February 9th, 2011 - Lindbergh's "alliance," a second chance for Eclipse, and a tight landing.

Greetings A.O. Readers!
Alpha has been part of the American culture since the late 50’s and this week we are proud to announce that Alpha Industries is now a part of our product line up in TheShop@AircraftOwner! We have highlighted a few of their styles below. What other product offerings would you like to see in our shop? Please e-mail us your suggestions.

For the folks who are already members on our site, please be sure to add a photo of your aircraft to your profile so that we can check it out. If you have a video of you flying, we want to see that too! Don't be shy: we are all "plane geeks" around here and cannot get enough of the stuff, so please keep 'em coming.

Until next week - fly often, fly safe, give flights to those who have never taken to the skies, and help General Aviation live on.

Women in Aviation
February 24 - 26, 2011 - Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada
22nd Annual International Women in Aviation Conference.
For more details about the show visit: www.wai.org

Cygnus Aviation Expo
February 23 - 25, 2011 - Las Vegas Convention Center
14th Annual Cygnus Aviation Expo (formerly Aviation Industry Expo). “The one-stop-shop for aviation professionals, showcasing leading technologies for ground support, FBO and aircraft maintenance professionals."
For more details about the show visit: www.cygnusaviationexpo.com

Northwest Aviation Conference
February 26 & 27, 2011 - Puyallup, WA
This event, in its 28th year, annually attracts over 10,000 aviation enthusiasts and over 300 industry exhibitors.
For more details about the show visit: www.washington-aviation.org

Woman Fly it Forward
March 12, 2011 - Frederick Municipal Airport (KFDK)
In 1910, the first woman pilot, Raymonde de Laroche, earned her pilot’s license. At that time, 3% of all pilots were women. Today, 100 years later, only 6% of all pilots are women. We're inviting all non-pilot women --young and old-- for a FREE FLIGHT to see all the amazing opportunities aviation has to offer!
For more details about the show visit: www.womenflyitforward.com

It’s all about control-
How Micro VGs can save your life
Since 1989, Micro AeroDynamics has been Improving slow speed response and lowering stall speed with FAA STC approved MICRO Vortex Generator kits installed on the wings and tail surfaces of Singles and Twins. We have had 69 calls from customers to thank us for saving their life. Over 500 models STC approved. Easy one day installation by your mechanic. Kit prices $695 to $3950.
Click here to see the performance improvements available for your aircraft model.

Feb 7, 1984:
While in orbit 170 miles above Earth, Navy Captain Bruce McCandless becomes the first human being to fly untethered in space when he exits the U.S. space shuttle Challenger and maneuvers freely, using a bulky white rocket pack of his own design. McCandless orbited Earth in tangent with the shuttle at speeds greater than 17,500 miles per hour and flew up to 320 feet away from the Challenger. After an hour and a half testing and flying the jet-powered backpack and admiring Earth, McCandless safely reentered the shuttle.
For more information about this, click here.

Feb 8, 1933:
The Boeing 247 first flew. Often considered the first modern airliner, this single-wing airplane of all-metal construction was powered by two Pratt & Whitney Wasp air-cooled radial engines. It had a gross takeoff weight of 12,650 points and accommodated 10 passengers. The Aeronautics Branch type-certificated the plane on Mar 16, 1933, and it entered scheduled airline service on Mar 30, 1933.
Page 13 in the FAA HISTORICAL CHRONOLOGY.

Feb 10, 1971:
Four journalists, including photographer Larry Burrows of Life magazine, Kent Potter of United Press International, Nenri Huett of the Associated Press, and Keisaburo Shimamoto of Newsweek, die in a South Vietnamese helicopter operating in Laos. The journalists had been covering Operation Lam Son 719, a limited attack into Laos by South Vietnamese forces, when their helicopter crashed..
For more information about this, click here.

Feb 11, 1970:
From the Kagoshima Space Center on the east coast of Japan's Ohsumi Peninsula, Ohsumi, Japan's first satellite, is successfully launched into an orbit around Earth. The achievement made Japan the world's fourth space power, after the Soviet Union in 1957, the United States in 1958, and France in 1965.
For more information about this, click here.

Feb 12, 1915:
One of the biggest air raids of World War I occurs on this day in 1915, when 34 planes from the British Naval Wing attack the German-occupied coastal towns of Blankenberghe, Ostend and Zeebrugge in Belgium.
For more information about this, click here.

Feb 12, 1931:
An amendment to existing regulations covering interstate airline operations required a copilot on all aircraft flying a schedule of five or more hours with eight or more passengers.(See Oct 1, 1931.)
Page 12 in the FAA HISTORICAL CHRONOLOGY.

Feb 12, 1935:
The U.S. Navy's rigid airship Macon crashed at sea off the California coast. This crash, coupled with the loss of the Macon's sister ship, the Akron, two years earlier, ended U.S. interest in rigid airship development.
Page 19 in the FAA HISTORICAL CHRONOLOGY.

Cool Stuff for Aviators & Aviation Enthusiasts!

Alpha Aviation Apparel: $42-$727
When you purchase $100 or more of Alpha apparel enter in code ALPHA20
to get $20 off your total order through the end of February!

SAFELY MOVE YOUR AIRPLANE…
BY YOURSELF WITH THE TRACE TOWBOT!
The Towbot is a remote controlled towing device that allows a single person to safely move aircraft—even up to 50,000 pounds—from any vantage point and with no additional personnel needed to help guide the craft. You will be able to freely walk around the aircraft as it is being moved, minimizing risk of damage or “hangar rash” to your aircraft. Each Towbot is specially designed with the aircraft and its owner in mind. The Towbot is available in several configurations to accommodate aircraft equipped with single or dual nose wheel, wheel pant, tail dragger or even helicopters with single or dual wheel carriage. We have a Towbot to meet every need! Prices from $7,499. Visit www.tracetowbots.com for more information.

Lindbergh Foundation to Lead “Aviation Green Alliance”:
New Program Highlights Aviation Industry’s Environmental Progress

During its presentation at the Wichita Aero Club luncheon, the Lindbergh Foundation announced the Aviation Green^TM Alliance (“AGA”); a new program that brings stakeholders together to address aviation’s environmental challenges.

According to Lindbergh Foundation Chairman Larry Williams, “The Aviation Green Alliance has been formed to support aviation-related companies and individuals committed to proactively addressing matters regarding aviation and the environment. With a stated mission that includes ‘Encouraging solutions, acknowledging progress and communicating ideas,’ the Aviation Green Alliance will create multiple platforms for members to share strategies, findings, progress, and ideas related to addressing aviation’s environmental challenges.” Williams added, “It’s important for the world to know that manufacturers, operators, service companies, and individuals in aviation are quite actively involved in making measurable, scalable and valuable environmental progress.”

Foundation Directors John and Martha King noted that, “There’s no question as to the value that aviation brings to our quality of life. In recent years, we have been very pleased to see so many aviation companies working diligently albeit quietly to address aviation’s impact on the environment. In creating the Aviation Green^TM Alliance, the Lindbergh Foundation offers this coalition of concerned companies and individuals, a central and public place for exchanging information and discoveries that benefit all aviation-environmental work.”

(Read the rest of this story: Click Here) - www.LindberghFoundation.org

MANY METHODS TO SHIP - ONLY ONE PRICE TO PAY!
When you’re ready to purchase a Garmin Aera or GPSMAP series portable unit you already know that Tropic Aero has the guaranteed lowest prices. But you may not know that with our $1 Next Day, 2-Day, and Ground Shipping – you only need to tell us how soon you need it! Click Here for more info.

CORDLESS ELECTRIC KEVLAR SCISSOR KIT AVAILABLE AT AIRCRAFT SPRUCE
The cordless electric Kevlar scissor kit cuts aramid fibers, Kevlar and other tough materials. It is lightweight and maneuverable with superior ergonomic design. Requires much less effort than cutting manually. It has short rapid strokes for intricate work. Can be operated with a cord and adapter for unlimited cutting time. Includes tough carbide insert blades and a long-lasting rechargeable battery. Call 1-877-4SPRUCE or visit www.aircraftspruce.com

New, stealthy Navy drone makes its maiden flight

Last week saw the maiden flight of a new kind of U.S. Navy drone, a stealth aircraft that could be landing on and taking off from aircraft carriers in a few years.

The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) aircraft made by Northrop Grumman completed its historic first flight out of Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on Feb. 4.

The flight took off shortly after 5 p.m. EST and lasted 29 minutes. Taking off under hazy skies, the X-47B climbed to an altitude of 5,000 feet and flew several racetrack-type patterns before landing safely.

The flight tested the system's guidance and navigation software as well as the aerodynamic control of the drone's tailless design.

The event marked a critical step in the program, according to the team working on the X-47B.

"First flight represents the compilation of numerous tests to validate the airworthiness of the aircraft, and the robustness and reliability of the software that allows it to operate as an autonomous system and eventually have the ability to take off and land aboard an aircraft carrier," said Capt. Jaime Engdahl, the Navy's UCAS-D program manager.

(Read the rest of this story: Click Here) - www.MSNBC.com

APG’s Special Offer on Mid Continent’s Lifesaver®
The only attitude indicator with a selfcontained battery backup, the Lifesaver® provides one hour of emergency attitude reference in the event of power failure. With 7,500 hours MTBF – more than double the competition – it is an exceptional value. TSO approved. Added safety, ease of installation and cost-benefit make this an ideal primary or standby artificial horizon. Invest in your safety at an APG. Special price of $3650.00. Click Here for more information about this special offer.

Sikorsky Aircraft Completes Minority Investment
in Eclipse Aerospace

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. and Eclipse Aerospace, Inc. announced today the completion of a minority equity investment by Sikorsky in Eclipse Aerospace. The companies also entered into a Service Level Agreement pursuant to which Sikorsky will provide global supply chain support and certain production restart services, which will aid Eclipse Aerospace in its efforts to reintroduce production of the Eclipse 500(R) very light twin engine jet. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Eclipse Aerospace provides engineering, service, and support for the fleet of roughly 260 Eclipse 500 twin-engine jets.

"The management team at Eclipse Aerospace shares with Sikorsky a passion for quality products and a customer-first commitment. We are pleased to make this equity investment and look forward to providing global support to Eclipse as it works to restart production of its twin engine very light jet," said Mark Cherry, Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Synergy for Sikorsky.

(Read the rest of this story: Click Here) - www.cnbc.com

Over 90 Courses-For Beginner To Pro!
From Sport Pilot, Private Pilot & Instrument all the way through ATP, King Schools is the place to go. For over 34 years, students and pilots at all levels have enjoyed our clear, simple and fun home-study courses. Click Here to find a course to help you achieve your next aviation goal, or to make your flying safer and more rewarding. Not sure what your next step should be? Call us at 800-854-1001 and talk it over with one of our flight instructors

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SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!

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1955 C170B STOL cuff. O-300D engine. 4990- TT. 230-SMRebuild. 770-SOH. 4 cylinders have less than 200 hrs. Annual 9/2010. IFR Cert. 10/2009. PPonk gear box. Prop O/H 2008. New int except headliner 2006. Paint 9/10. Hangared. $51,000.