Wings, Wheels and Water

HE AIRBUS A380 IS COMING TO OSHKOSH!

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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.

Glasair Brings Back 1970’s Pricing!

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I have been a fan of the Glasair aircraft for years. The Sportsman is a great aircraft. For less money than a new Cessna 182 you can get more performance, useful load and speed than a Cessna 182. If you are flying two people and baggage, the Sportsman could be the best plane for you. And now, reduced pricing and its ready to taxi in two weeks? Wow!

Arlington, WA, March 26, 2009—Glasair Aviation is offering six (6) ‘Two Weeks To Taxi’ Sportsman 2+2 aircraft at more than 25% off the normal price on a first come, first served basis.

For just $118,999 customers can spend 2 weeks to build a Sportsman with a 180hp Lycoming 0-360, a Sensenich fixed-pitch propeller and complete VFR instrument panel. Upgrade to the fuel-injected I0-360 and a Hartzell constant speed prop and spend only $124,999.

“In this economic climate customers sometimes forgo buying unless there is a compelling reason to do so. We’ve just provided a substantially compelling reason to buy a Sportsman – a 25% discount on a brand new, high utility/high performance airplane.” says Mikael Via, Glasair’s chief executive officer. “For this brief moment and for a limited number of customers, Glasair is bringing back 1970’s pricing!”

Glasair has recently expanded their Two Weeks to Taxi services to offer the pilot/builder community a number of time saving services for discounted pricing. For example, Glasair offers a 3 day Firewall Forward installation program where Glasair, Glastar and Sportsman customers bring in their fuselage, engine, mount, prop and spinner and utilize the Two Weeks To Taxi processes and fixtures to install all firewall forward components and accessories in just 3 days!

Another program offers customers the Two Weeks To Taxi facilities to builders who want to complete their wings in only 3 days!

Both programs are priced more than 30% off Glasair’s normal builder-assist pricing.

For Glastar and Sportsman owners who already have their aircraft flying, more savings are available in a 2 day program that allows builders to upgrade their instrument panels. Similar deals are available for interior installations and upgrades.

Customers who come to Glasair’s Arlington, Washington Customer Assistance Center can take advantage of other limited-time offers with deep discounts on aircraft paint or annual inspections by trained factory personnel.

For more information on all the Glasair programs, visit the website, www.GlasairAviation.com or call 1-360-435-8533 x 232.

Why Boats Sink in the Springtime – reprint from Boat US

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Scott Croft, 703-461-2864, SCroft@BoatUS.com

Why Boats Sink in the Springtime

The Common Causes

ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 24, 2009 — Launching a boat in the spring for a new boating season is normally a happy occasion, but some owners get a rude surprise instead — a sinking. “While not widespread, sinkings during re-launch at the dock are easily avoidable,” said Bob Adriance, editor of Seaworthy , the magazine from BoatU.S.that helps boaters avoid damage and improve safety aboard their boats. Here are Bob’s tips to avoid a springtime sinking:

• Hose clamps: Winterizing an engine in the fall often requires the removal of coolant hoses. Come springtime, boaters are in a rush and the hoses aren’t reattached and clamped properly. Adding to this, cramped engine boxes mean that the hoses and the clamps holding them sometimes can’t be visually inspected easily. In the spring you’ll need to ensure all of the hose clamps are securely tightened in place.

• Hoses: During the winter as the water inside them freezes, some hoses can lift off their attached seacock (valve). However, with spring’s warmer temperatures the water now returns to a liquid, and if the seacock was left open last fall, water can pour into the bilge. Double clamping with marine-rated stainless hose clamps, inspecting hose attachment locations, or keeping seacocks closed can all save you from a spring sinking.

• Spring rains: Combine heavy rains with leaking ports, deck hatches, fittings, chain plates and even scuppers clogged by leaves from last fall and you have a recipe for a sinking. Just 100 gallons of water weighs over 800 pounds so a boat with a low freeboard only needs to sink a few inches before cockpit scuppers (drains intended to remove water) submerge and water starts to enter the boat. Larger boats with cracked or improperly caulked fittings that are located just above the waterline can also inadvertently let water in when they become submerged. Ensure that rain rolls off the boat and not into it.

• Sea strainer: For inboard/outboard and inboard powered boats, always inspect the strainer for cracks or other damage. If it wasn’t properly winterized, the intake sea strainer could have frozen over the winter, cracking or bending the inspection bowl. And if the seacock was left open the boat will sink as soon as ice in the strainer thaws or the boat is put in the water. Boats have also sunk when the seacock was closed over winter and then opened in the springtime, but the owner failed to notice water trickling into the bilge from a freeze damaged bowl.

• Stuffing Box: On powerboats or sailboats with inboard power, if the stuffing box’s packing material that seals the prop shaft is not tight, a steady drip could eventually swamp a boat if it’s ignored. Remember, the stuffing box should only leak when the prop shaft is turning. Stuffing boxes need to be inspected routinely, regardless of the season.

To learn about more causes of sinkings, or to get your own copy of the quarterly Seaworthy go to BoatUS.com/seaworthy/sinking .

About BoatU.S.
BoatU.S. – Boat Owners Association of The United States – is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its 600,000 members with government representation, programs and money saving services. For membership information visit www.BoatUS.com or call 800-395-2628.