Pilot Briefing

T-3A problems reported again

Time magazine claims in its January 12 edition that the Air Force T-3A Firefly, used for screening pilot applicants, may be the most dangerous airplane in the Air Force inventory. Three fatal crashes in the past two years killed six students and instructors at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado (see "Pilot Briefing," April 1997 and August 1997 Pilot).

It will cost $6.2 million in modifications to fix the 110 aircraft based at Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Hondo, Texas (see " An Air Force Audition," October 1995 Pilot). Flight screening has been halted, and candidates are going directly to more advanced pilot training.

The Firefly fleet has been grounded since last summer, and could be grounded until July. Engine stoppages and spins are the major causes of the accidents. The Time article said that there have been more than 60 incidents of stoppages, including those occurring shortly after startup. However, Gen. Lloyd "Fig" Newton, commander of the Air Education and Training Command, said only nine occurred in the air.

The problem, according to sources familiar with the Lycoming AEIO-540 engine, seems to be that the Air Force tried to put too large an engine on too small an airplane. The Air Force wanted the 260-horsepower Lycoming engine for high-altitude operations at Colorado Springs. Installing it required moving a component or two in the fuel system. Lycoming officials are known to be unhappy with the Air Force's mounting solution.

Modifications include rerouting and standardizing the size of all fuel lines, changing the size and location of the fuel selector valve, relocating the fuel boost pump, adding a gascolator, and returning the pressure spring in the engine fuel flow divider to its original specifications. A different pressure spring had been installed to help with the engine stoppage problem. Other modifications are aimed at improving engine cooling.

Micco's SP20 makes first flight

A conforming prototype of Micco Aircraft's SP20 (formerly The New Meyers SP20) made its first flight on December 17 from the company's home airport in Fort Pierce, Florida. During the 15-minute flight the SP20 climbed to about 1,000 feet and made two circuits around the airport. Later that day the airplane flew for approximately 30 minutes. The SP20 will be certified for positive-G aerobatics and is powered by a 200-horsepower Lycoming IO-360. According to a Micco spokeswoman, the SP20 is expected to cruise at 160 knots and sell for $135,000 with VFR equipment, or $149,500 for an IFR-equipped version that will include an approach-approved GPS. For more information, contact Micco at 561/465-9996 or visit the Web site ( www.airshow.net/meyers/).

The first Galaxy business jet has completed a two-hour, two-minute maiden flight. The flight was made on December 25 to make good on a pledge by Galaxy Aerospace and Israel Aircraft Industries that the aircraft would make its first flight prior to the end of 1997. A second flight was made on December 31. The testing was done from Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel. A second test aircraft will roll off the assembly line this spring.

Beware of 100LL impostor

At a recent American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) meeting in San Antonio, Texas, AOPA was alerted to the potential misfueling of aircraft with a blue 100-octane auto racing fuel.

According to Doug Macnair, AOPA's director of aviation standards, Unocal is producing a racing fuel labeled "100 octane." Like aviation's 100LL, this fuel has a low vapor pressure of 6.8 psi, is dyed blue, and would likely pass all of the common field tests performed by FBOs. However, the fuel's octane was tested using automotive-industry test methods which place it at an octane rating significantly lower than 100. If subjected to the same test methods, 100LL would achieve at least 112 octane.

The potential danger exists if this fuel is confused with 100LL in shipment or storage and burned in an airplane with a high-horsepower engine(s). Damage may occur because of severe detonation. This fuel contains some percentage of MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether) and may have an odor distinguishing it from 100LL. AOPA is working with ASTM to resolve the situation.

EJA orders 24 Falcon 2000s

Executive Jet Aviation (EJA) of Montvale, New Jersey, has purchased 24 Falcon 2000s from Dassault Falcon Jet for its NetJets fractional ownership program. This $500 million transaction nails down 1997 as Dassault's best sales year ever. The 10-seat midsize Falcon 2000 offers a wide-body cabin, has a range of 3,000 nautical miles, and can climb to Flight Level 410 in 24 minutes. EJA's one-eighth shares of the airplane cost $2,687,500, with a monthly management fee of $15,250.

Former Raytheon Aircraft President Roy Norris, now a private consultant, has joined the executive board of Century Aerospace Corporation, located in Albuquerque. The company plans to build the Century Jet, a single-engine business jet.

Twin Commanders to receive Orenda power?

Used Twin Commanders may become a new application for the 600-horsepower Orenda V-8 aircraft engines if a new partnership succeeds in obtaining a supplemental type certificate from the FAA.

Dakota Aero Manufacturers of Bismarck, North Dakota, and Mr. RPM, LLC, a company headed by Dick MacCoon - former partner of Twin Commander designer Ted Smith - will team up to replace engines on those airplanes with the Orenda V-8s. Mr. RPM will develop the STC and will provide the engines, nacelles, reversible propellers, and all parts needed for the conversion to Dakota Aero, which will use Mr. RPM's exclusive rights to install the engines.

In the 1980s, MacCoon developed this V-8 engine, then called the Thunder engine. The program, which resulted in 20 hours of in-air testing on the port side of a Twin Commander, was shelved in 1987 when, as MacCoon puts it, "We simply didn't have enough company credibility to take the engine into production." In 1994, MacCoon sold the rights to the Orenda division of Hawker Siddeley, which has since been acquired by Magellan Aerospace. Orenda V-8s will be produced in a new facility near Truro, Nova Scotia.

The modified airplane will be called a Dakota Commander and will be built to order with all-new cables, fuel cells, electrical system, and avionics. Cruise speed at 75-percent power is expected to be around 265 knots, with a service ceiling at or near Flight Level 300. Most notably, Dakota claims that the performance of a Commander 685 will be more like that of the 690-series turboprops, albeit at a 30-percent lower fuel burn. First flight is expected to occur this spring. For additional information about the Dakota Commander, call 701/223-8363.

Dayton's 2003 Committee has announced plans for celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first powered flight by the Wright brothers. About half of the events will take place at the U.S. Air Force Museum. Dates of the events will be announced later. For information, call the 2003 Committee at 937/222-0065.

Luscombe to enter production

Renaissance Aircraft, LLC and the Don Luscombe Aviation History Foundation say that an agreement has been reached for production of the classic Luscombe 8F aircraft.

Renaissance plans to market the aircraft with modern instrumentation and avionics as well as updated engines, including the Lycoming O-320 and the 145-horsepower Walter Lom M-32. Variants of the Luscombe 8F, which Renaissance also plans to build, will extend the aircraft's utility with faster speeds, longer range, and greater interior comfort.

Renaissance Aircraft was conceived by John Dearden. Prospective cooperative partners in the venture are Zenaire Ltd. of Canada and Czech Aircraft Works, S.R.O. of the Czech Republic. For more information, contact Renaissance Aircraft at 410/357-5815 or the Don Luscombe Aviation History Foundation at 602/917-0969; or see the Web site ( www.luscombe.org).

Bell Helicopter Textron's Bell 427 made its first flight on December 11 in Mirabel, Quebec. The eight-seat helicopter is powered by two 600-shaft-horsepower Pratt & Whitney PW206D turboshaft engines. It features a four-blade bearingless main rotor system that eliminates lubrication and maintenance to minimize operating costs. Transport Canada certification is expected in December 1998, to be followed by FAA certification and deliveries in January 1999. For more information, see the company's Web site ( www.bellhelicopter.textron.com).

Kansas team wins design competition

A contest to design, build, and fly a general aviation aircraft was won by students from four Kansas schools. Students from the University of Kansas, Wichita State, Kansas State, and Pittsburg State universities won the "Design It, Build It, Fly It" competition sponsored by NASA, the FAA, the U.S. Air Force, and the Experimental Aircraft Association.

The team's winning design, Aladdin, is a four-place single-engine aircraft that employs the tiny Williams FJX-2 turbofan engine. The last two parts of the competition will require that the winners build and fly two one-quarter-scale mock-ups of the airplane design. The mock-up is to be flown at the EAA Fly-In Convention at Oshkosh.

The newly constructed Monterey Jet Center at Monterey Peninsula Airport (MRY) in California is now open for business. The facility features a hangar large enough to house a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 aircraft.

Hartzell Propellers of Piqua, Ohio, has received a supplemental type certificate for installation of new two-blade, aluminum-hub propellers on Cessna 310 through 310H airplanes powered by Continental O/IO-470s. The new propellers are lighter than previous designs and eliminate the inspection requirements of AD 97-18-02, affecting older Hartzell steel-hub propellers. List price for the STC starts at $13,900 and includes two new polished spinners. They are backed by a three-year, 1,000-hour warranty and have a 2,000-hour TBO. For more information, call 800/942-7767.

Priority AD issued on new Cessna mufflers

The FAA has issued a priority airworthiness directive affecting the 19 new Cessna 182Ss and potentially more 172R aircraft. The AD affecting the 172R had not been issued at press time.

According to the FAA, the Cessnas' Aeroquip muffler welds are inadequate and could permit carbon monoxide into the aircraft cabin. The problem was discovered during a delivery flight of a 182S.

Compliance calls for replacement of the right and left mufflers. However, a potential alternate means of compliance is to safety wire the heat control in the closed position. Call the FAA office in Wichita at 316/946-4128 for approval.

Squawk Sheet

After more than five years, the FAA has finally published the final-rule airworthiness directive requiring replacement of crankshafts in Continental engines made via the airmelt process with those made using the vacuum arc remelt (VAR) process. The following engines are subject to the AD: IO-360, TSIO-360, LTSIO-360, IO-520, LIO-520, TSIO-520, LTSIO-520, and Rolls-Royce PLC IO-360 and TSIO-360. Replacement is required at the next overhaul or other removal of the crankshaft. In addition, an ultrasonic inspection of the crankshaft will have to be conducted at each subsequent removal of the crankshaft. The FAA estimates the cost of crankshaft replacement at $2,799 per engine, and each subsequent ultrasonic inspection is estimated to cost $200. There are approximately 10,100 engines with airmelt crankshafts still installed. This is down dramatically from five years ago because of replacement by owners at overhaul per the mandatory service bulletin issued in the interim.

The FAA has issued an airworthiness alert that affects nearly 36,000 small Continental engines, such as the O-200 and C-90. Apparently, some 300 bogus magneto drive gears were sold by Fresno Airparts from 1993 to 1997. These gears were not heat treated and have resulted in one failure that led to an incident. If compliance cannot be determined through a paperwork search, the gears must be removed and subjected to a Rockwell hardness test to determine whether they are heat treated.

AD 97-26-08 has been issued requiring owners of Mooney M20F, -J, and -L models to remove the retaining lanyard from the fuel filler caps. The rulemaking was prompted by an in-flight power failure when the fuel float for the quantity gauge was trapped by the lanyard, resulting in an erroneously high fuel quantity indication.

Col. Tom A. Thomas, Jr., an Oklahoma City resident who owned most of the aircraft in the Mid-America Air Museum in Liberal, Kansas, has donated the aircraft to the city. The Liberal city government, as part of the agreement, has agreed to provide funding to keep the museum open. In all, Thomas donated 55 World War II-era airplanes to the city. They include aircraft made by Taylorcraft, Piper, Stinson, Navion, Luscombe, Cessna, Beech, and others. Warplanes include a Grumman S2F sub-tracker, a Ryan PT-22, and a North American B-25J Mitchell bomber.

Chicago mayor hopes to speed demise of Meigs

It appears Chicago Mayor Richard Daley would like to renege on that agreement he made to keep Chicago's Meigs Field open for five more years.

Daley made the agreement with Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar - defender of Meigs Field on Chicago's lakefront - less than a year ago, but Edgar is retiring in 14 months. Daley plans to appeal his case to Edgar's replacement.

"I hope that very shortly ... we will have a governor understanding the lakefront, that the lakefront is the key to Chicago's success," Daley told a Chicago audience. "Our original concept of having a beautiful nature park...is a wonderful concept. I hope it will be done very quickly - not wait many years."

The mayor's remarks angered the governor, whose spokesman, Thomas Hardy, retorted, "A deal is a deal." It didn't sit too well with AOPA President Phil Boyer, either, who said, "AOPA expects and believes that Mayor Daley will live up to his word. But if not, we will take whatever steps necessary to ensure the agreement is honored in full. We know Gov. Edgar won't be in office when the agreement expires, but what about Mayor Daley?"

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to combine four air traffic facilities in the Washington, D.C., area into a single new control center. The move could take five years. The new Potomac Tracon (terminal radar approach control facility) will consolidate the airspace, management functions, and controller work forces of existing tracons at Dulles International Airport, Washington National Airport, Baltimore-Washington International Airport and Andrews Air Force Base. The FAA has yet to pick a site for the new facility. Construction depends on the availability of funds.

Raytheon Aircraft introduced a Jaguar Special Edition series of Beech King Air C90B airplanes at the North American Auto Show in Detroit. Distinguishing artwork includes Jaguar's leaping-cat symbol on the tail and a Jaguar green-and-gold paint scheme. N numbers will end in 8XJ for the entire series. Interiors are similar to those of Jaguar cars; leather was purchased from Jaguar's supplier. The control yokes are covered in hand-stitched leather to make them look like Jaguar steering wheels. The car and aircraft will appear together at Raytheon aircraft dealerships and airshow displays, and on a national tour.

Several contenders hope to be the first to circle the world nonstop in a balloon. Steve Fossett landed safely in Russia on his latest attempt. Kevin Uliassi had to land shortly after takeoff with helium bag problems. In the meantime, Dave Melton and Dick Rutan lifted off in the Global Hilton balloon on January 9, but ran into trouble and had to parachute to safety. Richard Abruzzo had removed himself from the Rutan crew upon learning that his wife, Nancy, is expecting the couple's first child. And Richard Branson hasn't given up, despite the fact that his balloon ripped from its moorings unmanned and was damaged.

Van's Aircraft of North Plains, Oregon, says that it has shipped its 570th empennage kit for the new RV-8 tailwheel aircraft (see "Van's Newest Ship," October 1997 Pilot). Work is well along on a prototype of the RV-8A nosewheel model, expected to fly early this year. Quick-build versions of the two kits are under development and should be available in April.

Phoenix tower controllers want GA out?

Phoenix Sky Harbor International tower controllers have told the local newspaper that students and general aviation pilots are creating the danger of collisions on the ground and in the air. They have also filed with NASA a flurry of incident reports (30 or more) that have somehow ended up in the hands of Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and the local newspaper.

The FAA supervisors in the Phoenix approach control facility say, however, that there were only 11 "deviations" or official problems requiring investigation in 1997 - and of those, only two involved student pilots. Pilots have reported no near-misses to NASA, which conducts a program to monitor such problems. "We have an obligation to provide service to the users, no matter who the user is," said FAA Acting Arizona Hub Manager Martin Hardy.

At Sawyer Aviation, a flight school based on the airport, Acting Chief Flight Instructor George Isbell said he feels that the problem comes from a couple of controllers in the tower who are unsympathetic to general aviation. He holds that opinion because when he takes student pilots by the tower for a tour, some of the controllers state flatly that they wish general aviation would "get away from the Class B area." Tower controllers have been known to snap at those who make mistakes.

Charles B. Johnson was recently named Cessna Aircraft's president and chief operating officer. Johnson, whose affiliation with Cessna dates back to 1979, was most recently executive vice president of the Wichita-based company. Johnson's extensive aviation background includes combat duty over Southeast Asia in F-105s, 10,000 hours of commercial flight time, and a three-year stint as the chief pilot for famed pro golfer Arnold Palmer.

Raytheon Aircraft's Hawker 800XP has received type certification in Canada. The first aircraft was delivered to IPL Energy of Calgary, Alberta, an oil and gas company. IPL will use it for trips to eastern Canada and the United States.

EGPWS for GA?

Last December the major airlines agreed to voluntarily equip their aircraft with enhanced ground proximity warning systems (EGPWS) by 2003. Now, according to sources within AOPA, the FAA is planning to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking this spring that would require operators of turbine-powered fixed-wing aircraft with six or more seats also to install an EGPWS system by 2003.

Enhanced GPWS uses GPS position data and a worldwide terrain database to supplement a standard GPWS, which gathers data such as radar altitude, airspeed, and aircraft configuration and which triggers alerts if these variables present a cause for concern. Unlike the last-second warnings and false alarms of older GPWS systems, EGPWS can provide as much as a one-minute warning prior to an impending impact. In addition, pilots will have a graphical depiction of the terrain on a radar or EFIS screen.

If mandated, the proposed ruling would mean that operators of turboprops such as Beech King Airs, Cessna Conquests, and Piper Cheyennes will have to equip their airplanes with such a system. Currently, AlliedSignal offers an EGPWS system for $68,000. AOPA plans to oppose the proposed rule.

World Fuel Services, with fueling operations in 150 countries, has purchased Baseops International for $3.5 million. Baseops provides flight planning, weather, overflight permits, ground handling, and fuel services to corporate, government, and private aircraft worldwide.

The American Airlines C. R. Smith Museum in Forth Worth, Texas, will construct a shelter for the museum's Douglas DC-3 Flagship Knoxville. The DC-3 was conceived at the suggestion of C.R. Smith, according to American Airlines CEO Robert L. Crandall. For information, call 817/967-1577.

K-C Aviation in Appleton, Wisconsin, has completed a 35,000-square-foot multipurpose hangar. The facility includes a paint shop that can accommodate a Gulfstream, along with an electrical wiring shop and an auxiliary power unit shop.

Austin Executive on the chopping block

With no cooperation from the City of Austin, Texas, owners of Austin Executive Airpark (3R3) have decided to sell the property for $10 million.

City officials have, in the past, refused building permits for new T-hangars and have made it clear that they want the airport closed. A real estate developer who in recent years has purchased land for Dell Computer near the airport has talked with the owners, but the agent thought that the land was too expensive.

Dell owns 520 acres immediately east of the airport and is expected to decide over the next few months whether to purchase the airport as well. Dell would develop the land, it is believed.

If the city fathers wanted the airport to stay, there are buyers who would continue aviation operations and even add facilities, such as an ILS to the 5,000-foot runway and a terminal building, two owners said. However, that does not appear the likely outcome.

Thieves are stepping up and into the turbine world, as exemplified by the theft of N58EM, a 1975 Learjet Model 35 from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport last December. The $2.3-million jet is white with maroon and gold accents. It is unknown whether the thieves stole the airplane for the parts or for drug running.

Families of victims killed in the Cuban shoot-down of two aircraft belonging to Brothers to the Rescue last year won a $200-million judgment from a Miami federal judge. Cuban officials told The Associated Press that the court had gone beyond its jurisdiction in making the award.

Pilot survives exhaust fumes

Dr. Bob Frayser is recovered from a minor wrist fracture suffered in the belly landing of his 1964 Piper Comanche 400 after he passed out from carbon monoxide fumes.

The aircraft was en route from Great Bend, Kansas, to Topeka, but it crashed near Moberly, Missouri, 190 miles beyond his destination. Had the aircraft not run out of fuel when it did, his increasing blood level of carbon monoxide would have killed him.

His Century III autopilot trimmed the aircraft nose up and kept the wings level until the aircraft skidded 500 feet along the ground. The $110,000 aircraft was damaged when the right wing hit a tree. His only problem now, the Hoisington, Kansas, physician says, is getting his airplane repaired or replaced. Understandably, he is a supporter of Century products. "My next airplane will have a Century autopilot," Frayser said.

AOPA members in the news

William Robert Jackson, AOPA 602843, of Reading, Massachusetts, was named an outstanding volunteer in the Agent Community Service Award program of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company in recognition of his volunteer flights with AirLifeLine. Jackson was recently featured on the front page of The Northwestern Columns and received a $5,000 grant to his favorite charity.

John R. Hunter, AOPA 1834141, flew an Air Cam from Sebring, Florida, to the Copperstate Regional Fly-In in Mesa, Arizona, to win - for the second consecutive year - the competition for the longest distance flown.

Johnny Summers, AOPA 1313818, of Fort Worth, Texas, was named National Aviation Safety Counselor of the Year for 1997 by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Herbert Halperin, AOPA 123270, of Palm Desert, California, has published The Sky's No Limit, a 172-page book about Halperin's experience in the Round the World Air Race - 1994. The book is published by Wild Canyon Publishing. For information call 800/952-7007.

Troy White, AOPA 108239, has released a limited-edition art print, Black Sheep Sweep (at right). The scene shows an attack on a formation of Japanese aircraft that occurred on December 23, 1943. For more information, call 904/738-3142.

Ernest F. Kittner, AOPA 118688, of Honesdale, Pennsylvania, was killed recently while instructing in a Hiller helicopter in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He was the manager of the Ellenville Airport in Pennsylvania for several years and had recently won the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award for more than 50 years of service to aviation.

Donald Everett Axinn, AOPA 053251, has written The Ego Makers, a novel about a real estate developer who recovers from a failed business deal by flying solo to Alaska. It was published by Arcade in January and is available in bookstores. His first novel, Spin, is to be made into the movie A Trail in the Clouds.

Elisabeth Anne France, AOPA 1181568, of West Bloomfield, Michigan, was awarded the John Mace Aviation Scholarship, as well as the Ohio University Dean's Scholarship for the current school year. France is a junior aviation major at the college and is a CFI who copilots the university's Beech King Air.