Now that you've got that certificate or rating, you may be looking for someplace fun to go. Need a destination that will make the spouse or kids excited about taking a trip by light airplane? Beyond the Clouds has published a new book that might be able to help.
Pilot's Guide to Recreational Destinations - Eastern United States provides pilots flying in this part of the country with great destinations, including airport information and diagrams, lodging, restaurants, and, of course, fun things to do and see in the area. Airports are listed alphabetically by state, and indexes that allow you to look up a destination by state, attraction, or activity make it easy to find a location that offers what you are seeking. More than 50 types of activities and attractions ranging from white water rafting and cycling to museums and wineries are listed in the book. Short descriptions of each attraction help you to know when to go and who to call for more information. The 326-page paperback by Poldi Mikula is available through aviation catalogs, including Sporty's (800/LIFTOFF), Aviation Book Company (800/423-2708), and Internet booksellers for $26.95. For more information, contact Beyond the Clouds, Post Office Box 257, Chester, Maryland 21619; telephone 410/604-2840.
Updated Plane Sense Available
Plane Sense, an FAA booklet designed to acquaint prospective airplane owners with the basic requirements of owning, operating, and maintaining a private airplane, has been updated and is available through Aviation Supplies and Academics. The 38-page book, which is written mainly in question-and-answer format, outlines the regulations and practical aspects of aircraft ownership. Topics covered include registration, owner responsibilities, airworthiness certificates, maintenance, special flight permits, airworthiness directives, and the FAA's service difficulty reporting program. The illustrated paperback measures eight-and-one-half inches by 11 inches and is available for $6.95. For more information or to order, contact ASA, 7005 132nd Place SE, Newcastle, Washington 98059-3153; telephone 800/ASA-2-FLY. Or visit the company's Web site (
www.asa2fly.com).
Jane's Combat Simulations Adds F/A-18
The latest addition to the Jane's Combat Simulations series is F/A-18, featuring the Navy's Super Hornet. The simulation features a fully interactive 3-D cockpit and recreates the complete instrument and weapons suite as realistically as possible. In addition, the program features panoramic canopy views, adjustable instruments, training missions, detailed briefings, and in-flight objectives. Would-be pilots must "call the ball" and catch the third wire with the tailhook to land on the rocking carrier deck. The program also features a new terrain-rendering system to produce weather effects, changing seas, and ground clutter.
The minimum computer requirements for the program include a Windows 95 or Windows 98 operating system, Pentium 266 MHz or higher, 250 MB of hard drive space, 32 MB RAM, a 3-D graphics accelerator, sound card and 4x-speed or faster CD-ROM.
The program retails for $39.99. For more information or to order, contact Electronic Arts at 209 Redwood Shores Parkway, Redwood City, California 94065; telephone 800/245-4525. Or visit the online store (www.eastore.ea.com).
Cessna Offers Millennium Models
Special "Millennium Edition" single-engine aircraft models are being introduced by Cessna with deliveries scheduled to begin in April.
The limited edition aircraft will include a redesigned interior with leather seats, floor mats embossed with the Cessna millennium logo, Rosen sun visors, a special exterior paint scheme, a polished spinner and cowl fasteners, and premium tires. Other niceties include a new chart- and cup-holder. These special edition aircraft also come with a Honeywell Bendix/King KLN 94 IFR-certified GPS which features a color moving map display, one-touch quick tuning to the comm radios, and the ability to bypass a programmed approach when receiving vectors to final.
The millennium package is available on the Skyhawk SP, Skylane, Stationair, and Turbo Stationair models. The package adds $6,000 to the price of a Skyhawk SP. For more information, contact Cessna at 800/4-CESSNA or visit the Web site ( www.se.cessna.com ).
NTSB Investigator Provides Accident Database
Looking for a way to learn from the mistakes of others or to teach your students to avoid the pitfalls of piloting? The NTSB Investigator CD-ROM from Sporty's Pilot Shop provides 31,000 records of accidents and incidents involving general aviation piston aircraft. The CD-ROM covers accidents from 1993 to the present and allows users to search for, review, and group accidents and incidents by virtually any criteria, including aircraft make and model, pilot experience, weather conditions, or engine type.
The database can also be searched by any word contained in the accident narrative. The CD-ROM includes details of the incidents as well as narrative, sequence of events, and probable cause information. The CD-ROM retails for $59.
For more information or to order, contact Sporty's at Clermont County Airport, Batavia, Ohio 45103; telephone 800/LIFT-OFF; or visit the Web site ( www.sportys.com).