MAKE CHAPTER 288 YOUR AVIATION HOME! E-AB, TYPE CERTIFIED, VINTAGE, WARBIRD, ETC.
Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
MAKE CHAPTER 288 YOUR AVIATION HOME! E-AB, TYPE CERTIFIED, VINTAGE, WARBIRD, ETC.
Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
NOTE: EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN RV-14, DEPENDING ON YOUR AIRCRAFT DESIGN, THIS COULD HAPPEN TO YOU SO PLEASE ALSO READ THE ARTICLE FROM Vic Syracuse (“Too Much Dependency?” ) IN THE JUNE ISSUE OF SPORT AVIATION.
Below was a letter to the editor in the August 2025 issue of Sport Av.
I was doing my 40 hours at Roberts Field Airport (KRDM) in Redmond, Oregon, and early one summer morning was in sequence behind a few training 172s. My canopy was open but resting on the latching pins. Tower called my turn for takeoff, and I did. I dropped the canopy but completely forgot to latch it fully closed. As I hit 120 knots and departed the Class D airspace, the canopy popped open about 18 inches. The attached panel cover blocked all forward view, but the change in airflow caused the nose to pitch down significantly. There was not enough stick to hold level. So, what to do? With the stick in my left hand, I tried to close the canopy with my right hand. Which is impossible. I managed to hold it down to about 6 inches and keep my bird level, but I didn’t have a third hand for the throttle/prop controls. I was now below pattern altitude, full throttle, and struggling.I declared an emergency. Every time I released the canopy to try to quickly adjust throttle/ prop, I pitched violently down and lost altitude. I came in hot, low, and hit the gravel apron before the numbers, bounced back in the air, the canopy closed, and I did a second landing on the numbers. No damage, other than a ligament strain in my right elbow. (I’ve had the passenger door pop open on our 2002 Cirrus SR22, which is no biggie. It stays open 2 inches, and that’s it. Fly the airplane!
Lots of lessons here. But as a secondary measure, I attached a 1-inch nylon strap to the canopy top handle, which then clasps to a mount I made on the flap gear tunnel. The strap dangles down and is a good way to pull the canopy closed as well. I now fully believe that a forward-hinged canopy coming open in flight can easily result in a crash. I got lucky. Stay safe!
NOTE: ALL TiMES ARE CDT
OCTOBER WEBINARS
Borescope Meets AI | Qualifies for FAA WINGS and AMT credit
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2025, 7 P.M. CDT
Presenter: Mike Busch
In this webinar, Mike Busch offers a status report of one of his company's newest artificial intelligence projects: an AI model designed to analyze borescope images of exhaust valves and determine if the valve exhibits abnormal heat distress ("burning"). This is a work in process; it is a machine-learning model that is not quite ready for prime time but is getting more accurate and sensitive as it continues to be trained. This sort of application of AI to data-driven predictive analytics promises to revolutionize GA maintenance by detecting problems at early stages, so they can be addressed using minimally invasive methods. Qualifies for FAA WINGS and AMT credit.
Sonex Highwing Update
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2025, 7 P.M. CDT
Presenter: Mark Schaible
The Sonex Highwing has earned considerable interest in the marketplace as a fast, aerobatic, high-wing aircraft built in the Sonex tradition. In this webinar, Mark Schaible will brief you on all the latest developments with the Sonex Highwing including flight test data to date, kit production progress, and features and pricing.
The MiGs
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2025, 7 P.M. CDT
Presenter: Chris Henry
Few aircraft names get more attention as an adversary than the MiG. We will discuss the MiG-15 and MiG-21, which the EAA Aviation Museum is fortunate to have examples of.
Getting the Most From Your Home Simulator
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2025, 7 P.M. CDT
Presenter: Ryan Koch
Home sims are more capable than ever and can boost pilot proficiency in ways that go well beyond what you might expect. But that value comes only when you know how to use them effectively. Join Ryan Koch from Pilot Workshops and explore how to get meaningful practice from your sim, without getting lost in the maze of options, hardware tweaks, or unrealistic expectations.
Sport Pilot 2.0: Are You Ready?
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2025, 7 P.M. CDT
Presenter: Tom Charpentier
Tom Charpentier from the EAA Government Advocacy staff reviews the requirements for existing pilots to operate under the Sport Pilot 2.0 rules that go into effect on October 22, 2025. Additionally, Tom will answer many questions that EAA has received since the final rule was published during EAA AirVenture 2025.
On Centerline: Avoiding Loss of Directional Control During Takeoff and Landing | Qualifies for FAA WINGS credit
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2025, 7 P.M. CDT
Presenter: Tom Turner
Loss of Directional Control on the Runway (LODC-R) is one of the most common lightplane accident scenarios. Although LODC-R rarely causes serious injury or death, it frequently results in significant damage that is expensive to fix or “totals” the aircraft. History shows most LODC-R events happen when the crosswind component is less than 10 knots, telling us it’s the pilot, not the wind, that is the root cause. The good news is that means there are things pilots can do to recognize situations where we are at risk of losing control and techniques we can adopt to avoid the hazards. In this program we’ll explore those scenarios and highlight those techniques so you can confidently keep it on the centerline. Qualifies for FAA WINGS credit.
ATC Communications: Back to Basics | Qualifies for FAA WINGS credit
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2025, 7 P.M. CDT
Presenter: Karoline Gorman
Communication procedures between pilots and air traffic controllers don't have to be intimidating. During this webinar FAA air traffic controller Karoline Gorman will emphasize proper radio phraseology, clearances, readbacks, and the use of standard ICAO and FAA terminology. By attending you will learn to interpret and deliver instructions with precision, maintain situational awareness through exchanges, and respond effectively to routine and emergency scenarios. Whether a seasoned pilot or just starting out, all pilot levels are welcome to attend. Qualifies for FAA WINGS credit.
NOVEMBER WEBINARS
Changing the Oil | Qualifies for FAA WINGS and AMT credit
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2025, 7 P.M. CST
Presenter: Mike Busch
In this webinar, Mike Busch A&P/IA discusses our most frequent maintenance task: changing the oil. Mike explains why we need to do it so often and how to determine the appropriate oil-change interval for your particular engine. He also discusses the various brands and types of piston aircraft engine oils and oil additives, and he offers recommendations as to which he prefers. Qualifies for FAA WINGS and AMT credit.
The Buchon | Museum Webinars Series
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2025, 7 P.M. CST
Presenter: Ike Langkau
While it looks like an Me 109, there is a deeper story to tell beneath the metal of the Hispano Buchon. Join Ike Langkau to uncover some history of the EAA Aviation Museum’s example of this aircraft.
EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship – Update for 2026
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2025, 7 P.M. CST
Presenter: Chris Gauger
The Ray Aviation Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship program to help young people learn to fly. Funded by the Ray Foundation, managed by EAA headquarters, and administered by EAA chapters, this program has allowed over 700 youths to obtain their pilot certificates to date. Christopher Gauger from the EAA Chapters staff will provide an overview of this successful program for both newcomers and those already familiar with the program.
Survival Gear: What Should You Carry? | Qualifies for FAA WINGS credit
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2025, 7 P.M. CST
Presenter: Prof. H. Paul Shuch
Despite our best intentions, not all flights terminate at the intended destination. Occasionally, we find ourselves having to land off-airport. It may take several days to be extricated from our unplanned campsite. In this FAA Safety Team WINGS award webinar Prof. H. Paul Shuch addresses what you will need to cram into the airplane, enabling you survive in the wild while awaiting rescue. Qualifies for FAA WINGS credit.
Basic Engine Inspections and Trend Monitoring That Owners Can Perform | Qualifies for FAA WINGS and AMT credit
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2025, 7 P.M. CST
Presenter: Bill Ross
Bill Ross from Superior Air Parts will explore how performing prescribed preventive maintenance can reduce total engine ownership costs while increasing reliability, durability, and safety. Qualifies for FAA WINGS and AMT credit.
EAA gratefully acknowledges the support of Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. for its generous sponsorship of our webinar programs.
After decades of offering the RV-3, RV-4, and RV-6 to the builder community, we are preparing to retire these models from active kit production.
These aircraft represent the earliest chapters of Van’s Aircraft and are the foundation of Total Performance. As kit orders for these models have declined, and as we focus on streamlining operations and bringing new designs into production, we’ve decided to end active kit production for these RV models.
What to Know:
The last day to order kits for the RV-3, RV-4, and RV-6 is September 30th, 2025.
After that date, we will no longer manufacture empennage, fuselage, wing, or finish kits for these aircraft.
Support continues: We will continue offering replacement parts and technical assistance.
While this chapter is closing, the RV-3, RV-4, and RV-6 remain a lasting part of the Van’s story and a testament to the joy of building and flying an RV.
-The Van’s Aircraft Team
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE: LMT), is saddened to learn of the passing of Sergei I. Sikorsky on Sept. 18 at the age of 100. Our deepest condolences go to his wife, Elena.
A proud military veteran, Sergei served our country during World War II, in the United States Coast Guard, assigned to the Helicopter Development Unit.
“The entire team – past and present – at Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin mourn the passing of a remarkable man, a link to the golden age of aviation who meant so much to the success of our business,” said Rich Benton, Sikorsky vice president and general manager. “Sergei will be greatly missed.”
This video tribute commemorates the amazing life and times of Sergei I. Sikorsky, a remarkable man who meant so much to aviation history, the Sikorsky business, its employees and the greater Stratford, Connecticut, community. The remarkable impact of the Sikorsky family spans generations, touching every current and former employee, engineer and technician, the places we live and work and the countless lives saved by the helicopter.
During his distinguished 41-year career with Sikorsky, Sergei played a significant role in the company’s growth into one of the world’s leading helicopter manufacturers and the expansion of rotary aircraft around the world.
The son of aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky, the company’s founder and inventor of the first practical helicopter, Sergei began his career with the company in 1951 in international marketing and sales.
He returned to the United States in 1976 at the dawn of the Black Hawk era to become division vice president in Stratford, overseeing the company’s co-production programs. Sergei would later take on marketing and special project roles until retiring in 1992. Even in retirement, Sergei remained active with the company, serving as a goodwill ambassador at major trade shows and other events where he would sign autographs, speak about his family’s legacy and highlight an immeasurable passion for the helicopter and its promise to save lives around the world.
The aircraft hangar at Sikorsky’s Stratford facility was dedicated as the Sergei I. Sikorsky Flight Center in 2019. Sergei called it his life’s “single greatest honor.”
Spruce Creek Pilots,
At a recent Safety brief several websites and radio frequencies were discussed.
For your convenience the AAC is providing you with that same information for your future reference.
Here they are:
The air that’s sent swirling when a helicopter hovers or does a slow air taxi is called ‘downwash.’ Downwash is absolutely a source of turbulent air and a hazard to people and aircraft that are nearby. Most helicopter pilots understand this and do their best to avoid risk to those around them. But it’s still wise to make sure loose items are secure—including light airplanes—if a helicopter is hovering nearby. Most sources say the risk area is three times the rotor diameter from the edge of the rotor arc of the helicopter. To put some numbers on that, a Coast Guard Jayhawk has a rotor diameter of 54 feet. Three times that plus the radius of the rotor itself means being 189 feet from the helicopter. That’s almost two thirds of a football field.
Once the helicopter is in forward motion over about 20 knots, however, it produces wake turbulence trailing behind it similar to an airplane. This wake can drift in the wind, just like airplane wake turbulence. However, helicopter wake doesn’t always sink right away. It can even rise. Three minutes is the recommended duration to wait before landing behind a helicopter, even if you think it’s not much bigger than your airplane. Failure to do so could create a situation like a Cessna 120 that was captured on video and made the rounds of the internet a while back. If you’re interested in more technical details, the FAA did a study on helicopter wake vortices in 1996.
CLICK ON THE UNDERLINED WORDS TO SEE THE VIDEO OR READ THE STUDY
He succeeds Mark Baker, who retired after leading AOPA for more than 11 years. Pleasance’s aviation and business background make him the ideal next chief executive for the association. “I’ve been lucky to have participated in almost every dimension of aviation,” said Pleasance. “I will bring that understanding and appreciation for all those dimensions into the role.”
Pleasance’s passion for aviation started not long after moving from Boston to Livermore, California, at age 13. After discovering model airplanes, he became interested in full-scale aircraft while in the Scouts, seeking to earn an aviation merit badge. His Scout leader was a flight instructor, who noticed Pleasance’s interest in airplanes and gave him his first flight lesson in a Cessna 172 at Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK). Pleasance was soon riding his bike to the Livermore airport after school to wash and help owners work on airplanes in exchange for rides. He learned early that the pilot community is generous to young people looking to break into aviation.
On his sixteenth birthday, Pleasance completed his first solo flight in a Cessna 150. He earned his private pilot certificate at age 17, his instrument rating and commercial certificate at age 18, and shortly thereafter his flight instructor certificate.
Pleasance chose to attend University of California, Santa Barbara “because it was positioned right next to the Santa Barbara airport,” he said. “It allowed me to go to school during the day and then sneak away between classes and teach lessons.” After a few months teaching primary students, Pleasance pursued his instrument instructor and multiengine instructor ratings. By age 19, he had earned all his ratings. Pleasance is still an active flight instructor, but because of time constraints he focuses primarily on instrument proficiency checks, tailwheel endorsements, and aerobatics and upset recovery training.
Initially, Pleasance intended to be an airline pilot, until a chance opportunity to fly second in command in actor John Travolta’s Hawker jet led him down a different path. He then spent a season flying bush airplanes all around Alaska before returning to California to fly corporate jets for a private equity firm. Here, Pleasance gained an early appreciation for the benefits of general aviation travel. As a corporate pilot, he learned how powerful it was to have access to an airplane that could reach multiple destinations in a single day and conduct business in ways that would not otherwise be possible. Between flights, Pleasance’s time at the firm taught him about commercial real estate and how to buy and sell companies.
Intrigued by his newfound business skills, Pleasance earned his MBA at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, and joined consulting firm McKinsey & Co, “which allowed me to work with some of the biggest companies in the world on some of the most challenging issues that they contend with,” he said. Pleasance next led global customer acquisitions for Google before joining Cisco where he advanced into more senior roles—ultimately leading Cisco’s Acceleration Center, formed to accelerate the success of Cisco’s business transformation.
Pleasance is a savvy aircraft owner who enjoys the camaraderie of ownership as much as the airplanes themselves. While he owns more than one airplane, “I have partners in all of them,” he said. “I’ve discovered that I can only fly one at a time. And it’s good for airplanes to fly. Because of that, I’ve been intentional about having at least one, sometimes a couple of partners.” Pleasance co-owns a Progressive Aerodyne SeaRey light sport amphibious airplane for landing on nearby lakes, a Van’s Aircraft RV–6 for aerobatics, and a Piper Meridian to commute for work. And he’s a member of a club that operates a North American P-51 Mustang and T-6 Texan.
Pleasance has just started to consider how AOPA’s agenda may evolve over time. “The advocacy work we do at the federal and local level is foundational to the value we provide members,” he said. “I think the work we do around safety is critical. We have to continue to be seen as an organization that stands for safety.” There are also areas of opportunity, particularly reaching communities of people who don’t know much about general aviation and wouldn’t normally find themselves at a general aviation airport. “My good friend who came from one of these communities always said, ‘You gotta see it to be it.’ And his point was so many individuals don’t even know aviation is an opportunity for them.”
Since earning his pilot certificate, Pleasance has been introducing people to general aviation. “For me, the emotion of flying is really about the views, but also the ability to experience the world in the way that most people don’t. I love sharing that with other people because they give you that energy back.” Pleasance often takes someone who’s never experienced the joy of seaplane flying to a nearby lake in his SeaRey, and occasionally gives P-51 Mustang rides to individuals who have a historical connection to the airplane or period.
Pleasance also sees general aviation—and AOPA—as central to the futures of aspiring air ambulance pilots, aerial firefighters, bush pilots, and airline pilots since most of these pilots are trained at local airports. “I’d love to have AOPA playing an even bigger role in helping more individuals out there see the breadth of opportunities that exist in aviation.”
(FROM AOPA)
From the FAASTeam
Notice Number: NOTC3401
Using a checklist is a fundamental part of any safe flight. During preflight, a checklist ensures pilots inspect an aircraft’s components and systems for proper operation and structural integrity and allows them to verify airworthiness. On taxi and during flight, they help ensure the airplane and engine are functioning properly and are configured appropriately for each phase of flight. Checklists provide important structure to the things we check often, usually in a prescribed order of priority. Bottom line: checklist usage is a sound and proven way to reduce errors and improve flight safety.
But just like airplanes change with upgrades or modifications, so too should checklists to include those new items and procedures or omit those that are obsolete. Maybe you’ve added some new avionics equipment or installed a new fire extinguisher. Or perhaps you’d like to reorder your instrument and gauge checks in a more logical manner. Or maybe you’d prefer to use a more specific term to verify a desired state than the sometimes vague “check and set” response. The question for some might be - how exactly do I modify a checklist?
While there is no approval required from the FAA to modify or customize a checklist, pilots and aircraft owners should start by consulting their aircraft’s Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) or Airplane Flight Manual (AFM), or panel placards with some older aircraft. These steps should constitute the baseline for your checklist. If there is a manufacturer-prescribed task or procedure you wish to omit -- perhaps due to concerns about mechanical wear and tear on a particular component – you should consult directly with the manufacturer to ensure safety is not compromised.
The FAA issued a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO 17006) in 2017 that addresses safety concerns with using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) or personally developed checklists. The notice was prompted by an accident involving a landing gear failure in which the pilot used a COTS checklist that lacked key steps regarding manual gear extension. The SAFO urges pilots to ensure any COTS or personal checklist is consistent with what the manufacturer states.
Another important reason for this consistency is apparent during practical exams for a pilot certificate or rating. Designated pilot examiners may require an aircraft manufacturer’s procedure is demonstrated when testing applicants. Those who use a checklist that differs from the manufacturer may omit or incorrectly perform an important step, impacting their ability to successfully pass the exam. If you are providing flight instruction it is essential that you show, demonstrate, and explain any omitted items to students to avoid this potential pitfall. The student should be able to demonstrate the procedure and be able to explain why it has been omitted from the modified checklist and is not performed routinely.
Having checklists that are efficient, logical, and that account for changes to an aircraft’s systems can greatly improve safety and even increase the likelihood of them being used. Just be sure the information you use for those revised checks is correct, complete, and consistent with the manufacturer’s safety standards.
Bonus Tip: Want to take your preflight checklist to the next level? Check out the FAA Safety Team’s Advanced Preflight M-Pamphlet here. This pamphlet helps pilots obtain valuable maintenance history on their aircraft like ADs, ACs, and any manufacturer service-related information, and then develop an Additional Items Checklist that can be used in conjunction with your aircraft’s preflight checklist.
The lack of transition training has been cited as a causal factor in many GA accidents. Accidents frequently result from pilots being unprepared for challenges presented by the new, or different, aircraft they are flying. Even when pilots are legally certificated to operate aircraft within a specific category and class, significant differences can exist among different types of aircraft within that category and class — thus necessitating the need for effective transition training. Click the button below to learn more.
Please touch the Drug List Button below to go directly to the FAA Document covering the subject. It's very informative!!
A new course developed by Flight Service and available on FAASafety.gov provides students and VFR pilots guidance on how to conduct a safe and regulatory compliant preflight self-briefing using automated weather resources. The objective of the course is to ensure that the pilot understands aviation weather basics and learns to apply meteorological and aeronautical information in a systematic manner to plan a safe flight. The course includes scenarios, real-life examples, videos, reference materials, and practice exercises for pilots to conduct on their own or with their flight instructor. Access the WINGS credit course here: http://bit.ly/ALC683.
(FAA-H-8083-9)
Designed for ground instructors, flight instructors, and aviation maintenance instructors, the Aviation Instructor’s Handbook was developed by the Flight Standards Service, Airman Testing Standards Branch, in cooperation with aviation educators and industry to help beginning instructors understand and apply the fundamentals of instruction. This handbook provides aviation instructors with up-to-date information on learning and teaching, and how to relate this information to the task of teaching aeronautical knowledge and skills to learners. Experienced aviation instructors will also find the updated information useful for improving their effectiveness in training activities.
This handbook supersedes FAA-H-8083-9A, Aviation Instructor’s Handbook, dated 2008.
The FAA has recently issued a general notice with regard to Surface Safety. Several recent Runway Incursions have been attributed to communications. The most important concept in pilot-controller communications is understanding. Pilots must acknowledge each radio communication with Air Traffic Control (ATC) by using the appropriate aircraft call sign and confirming all hold short instructions.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED! IF YOU'RE A BUILDING AN AIRCRAFT AND WOULD LIKE TO DOCUMENT YOUR BUILD, I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO USE THE EAA'S BUILDER WEBSITE
TO SEE AND USE THE WEBSITE GO TO:
https://eaabuilderslog.org/?blhome
Thanks go out to Don White from Merritt Island (and also one of our members) who voluntarily created this site for EAA!!!
TO SAVE TIME AND SEE JUST WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE BUILDING
CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW
A selection of EAA-branded merchandise is now available through an EAA storefront via Amazon.com, bringing The Spirit of Aviation to more people via the worldwide online retailer.
The storefront at Amazon.com/EAA features some of EAA’s most popular items, from books and calendars to caps and aviation-themed metal signs. A selection of EAA and Flight Outfitters co-branded merchandise is also available through the Amazon site.
“Fascination with the world of flight stretches worldwide, so creating this outlet through Amazon allows EAA to reach aviation enthusiasts anywhere,” said Scott Powers, EAA’s director of retail operations. “Working with Amazon is an outstanding complement to the full line merchandise available through the EAA website store and in-person right here in Oshkosh.”
For shoppers who have active Amazon Prime accounts, they will be able to receive two-day free shipping as EAA merchandise will be shipped direct from Amazon’s distribution centers. In addition, shoppers using the Amazon Smile program can direct Amazon to donate 0.5 percent of the purchase price to the EAA Aviation Foundation to support EAA’s programs that grow participation in aviation. Amazon users can activate the Smile program on their accounts and designate the EAA Aviation Foundation as their favorite charity.