It had to happen sooner or later, but we were all hoping for
"later." What appears to be the first fatal mishap of a certified
Special Light Sport Aircraft occurred Sunday night in North
Carolina, claiming the lives of two prominent local pilots.
Think How Much Went Into Building -- Or Rebuilding -- It
By ANN Senior Correspondent Kevin R.C. "Hognose" O'Brien
How many hours go IN to an airplane? Homebuilders will tell you
it's not the 300 or 600 often claimed by kit airplane
manufacturers. Even the most reputable designers and vendors make
these laughable claims; Aircraft Spruce ads used to tell you to
budget 600 hours for your Rutan Vari-Eze. Will everyone who built
an -Eze in 600 hours raise his right hand? Uh-huh, I figured as
much.
At the Popular Rotorcraft Association (PRA) Board of Director's
July 29 meeting during the international convention at Mentone,
Indiana, the Board voted to endorse the ASTM Gyroplane Design and
Performance Standard (ASTM standard F-2352).
By ANN Correspondent Rob Finfrock
Smokey Bear will soon take to the skies again, and not a moment
too soon for his many friends. Plans call for the new balloon to be
introduced at Sturgis, SD, this month.