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MICCO'S SP20 Takes Wing!
"Well, that's a relief" says Micco's guiding force, Dewitt Beckett, now that their much upgraded Meyers aircraft has taken flight as the Micco SP20, the first in a new generation of high performance low wing retractable monoplanes, is an exciting two place, sport aerobatic/cross country machine with 200 HP and conventional gear.  The SP20 took flight on December 17th 1997, after FAA inspection and
approval prior to the first test. Pilot Dick Sinnott was commanding the
first hop with a modified Meyers 145 test-bed serving as a chase-plane.
"The one hour test flight was about as trouble free as one could hope for,
"says Beckett, "no oil leaks, no major squawks, and no interruptions."
Following a post-flight inspection, the SP20 went on a make several more
flights later in the day.
The first flight was an aggressive one, examining handling qualities, stability and control, systems functions and monitoring and even slow flight right down to the stall buffet. Sinnott noted good handling qualities throughout the flight and the nearby chase-plane was particularly impressed with the fact that the new SP20 was still flying (during slow flight testing) quite nicely with gear down and flaps up while the chase plane was struggling to stay aloft with gear and full flaps extended. "It's going to be a slow-flight champ" says the chase crew. : More important, the SP20 is designed to go places... fast. With a 160 kt cruise (at 75%), the SP20 offers serious cross-country capability, a BIG beautiful bubble canopy and 900 nm range on only 58 gallon (usable, 60 gal total), the sporty SP20 does just about everything the other 200 HP retractables do... and then some. "No one said the going places had to be boring" explains Beckett, who notes that "the charm of this airplane is that it not only is a useful and cost effective tool, but it's a ball to fly... if you want to do a little acro, go for it... but you'll still get to your meeting on time and with class." The SP20 is a highly refined version of the original Meyers 145, an efficient airplane noted for it's unusual ability to do 155 mph on only 145 HP and the Meyers 200 and Meyers Interceptor. The aircraft has been exhaustively upgraded, strengthened and brought up to meet and in many cases, far exceed current FAA guidelines (Part 23, NOT CAR 4A) for production aircraft. One of the more intriguing sub-plots involving this airplane is the fact that the Seminole Indian Tribe of Florida is the owner of the company. Chief James Billie was present for the test flights and noted that "we wanted to invest in the future," as the primary reason for the pairing of the Seminoles and the speedy Micco. "We think the SP20 has a great future." says Billie. "It's fast and it's fun..." Chief Billie is an experienced pilot (who has an SP20 on order for the tribe) holds single/multi-engine and instrument ratings for fixed wing birds as well as a helo rating. Production of the Micco SP20 is on schedule for early 1998 and the VFR airplane lists for $ 135,000 while the basic IFR SP20 is only $ 149,500. Popular options include S-Tec 30 autopilot, full leather seats and interiors, and a number of custom paint schemes (quoted on request). FMI: Micco Aircraft Company, 3100 Airman's Drive, Ft Pierce, FL, 34946. 561-465-9996. Fax : 561-465-9997. E-mail: micco_aircraft@msn.com  |
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EAA Junior Air Academy Offers
Summer Fun For 12-14 Year Olds
EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wis. - (Feb. 16, 1998) - A week-long summer program sponsored by the EAA Aviation Foundation is again offering a unique chance for 12- to 14-year-olds to discover more about the world of flight in a fun setting. The EAA Junior Air Academy is a residence camp held at the EAA Aviation Center in Oshkosh. Separate sessions are offered on June 19-24 and June 26-July 1. "The wonder, excitement and possibilities of flight are all explored during the Junior Air Academy," said EAA Aviation Foundation President Tom Poberezny. "The young people who participate may have sparked an aviation interest through the Foundation's Young Eagles program or are simply fascinated by the world of flight. The Junior Air Academy mixes aviation discovery with recreation for a fun and rewarding week like no other for young people." The EAA Junior Air Academy includes hands-on activities, aviation skills and experiments, flying history sessions, as well as field trips to a number of aviation facilities. Instructors include knowledgeable staff members and aviation celebrities. Special activities such as orientation flights and other EAA Aviation center programs may also be included. Other specific activities include aeromodeling; model rockets; construction of airplane parts, a number of tours, as well as skydiving demonstrations and ultralight flying showcases. This year's Junior Air Academy participants will also be among the first people to enjoy accommodations in the new Air Academy Lodge, a full-service dormitory on the Aviation Center grounds. The campus-type facility allows even more access in participation in the world of flight at EAA. "The Junior Air Academy is more than a just a week of flight discovery," said Scott Cameron, the academy's director. "These young people will learn more about their own abilities, work with others and enjoy themselves in a lot of fun activities." Camp registration is $400. Transportation costs are the responsibility of individual campers and their families/guardians. For more information and registration material, contact: EAA Junior Air Academy EAA Education Office PO Box 3065 Oshkosh WI 54903-3065 phone: (888) 322-3229 toll-free or (920) 426-6815 fax: (920) 426-6560 Internet: www.eaa.org e-mail: education@eaa.org |
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EAA Aviation Foundation's B-17 Begins
National 'Wild West' Spring Tour April 23
EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wis. - (Feb. 17, 1998) - A flying example of one of the greatest military airplanes ever built, the Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress," will be featured on a national tour beginning April 23. Sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and the EAA Aviation Foundation, the 1998 EAA B-17 "Wild West" spring schedule runs through July 15 and features the Foundation's restored B-17 bomber Aluminum Overcast. The airplane will stop at 21 locations in four states through the western United States before returning to its home in Oshkosh, Wis. "1998 marks the fifth straight year Aluminum Overcast has been flown on a major tour, but the first time it has flown to the West Coast," said Foundation President Tom Poberezny. "We want to honor the men, women and aircraft that played such an important part in World War II. The B-17 is a piece of flying history that will bring back memories for those involved in the war. It will also help younger visitors understand and appreciate the role such aircraft played in the development of both military and civil aviation." At each stop, special programs and/or tours have been scheduled to help visitors discover more about the four-engine bomber. The tours are organized with the cooperation and assistance of local EAA Chapters and will feature a complete look at the airplane's interior and exterior as well as presentations explaining more about the development and use of the B-17. The airplane's flight crew will be available at each stop to answer questions about the B-17. In addition to enabling people to discover more about the B-17 bomber, the tour's mission also hopes to increase awareness of EAA, its programs and local Chapters. Funds generated during the tour will help finance ongoing restoration and maintenance of the B-17, as well as other historic airplanes in the EAA Aviation Foundation's collection. Aluminum Overcast was built in 1945 and delivered to the Army Air Corps too late to see active service in World War II. The airplane has had a colorful history since then, however. It served in mapping and spraying operations in many countries until a private group purchased it in 1978. The airplane was donated to the EAA Aviation Foundation in 1981 with the provision of being maintained in airworthy condition. The airplane was on display at the EAA Air Adventure Museum in Oshkosh, Wis., until October 1993. It was then moved to the Foundation's Kermit Weeks Flight Research Center for maintenance and restoration procedures necessary for its first national tour in the spring of 1994. The B-17 will eventually be housed in the Air Adventure Museum's "Eagle Hangar," which features numerous World War II aircraft and exhibits. The airplane, painted in the colors of the 398th Bomb Group, will be flown by members of the EAA Warbirds of America who are experienced in World War II airplane operations. The exact program for each tour stop will be announced by local organizers. EAA is an international aviation organization with 170,000 members and more than 950 local Chapters. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 1-800-JOIN-EAA (1-800-564-6322) or explore EAA's World Wide Web site at http://www.eaa.org. The EAA Aviation Foundation was founded in 1962 and is dedicated to aviation education, preservation and research. Its headquarters are at the EAA Aviation Center in Oshkosh, Wis. EDITOR'S NOTE: A complete tour itinerary is included with this release.
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EAA Leads Effort To Relieve General Aviation From Burdensome Parts
Certification Regulation
EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wis. - (Feb. 10, 1998) - The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), in its role as the general aviation user representative to the International Certification Procedure Task Force (ICPTF), is appealing directly to top federal officials regarding a rule proposal on certification changes made to existing aviation products. EAA and six other general aviation organizations prepared a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding the issue. FAA's proposal, would amend FAR Part 21 to require modified or changed product to meet the most current airworthiness standards instead of original type certification rules. Charlie Schuck, EAA's Senior Washington Representative, joined government and industry officials as general aviation's representative on a panel reviewing the comments to this proposed rule. "The proposal, as applied to general aviation, is not supported by any data showing that safety is compromised under the current rule," EAA President Tom Poberezny said. "General aviation has been assured that there is supporting documentation, but none has ever been produced. We urge FAA to meet with general aviation interests to resolve this issue and avoid a major controversy." The general aviation alliance maintains that the final rule include exemptions for aircraft up to 6,000 pounds; and all changes accomplished through the use of Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs). These exemptions would ease general aviation concerns under the original proposal that small aircraft owners would not be able to appropriately modify their aircraft to improve safety and utility. It would also allow time to properly study the proposed rules' application to STCs. During a meeting in Toulouse, France, international commercial and transport aviation interests outnumbered general aviation supporters and rejected amendments that would relieve general aviation of the new certification requirements. The original proposal's requirements were designed specifically for transport category aircraft and not the vast majority of general aviation aircraft. EAA and the other general aviation groups will meet with FAA later this month in an attempt to reach an agreement acceptable to all parties. They are also urging Guy Gardner, FAA's Associate Administrator for Regulations and Certification, to become directly involved in the proposal's process. "As now written, the proposal would harm general aviation users by deterring introduction of safety enhancements to the general aviation fleet," Poberezny said. "Small businesses in the U.S. supporting general aviation, such as manufacturers and repair stations, would be irreparably harmed by this proposal. At a time when FAA should be boosting a renaissance in general aviation, this proposal would add the time and cost of further regulations to what is already one of the country's most regulated industries." EAA is an international aviation organization with 170,000 members and more than 950 local Chapters. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 1-800-JOIN-EAA (1-800-564-6322) or explore EAA's World Wide Web site at http://www.eaa.org. |
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Don Luscombe Aviation History Foundation
Raffle Winner Takes Delivery of Aircraft Single Ticket Purchase Fulfills a Life-Long Dream Phoenix, AZ.--It's not often that forty dollars is enough to fulfill a dream, but for Darylene Beyerl of Mukwonogo, WI., that amount bought a ticket in the annual Don Luscombe Aviation History Foundation "Win Me" aircraft raffle. At the 1997 Copperstate Regional EAA Fly-In Awards Banquet her ticket was chosen as the Grand Prize winner and Mrs. Beyerl's life-long dream of owning an aircraft came true. On January 29, 1998 Mrs. Beyerl, a non-pilot in her 70's who has bought tickets in each year's raffle since 1995, was given title to the 1946 Luscombe 8E in a small ceremony at Chandler (AZ) Municipal Airport. Following the ceremony, Foundation President P. Douglas Combs took her on a one hour "orientation flight", during which she was given the chance to fly her aircraft for the first time. "It was just amazing," she remarked afterwards. "This is such a beautiful little airplane. I'll remember this day for the rest of my life." During her visit, Mrs. Beyerl was also taken on a tour of the Foundation's facilities where she met with the staff and student interns who restored her aircraft. The annual "Win Me" raffle is a significant revenue generator for the Foundation which helps to offset the costs of the various projects currently underway and planned for the future. Chief among these projects are the on-going student internships offered to A&P Technician candidates at nearby Chandler Gilbert Community College and the establishment of a permanent museum/archive facility at Chandler Municipal Airport. A purchase agreement for land to site the facility on was recently signed, and the Foundation has begun the design phase of this most important project. For more information on the Don Luscombe Aviation History Foundation and any of its on-going projects, please call (602) 917-0969 or send an email to silvair@luscombe.org. Visit the DLAHF website at http://www.luscombe.org. |
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British Parachute Association - Email Address
Please note that our domain name skydive@bpa.org.uk is again up and running. |
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Aerostar Delivers Hot Air Balloon For Major Country Duo
Aerostar International, North America's largest and world's oldest hot air balloon manufacturer has built and delivered a hot air balloon for the country music duo of Brooks and Dunn.  This balloon is the first hot air balloon ever designed and manufactured
for a major country music act anywhere in the world. The balloon features
two, three dimensional steer skulls that protrude from the side of the
balloon called appendages. The span of the horns from tip to tip is 64'.
The balloon is 63' tall and 60' in diameter and holds 105,000 cubic feet.
The balloon made its maiden voyage on January 28, 1998 in Sioux Falls, SD
as a test flight.
"We are particularly excited about this balloon as there will be literally thousands of people all over the country that will see our work." Comments Larry Manderscheid, Vice-President of Sales at Aerostar. "This type of visibility is good for Aerostar and the sport of ballooning." Manderscheid adds. The balloon will be used for pre-concert promotions, tethers and guest rides throughout the upcoming concert season for Brooks and Dunn. The balloon is scheduled to return to Sioux Falls for the March 7 sold out concert. Aerostar also manufactured two 12' tall by 5' wide cold air inflatable boots that will be featured on stage during the concert. The new inflatables have been designed and painted featured on stage during the concert. The new inflatables have been designed and painted to have the look of well-worn boots and feature the famous Brooks and Dunn skull logo. Aerostar International is based in Sioux Falls, SD and employs 77 full time and part time employees. Aerostar also manufactures cold air inflatables, parade balloons and remote controlled blimps for companies all over the world. Aerostar International is a wholly owned subsidiary of Raven Industries. For more information contact : Allen Schlenker National Sales Manager Hot Air Balloons PO Box 5057 Sioux Falls, SD 57117-5057 Phone : (605) 331-3500 Fax : (605) 331-3520 e-mail : sales@aerostar.com web : www.aerostar.com |
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OTHER ARTICLES OF ASI MARCH'98 ISSUE | News In Brief | Letters To The Editor | World Records | | No Swan Song Here | | Ninety Years Ago Most Aerial Voyages Ended Up Water-Borne | | Assessing The PW-5, ME-7 and EA9 | | 11th World Hang Gliding Championships | | Musical Parachute Which Destroyed Blanchard | |
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electrical, mechanical, photo-copying, recording or otherwise, without acknowledgement to FAI or AIR SPORTS INTERNATIONAL. |
