Staying in formation. It seems that once you get a taste of formation and aerobatic flying, it never leaves you. These pilots, who call themselves the Mavericks, are former airshow performers in their 70s—yet they continue to fly together for the sheer satisfaction and enjoyment. They train together at least once a week, polishing their technique and keeping their skills sharp.
What: RV-7, RV-8
Where: Spruce Creek, Florida
Photographer: Chris Rose
Medical reform legislation introduced in House, Senate
Includes instrument flying, broad range of aircraft
A group of powerful senators and representatives has introduced new legislation in both houses of Congress that would allow thousands of pilots to fly recreationally without a third class medical.
The Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 would allow private pilots to make noncommercial VFR and IFR flights in aircraft weighing up to 6,000 pounds with up to six seats. Pilots also would be allowed to carry up to five passengers, fly at altitudes below 14,000 feet mean sea level, and fly no faster than 250 knots. The bill also includes a provision to ensure that pilots can fly under the new rules even if the FAA fails to comply with the bill’s provisions 180 days after enactment.
In addition to third class medical reform, the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2, introduced in the House (HR 1062) and Senate (S571) late on February 25, would protect GA pilots from liability on charitable flights, extend legal protections to FAA representatives, and require FAA contractors to provide information under Freedom of Information Act requests.
AOPA is calling on its members to take immediate action to build support for the legislation by contacting their senators and members of Congress.
AOPA offers flight training financing
Funds for primary, advanced training
Need money for flight training? A new program developed by the AOPA Aviation Finance Co. offers flight training funds at competitive rates. The funds can be used to start or finish primary training as well as advanced ratings and certificates, or fun flying such as earning a tailwheel endorsement or a seaplane rating.
The program—available only to AOPA members—offers competitive rates, the ability to borrow up to $100,000 over a 24- to 84-month period with no money down, no loan minimum, and minimal paperwork. For more information, see the website.
Share Aviation, AOPA partner to connect aviators
A new place to put your photos, videos
The 70th anniversary of victory in Europe during World War II will be celebrated with a massive warbird flyover above the Washington, D.C. World War II memorial May 8 at 12:10 p.m. The 40-minute event is part of a three-day Arsenal of Democracy celebration.
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress FIFI operated by the Commemorative Air Force is scheduled to be among the historically sequenced formations made up of training aircraft, fighters and bombers used in Europe and the Pacific. See the website (www.ww2flyover.org).
Organizations such as Texas Flying Legends, Fighter Factory, and Fagen Fighters have committed multiple aircraft, as have a number of individual owners. Aircraft expected to participate in the formations are the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, Bell P-39 Aerocobra, Lockheed P-38 Lightning, North American P-51 Mustang, Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, Chance Vought (also built by Goodyear) FG-1D Corsair, North American B-25 Mitchell, and Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.
Air & Space magazine plans to print 1940s-era plane-spotter cards in its May issue so spectators and youngsters can identify the aircraft.
“Arsenal of democracy” is a phrase coined by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in a December 1940 radio address in which he promised help to allies while acknowledging public sentiment against entering the war.
Warbird flyover planned in Washington, D.C., May 8
When we’re up in the sky or spending time at our favorite airports, our cameras are never too far away so that we can safely grab that shot—a stunning sunset, a breathtaking landscape, a cool airplane, our friend’s house, or our passengers’ reactions to their first flights—and share it with friends, family, and the pilot community.
Now it’s even easier to share those photos and videos with the pilot community. AOPA has partnered with Share Aviation, a social network launched by four pilots that lets pilots, aircraft owners, and aviation enthusiasts share their experiences.
“Share Aviation started from a simple phone call between two friends,” said Jason Stewart, a Share Aviation founders. “The idea that sparked was to provide a central hub where aviators of all kinds could connect and share their common passion. The ‘fun’ side of aviation is what keeps pilots in the air and spreads the magic of flight to a new generation.”
In its first year, users have signed up from all 50 U.S. states and 27 countries; they’ve shared more than 3,000 aviation-related videos and 14,000 photos. On February 1, the group launched a new website and iOS and Android mobile applications. Since then, Share Aviation said about 100 new users are joining each day.
“To date, we’ve engaged thousands of aviation enthusiasts in a way that is relevant to how people communicate in today’s world,” Stewart said. “The experience of flight is so much more rewarding when it is shared, and the social media universe is a perfect place to do that.”
“AOPA has partnered with Share Aviation because the two groups have common goals—to share the love of flight and to build a stronger and more connected aviation community,” said Jiri Marousek, AOPA senior vice president of marketing. “This partnership will allow AOPA to engage directly with a fast-growing online community that is bringing the fun and excitement of aviation to current and future pilots through the power of social media.”
AOPA will share training videos from the Air Safety Institute, aviation news, and tools to help pilots start and keep flying.
Anyone can join Share Aviation by creating a free account on the website. Android and iOS mobile applications also are available for free download.
New instrument training app released
Test Prep iPad app
Pilot Training Solutions’ Instrument Rating Virtual Test Prep iPad app was released in the App Store, the fourth app the company has released in as many months.
The Morristown, New Jersey-based company has produced pilot training software for about four years, according to CEO Gian Luca (“Lucas”) Noia, and began offering courses for the iPad because of customer demand. The latest course, designed to help students pass the instrument knowledge test, includes 12 hours of interactive presentations divided into 13 chapters. Each chapter has a 10-question quiz at the end, and students may take a practice test at the end of the course.
The company’s private pilot checkride prep app was added to the app store in November 2014, followed quickly by the instrument rating checkride prep and Private Pilot Virtual Test Prep knowledge test preparation app. Noia said the company plans to roll out app versions of its other courses in the coming months.
The instrument knowledge test app, which sells for $109.99, uses audio, images, video, and animations to help students understand important concepts. Each time the app presents a difficult concept, the student must then interact with it in some way, Noia said.
Noia, who has a background teaching weekend in-person ground schools, said Pilot Training Solutions’ courses’ main goal is to help students pass the test, but that they’re also designed so that students will be able to apply the concepts they’ve learned.
“Ours is a real training platform,” he said. “We teach the material—we teach it all.” Many customers use the software as a refresher, for an instrument proficiency test or just for a deeper understanding, he added. For more information, see the website.
2014 a good year for piston aircraft sales
Not so much for helicopters, turboprops
Aircraft shipments showed a good trend out of the economic doldrums in 2014, according to numbers provided by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Turboprops showed a decline, but things may not be as bad as the numbers would indicate. Helicopters showed a disappointing decline that may continue, said analyst Brian Foley.
“Pistons show a nice increase, which is great for that sector,” Foley said. “That was one of the worst hit sectors, so it’s great to see some sort of momentum.” He expects the better times to continue.
Turboprop shipments declined 6.5 percent, but Foley suggests not reading too much into that. Shipments of King Airs were held back when Textron took over Beechcraft and then caught up all at once in 2013, making that year appear artificially good. The agriculture crop sprayer industry experienced a decline in turboprop sales, adding to the apparent decline.
Jet shipments went up by the same percentage that turboprops appeared to go down. Since the recession began, large cabin jets held their own, while small and medium-sized jet deliveries were “decimated” by two-thirds, Foley said. Now the small and medium jets are on the way back. “Both small and medium are up double digits percentages in unit deliveries,” he said.
His prediction is just the opposite for helicopters, where piston shipments dropped by 31 percent and turbine helicopter shipments dipped 22 percent. “I think there are more headwinds ahead for them,” Foley said.
120,285:The number of student pilots in 2013, forecast by the FAA to decline to 116,050 in 2034.
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