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Top Stories
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Article
Apply a touch of brake to get the tail up, pop the flaps, rotate, and watch the ground disappear. That's the short version of the takeoff procedure demonstrated by Just Aircraft test pilot and chief instructor Harrison Smith, who described the SuperSTOL Stretch XL aptly enough as a "dirt bike with wings."
Read more...
 
AOPA Live This Week
AOPA Live® is on the scene at the Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In and Expo, covering the new diesel engine from Superior Aviation, a stretched SuperSTOL from Just Aircraft that launches at an eye-popping angle, and more. Plus, follow three remarkable students as they experience the joy of first flights and get ready to solo in just a week.
Watch AOPA Live This Week, April 23...
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Sun 'n Fun News
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Article
Tecnam is still viewed by many as a light sport aircraft company, despite having certified a twin-engine airplane (the P2006T) for the U.S. market. The single-engine P2010 should change that. The Lycoming IO-360-powered aircraft will do 140 knots in high-speed cruise and comes standard with Garmin G1000 avionics.
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Article
American Legend won approval two years ago to put a 180-horsepower engine on the Super Legend Cub, and now they've done it.
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Article
The Mooney M10J mockup at Sun 'n Fun may not be airworthy, but it offers visitors a first look at what's to come.
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Article
Knowing pilots have reservations about sharing airspace with unmanned aircraft systems, drone manufacturer Yuneec came to Sun 'n Fun to showcase its latest products and give attendees a chance to try them out.
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Article
JetBlue Airways is on a mission to inspire humanity to see aviation's best face: Ask any of the more than 140 participants from more than a dozen JetBlue Foundation educational partners in its third annual Sun 'n Fun airlift.
Read more...
One Week Ready to Solo takes off
Three students in the One Week Ready to Solo program have immersed themselves in learning to fly, working in Redbird simulators and flying RedHawk Cessna 172s. They've chased toilet paper rolls through the air, flown with airshow performers, tackled landings and stalls, and learned to embrace the heat and thermals at Sun 'n Fun in Lakeland, Florida. Follow their progress and see how their lessons are going!
First flights
Stalls, thermals, and fun
Ribbon cuts and celebrity CFIs
Getting comfortable: Practice makes a pilot
Complete Sun 'n Fun coverage: Want more news from Sun 'n Fun? Check out our dedicated news page for all of the latest updates.
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Technique and Safety
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Login required
Sometimes our eyes play tricks on us when we fly. Let's see what happens on the localizer approach to Runway 33 at Griffiss International Airport in Rome, New York. Flying this approach after dark provides an opportunity to experience several optical illusions at once. Can you keep yourself from falling victim?
Take this safety quiz from the Air Safety Institute...
Accident Case Study
We shake our heads in disbelief after an accident happens, but how prepared are we to do the right thing? The Air Safety Institute's Accident Case Study: Cross-Country Crisis probes a pilot's ill-fated decisions—leading to a deadly accident—to illustrate why constantly assessing decisions correctly before and during a flight is so important for a safe outcome each time.
Watch the video...
Aircraft Maintenance
Find out what components of the Continental continuous-flow fuel injection system can fail and how best to proceed with maintenance and repair if any of the parts do fail.
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Blog
Ever thought about what really prompted some of the placards on the aircraft you fly? "Did the FAA require them or did the manufacturer get sued for not telling someone to do or not do something?" writes AOPA Air Safety Institute Senior Safety Advisor Bruce Landsberg. He takes a look at some of the laughable and not-so-humorous placards on his Bonanza.
Read more and share some of the amusing placards on your aircraft...
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AOPA Fly-Ins
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Article
Fresh food draws customers to the Landing Zone Restaurant, located in the Salinas Municipal Airport terminal building in Salinas, California. Patrons are as likely to come from the city or the surrounding agricultural businesses as they are to drop in after a flight.
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Advocacy
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Advocacy
AOPA is asking the FAA to close gaps in the agency's proposed rules governing small commercial unmanned aircraft systems. The association made the recommendations in formal comments filed April 22 in response to the FAA's notice of proposed rulemaking.
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Advocacy
There's a fundamental law in aviation that if you offer coffee and donuts, pilots will come. That was true April 22 for more than 250 AOPA members at Sun 'n Fun who came to see AOPA President Mark Baker give an update on the association's advocacy work on third class medical reform and other topics.
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Advocacy
AOPA, equipment manufacturers, and aviation associations will work together to educate aircraft owners about their options when it comes to equipping with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast products, the groups agreed during a meeting hosted by AOPA President Mark Baker at Sun 'n Fun.
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Advocacy
The Rotary Aviation Zone, a wheelchair-accessible observation tower and picnic shelter with picnic tables, is taking shape near the control tower at Tacoma Narrows Airport. The area is designed as a place for people of all ages to connect with their airport community.
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Health
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Pilot Protection Services
It is common for pilots with a cardiac history to be asked to provide a lipid profile and fasting blood glucose as part of their special issuance evaluations.
Find out more about what the FAA will look for...
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Technology
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Article
An individual with relatively basic knowledge of computers can build a computer, and that's exactly what Avilution has in mind for the instrument panel. XFS, most simply described as an operating system for an aircraft, aims to revolutionize aircraft electronics by putting the tools to develop, build, install, and operate aircraft systems in the hands of individual builders and manufacturers alike.
Read more...
Article
Aspen Avionics has lowered the prices of its single-band Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) transceivers. The ATX100 now lists for $2,645, and the recently certified ATX100G lists for $3,495. Both offer ADS-B In and Out capability; the ATX100G adds a WAAS GPS receiver.
Read more...
Article
Pilots in Europe with the lowest category of pilot certificate are able to purchase the Risen aircraft by Swiss Excellence Airplanes that cruises at 160 knots. There is no word as yet on whether it will be available in the United States.
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Article
What the world needs is more flying cars, and the German firm Carplane based at the Braunschweig Airport 130 miles east of Berlin intends to fill that need.
Read more...
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Opinion
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Blog
Being trapped in a dark Link trainer was difficult enough for Opinion Leaders blogger Rob Mark, who is "a bit claustrophobic," but suffering through lessons with a flight instructor who yelled at him was enough to make him decide he wasn't cut out for flying. A few years later, an encouraging CFI took Mark under his wing, leading to what has become a prosperous career in aviation. Like Mark, many pilots probably have had some CFIs they want to remember or forget.
Read more...
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Gear
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Article
Collaboration between avionics manufacturer FreeFlight Systems and mobile flight-planning tool provider ForeFlight will link an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) app with certified ADS-B systems.
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Article
A new feature of Jeppesen's Mobile FliteDeck VFR electronic flight bag gives pilots aural airspace and waypoint warnings through Sennheiser's S1 Digital headset.
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Article
Electroair's lineup of electronic ignition approvals for certified, fixed-wing aircraft engines is nearly complete, and the company is nearing certification for helicopters.
Read more...
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Travel
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Article
If you're up for an adventure that will improve your piloting skills, Hartzell Propeller's "Trailblazer Sweepstakes" could take your flying to the next level—that is, if you win. The sweepstakes offers an expenses-paid backcountry flying adventure for two, or a seaplane excursion and opportunity to earn a seaplane rating.
Read more...
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Financial
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Article
AOPA Aviation Finance Co. now offers members in Alaska and Hawaii competitive aircraft loans that were previously difficult to acquire.
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Article
Redbird Flight Simulations announced new partnerships with Mooney, Sporty's, and Aero Electric Aircraft Corp. at Sun 'n Fun.
Read more...
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News and Notes
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Article
The B-29 named Doc after the cartoon miner in the movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has faced literally a whirlwind of problems in its bid to fly again after 60 years.
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Article
Maybe Harold Pitcairn and patent holder Juan de la Cierva were on to something after all when they launched production of the autogyro. A Brit says he is bringing it back.
Read more...
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Article
Continental Motors Group announced on April 16 that the FAA has approved assembly of CD-100 series engine retrofit kits in the United States. The CD-155 and CD-135 engines made in Germany will be stocked at the same Continental facility in Fairhope, Alabama, where the retrofit kits will be assembled.
Read more...
Advocacy
A special airworthiness information bulletin raises airworthiness concerns about aluminum seat belt mounting brackets installed in Cessna model 120 and 140 aircraft.
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Article
Rans Designs first offered its tailwheel bush airplane, the Raven, two years ago and is now preparing to build a prototype for light sport approval expected in August or September.
Read more...
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Career Opportunities
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Aviation job board
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is accepting applications for certificated flight instructors to provide training within Part 141 programs. Opportunities are available at two locations: Fly over the mountains and high desert of Prescott, Arizona (elevation 5,000 feet), or over the sandy beaches of Daytona Beach, Florida. Courses include private, instrument, commercial, and flight instructor; training will be provided in a fleet of aircraft including the Cessna 172S and Diamond DA-42 with Garmin G1000 avionics.
Apply today for this exciting career opportunity!
AOPA career opportunities
Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? We're looking for part time, temporary digital product support; a senior director of government affairs (airport advocacy); director of government affairs (airspace/air traffic); aviation technical specialist; director, pilot community development; vice president, information and technology; senior ambassador, You Can Fly; outreach and events coordinator; vice president for major and leadership gifts; Sitecore developer; director of studies, research, and analysis; and account executive. To learn more about other AOPA career opportunities,
visit AOPA Online.
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Education and Seminars
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Flight Instructor Refresher Courses
Apr 25-26 - Tampa, Florida; and San Diego, California
May 2-3 - Sacramento, California; and Kansas City, Missouri
May 16-17 - Dania Beach, Florida; Houston, Texas; Pensacola, Florida; and Albany, New York
Jun 13-14 - Orlando, Florida; Santa Clara, California; and Bloomington, Minnesota
For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online. Can't make it in person? Sign up for the Air Safety Institute's Online eFIRC.
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Air Safety Institute Safety Seminars
Apr 24 - Lakeland, Florida
Apr 26 - Lakeland, Florida
Apr 27 - Concord, California; and Waltham, Massachusetts
Apr 28 - East Hartford, Connecticut; and Fresno, California
Topics vary—for details and a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
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Rusty Pilot Seminars
Apr 25 - Lakeland, Florida; Quinton, Virginia; and Medford, New Jersey
May 2 - New Century, Kansas; Alexandria, Minnesota; and Southbridge, Massachusetts
May 3 - Anchorage, Alaska
May 9 - Burlington, Washington
For a complete schedule, see AOPA Online.
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Aviation Calendar
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Check out user-submitted events from your region. To include an event or to search all events in the calendar, visit AOPA Online. AOPA does not endorse the events listed below, nor have ePilot editors edited the submissions. AOPA assumes no responsibility for events listed.
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Photo Contest
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Who's your favorite co-pilot?
We want to find the best general aviation photos that show pilots sharing their passion for flying with their best flying friend. Submit a photo and vote for your favorite from the submissions. The photo with the most votes at 11:59 p.m. Eastern each Wednesday will win a prize from Sporty's and AOPA, and be featured in AOPA ePilot. An overall winner will be picked by Sporty's and AOPA on May 29 for a grand prize. This week's winning photo, "My beautiful bride," was submitted by Mike Carrier.
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ePilot Editors:
Sarah Deener
Alyssa Miller
Jim Moore
Production Assistant:
Melissa Whitehouse
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Contributors:
Jill W. Tallman
Elizabeth Tennyson
Warren Morningstar
Alton K. Marsh
Dave Hirschman
Tom Horne
Ian J. Twombly
Dan Namowitz
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