Greetings A.O. Readers -

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  To celebrate, we have a quick 4 question survey about our e-newsletters we would like everyone to fill out. It will take less than a minute to complete. By filling out this survey, we can give you more of what you want, not just what we think you want. To help encourage you, everyone who fills out the survey has a chance to win a free shirt from TheShop@AircraftOwner (yes we have ladies shirts too). So everyone, we beg you, please take our short survey.


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


GA Community -
Kevin takes us flying (of sorts), and shows us how the model aircraft
world has evolved and isn’t just for kids.

Kevin is a freelance writer, pilot, blues musician, artist and carpenter with a love for adventure.


Pilot, What’s Your Story? -
Chip shares his story of how and why he became a pilot.

Chip is the first pilot we've featured in this segment. Look for more pilot stories in future issues.


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.



 
Mar 13, 1781:
The German-born English astronomer William Hershel discovers Uranus, the seventh planet from the sun. Herschel's discovery of a new planet was the first to be made in modern times, and also the first to be made by use of a telescope, which allowed Herschel to distinguish Uranus as a planet, not a star, as previous astronomers believed.
Click HERE for more information.
 
Mar 16, 1926:
The first man to give hope to dreams of space travel is American Robert H. Goddard, who successfully launches the world's first liquid-fueled rocket at Auburn, Massachusetts, on March 16, 1926. The rocket traveled for 2.5 seconds at a speed of about 60 mph, reaching an altitude of 41 feet and landing 184 feet away. The rocket was 10 feet tall, constructed out of thin pipes, and was fueled by liquid oxygen and gasoline.
Click HERE for more information.
 
Mar 19, 1916:
Eight Curtiss "Jenny" planes of the First Aero Squadron take off from Columbus, New Mexico, in the first combat air mission in U.S. history. The First Aero Squadron, organized in 1914 after the outbreak of World War I, was on a support mission for the 7,000 U.S. troops who invaded Mexico to capture Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa.
Click HERE for more information.



Cool Stuff for Aviators & Aviation Enthusiasts!


 
2011 Governor General’s Cup
Two part challenge : March 19 - April 1 & April 3 - April 8
Start Banyan Fort Lauderdale
Caribbean Air Challenge, it is not a race, it's the largest International air Rally! International Air Rally presents the 11th edition of the Governor General's Cup air Challenge. An International Aviation Event bringing 25 aircraft, crews & media originating from different continents will proceed across 4 Caribbean countries enjoying two to three days of local hospitality, culture and more... Organized in collaboration with local Government.
For more details about the show visit: www.airrally.com
 
Safety Fly-in
Free, one-day event, Saturday, March 26th
Rock Hill Airport in Rock Hill, SC
NTSB Member Robert Sumwalt and Business & Commercial Aviation Editor Bill Garvey will be featured speakers at the inaugural Safety Fly-In! Also featuring TWA 843 crew member Chuck Long and Twin Cessna Flyer President Bob Thomason. All presentations are eligible for Wings credit. Skytech will offer a $.20 per gallon discount off their full-service fuel pricing.
For more details about the show visit: www.scaviationsafety.org
 
EAA B-17 Aluminum Overcast
April 21st, 2011
Planes of Fame Museum at the Chino Airport (KCNO) in California
Mark your calendar and reserve your very own crew member seat for a life changing ride in EAA's B-17. This event hosted by SoCal EAA/Warbird Sqd 16. This is an adventure like no other, few people get a chance to ride in a B-17. You will have a chance to move about the aircraft and take photos that you will cherish the rest of your life.
For more details about the show visit: www.warbirdsusa.org
 
Customer Appreciation Day at Hangar63
Saturday, April 23, 2010 from 11 am – 2 pm
Hangar63  at the Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Banyan’s Aviation Store and TropicAero.com will host their fifth annual customer appreciation day, rain or shine.  There will be hot dogs, hamburgers, special drawings, activities for the kids, special sales, and product demonstrations.
For more information, visit: banyanair.com/cad


RITE SYSTEMS IGNITION TIMING KITS
AVAILABLE AT AIRCRAFT SPRUCE
These kits are for setting the proper ignition timing of engine magnetos and the proper deflection angle of flight controls. It is far superior to the old needle indicator currently in use throughout the industry. It is designed to fit securely on any aircraft spinner without the use of filler material or tape to hold it in place. The surgical tubing used to secure the tool is stronger, more durable and easily adjustable for a variety of applications. The material will not scratch either polished or painted spinners. The “Deluxe” kit will include the magneto synchronizer and the “Standard” kit will not. Call 1-877-4SPRUCE or visit www.aircraftspruce.com




Foley Organizes Cirrus Aircraft Counter-Offer 

Within a week of publishing his industry analysis of China’s recent purchase of some US general aviation companies, consulting firm BRiFO President Brian Foley now finds himself charting a new and wholly different course of action on that topic.

Foley's paper discussed, among other things, the recent bid on Duluth, Minnesota-based Cirrus Aircraft, a respected maker of light piston aircraft, by Chinese plane maker China Aviation Industry General Aircraft (CAIGA or AVIC).

"Cirrus is an American success story that started in a humble dairy barn, introduced important new technologies and rocketed to market leadership," Foley said. "So it's not surprising that our US aviation community would take an interest in this pending sale. But what surprised me was the speed, passion and near-unanimity of the feedback we received. I didn't talk to anyone who wanted to see Cirrus shipped overseas. People want this company to be owned and operated on American soil, period."

On hearing this, Foley began to see there could be an alternative solution: "Since our aviation community wants Cirrus to stay, might there not be some like-minded American investors who'd be willing to provide the means? My knowledge and involvement with the aviation investment community put me in the ideal position to facilitate this." In addition to running his own general aviation consultancy, Foley is affiliated as a licensed securities representative with New York investment bank John W. Loofbourrow Associates, Inc. Member FINRA, SIPC, MSRB who could potentially coordinate and represent investors.

While no single US investor apparently bid on Cirrus initially, Foley believes that better marketing of the offer and especially directing it toward a pool of investors could make the difference. He is already at the stage of reaching out to the primary owners to see if they'd accept a serious counter-offer in the coming weeks and to request the necessary backup materials needed to inform potential investors. Assuming this falls into place, we're confident we can identify and combine enough qualified investors who value Cirrus' promise as a distinctively American company," Foley said.


Price reduction on Garmin aera series
aviation handhelds!
Garmin has announced major price reductions on its popular aera series portable aviation handhelds.  View new pricing online or call Tropic Aero today and receive free shipping with your order. Click here to view new pricing!




Ray LaHood to attend aviation rally in Wichita
By MOLLY McMILLIN | The Wichita Eagle

Ray LaHood, U.S. Department of Transportation secretary, will be in Wichita for a general aviation rally at Cessna Aircraft.

About 2,000 employees from Cessna, Bombardier Learjet, Hawker Beechcraft and other area general aviation companies will attend the Monday rally, as will local government and business leaders.

LaHood will be joined by Gov. Sam Brownback, Sen. Jerry Moran and Rep. Mike Pompeo.

The rally is sponsored by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.

LaHood's visit is a sign that the Obama Administration is beginning to see the value of general aviation in terms of jobs and trade, said Cessna spokesman Bob Stangarone.


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.



Kids to slide into aviation from a Boeing 747
By ALTON K. MARSH | www.AOPA.org

Even adults will enjoy a kids’ water slide planned to open June 6 at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville, Ore. The Evergreen Wings and Waves Waterpark offers four routes, from tame to wild and crazy, and all of them start from a retired Evergreen Boeing 747 mounted on top of a 60-foot building.

The museum may be better known as the new home of the Howard Hughes “Spruce Goose” Flying Boat.

The water park is part of the museum’s Captain Michael King Smith Educational Institute, dedicated to the late son of Evergreen Aviation founder Delford M. Smith, now the chairman of the board of the museum. In the water park there will be a 10,000-square-foot children’s museum with nearly two dozen interactive exhibits designed to teach concepts such as propulsion, Bernoulli’s Principle, the water cycle, and harnessing water as power. The aim is to teach not only about the science of water, but about the basic principles of aviation and space flight, incorporating the aviation, space, and water themes already present in the main museum.

Smith had suggested incorporating a Boeing 747 into the museum collection for display. At the same time, museum officials had started discussions on building a water park. Someone jokingly brought up in a meeting the idea of putting the 747 on top of the water park with slides coming out as they would during an emergency water landing. After everyone had a chuckle, Smith said he thought it was a great idea and asked Hoffman Construction, the museum’s building contractor, to make it happen.

Visitors climb to the airplane and choose the slide of their choice. The “Nose Dive” is a high-energy, two-person inner tube ride that combines a fast initial drop during a high-bank turn through a dark “oscillation” section before “breaking out of the clouds” into a circular bowl below. The ride culminates in a smooth splash landing.




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SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!



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