," said Brian Becker of Pompano Air Center, which sponsors the contest in conjunction with the International Aerobatic Club (IAC). For more on Sebring, contact PAC at 305/943-6050. For information on aerobatic competition, contact the IAC at 414/426-4800.

The Navy recently signed a new $550-million contract for further development of the V-22 Osprey by the Bell Boeing Tiltrotor Team. The contract covers the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase of the V-22 program. The new contract calls for the design, fabrication, assembly, and testing of four new production representative aircraft and modification of two existing V-22s for design support flight testing. The Bell Boeing team consists of Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., and the Helicopters Division of Boeing Defense and Space Group. Eventual funding of the EMD program could exceed $2 billion, according to Bell Boeing.

After conducting an internal study following the fatal crash of one of its seaplane kits at the Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in in Oshkosh last summer, Seabird Aviation, Inc., has resumed sales of the Le Petrel kit. Failure of the tail boom on a Le Petrel in flight during Oshkosh resulted in separation of the empennage from the fuselage and subsequent loss of the airplane. "The cause or causes of the damage to the tail boom have not been determined," a company spokesman said, noting that the National Transportation Safety Board recovered the boom from Lake Winnebago after the crash, and it was not available for analysis by the company. Seabird's structural analysis "was based upon information concerning dimensions, materials and processes used in manufacturing the tail boom." The company concluded that the tail boom "provides more than adequate strength and stiffness." Nevertheless, the manufacturer has since modified the tail boom to increase its strength. For more information, contact Seabird Aviation in Columbus, Ohio, at 614/236-0475; fax 614/236-0582.

Despite the sagging general aviation market, Robinson Helicopter Co. delivered 127 new helicopters during the first half of this year, leading the way among helicopter manufacturers. About 68 percent of the sales comprised exports to foreign countries, including Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Austria, and Turkey. Top domestic dealers for Robinson were Heliflight, Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Prestige Helicopters, Inc., of Atlanta. For more information, contact Robinson in Torrance, California, at 310/539-0508; fax 310/539-5198.

Two more dealers joined the American General Aircraft Corp. network being expanded to sell the Tiger four-seat single. Wisconsin Aviation, an FBO in Watertown, Wisconsin, and Epps Aviation, an FBO in Atlanta, have signed on with AGAC. American General has sold more than 130 Tigers built in its Greenville, Mississippi, plant. For more information, contact AGAC at 601/332-2422.

The owners of The Tailwinds Catalog, which offers mail-order aviators' supplies, recently acquired The Flight Computing Catalog. The new owners have revamped the catalog, which includes an array of software and other computer products of interest to pilots. For more information or to request a copy of the catalog, call 800/992-7737.

The FAA recently levied one of its largest fines ever — $20,000 — imposed on a single airman. The agency determined after an investigation that Leroy V. Wilson of Liberal, Kansas, formerly of Scott City, Kansas, had altered his pilot certificate. Wilson held a private pilot certificate limited to single-engine airplanes but altered it to "Commercial Pilot — Airplane Multiengine Land." He had been working as a commercial pilot for more than four years, including as a corporate pilot in multiengine aircraft. He was discovered during a routine ramp check by FAA inspectors. "With completion of this case, the FAA hopes to impress upon the flying public that it intends to vigorously investigate claims of Federal Aviation Regulations violations so as to ensure continued safety in air commerce and air transportation," the agency said in a statement.

Many historic and beautiful airplanes were destroyed when Hurricane Andrew smashed its way through Florida in August. Among them was the first- delivered Ted Smith Aerostar, N111TS. This photo of what's left of the Model 600 Aerostar was submitted to AOPA Pilot by Robert E. Barrerra, AOPA 543178, of Coral Gables, Florida.

McCauley Accessory Division has established the BlackMac Formation, an organization for aircraft owners and pilots using the BlackMac propeller. The new group, which was announced at AOPA Expo '92 in Las Vegas, is intended to "make it easier for customers to tell us how they feel about their props and the service provided by McCauley and its distributors," said Pete Werwick, the company's manager of marketing and product support. "We will also provide information on safety and the propeller's role in aircraft performance, and create a forum for members to communicate their preferences for props of the future." Membership in the group is free. For more information, contact McCauley at 800/621-7767; fax 513/890-6001.

There were 12 confirmed sales and — at press time — eight more being negotiated after the Aircraft Swap Meet held at Florida's Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport in October (see "After Andrew," November 1992 Pilot). According to Paul Stutsman, president of the Tamiami Aero Club and a coordinator of the swap meet, about 200 people attended the meet, which featured 160 airplanes. The sale was meant to unite aircraft sellers with pilots who lost their airplanes in Hurricane Andrew. Aircraft sold ranged from Cessna 172s to an Aero Commander, Stutsman said. "A lot of people have asked that we consider doing it one more time, maybe next spring," Stutsman said, although no decision has been made yet. For information, call Stutsman at 305/386-1812.

Pilot and mechanic Harold E. (Hal) Ravnsborg was inducted posthumously into the Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame in recent ceremonies at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Ravnsborg, a 9,000-hour pilot who was active in Colorado aviation for more than 35 years, had been a resident of Aurora. As a civilian employee, he was the first mechanic and one of the first instructors at the Air Force Academy's airplane and glider programs. He also was active for decades in corporate aviation and in other glider schools. He flew piston airplanes, jets, and gliders in his long career. He was employed as a Learjet pilot for Richmor Aviation at the time of his death.

Lance A. Neibauer, president and founder of Lancair International, was selected by Design News magazine as one of the top-10 engineers in the nation. By winning the honor, he was placed in the running for the publication's sixth annual Engineer of the Year award. Neibauer's fellow honorees include a woman astronaut and the vice chairman of General Motors. Neibauer, 42, heads one of the world's leading kitplane manufacturers, producing the sleek, high-performance Lancair single-engine kit.

The American Spirit, touted by its manufacturer as "the first high- performance sailplane kit to be manufactured and marketed in the United States," made its maiden flight in October in the skies over the Mojave Desert in California. Produced by Advanced Soaring Concepts, Inc., of Camarillo, California, the American Spirit is intended to compete with the German-built airplanes of A. S. Schleicher Co. Officials at Advanced Soaring plan to sell the kits for less than $15,000, compared to $60,000 for the German competitor. Company President Tor Jensen said Advanced Soaring plans to sell 50 kits in its first year. He estimates that the American Spirit can be built in less than 600 hours by an average builder. For more information, contact the company at 805/389-3434; fax 805/482- 3366.

The Jeppesen Aviation Weather Group has purchased Massachusetts-based WeatherFax, which provides weather charts and other briefing information via fax machine. The goal, said Jeppesen DataPlan President Bob Hopkins, was to "optimize the weather options currently available through Jeppesen's new JeppFax service." For information on JeppFax, WeatherFax, or other Jeppesen services, call 800/621-JEPP (5377).

Swearingen Aircraft has hired the first members of a planned 800-person work force for its new plant now under construction in Martinsburg, West Virginia (see " Pilot Briefing: Swearingen SJ30 Design Tweaked; Plant Relocated," November Pilot). The plant will be used for assembly of the SJ30 business jet. Nine technical specialists will be trained in San Antonio in preparation for their roles in training the new employees in Martinsburg. Swearingen expects to hire 20 more such staffers soon. Work already is under way on the plant site, with completion of the factory slated for the end of next year. For information, contact Swearingen at 512/921-1208; fax 512/921-0198.

Most 18-year-olds feel lucky to get a car of their own, but such pedestrian concerns must seem rather droll to Rhett Woods of Oakland, California. Woods, 18, just completed his Learjet type rating. A 560-hour pilot who previously found time to earn multiengine, instrument, and rotorcraft ratings, Woods started flying with his father at age nine, when he had to sit on top of pillows to see over the glareshield. Since earning his type rating, he has flown all over the country with his mother and father in a Lear 24. Mom and dad operate Western Wings, an aircraft sales company. Woods plans to attend San Diego State University, where he'll study aerospace engineering. He'll work on his commercial and flight instructor ratings while in college, he says.

Sabreliner Corp. has augmented the engine side of its business by purchasing the Neosho Division of Teledyne, Inc. The division has engine and component overhaul, repair, and maintenance operations in Neosho, Missouri, and Independence, Kansas. In the photograph, Sabreliner Corp. executives examine a J69T25 engine during a tour of their new Neosho facilities. From left: F. Holmes Lamoreux, chairman and CEO; Jim Robertson; Jack Fornay; and (partly hidden) Guy Davis, manager of the Neosho plant.

Westernair, Inc., recently opened a new FBO at Albuquerque International Airport. The FBO sells 100LL avgas and Jet A and has hangar and tiedown space available. For information, contact Westernair at 505/842-4444; fax 505/842-4446; unicom 122.95.