Post by Major Destruction on Mar 31, 2006 14:07:23 GMT -5
WILL VINTAGE DE HAVILLAND AIRPLANES RETURN?
The type certificates for all of de Havilland Canada's wild animals, from the Chipmunk and Beaver to the Otter and Caribou, have been purchased by Viking Air of Sidney, British Columbia. Viking Air will decide this summer whether to put the DHC-6 Twin Otter back in production, said company President David Curtis. At the time of purchase, the type certificates were held by Bombardier. The transfer of the type certificates had first been announced a year ago when Viking took over Bombardier's service support for the seven models. The certificates include the DHC-1 Chipmunk, the DHC-2 Beaver, the DHC-3 Otter, the DHC-4 Caribou, the DHC-5 Buffalo, the 20-passenger DHC-6 Twin Otter, and the DHC-7 (Dash-7). Viking Air has had the rights for spare parts manufacturing for the Beaver and Otter since 1983, and has been a major supplier of spare parts to Bombardier for the Twin Otter and Dash-series airplanes.
GLACIER GIRL'S FUTURE UNKNOWN
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning Glacier Girl, recovered in Greenland from beneath 268 feet of ice, will stay hangared this year, but there are hopes it could fly again in 2007. This year there are problems with the availability of pilot Steve Hinton—the only person authorized to fly it—with funding for insurance to cover flights, and with transportation money needed to move it about the country. Its future is still in doubt until the estate of the late owner, J. Roy Shoffner, is settled, said museum President Bob Cardin, who was responsible for the aircraft's recovery and restoration. Shoffner's heirs could still decide to sell it. In the meantime, it sits in The P-38 Lost Squadron Museum in Middlesboro, Kentucky, greeting visitors. It flew to three locations last year, including the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Florida, and the Atlanta birthday celebration for Gen. Paul Tibbets.
SEAN TUCKER: THE UPSET TOUR
Renowned aerobatics pilot Sean D. Tucker will have another mount to perform with this season besides the bright red Team Oracle Challenger biplane. He'll be flying a Columbia 400SL to demonstrate upset recovery techniques. While the tour is designed to show off the capabilities of the airplane for Columbia Aircraft, Tucker is also promoting his E-PATS (Executive Pilot Awareness Training School) at the Tutima Academy of Aviation Safety. Company officials said all the maneuvers will fall within the airplane's higher G limit for the utility category. Tucker is scheduled to make 24 stops, beginning with the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In next week.
DOG IS MY COPILOT: HEARING PROTECTION FOR THE FURRY ONE
If you've ever flown with your dog, you may have worried about damage to the animal's hearing. Michele McGuire of Westminster, Maryland, says she has a solution: Mutt Muffs. Think of the product as a headset for your dog, minus the intercom capability, of course. The ear cups, which come in several sizes, fit over the ears and are held in place with a chin strap. The product sells for $52. McGuire says she has tried to have the product tested at independent labs, but researchers have no way to gather data from the dogs. The product is made from regular headset materials, and she recently told The Frederick News-Post that the muffs reduce noise by an estimated 21 to 24 decibels. Coupled with that is her anecdotal experience with her own dog, a much happier copilot these days.
The type certificates for all of de Havilland Canada's wild animals, from the Chipmunk and Beaver to the Otter and Caribou, have been purchased by Viking Air of Sidney, British Columbia. Viking Air will decide this summer whether to put the DHC-6 Twin Otter back in production, said company President David Curtis. At the time of purchase, the type certificates were held by Bombardier. The transfer of the type certificates had first been announced a year ago when Viking took over Bombardier's service support for the seven models. The certificates include the DHC-1 Chipmunk, the DHC-2 Beaver, the DHC-3 Otter, the DHC-4 Caribou, the DHC-5 Buffalo, the 20-passenger DHC-6 Twin Otter, and the DHC-7 (Dash-7). Viking Air has had the rights for spare parts manufacturing for the Beaver and Otter since 1983, and has been a major supplier of spare parts to Bombardier for the Twin Otter and Dash-series airplanes.
GLACIER GIRL'S FUTURE UNKNOWN
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning Glacier Girl, recovered in Greenland from beneath 268 feet of ice, will stay hangared this year, but there are hopes it could fly again in 2007. This year there are problems with the availability of pilot Steve Hinton—the only person authorized to fly it—with funding for insurance to cover flights, and with transportation money needed to move it about the country. Its future is still in doubt until the estate of the late owner, J. Roy Shoffner, is settled, said museum President Bob Cardin, who was responsible for the aircraft's recovery and restoration. Shoffner's heirs could still decide to sell it. In the meantime, it sits in The P-38 Lost Squadron Museum in Middlesboro, Kentucky, greeting visitors. It flew to three locations last year, including the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Florida, and the Atlanta birthday celebration for Gen. Paul Tibbets.
SEAN TUCKER: THE UPSET TOUR
Renowned aerobatics pilot Sean D. Tucker will have another mount to perform with this season besides the bright red Team Oracle Challenger biplane. He'll be flying a Columbia 400SL to demonstrate upset recovery techniques. While the tour is designed to show off the capabilities of the airplane for Columbia Aircraft, Tucker is also promoting his E-PATS (Executive Pilot Awareness Training School) at the Tutima Academy of Aviation Safety. Company officials said all the maneuvers will fall within the airplane's higher G limit for the utility category. Tucker is scheduled to make 24 stops, beginning with the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In next week.
DOG IS MY COPILOT: HEARING PROTECTION FOR THE FURRY ONE
If you've ever flown with your dog, you may have worried about damage to the animal's hearing. Michele McGuire of Westminster, Maryland, says she has a solution: Mutt Muffs. Think of the product as a headset for your dog, minus the intercom capability, of course. The ear cups, which come in several sizes, fit over the ears and are held in place with a chin strap. The product sells for $52. McGuire says she has tried to have the product tested at independent labs, but researchers have no way to gather data from the dogs. The product is made from regular headset materials, and she recently told The Frederick News-Post that the muffs reduce noise by an estimated 21 to 24 decibels. Coupled with that is her anecdotal experience with her own dog, a much happier copilot these days.