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| SWAV News |
Do you have news items of interest to the Southwest’s general aviation community? Submit them to: publisher@swaviator.com. Submissions will be run as space permits and may be edited for length and style. Emails or disks and digital photos receive preference.
FLYING "BEYOND THE BORDER" JUST GOT EASIER —AND MORE FUN, TOO!
Parkwest Air Tours has taken the worry out of flying to Mexico by adding a new trip to their menu of guided, self-fly National Park tours. This 11-day trip through New and Old Mexico brings you the Sonoran desert, Carlsbad Caverns, Texas’ Big Bend, and the stunning Copper Canyon. All trips include high-quality lodging, delicious meals, ground tours, first-class train tickets in Mexico, National Park entrance fees, and a Pilot Pack of charts, navigational data, and pre-programmed GPS for each aircraft participating in the tour. Flying with Parkwest Air helps to streamline fuel purchases, flight plans, ATC communication, landing fees, and those confusing taxes. You need only bring your plane, your camera, and your sense of adventure!
For more information on Parkwest Air, visit www.parkwestair.com or phone toll-free 866-897-7910.
TWO RIVERS PILOT SHOP OPENS IN GRAND JUNCTION
Two Rivers Pilot Supply recently opened in the terminal building at Walker Field in Grand Junction, CO. The shop carries quality supplies for aviation professionals and enthusiasts. Pilots may fly into GJT and park at either of the FBO's, WestStar or Timberline, and request a ride to the terminal. Call 970-245-3300 for more information.
PEGASUS AIRPARK OPEN HOUSE
Pegasus Airpark (5AZ3), a brand new facility located southeast of Phoenix, Arizona, is having an airport grand opening celebration on Saturday, March 23, 2002, starting at 9:00 AM. Aviators are invited to fly in to the paved 5,000 ft. runway for the activities. Food will be available, and experimental/antique aircraft and others are invited to participate in a static display. A wide range of aviation-related events are planned, including static displays, demonstrations, and rides. As they are finalized, details of events will be posted at www.pegasus-airpark.com.
26th ANNUAL AIR RACE CLASSIC
The 26th annual Air Race Classic (ARC) will take place June 18 - 21, 2002. An all women’s air race, the route this year will cover over 2000 statute miles through ten states. The race began in 1977 with 27 planes after the Powder Puff Derby (All Women’s Transcontinental Air Race) ended. Today, racers include women who have raced all twenty-six ARCs, professional as well as new pilots, astronauts, homemakers and college students. In recent years, more than 90 women have participated.
Teams will race their planes from Silver City, NM to Las Vegas, NM, then on to Burlington, CO, Ponca City, OK, Hot Springs, AK, Fayetteville, TN, Winnsboro, SC, and finishing in Chesapeake/ Portsmouth, VA. For a race kit and more information, please contact AIR RACE CLASSIC, LTD., International Airport, 318 Glasson Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78406-1801; phone: 361-289-1101; FAX: 361-289-6034. The deadline for entries is April 1, 2002.
FAA WINGS PROGRAM IN GRAND JUNCTION
Strand Flying School in Grand Junction Colorado will be sponsoring an FAA WINGS program on May 3rd, 4th, and 5th. Featured speakers will be Steve Robinson (NASA mission specialist): J-3 pilot in the space shuttle, Mick Wilson: How to Crash and Airplane and Survive, and Monty Taylor (FAA safety counselor): Spatial disorientation. Other activities: What does your airplane actually weigh? Timberline Aviation will offer reduced cost weighing and weight and balance calculations. (Limited number of openings) Tentatively planned: Spin training. Take advantage of the free seminars and instruction. Call 970-243-4359 or visit www.strandflying.com for more info.
GRAND JUNCTION AIR MUSEUM
A new group in Grand Junction is attempting to build a new Air Museum and Veterans Memorial. The center piece of the Museum will be a B-25 Mitchell. The B-25 is starting to become rare at airshows and the group plans to showcase the aircraft to the public. The Colorado Aviation Museum Maintenance Organization is a 501(c)(3) corporation. All donations and sponsorships are tax deductible. Call Warren Henderson, 800-237-1810, for more information.
 JAVELIN – HOMELAND DEFENSE INTERCEPTOR PROPOSED
Aviation Technology Group, Inc. (ATG), Englewood, Colorado manufacturer of the Javelin executive jet, recently responded to a Request for Proposal (RFP) from the Government’s Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics and Combating Terrorism Technology Support Office Technical Support Working Group (BAA 02-Q-4655) for the newly created Office of Homeland Security, proposing a Homeland Defense Interceptor (HDI) version of the Javelin. For more information or to access renderings visit www.avtechgroup.com.
EAGLE AIRCRAFT CONSOLIDATES MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS
Eagle Aircraft is consolidating all its manufacturing operations in Malaysia, home of parent company Composite Technologies Research Malaysia. The move is expected to result in numerous benefits, including improved production scheduling, spare parts control and expediting, enhanced research and development, and a greater focus on customer and distributor support.
For more information, call 316-733-6015.
AASI MOVES TO ACQUIRE MOONEY AIRCRAFT'S ASSETS
Advanced Aerodynamics & Structures, Inc. announced that it has purchased Congress Financial Corp.'s position as senior secured creditor for Mooney Aircraft Corporation of Kerrville, Texas. On February 6th, the US Bankruptcy Court in San Antonio, Texas approved an operating agreement which allows AASI to manage Mooney while a plan of reorganization is prepared for approval. Mooney has operated under the protection of Chapter 11 bankruptcy since July 2001.
AASI intends to acquire Mooney Aircraft's assets, and return to full production of the Mooney Aircraft line. The new company formed from AASI and Mooney's assets will operate under the Mooney name. The company plans continued development of the JETCRUZER 500. In addition, AASI intends to seek further product line acquisitions in the general aviation industry to complement the existing Mooney and JETCRUZER product lines.
For further information, call 562-938-8618 or visit www.aasiaircraft.com.
EAA HOMEBUILT BUYER'S CHECKLIST AVAILABLE
“EAA's Homebuilt Aircraft Buyer's Checklist" is a new brochure offered free of charge by the EAA, including the essential questions every aircraft builder should ask before starting a project. Subjects such as affordability, legal matters, time and space needs and necessary flight training are addressed within an individual question-and-issue format for builders to consider prior to undertaking an aircraft project.
The brochure is free of charge from EAA and is available by calling 800-843-3612 or e-mailing membership@eaa.org.
STUDENTPILOT.COM 2002 FLIGHT TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP
Flying Network Inc. announces its 2002 flight training scholarship. This scholarship is designed to give one student pilot a chance to fulfill his/her dream of learning how to fly. Flying Network Inc. is offering the winning applicant a $1,000 flight training scholarship. For more information about this scholarship and application, visit the web site at www.StudentPilot.com.
 ECLIPSE AVIATION CORPORATION SECURES THIRD ROUND OF PRIVATE EQUITY FUNDING
Eclipse Aviation Corporation, manufacturer of the Eclipse 500 jet, announced the closing of its third round of equity investment worth $100 million. The company, aimed at making private jet travel affordable for commercial air passengers, has secured a total of $220 million to date through three rounds of funding.
Garnered from undisclosed private investors, the capital will fund the company’s continued progress toward the manufacture and certification of the Eclipse 500 jet. “Our continued success in funding this program is a direct result of the significant progress we have made in the development and assembly of the Eclipse 500 jet and the tremendous market validation we have achieved,” said Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation.
To find out more about Eclipse, visit www.eclipseaviation.com.
SOLO FLIGHTS OF CHARLES LINDBERGH TO BE RECREATED BY GRANDSON ERIK LINDBERGH
Erik Lindbergh announced that he will recreate his grandfather’s historic Spirit of St. Louis flights including his non-stop, solo flight across the Atlantic. The New Spirit Flights, scheduled for spring 2002, are a project of the X PRIZE Foundation, St. Louis, Missouri. He will fly solo, in a single-engine, composite Lancair Columbia 300. Beginning April 14th, Erik Lindbergh will depart San Diego’s Lindbergh Field in his Columbia 300 and follow the "Lone Eagle's" 1927 flight plan from San Diego to St. Louis to New York. During the first two weeks of May, 75 years after his grandfather took off from Roosevelt Field, NY, Erik will lift off from Republic Airport (Farmingdale, NY), flying non-stop across the Atlantic to Le Bourget Airport, outside Paris. For complete details, maps, and pictures, visit www.lancairusa.com/news/charleseriklindbergh.html
AFP: AMERICAN FIGHTER PILOT
A new reality series that follows three men from various backgrounds as they train to become F-15 fighter pilots, will premiere Friday, March 29 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Blockbuster film directors Tony Scott ("Top Gun") and Ridley Scott ("Black Hawk Down") are among the executive producers.
QUICK REFERENCE GUIDES AVAILABLE FROM SPORTY’S
What’s a Qref? It’s a Quick Reference Guide that contains the essential information of the AIM and J-Aid. Those books are too big to cart around – and that’s where Qref comes in.
The General Flight Operations Qref contains some of the most frequently referenced 14 CFR Part 91, NTSB Part 830 and AIM information used by pilots. The Aviation Weather Services Qref includes information on the weather services available in-flight as well as on the ground. It teaches how to read a variety of weather charts. There is also a section on METARs, TAFs and a glossary of terms and acronyms. Qrefs can be ordered at sportys.com or by calling 800-LIFTOFF.
 HAND PAINTED “NOSE ART”
Flagstaff resident Rosemary D. Dery announces custom hand painted items for pilots. She has been doing "Nose Art" for 26 years and has done many reproductions of WW2, Korean, and Vietnam art. She also does patches and name tags, wings, and all arm insignias. Her attention to detail is startling and authenticity is her strong point. Call 928-774-0086.
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