Aviation News and Views
From Around the World

October, 2002

RENO AIR RACES, 2002:

The great air races cancelled last year returned again to the skies near Reno, Nev., September 12-15. The pilots faced stiff winds of 26 knots with higher gusts and yielded Dago Red, a modified P-51 piloted by Skip Holm, as winner of the Unlimited Class Gold. Second was taken by September Fury, flown by Mike Brown. And third was Voodoo, with Matt Jackson at the controls. Crowd favorite Strega, flown by Bill "Tiger" Destafani, declared a Mayday on Lap One, and executed an early, but otherwise safe, landing. Four-year veteran Tommy Rose met a less forgiving fate. Rose was killed Friday afternoon on the fifth lap while flying his Questair Venture in a Sports Class race for custom and kit-built aircraft. His death marked the first fatality in Sport Class racing since its debut at Reno in 1998. (AVflash 9/16/02)

FLIGHT ACROSS AMERICA'S FINALE:

The Flight Across America campaign ended Sunday, September 8, aboard the USS Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City. For the final leg of the flight, 51 GA airplanes were able to fly down the Hudson River from the Essex County (New Jersey) Airport. Flight Across America's COO Col. Tom Tyrrell, a representative from New York Governor George Pataki's office and Erik Lindbergh all participated in the event. At the Flight Across America flag presentation September 8, FAA ATC Division Manager Frank Hatfield announced the renaming of three waypoints, which became effective on September 11. In honor of the Port Authority Police, the NYPD and the FDNY, the waypoint over ground zero is called "Heroes," another over LaGuardia Airport has been dubbed "Finest," and directly over the JFK Airport "Bravest" can be found. (AVflash 9/16/02)

LANCAIR ON THE BLOCK...

The little airplane company that could, hasn't quite. After a long and discouraging search for new investment money, Lancair, of Bend, Ore., has put itself up for sale. The company has laid off most of its staff (some 277 workers) since a July deal to inject $25 million in fresh capital fell through. CEO Bing Lantis told the Bend Bulletin on Friday there are several prospective buyers. He wouldn't say who. Lantis said the purpose of the sale would be to rehire former employees, hire more and expand production. The company, which produces certified aircraft, is separate from the kit manufacturer. (AVflash 9/23/02)

GLACIER GIRL SET TO FLY:

The P-38 dubbed "Glacier Girl" is scheduled to take its first flight in almost 60 years on October 26 from the Middlesboro (Kentucky) airport. The aircraft has been under ice in Greenland since WWII. The P-38 was pulled from 268 feet of ice at a cost of $638,000 in 1992 by Roy Shoffner. Reno air racer Steve Hinton will be at the controls on the first flight.

FREEDOM RETURNING TO THE CAPITAL (SORT OF) :

After months of TFR tangles and government intervention, Maryland's Hyde Field is open for flight operations once again ... just don't try flying there. On Saturday, local pilots reveled on this first day of allowable flight operations, but no transient flights are allowed into the TFR's area. The long hard battle for freedom was punctuated in the words of Larry Kelly, owner of Beacon Flying Service: "I really don't trust the (TSA)." "Just when things look like they are going our way, another surprise comes along to get us," he added. Hopefully, those sentiments will not be reflected in the nation's other battles. (AVflash 9/30/02)

SPORTING EVENTS -- THE NEW NOTAM...:

The FAA has issued a new NOTAM revising the rules for flight over gatherings of more than 30,000 people. Restrictions will begin one hour before the scheduled start time of Major League Baseball, NFL, NCAA Division IA and major speedway (NASCAR) events and continue to one hour afterward. Flight operations and arrivals and departures at airports within TFR airspace may be granted under new electronic waivers. Local law-enforcement officers may conduct random identification checks of persons aboard aircraft operating under waivers while the TFRs are active. The TFR dimensions remain unchanged and prohibit (non-waivered) operations within three nautical miles and 3,000 feet of such events. When in doubt, fly high. (AVflash 9/30/02)

HIGH DRAMA FOR CIRRUS...:

The good news is the parachute works, the bad news is the left aileron of a Cirrus SR22 Thursday attempted to part company with its aircraft ... which ultimately explains why we know the Cirrus Aircraft Parachute System (CAPS) worked. The aileron had been removed and reinstalled earlier in the day at a shop at Addison Airport, about 15 miles north of Dallas. Cirrus spokesman Ian Bentley offered no comment on why the aileron attempted to turn the aircraft into an ornithopter, but told AVweb the plane was in the shop for compliance with two Service Bulletins (SBs). One SB concerned the CAPS, the other a retention nut on the roll trim cartridge rod. Clearly, at least one of those projects went quite well. (AVflash 10/7/02)