• The Best Source for Most Complete, Updated EAA Airventure 2000 Info
• Junior Balloonist Camp Announced
• Eaa SportAir Tig Welding Workshop
• Homebuilt Flight Training Exemption
• Vintage-Contemporary Category Change
• Copperstate Fly-in Continues Williams Gateway Tradition

Before the thousands of EAA members and other aviation enthusiasts participate at EAA AirVenure Oshkosh this summer, they'll be seeking the latest, updated information regarding the world's premier aviation event. The first place many of them turn as they seek tips and info prior to the event is the EAA AirVenture website, which will draw millions of hits before, during and after this year's event as Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis.

www.airventure.org

The website continually updates the activities and special programmes during AirVenture 2000, which will be held July 26 - August 1. Along with essential information on admissions, accommodations and transportation, the website includes such items as air show schedules, unique aircraft coming to Oshkosh and the variety of specialty areas available at AirVenture.

"The AirVenture wesite has become the favorite stop for those who want the best and latest information for what's going on at the event," said Stephan Brown, EAA's Senior Vice President of Marketing. "Our goal is create the 'ultimate insider' site for AirVenture participants, as well as those who can only join us in a 'virtual' sense. We have added a number of features this year to assist those who are planning to attend."

Among the new additions this year are feature stories that highlight specific areas at AirVenture. Those features focus on such areas as the expanded forums and workshops for aircraft builders and restorers, as well as some of the most popular airplanes - including British Airways' Concorde and the Warbirds. Other articles explore areas such as KidVenture and the AirVenture Museum.

Other areas on the AirVenture website contain important information for visitors, from housing contacts and a campground guide, to airline discounts available and how to volunteer during the event. As AirVenture nears, other important items such as the EAA Oshkosh NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) and aircraft parking conditions will be added.

EAA Airventure Oshkosh is the world's premier aviation event and EAA's yearly membership convention, with an annual attendance of more than 750,000 along with 12,000 airplanes. Annual EAA members receive substantial discounts on admission rates. For more information on EAA and its programmes, call-1-800-JOIN-EAA (1-800-564-6322)

www.eaa.org

Aircraft builders and restorers seeking to learn or refine their TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding skills now have an outstanding opportunity during four separate EAA SportAir Workshops to be held in May, August, September and November 2000. The workshops are provided by EAA, The Leader in Recreational Aviation.

These workshops, held in Griffin, Ga., offer hands-on experience with TIG (also known as GTAW-gas tungsten arc welding). These skills are valuable for aircraft builders and restorers who use this type of welding, which is known for its strong, corrosion-resistant welds.

Included during instruction by the SportAir Workshops' professional staff are such topics as proper equipment and preparation; TIG fundamentals; power settings; using this welding method on aircraft; and more.

The welding workshops are co-sponsored by Lincoln Electric, a supporter of EAA programs including those at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. There are only limited openings remaining for the May 5-7 workshop, but additional sessions are scheduled Aug. 18-20, Sept. 22-24 and Nov. 10-12.

Enrollment at each session is limited to 12 people. Cost is $329 per person for EAA members, $349 for non-members, which includes all training and materials. For more information or to register, call 800-967-5746 or visit the EAA SportAir web site

www.sportair.com

EAA, The Leader in Recreational Aviation, is an international association with 170,000 members and more than 975 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

www.eaa.org

The efforts of EAA, The Leader in Recreational Aviation, the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) and the Small Aircraft Manufacturers Association (SAMA) have produced a major advancement in flight training rules, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted an exemption allowing transition flight training in amateur-built Experimental category aircraft.

The exemption will allow pilots who will be flying amateur-built (or "homebuilt") aircraft to receive training in similar aircraft to better prepare for their future flying. This type of flight training also prepares the pilot for the different flight characteristics of a particular homebuilt aircraft.

"We are pleased FAA has granted this exemption, which will enhance safety for pilots of homebuilt aircraft," said Tom Poberezny, EAA President.

"Homebuilt aircraft represent the fastest-growing segment of general aviation. It is only proper that pilots transitioning to these aircraft have an opportunity to receive as much training time in them as possible prior to their first independent flights. This move by FAA will make homebuilt aircraft even safer."

In petitioning FAA for the exemption in July 1999, EAA, NAFI and SAMA noted that most pilots who are transitioning to homebuilt aircraft never have an opportunity to receive dual training in that type of aircraft before their first solo flight in a homebuilt. A number of pilots have received training in factory-owned homebuilts, but these company training programs cannot expand to serve the large number of pilots who transition to homebuilt aircraft each year. -more-

In its petition, EAA, NAFI and SAMA offered to develop appropriate guidance and promotional materials to support the exemption. Through the exemption, a safe method to prepare pilots for airplanes people might build, restore or purchase would be established. The change would be allowed only for transition training, not primary flight training.

The exemption is valid through April 30, 2002. It responds to recommendations made in 1997 by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which urged type-specific training in experimental aircraft. Experimental aircraft used for transition training must comply with all FAA airworthiness and maintenance regulations for those aircraft. Instructors must develop proper flight training procedures and keep records of training given.

"There are many flight instructors who have a wealth of experience in Experimental aircraft and would welcome the opportunity to provide transition training in those aircraft," said Sean Elliott, NAFI's Executive Director. "These instructors are familiar with developing the procedures and syllabi for safe and effective training programs."

In granting the exemption, FAA removed an allowance for transition training in Experimental-Exhibition aircraft such as warbirds (former military aircraft now privately owned). EAA and NAFI officials said they would petition FAA to amend the exemption to include these aircraft.

"For those who purchase warbird aircraft, it is vital that they receive transition training before they make their first solo flights in those airplanes," said Earl Lawrence, EAA's Vice President of Government Relations. "We believe that safety will be further enhanced by including those airplanes. We will continue to work with FAA to include exhibition aircraft in the transition training exemption."

EAA, The Leader in Recreational Aviation, is an international association with 170,000 members and more than 975 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

www.eaa.org

The Vintage Aircraft Association (VAA), a Division of EAA, The Leader in Recreational Aviation, is expanding one of its three categories used for judging eligible aircraft at fly-ins and major aviation events such as EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.

The Contemporary judging category, which was added in 1993, will now include all factory-built aircraft constructed between Jan. 1, 1956, and Dec. 31, 1965. The Contemporary category had previously included aircraft built from 1956 through 1960. The change becomes effective at this year's EAA AirVenture event, which will be held July 26-Aug. 1 at Oshkosh.

"It was time to expand the Contemporary category from its original five-year eligibility period," said H.G. Frautschy, VAA Executive Director. "The most prominent reason is that we are seeing full restoration of airplanes built between 1961 and 1965. As we saw more of these airplanes being restored as representative of a certain era, rather than maintained as only 'workhorse' members of the general aviation fleet, VAA felt the time was right to include them in our judging categories."

The 10,000-member VAA is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of vintage aircraft. It has been a full Division of EAA for more than 25 years.

EAA, The Leader in Recreational Aviation, is an international association with 170,000 members and more than 975 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

www.eaa.org

The Copperstate Regional EAA Fly-in returns to Williams Gateway Airport in Mesa, Ariz., for its 29th Annual fly-in and airshow event on October 12-15, 2000. The largest EAA Fly-in in the Southwest, COPPERSTATE '99 hosted attendees from over 24 states and four foreign countries, 660 fly-in aircraft, and over 120 exhibitors.

"We're thankful that Williams Gateway is allowing us to hold the event here one more year," said Bob Hasson, COPPERSTATE Fly-In Chairman. COPPERSTATE is looking to obtain a long-term lease at another airport in Arizona starting in 2001.

COPPERSTATE runs from Thursday through Sunday and features a dynamic airshow each day except Thursday. National and regional aerobatic stars perform in the airshow each year. Although the airshow acts are not yet finalized for 2000, Ken Brock, Ken Fowler and Ed Hamill have confirmed that they will be part of COPPERSTATE airshow.

More acts are awaiting confirmation. COPPERSTATE is more than just an airshow, however. It is a gathering of like-minded people of all aviation trades. For the youngest aviation enthusiasts, Bruce Schoenberger's award-winning rib-building program allows kids of ages 8-15 years to build a wooden airplane rib in 90 minutes or less. Free flights in general aviation aircraft are offered for youth as part of EAA's national Young Eagles program.

Educational forums and workshops are a mainstay of any EAA event, and COPPERSTATE is not short on these activities. Over 60 forums were conducted over the four days of the 1999 event, with as many as five forums being presented concurrently. Forum topics ranged from FAA Certification procedures, NTSB safety reports, and border crossing procedures to building RV aircraft.

One unique aspect of COPPERSTATE forums is the emphasis on auto engine conversions. An entire forum tent is dedicated to auto engine conversions, from GM V-6s, to VW and Subaru conversions. Aircraft builders can learn new building techniques and hone their skills at any of the hands-on workshops presented at COPPERSTATE. Workshops include fabric-covering (sponsored by Poly-Fiber), woodworking, metalworking, composites, welding, engine repair, and avionics. For the aircraft builder looking for aviation memorabilia or out-of-production parts, vendors and the Fly Market present a variety of shopping choices.

In 1999, over 120 vendors from the U.S. and Europe offered their wares for sale. Goods ranged from books, clothing and collectibles to tools and aircraft parts. The Fly Market has also expanded, offering over $45,000 worth of aviation goods for sale on a consignment basis. Instruments, airplane parts, tools, engines, cases, and even whole aircraft projects are typically available for purchase. Another event that goes on somewhat behind the scenes is the judging of showplanes in several categories. Awards for best homebuilt (wood, composite or other), best ultralight, and people's choice are among the awards presented at the Saturday night banquet. The 1999 COPPERSTATE Grand Champion was a beautiful RV-6 owned by Tyler Feldman of Medford, Oregon.