The new complex includes a 27,000-square-foot maintenance hangar, a 23,000-square-foot hangar dedicated to aircraft special mission modifications, as well as maintenance and avionics support offices, technical workspace, and rooms for composite fabrication, paint, and sheet metal fabrication.
Pilots
Sporty’s 2022 ornament features the Ercoupe
The Ercoupe was the first aircraft certified by the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) as “characteristically incapable of spinning,” leading to the marketing of the “World’s safest plane.”
Pilot smells smoke while flying home from annual inspection
I could smell a distinct smell of oil/rubber burning. I decided to get the fire extinguish ready and available if a fire broke out.
Picture of the Day: V-Tail visit to Wings of Honor Museum
Andrew Hesketh submitted this photo and note: “I flew to Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, from St. Louis, Missouri, to visit the Wings of Honor Museum located on the field at Walnut Ridge Airport (KARG). Also had a nice $100 lunch at Don’s Steakhouse, a short ride away in the FBO’s crew car. Great day for summer flying.”
The sleek Swan
After shipping delays, the Swan 103, designed specifically for the U.S., made its debut at the Midwest LSA Expo in September 2022.
Fly-In features stargazing
Astronomers brought several telescopes for pilots and others to get a close-up look at the night sky.
ASTM working on standards for hybrid-electric engines
“This proposed standard is intended to support companies that are creating hybrid-electric power generation systems for use as the primary source of electrical propulsive power in electric aircraft,” says ASTM member David Eichstedt. “They will benefit from a more clearly-defined certification path, but aircraft developers will also benefit.”
Ian forces new date for fly-in
Originally planned for Oct. 1, EAA Chapter 534 had to postpone its Fly-In/Drive-In Pancake Breakfast at Leesburg International Airport (KLEE) in Florida due to the wrath of Hurricane Ian. The fly-in is now scheduled for Oct. 29.
Picture of the Day: A mind-bending message
Albert Dyer submitted this photo and note: “I decided to have an evening dinner at an airport that has a restaurant. At about five miles away I flew past this message. A bit of foreshadowing or mind-bending? Of course, I had to check the dessert menu because the message became like the jingle that once heard you can’t seem to push it out of your mind!”