It is ANN's honor to recognize Ten persons/organizations or groups that qualify as our Aero-Heroes for 2008... in something of an informal order, starting from the 1st to the 10th. Let us know what you think of our selections... whom YOU would have liked be included or omitted from such a list. In the meantime, we thank the folks who made this year's list. Thank you, folks... we really needed you this year, and you didn't let us down. Embattled FBOs

From established products that continue to impress, to new and exciting developments across the range of general aviation... here, to our eyes, are some of  the VERY BEST from our list of the 10 most worthy 'gadgets' and programs of 2008. Avidyne's SERIOUSLY COOL FMS900W

Tragic Accident Killed CFI and Student

 An investigation into the night-time training accident that killed two pilots in the fall of 2007 has revealed some troubling data... with strong evidence that a goose collision contributed to the outcome. Pilot Adam Ostapenko (20), of Duluth, Minn., and CFI Annette Klosterman (22), of Seattle, were lost in this tragedy.

A group of Air Force Reserve Command Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing has departed on the last leg of a 14-month deployment to Afghanistan Dec. 27 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The Sailors of Sea Control Squadron (VS) 22 returned to Naval Air Station Jacksonville Dec. 15 after completing a five-month deployment to Al-Asad Air Base, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Business aviation continues, here and there, to show its value and gain strength -- despite the slings and arrows of an outrageous economy. The latest evidence eof this comes as Pinnacle Aviation tells ANN that N477GJ, an eight passenger Hawker 400XP, has joined the company's extensive fleet of aircraft.

Mustangs and Premiers To Complement Large-Cabin Charter Fleet

There IS life out there in the business aviation world -- and in this case, it revolves around the light jet segment... an area often badmouthed by a number of myopic industry pundits.Take the case of TWC Aviation, a company that has just added five new light-cabin aircraft to the company's air charter fleet.

"The Best Of The Best" 

 The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) takes pride in announcing a significant aviation accomplishment on the part of these very special aviation educators. Recently, they were all accredited as Master Instructors by NAFI, their professional aviation education association.

Aero-Linx!

The Canada Aviation Museum is recognized as having the most extensive aviation collection in Canada and one which ranks among the best in the world.

Aero-Terms!

A navigation aid providing VOR azimuth, TACAN azimuth, and TACAN distance measuring equipment (DME) at one site.

"Recently; after dealing with yet another inane bit of additional screening (and the atrocious manner in which they handled some VERY expensive media gear… even dropping stuff) and being lied to by the TSA persons in charge at the time (who tried to tell me that he had nothing to do with increased screening, that only the airlines could do that), over the course of a solid 20 minutes at a dinky little commuter airline checkpoint, I had had enough. I looked this so-called Supervisor in the eye and told him that I was in the process of buying a high-performance General Aviation airplane, to the tune of nearly a half-million dollars, in part to avoid the harassment, delays, damage and lack of professionalism that I encountered in all my dealings with TSA -- and then told him