New Cirrus Vision Jet; BasicMed proves safe
            
    
		
			
    
        
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                        | VOL 23, ISSUE 30 | July 23, 2021 |  | 
    
    
        
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                        | Top Stories |  
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                                    | Multimedia |  
                                    | New Cirrus Vision Jet model includes better takeoff, Wi-Fi |  
                                    | Cirrus Aircraft's Vision Jet G2+ provides more thrust for takeoff and a way to brag about it in flight with a new Wi-Fi system.  Read more, watch a video, and view photos > |  |  
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                                                | Advocacy |  
                                                | AOPA turns to Congress to solve FAA-created flight training crisis |  
                                                | Legislation has been introduced in Congress to clarify "that individuals engaged in aircraft flight instruction or testing...are not operating an aircraft carrying persons or property for compensation or hire."  Read more > |  |  |  
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                                                | AOPA Live This Week |  
                                                | Five years of BasicMed success; Cirrus updates jet |  
                                                | We reflect on what we have gained during five years of BasicMed. Also, the Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet G2+ gains thrust and connectivity, and longtime pilot Wally Funk is now an astronaut at 82. Watch AOPA Live This Week® > |  |  |  | 
    
    
        
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                        | Technique and Safety |  
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                                                | Article |  
                                                | Western wildfire smoke affecting weather in Eastern states |  
                                                | Smoke from distant wildfires has been showing up as an obscuring haze in weather observations at airports in the Northeast just as many pilots have begun planning flights to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to attend EAA AirVenture.  Read more > |  |  |  
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                                                | Article |  
                                                | STOL Drag offers training |  
                                                | STOL Drag is offering two-day training courses to help pilots polish their short-field skills with a chance to earn a spot in future STOL Drag events, including the Stihl National Championship Air Races.  Read more > |  |  |  
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                                                | Podcast |  
                                                | 'There I was...': Backcountry prop strike |  
                                                | YouTube personality Thomas Marrow recalls a prop strike at a backcountry airstrip near Johannesburg in the latest episode of the AOPA Air Safety Institute's There I was... podcast. |  |  |  
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                                                | Video |  
                                                | STOL goal |  
                                                | Find out what it takes to fly in your first short takeoff and landing demo as we follow pilot Ross Wilke in this AOPA Air Safety Institute video. |  |  |  
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                                                | Video |  
                                                | Safety Tip: Marshalling Signals |  
                                                | Need to brush up on marshalling signals? The AOPA Air Safety Institute goes over the basics. Watch the video > |  |  |  
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                                                | Pilot Protection Services |  
                                                | Take note of notams |  
                                                | Word of mouth—even in the form of an IFR clearance—is no substitute for checking notams before flight.   Read more > |  |  |  | 
    
    
        
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                        | Advocacy |  
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                                                | Advocacy |  
                                                | BasicMed report: Five years of safety, efficiency, growth |  
                                                | AOPA has released a report about how BasicMed has kept safe pilots flying without unnecessary red tape and delays.  Read more > |  |  |  | 
    
    
        
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                        | Technology |  
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                                                | Article |  
                                                | FAA certifies next-generation turboprop from Epic Aircraft |  
                                                | Epic Aircraft received FAA type certification for a next-generation model of the six-place E1000 carbon-fiber single-engine turboprop.  Read more > |  |  |  
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                                                | Article |  
                                                | Surf Air to hybridize Grand Caravan EXs |  
                                                | Surf Air Mobility plans to purchase up to 150 Cessna Grand Caravans to fit with hybrid electric powertrains. Read more > |  |  |  | 
    
    
        
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                                                | Article |  
                                                | 'Just laying down... going into space' |  
                                                | Wally Funk, at age 82, finally got her space shot and emerged from the Blue Origin New Shepard capsule with her arms extended and beaming a smile.  Read more > |  |  |  
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                                                | Article |  
                                                | NASA selects partners in air mobility quest |  
                                                | NASA named 13 companies and one university to participate in a campaign to test components of an advanced air mobility infrastructure.   Read more > |  |  |  | 
    
    
        
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                        | Opinion |  
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                                                | Blog |  
                                                | Reinventing yourself and your flying experience |  
                                                | AOPA Opinion Leaders blogger and polar circumnavigator Robert DeLaurentis finds that new friends and new adventures accompany his move from California to the Pacific Northwest.
                                                Read more > |  |  |  | 
    
    
        
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                        | Gear |  
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                                                | Article |  
                                                | Garmin offers helping hand |  
                                                | Garmin will soon enable Smart Glide on Garmin GTN Xi series navigators through a software update to help reduce pilot workload in case of emergency.  Read more > |  |  |  
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                                                | Article |  
                                                | Aspen Pro Max eliminates vacuum system |  
                                                | Aircraft equipped with a single Aspen Avionics Pro Max primary flight display can do away with vacuum-powered gyroscopic instruments that the FAA has long required as backups. Read more > |  |  |  | 
    
    
        
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                                                | Article |  
                                                | Avidyne goes big |  
                                                | Avidyne announced it is going big on glass with the expected 2022 arrival of its first 12-inch primary and multifunction displays crafted with Cirrus airplanes in mind, for starters.  Read more > |  |  |  
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                                                | Article |  
                                                | ForeFlight's pace of innovation quickened during pandemic |  
                                                | ForeFlight has made more than 100 upgrades to its app in the past two years, and it's focused on streamlining the process for filing IFR flight plans and obtaining IFR clearances digitally.   Read more > |  |  |  
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                                                | EAA AirVenture is back with special deals |  
                                                | Whether it's your first time or your fiftieth, EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, offers something for everyone. Many businesses that support general aviation are offering show specials and savings during the event July 26 through August 1. |  |  |  | 
    
    
        
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                        | Financial |  
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                                                | Article |  
                                                | Hartzell Propeller acquires Tanis Aircraft Products |  
                                                | Hartzell Propeller announced July 13 that it had acquired the assets of Tanis Aircraft Products, which produces popular engine preheaters.    Read more > |  |  |  
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                                                | Member benefit |  
                                                | Financing a high-time airframe |  
                                                | If you want to finance an airplane with approximately 10,000 hours on the airframe, be prepared for a different loan structure, including a larger down payment and shorter amortization period.   Read more > |  |  |  | 
    
    
        
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                        | News and Notes |  
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                                                | Article |  
                                                | Passion, service, dedication: Meet Kenneth Thomas |  
                                                | Airshows sparked Kenneth Thomas' interest in aviation. Now, he is a major in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and is president of the Legacy Flight Academy.  Read more > |  |  |  
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                                                | Article |  
                                                | Take a private tour of Orbis Flying Eye Hospital at AirVenture |  
                                                | AOPA members attending EAA AirVenture can take a complimentary, private tour of the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital MD–10 on July 29 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.    Read more > |  |  |  | 
    
    
        
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                                                | Article |  
                                                | What joy of flight looks like |  
                                                | An AOPA editor wound up on the cover of a special issue of Air & Space/Smithsonian magazine, mainly for remembering to smile.  Read more > |  |  |  
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                                                | Survey |  
                                                | Helicopter pilots' input sought |  
                                                | PSI Services is surveying helicopter pilots to gather data for an analysis it will provide to the FAA "to update the specifications for certification examinations" to better align with current practices. The survey is open until August 31 and should take 25 minutes to complete.
                                                Take the survey > |  |  |  
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                                                | Podcast |  
                                                | 'Hangar Talk': Teen pilot Travis Ludlow circles the world |  
                                                | Learn how Travis Ludlow, 18, recently completed an earthrounding flight and was recognized by Guinness World Records as the youngest pilot to fly solo around the world; and get caught up on the latest aviation news.
                                                Listen to the podcast > |  |  |  | 
    
    
        
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                        | Career Opportunities |  
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                                                | Aviation job board |  
                                                | Job of the week: Corporate pilot, Huber & Associates Inc. |  
                                                | Huber & Associates Inc., located in south-central Pennsylvania, is seeking a well-trained pilot to help the business continue to flourish in the years ahead.   Read the full description and apply today > |  |  |  
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                                                | AOPA career opportunities |  
                                                | Join the AOPA team |  
                                                | Ever dream of turning your passion for aviation into a career? AOPA is looking for a legal assistant, an email marketing manager, an editorial assistant, and a content producer.   Learn about AOPA career opportunities > |  |  |  | 
    
    
        
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                        | Question of the Week |  
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                                    | Question 
 A recent AOPA article, "Tips for Flying to AirVenture," highlighted some changes this year. Are there other tips for flying in to Wittman Regional Airport for the show?
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                                    | Answer |  
                                    | Keep your eyes open and your head on a swivel. Memorize the arrival procedure; you won't have time to look at it as you do it. Have someone in the right seat to help. Nail the route, altitudes, and speeds. Join the discussion > 
 This discussion is from our online Pilot Information Center, where you can ask questions, contribute answers, earn badges, and join our growing pilot community online. Got a question for our technical services staff? Contact AOPA.
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                        | Education & Seminars |  
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                                    | AOPA's in-person educational courses and seminars have been canceled or postponed in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Stay sharp with our webinars, podcasts, and videos. |  |  
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                                                | See the full webinar schedule in our online Pilot Information Center. (Log in to our online Pilot Information Center using your AOPA website username and password to view these events.) View our recently recorded webinars (registration required). |  |  |  
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                                                | Latest AOPA Pilot Lounge videos |  
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                                                | For a full list of Pilot Lounge videos, see AOPA Online. |  |  |  
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 Jim Moore
 Dan Namowitz
 David Tulis
 
 Production Team:
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 Melissa Whitehouse
 | Contributors: Sarah Deener
 Tom Haines
 Dave Hirschman
 Tom Horne
 Warren Morningstar
 Kollin Stagnito
 Jill Tallman
 Ian Twombly
 Julie Summers Walker
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 Eastern and Central United States, Canada, and International:
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 AOPA Advertising website
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