Cessna Aircraft Company kicked off the opening day of Sun 'n Fun with the signing of 50 new single engine contracts. Air Orlando Sales based in Orlando, Florida, and Executive Aircraft Sales based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, ordered the Skyhawks, Skylanes, and Stationairs. The airplanes are scheduled to deliver in 2005. All Skylanes and Stationairs will be equipped with Cessna's Nav III, Garmin G1000 avionics package. During a contract signing ceremony at Cessna's Lakeland exhibit, Cessna's President and CEO Jack J. Pelton thanked and congratulated Air Orlando Sales' Ray Ambrose and Executive Aircraft Sales' Mike Long on their success.

New Service Adds Aged Spherics To Popular Portable Weather System

Control Vision Corp., makers of the award-winning Anywhere Map  and Anywhere Wx  portable moving map and weather systems, and Meteorlogix, LLC, distributors of precision weather data, announced the introduction of lightning data for Anywhere Wx systems. After NEXRAD (the color-coded weather intensity data we're used to seeing), lightning is the second most important data to have for avoiding catastrophic weather while enroute. By seeing the location of NEXRAD and lightning on the moving map, the pilot has a powerful tool for circumnavigating areas of bad weather and continuing the flight safely.

The Annual Cold War With SNF Begins

"Well, Fred, you knew the job was dangerous when you took it." That line from the Jay Ward cartoon, "Super Chicken," rings in my ears this week as the aviation community gears up for the Sun 'N Fun Fly-In at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport (FL). While a lot of us look forward to the event, I cringe. Because Jim Campbell, my publisher, is once again at war with Sun 'N Fun.

Offering Turbo Normalized XP-360 Engine For Lancair Legacy

Superior Air Parts, Inc.  and Lancair International have partnered to install Superior's TNIO-360 Turbo Normalized XP-360 Engine on the popular fixed-gear Lancair Legacy sport plane. "Ever since the Legacy FG was introduced at last year's Sun 'n Fun, builders have been asking for an engine option that will deliver the performance they want at higher altitudes," explained Lancair's Sales Manager, Kim Lorentzen.

Technical Change Associates, Inc. To Assist With Columbia Production Acceleration

The Lancair Company has appointed respected manufacturing consulting firm Technical Change Associates, Inc. (TCA) to assist it in streamlining its manufacturing processes and accelerating production of its Columbia line of certified aircraft. "We'll soon be building two separate aircraft models on our line and that adds another layer of complexity to what we're doing," said Lancair Vice President Ron Wright. "TCA is working with us to enhance our overall manufacturing efficiency and that will let us increase our production rate while maintaining and in some cases improving our already excellent quality levels."

Could They Be Disbanded For Budgetary Reasons?

A decision to retire the venerable CT-114A Tutor at Canadian Forces 15 Wing, combined with a remarkably severe budget crunch in the Canadian Defense Ministry has raised urgent questions about the future of the Snowbirds aerial display team.

A Fighter Pilot's Perspective On That Terrible Day

Air National Guard Major Rob Swertfager's life was also turned upside down on that terrible day in September, 2001. Three weeks earlier, Swertfager had just returned from the skies over Iraq, where he flew patrols as part of Operation Southern Watch. Now he was about to patrol the skies over his own country from the Fresno ANG Base (CA).

High winds at night, low ceilings during the day keep crowds away

The Sun-N-Fun week-long general aviation show in Lakeland, Florida opened today after experiencing very high winds overnight that took down a number of tents and damaged a few aircraft on the flight line.

Nobody Hurt But Aircraft "Is Going To Be On The Ground Awhile"

Straight winds clocked at 58 miles an hour roared through southwest Florida for a second day early Tuesday, blowing a US Airways 737 into a terminal jet ramp at Fort Myers' Southwest Florida International Airport.

Time Out From Sun 'N Fun For Some Serious Discussion

Something on your mind, bunkie? Do you have something to say that other pilots need to hear? Then Lakeland (FL) is the place you want to be after you mail in your tax returns on April 15th. That's where AOPA is holding one of its Pilot Town Meetings.

Col Robert Morgan, USAFR (Retired) will be at Hangar A, Booth 43

The commander of the famous WWII B-17 bomber "Memphis Belle," as well as the B-29 "Dauntless Dotty," Col. Robert K. Morgan, USAFR (Retired) will be present at S-N-F Hangar A, Booth 43, from April 12 through April 19. At the booth, the Colonel will be helping with the raising of funds for NUMA (National Underwater and Marine Agency) for the purpose of searching for and retrieving Col. Morgan's B-29, which crashed off the Kwajalein Atoll.

Power Outage Blamed On Fowl Foul

Tweetie Bird strikes again. The blackout that affected about 100 flights at Los Angeles International Airport (CA) Monday appears to have been the work of a bird on a wire.

Speaks To Consumers In New Ways

'Be-A-Pilot tells ANN that nearly $1,000,000 in TV advertising will begin April 26 with the launch of new TV commercials offering the free Introductory Flight Certificate from BE A PILOT and a $49 first flying lesson at over 2,000 flight schools in the U.S. and Canada. This year, the program to bring more people into aviation airs TV spots with direct-to-camera testimonials steering viewers to local flight schools and “great flight instructors.”

Walt Silveira and John Brant To Host Sessions On Aviation Lubricants

This year at Lakeland, the Phillips 66 brand will offer "Fun with Aviation Oils" - two one-hour long educational seminars at Tent 9 that will focus on the importance of proper lubrication. This is an excellent opportunity to expand working knowledge of aviation lubricants, as well as address questions about topics such as...

Two Recent BRS/CAPS Deployments Credited with Saving 5 People

Cirrus Design has issued a statement in the wake of the two successful parachute saves on their SR20 and SR22 aircraft that occured just 36 hours apart. "In two separate incidents last week, five lives were saved by having their aircraft lowered to the ground by parachute. Both aircraft were Cirrus, the only FAA certified aircraft equipped with a rocket deployed airframe parachute that can be used in an emergency to safely lower the entire aircraft with the passengers protected in the cabin."

T-2C To Reside At National Museum of Naval Aviation

The National Museum of Naval Aviation acquired the last T-2C Buckeye to make a carrier landing, April 9. The aircraft made the final T-2 arrested landing aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), July 25.

"There's a pretty good dent right under the rudder. They're working on it now. I think this plane is going to be on the ground for awhile." Source: WINK-TV photojournalist Darren Whitehead, describing the damage to a US Airways 737 that was parked at the terminal of Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers (FL) early Tuesday. Winds clocked at 58 miles an hour pushed the aircraft into the terminal jet ramp, damaging the empennage and one wing. No one was hurt.

The following is an update of the NTSB's investigation into the crash of an ERA Aviation, Inc. Sikorsky S-76A++ twin-engine turbine powered helicopter (N579EH) on Tuesday, March 23, 2004, in the Gulf of Mexico. The on-scene portion of the accident investigation concluded on Saturday, April 3. Before the investigative team left, a sweeper ship dragged the debris field for small parts of the wreckage that might still have been there. Those parts (probably comprising about 1 percent of the aircraft) were delivered to Lake Charles, Louisiana, where they were documented and secured with the rest of the wreckage.

AD NUMBER: 2004-05-19 MANUFACTURER: Boeing (Correction) SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-05-19 SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to all Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes. This action requires an inspection of the rear spar attach pins and front spar attach bolts that attach the horizontal stabilizers to the horizontal stabilizer center section for damage; and follow-on or corrective actions, as applicable.This action is necessary to detect and correct damaged rear spar attach pins or front spar attach bolts, which may lead to failure of the bolts or pins, and consequent loss of the stabilizer and loss of controllability of the airp

AD NUMBER: 2004-04-03 MANUFACTURER: Boeing (Correction) SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-04-03 SUMMARY: This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Boeing Model 737 series airplanes, that currently requires a one-time general visual inspection of the seat locks and seat tracks of the flight crew seats to ensure that the seats lock in position and to verify that lock nuts and bolts of adequate length are installed on the rear track lock bracket, and corrective action, if necessary. This amendment revises the applicability of the existing AD by adding airplanes. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent uncommanded movement of the flight c