If you have been in aviation for quite a while you might remember back when ultra lights were just that, ultra light small sort of aircraft. Sometimes they were designed around weight shift hang gliders, other times they actually looked like aircraft.
Whatever you memories are, AirVenture 2009 will be your chance to take a trip back in light plane history. In the ultralight area there will be an “Antique Ultralight” display.
See where the light sport category really started!
Attendees will get ‘up close and personal’ for the first time in North America
EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wis. – (April 15, 2009) – With the announcement today that the Airbus A380 is coming to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2009, EAA reinforced the reputation of its annual fly-in as a one-of-a-kind showcase of aviation’s innovations, unique accomplishments, and wide-ranging interests. For the first time in North America, AirVenture will provide the opportunity for the global aviation community and the public to admire the world’s largest passenger airliner on static display and in flight.
The A380 will arrive and perform a flight demonstration to kick off the Tuesday, July 28 air show. After commanding the stage through the remainder of the week on AeroShell Square, AirVenture’s main aircraft showcase area, it will open the air show again on Friday, July 31 with a flight demonstration before its departure.
“I’m pleased that Airbus chose EAA AirVenture Oshkosh as its first occasion in North America to provide an up-close and personal look at the A380,” said Tom Poberezny, EAA president and AirVenture chairman. “The aircraft will stand out among the impressive lineup of features and attractions coming this year. The A380 represents an amazing feat of aircraft design, engineering, and construction … and it will hold the distinction of being the largest passenger aircraft ever to have filled our sky and rolled onto our ramp,” he said.
“The Airbus team is very grateful to EAA for hosting the A380 this summer,” said Airbus Americas Chairman T. Allan McArtor. “We have been looking forward to bringing the aircraft to AirVenture, where the innovative accomplishments of global aviation take the spotlight. It makes perfect sense for the A380 to be featured at Oshkosh – not only because it is the largest passenger aircraft in history, but also because the remarkable A380 would not have been possible without the considerable support of our airline- and supplier-partners from around the world who worked with us over many years to make the aircraft a reality.”
The A380’s visit marks the second time this decade that Airbus has brought a crowd-pleasing aircraft to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. In 2003, the Airbus A300-600ST (known as the “Beluga”) made an appearance in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first flight.
“AirVenture Oshkosh celebrates aviation’s pioneering spirit and the various demonstrations of that spirit, large and small. With the A380 coming, I’d say we have the ‘large’ base covered this year,” Poberezny said.
EAA and Airbus are making plans for Airbus officials to tell their story at AirVenture. Announcements of details will follow. Additionally, Airbus hosts will be on hand with the A380 as it stands on AeroShell Square.
EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH is The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration and EAA’s yearly membership convention. This year’s event takes place July 27 – August 2. EAA members receive lowest prices on admission rates. Additional EAA AirVenture Oshkosh information – including the convenience and savings of advance online admission purchase – is also available at www.airventure.org. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 1-800-JOIN-EAA (1-800-564-6322) or visit www.eaa.org.
* Major features of this year’s event will include: the world’s largest airliner, the A380; Virgin Galactic’s WhiteKnightTwo mothership “Eve”; the cockpit crew of US Airways flight 1549; observation of several historic aviation anniversaries; celebration of aviation’s role in humanitarian activities; spectacular Warbirds demonstrations; the world’s best aerobatic performers; a concert by the Doobie Brothers; the comedy of Jeff Dunham; 10,000 aircraft; 2,500 show planes; 800 exhibits; and 500 forums and workshops.
I had a great question from a customer and thought it would be good to share the response. The customer is interested in buying a pressurized twin engine aircraft but is not instrument rated.
Just buying liability alone does not change the requirements for the instrument rating. The insurance underwriters are at risk of a claim anytime you strap into the pilot seat. The reasoning that a liability policy has less risk is not accurate. There is as much or more risk for the insurance company than the cost of the aircraft. At least if you crash the aircraft they have a set dollar amount they would pay out to your estate. If you insure the plane for $100,000 that’s the maximum they will pay (minus any deductibles).
But with liability, if there is a liability issue such as a non-instrument pilot getting caught in bad weather or at night and crashing, that pilot then becomes labile for any property damage or bodily injury that results. That could end up in court and the settlement could be more than the policy limits. That affects the pilots estate and the insurance company and it doesn’t matter what the pilot promised or planned on doing, the risk for the insurance company is still there.
Also, the concept behind a pressurized aircraft is to provide more comfort at higher altitudes. Even if you do not plan on flying at night or in clouds the risk of a pressurized aircraft and going cross country could put you in a situation where you may need the instrument. Most accidents are still pilot error and often VFR flight into IMC….
Now, all that said, I am a perfect example of what not to do. I have been a pilot since high school, married into an aircraft family and I am single and multi rated….but not instrument. Been in it, don’t like it, wouldn’t stay proficient enough. Not being instrument rated helped to push me out of aircraft brokerage and sales. Most of my brokerage aircraft were Skymasters. I couldn’t get named on some of the policies because of the IFR issue. So I know where you are coming from.
We have and still do get insurance for non instrument pilots in twins and pressurized aircraft. Sometimes it is based on your location and the typical weather and traffic situations, Dense air traffic areas often require an instrument. Places as the LA area or say NY. While in my case here in Central Iowa it might not be as important. Or say Florida, while having lots of air traffic also has lots of sunshine.
And the weird thing is that even if you have the instrument, it doesn’t mean you will use it. The only way the insurance companies try to manage that is they require factory approved training and Instrument proficiency checks in the make and model.