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Inflight fire with good outcome
Mark Drew was 8,500 feet above Interstate 5 Sunday afternoon when he heard sparks in the console of his home-built airplane, a Van's Aircraft RV-6A.
More video from Bakersfield.com:
When the Northridge pilot noticed smoke, he abandoned plans for lunch at Harris Ranch.
Drew broadcast a distress call and turned his plane toward Meadows Field in Bakersfield.
Goin' North
At the last EAA chapter meeting, someone mentioned (one of) my oft-told stories: how my RV-6 has never been far enough from home to require an enroute fuel stop to reach my destination. It was true. I flew the airplane for the first time the day after Christmas, 1993. It's been flyable for 12 of the last 14 years, and accumulated just over 1,000 airframe hours, but it's never been farther from home than Sun Valley, Idaho or Carson City, Nevada -- both less than three hours from home. So in June, I flew to Alaska.
[EAA Chapter 105 August newsletter] (More)
RV Fly in - Hoganas, Sweden
Thanks to all RVers who came and visited us at Hoganas. The following Brits attended:
There were 7 German, 2 Dutch, 4 Danish and 11 Swedish. After a terrible weather-week the runway dried out and we had nice summer weather. Thanks again for coming.
Thank you for having us. Having arrived early I have a much better appreciation of the hard work put in by yourself, Kristina, Mats, Helena and the other regular stalwarts at the NW Skåne flying club to make the fly-in happen. This year was particularly enjoyable and relaxing with the excellent weather over all three days. Robin Johnson in G-ESTR even made it back to Scotland the same day, despite taking the Calais/Dover channel crossing option. The friendly welcome and hospitality shown to us is very much appreciated by everyone. I think 35 RV's is the biggest gathering in Europe this year and very close to the 42 at last years French La Baule fly-in. If you can lay on weather like we had this again then perhaps 50 might be possible in 2008! It was good to see Klaus Root's retractable gear RV4 at last and also
the Swedish RV3 built from the first kit exported by Van's back in 1975. (The 91/96 unleaded avgas worked perfectly as predicted by the way.)
Thanks again
David Broom
G-RVAN
Related Link(s):
Full thread
Fly in photos
Blackjack Impresses
The planes are Van’s Aircraft RV-3 and RV-4 sport planes, prop planes with performance so good that some ex-military jet jockeys liken them to fighter planes. Indeed, my jaw dropped as watched the squadron take off. Those suckers can climb! They make Cessnas look like Yugos.As for the Blackjack Squadron, they’re an informal group of ex-military pilots who use their RVs for formation flying. They’re damn good, too. I happened to look up when the Blackjacks were flying a diamond pattern right over our house. They fly stuff like this at fly-ins all the time, from what I understand. [markturner.net] (More)
Related Link(s):
Blackjack Squadron Web page
Oshkosh 2007 RV formation videos
There are several great videos available now of the talented RV formation pilots flying over Oshkosh Airventure 2007. Here are links to all of the videos:Related Link(s):
Briefing & t/o
Falcon flight
35 ship flight
With cockpit cam
As the son of a World War II pilot, Jack Edwards always dreamed of a life in the sky.
A Cessna 172 makes a poor weapons platform for another 9/11-style A Cessna 172 makes a poor weapons platform for another 9/11-style terrorist attack, but existing programs for accrediting pilots and tracking aircraft should be strengthened to prevent general aviation from being used to transport contraband, whether illicit drugs, "dirty" bombs or smuggled people, according to a new study by the Heritage Foundation.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted more than 100 certifications for use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by various federal, state and local government agencies last year, and is on pace to approve about 70 applications this year. But some officials are complaining that existing federal regulations are inconsistent and confusing, potentially stymieing their plans for takeoff.
[CNet] 
