We All Fly1/15
Welcome Back! National Air and Space Museum Docent TrainingNMB Spotlight Training: We All Fly 2/15
In this training... This lesson will introduce you to providing spotlights in the We All Fly gallery at the National Air and Space Museum: National Mall Building. After completing this lesson you will have learned more about:
This lesson, and its corresponding quiz cover the very basic content that you will need to know for starting We All Fly Spotlights at NASM's National Mall Building. 3/15
We All Fly “No pilot ever forgets his first airplane ride.” —Bill Kershner Thomas W. Haas We All Fly celebrates the breadth and depth of general aviation and its deep impact on society. This gallery explores the many facets of general aviation, from sport to business to humanitarian, and introduces the variety of careers available in aviation. Gallery Overview VideoPlease watch the following video to learn about We All Fly from Curator Dorothy Cochrane. This section of the training is 20 minutes long. This video is fully captioned. If you would like to turn the captions on, click on the button in the bottom right corner of the video screen that says "CC." 4/15
Introduction Do you dream of flying when you see an airplane in the sky? Today there are more ways than ever to join the aerospace community. You can start with general aviation—but what is it? General aviation is civilian, non-commercial flight. It applies to all aircraft other than commercial airline or cargo planes, or military aircraft. Sure, general aviation is about people flying airplanes, but there are dozens of ways to participate:
Object Highlight: AirCraft: The Jet as Art By Jeffrey Milstein Archival pigment prints Jeffrey Milstein’s work combines his creative passion as a fine art photographer with his lifelong enthusiasm for flight. He grew up near the Los Angeles International Airport and was so enchanted by the aircraft overhead that he earned his pilot license on his 17th birthday. In this selection of general aviation images, Milstein stands at the end of runways and captures aircraft with his high-resolution digital camera moments before they land. What Does Flying Mean to You? Most people think about commercial airlines or military aircraft when they think about flying, but flight has so many dimensions—amazing, helpful, and even whimsical applications. Discover a whole world of flight: general aviation. General Aviation is Everything But…
The United States leads the world in general aviation operations due to plenty of open airspace, less government regulation or private sector rules and fees, and the freedom of personal mobility.
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Sport Aviation, Part 1 Adventure Meets Skill Sport aviation is flying for pleasure and purpose. It can be fun—soaring through the sky—and it can be your job—guiding endangered birds to safety. To make sport aviation more affordable, many aviators build their own airplanes from kits or plans. Aerobatic airplanes, ultralights, seaplanes, rotorcraft, powered parachutes, sailplanes, hang gliders, paragliders, and balloons are all ready for takeoff—with a little help from you. What does it take to be a sport pilot? The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) created the Sport Pilot Certificate to make learning to fly easier and less costly.
Student pilots may fly solo after completion of specified training and demonstrated proficiency in: Pre-flight preparation, rigging, operation of controls, lift off, climbs, descents, landings, emergency procedures, Parts 61 & 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations and a passing grade on a written pre-solo test. The Aerobatic Flight Toolkit In aerobatic flight, a pilot masters three basic maneuvers: the roll, the loop, and the spin. For competitions, air show performances, or just for fun, pilots combine these three moves to create complex and exciting sequences in the sky. Aerobatic flight takes stamina and focus, and flying safely is paramount. Aerobatics challenges general aviation pilots, builds their confidence, and sharpens their flying skills. Wilbur Wright flew gentle figure-eight turns in the first public exhibitions of the 1908 Wright Flyer in France. Pilots thrilled crowds with more dramatic turns, climbing and diving at the first international air meet in Reims the following year. Lincoln Beachey flew for the Glenn Curtiss team in 1910, often racing against automobiles. Back then, many exhibition pilots knew little about aerodynamics. Some lost their lives pushing the limits of their fragile aircraft. Loops, Rolls, and Spins! Inside Loop Imperial Russian Air Service pilot Lt. Pyotr Nikolaevich Nesterov performed the first inside loop (pilot cockpit facing inside the loop) in 1913. He went to prison for endangering state property. Today, the winning men’s team in the World Aerobatic Championships receives the Nesterov Cup. Roll During a roll, the aircraft literally rolls around its axis. A pilot can do slow rolls or high-speed snap rolls. Spin The spin is a rotational maneuver in which one wing of the aircraft is stalled (has no lift) but the other wing keeps flying and the aircraft rotates around the stalled wing. Aresti Charts the Maneuvers Spaniard José Luis de Aresti Aguirre developed the Aresti system in 1964 to map aerobatic routines. He gave a difficulty factor to each of the original 3,000 maneuvers. Pilots write their routines on cards using Aresti symbols to refer to their sequences during flight. Judges use their copy of the aerobatic routines to evaluate performances. The Chambliss Routine Five-time National Aerobatic Champion Kirby Chambliss flew this routine—in the Unlimited (most difficult) category—in his Edge 540 at the 2003 World Aerobatic Championship. After World War I, the War Department sold aircraft to “barnstormers”—former military pilots and civilians—at bargain prices. Excited crowds gathered when barnstormers circled over nearby fields, and paid them for airplane rides. Groups of barnstormers performed as organized entertainers, like the Doug Davis Baby Ruth Flying Circus. Pilots looped and dove, and carried aloft wing walkers and trapeze artists. After World War II, flying circuses evolved into the air shows we see today. More than 18 million Americans enjoy flight demonstrations every year. Pilots mix with crowds, sharing information about aircraft and aviation. Air show flying is exciting, but highly regulated. Local communities benefit from ticket, food, and hotel sales and access to aviation groups. "Sometimes I’d hear myself beginning to whimper from the pain; I’d tell myself I’d do just one maneuver and then I’d come down. Some days I’d keep saying that through 150 maneuvers." - Leo Loudenslager Contest of Rivals Pilots have critiqued each other’s maneuvers since Russian Lt. Pyotr Nesterov flew the first loop in 1913. Today, the International Aerobatic Club promotes competition aerobatics and can help find a competition near you. Bring your discipline and commitment! Pilots Buzz into Oshkosh More than 500,000 people attend the annual EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) invites sport pilots to fly their aircraft to the event. Thousands camp out beneath their aircraft during the week-long show. Aerobatic Legends Set a High Bar Diverse Stories: Betty SkeltonYou didn’t become a champion because you were lucky. It happened because you worked your tail end off. - Betty Skelton Betty Skelton paved the way for women in aviation, sports, and business. Flying her Pitts Special, Little Stinker, Skelton became the first woman to perform the inverted ribbon cut. Skelton won International Feminine Aerobatic Championships in 1948, 1949, and 1950, and set 17 records for flying and driving race cars. She performed at air shows and pushed the women’s altitude record to 29,050 feet (8,850 meters). See the Little Stinker at the entrance to the Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. Diverse Stories: Leo Loudenslager Leo Loudenslager won seven U.S. National Aerobatic Championships (1975–1978 and 1980–1982) and the World Aerobatic Championship in 1980. Aerobatics judge Clint McHenry said he’d only seen two perfect routines—both flown by Loudenslager. Loudenslager spent years refining a mid-wing Stephens Akro monoplane into the Laser 200. His work and performances influenced the field. Today, nearly all top-level aerobatic aircraft are nimble monoplanes. See the Loudenslager Laser 200 at the Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. Diverse Stories: Patty Wagstaff I have always loved speed, fast cars, running horses, and spinning around crazily on carnival rides, as fast as a machine could go, as blurring a sensation as possible. - Patty Wagstaff Flying the Extra 260, Patty Wagstaff became the U.S. National Aerobatic Champion in September 1991. She defended the title in 1992 and 1993 at the controls of an Extra 300S monoplane. Wagstaff was the first woman to win the combined men’s and women’s title. An air-show veteran, Wagstaff has run an aerobatic flight school and instructed Kenya Wildlife Service pilots. See Wagstaff’s Extra 260 monoplane in the west end Commons area of the Museum. Object Highlight: Patty Wagstaff’s Flight Suit Aerobatic champion Patty Wagstaff wore this flight suit during her performances. Object Highlight: Patty Wagstaff’s Beaded Earrings Object Highlight: Patty Wagstaff’s Flight Gloves Object Highlight: U.S. National Aerobatic Champion Trophy, 1991 Diverse Stories: Bob Hoover "I had to overcome airsickness. All I knew was that I wanted a career in aviation." - Bob Hoover Robert A. “Bob” Hoover served as a U.S. fighter pilot in World War II. Shot down and captured, Hoover stole a German aircraft and escaped. A top military and civilian test pilot, Hoover flew at air shows from the 1950s through the 1990s in his P-51 Mustang and Shrike Commander 500S. He famously poured iced tea from a pitcher into a glass atop the instrument panel while flying a complete and precise barrel roll. He didn’t spill a drop. See Hoover’s North American Rockwell Shrike Commander at the Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. Diverse Stories: Sean D. Tucker "I want to share the magic of flight!" - Sean D. Tucker Sean D. Tucker started out as a crop duster. Learning aerobatics helped him feel more comfortable in the cockpit, and he became the 1988 Advanced National Aerobatic Champion. Known for his passion for aviation, Tucker has logged more than 26,000 hours of flight. Tucker works steadily to bring young people into the aerospace community. He founded Tutima Academy aerobatic flight school and co-founded the Bob Hoover Academy, engaging at-risk teens in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. He also chaired the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles first flight children’s program. Object Highlight: Aviation Specialties Unlimited Challenger III Sean D.Tucker rolled and tumbled like no other flyer. Specialty Aero and Aviation Specialties Unlimited built the Challenger III aerobatic biplane to withstand Tucker’s maneuvers—like rolling the Challenger III at 400 degrees per second. A “flying tail” helped him fly sustained knife-edge and backwards flight. Designers and engineers made the airframe with welded steel tubes. They used wood spars in the wings, and covered the wings and fuselage with fabric. Eight ailerons and curved wing tips enhanced maneuverability. The tail had a carbon-fiber covered vertical fin and an aluminum rudder. The custom-built, fuel injected engine featured aluminum pistons manufactured for drag racing cars. Object Highlight: Sean D. Tucker’s Flight Suit, with Helmet Object Highlight: Scotty McCray’s Straw Hat Byron G. “Scotty” McCray wore this hat during air shows. The movie theme song Born Free boomed out to the crowd as McCray looped, rolled, and spun the Schweizer 2-22 sailplane from 2,500 feet (800 meters) down to a silent landing. What parts of these flight suits would you wear? From Harriet Quimby’s 1912 plum flight suit to these sporty ensembles, clothes for flying have comfort, protection, and flair. Object Highlight: Practice Day SFO By Lise Lemeland Oil on canvas, 2009 Artist and aerobatic pilot Lise Lemeland uses an aeronautical map of the San Francisco airport, white-stenciled “clouds,” and outlined aircraft to depict congested airspace during a practice day. Object Highlight: Pitts Special By Ted Wilbur Oil on canvas, 1973 The Pitts Special was the most successful American aircraft type in unlimited-class aerobatic contests in the 1970s. Naval pilot and combat artist Capt. Ted Wilbur, USN (Ret.), flew more than 6,000 hours. He paints in a photorealistic style. Object Highlight: Sacramento Glider By Richard McLean Oil on canvas, 1973 Flying a model glider could be your earliest aviation dream come true. In this photorealistic painting, the artist depicts a sunny flying-weather day in northern California. Homebuilt Aircraft By World War I, factory workers were building airplanes on assembly lines. Because the cost to buy and maintain these aircraft was beyond the means of most enthusiasts, they began to design, build, and fly their own aircraft. Today, thousands of people build sport aircraft from kits or detailed construction plans, like the Sonex kit shown below. Experimental By federal law, the word “experimental” must prominently appear on homebuilt aircraft. Builders must show the FAA that the project is for education or recreation only, and that they built more than half of the aircraft to standards. DIY Sport Pilots Sport flying is one of the most accessible types of general aviation. A friend, neighbor, relative, or coworker could be a sport pilot, and so can you! Diverse Stories: Charlie Precourt "I was intrigued by the composite [FRP] construction and I thought building it would be useful for my career." - Charlie Precourt A U.S. Air Force pilot, Charlie Precourt was a Space Shuttle commander who docked with the Russian Mir space station. He built his first airplane, a VariEze, in 1978. Diverse Stories: Kathy Sullivan "The [Bellanca] Super Decathlon is just such a classic, elegant, honest airplane. And I don’t want to fly for high purpose anymore… I just want to do artistic flying." - Kathy Sullivan The first American woman to walk in space, Kathy Sullivan was a crew member aboard three Space Shuttle missions. "I want to fly for the enjoyment of being in the sky, and being in a plane that’s kind of an extension of yourself." - Kathy Sullivan What's In Your Garage? Many homebuilders build sport aircraft in their garages. Construction can require several years. (An understanding partner can be helpful!) A “VariEze” Airplane to Build Interest in homebuilt aircraft grew with the VariEze (pronounced “very easy”), designed by aerospace engineer Burt Rutan. The airframe was made of industrial foam covered with fiberglass reinforced with epoxy resin, often called fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP). FRP was “very easy” for builders with average skills to work with. Rutan designed the aircraft to be economical to fly and maintain. Sales took off once Rutan started selling construction plans in 1976. Two hundred VariEzes were flying by 1980. Burt Rutan (center) accepts the National Air and Space Museum Trophy for Lifetime Achievement on March 21, 2012. With him is Wayne Clough (left), Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and John R. Dailey (right), Director of the National Air and Space Museum. See the VariEze at the Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. It was the first one built from plans by Burt Rutan’s team. They painted “N4EZ” on its wing tips. The VariEze PerformsClosely following Rutan’s plans, builders could construct an airplane powered by a 100 horsepower (75 kilowatt) Continental engine that could carry two adults about 700 miles (about 1,100 kilometers) at 180 mph (290 km/h). Some VariEzes could climb at 2,000 feet (608 meters) per minute to altitudes near 25,000 feet (7,600 meters). Composite Materials This material is durable, but light —perfect for this homebuilt aircraft. The composite material is made from foam blocks that are shaped and then covered with fiberglass and resin. The foam by itself—think Styrofoam ice cooler—is too soft. Cover it with fiberglass cloth and resin: It’s strong enough for flight. The VariEze cockpit accommodates a front seat pilot and passenger up to 6 feet 6 inches (1.9 meters) tall. This drawing shows design features and component details of the VariEze systems. Object Highlight: The Canard Pusher Quarterly Newsletter Rutan published a newsletter sharing updates to the VariEze construction plans, corrections, and tips from other builders. Rutan insisted that all VariEze builders subscribe. Today, builders of homebuilt aircraft receive this information electronically. Object Highlight: VariEze Kit Components A few VariEze components could be costly and difficult for average homebuilders to make on their own. Rutan made sure commercial suppliers kept them in stock. Cockpit Canopy Main Landing Gear Strut Wing Attach Fitting Aluminum fittings on each wing join the inner and outer wing panels. A builder buys these parts finished and ready to install. Nose Landing Gear Strut Object Highlight: VariEze Tools Foam Wing Cores The VariEze homebuilder buys raw foam blocks and carves them into aerodynamic shapes with a hot-wire cutter before applying the resin and glass cloth. These outer wing panel blocks have already been carved. Notice the nail holes at each end where the homebuilder attached the templates to guide the cutter. Hot-Wire Foam Cutter Homebuilders use a cutter like this one to shape the foam. Electric current heats the wire to melt the foam as the homebuilder and a helper pull the frame. Metal or wood templates are attached to the ends of the foam block to guide the wire. Winglet Root Template A builder uses scissors to cut the template from the VariEze plans before gluing it to a piece of thin linoleum, plywood, or aluminum. The wood or metal must be cut precisely to fit—there is little room for error. Canard Foam Core and Template A builder cuts foam core for the canard by dragging a hot-wire cutter along this template—one of two tacked to each end of the foam core. The builder covers the core with fiberglass cloth while brushing on the wet epoxy resin. What’s a Canard? Aircraft designers use the word canard (French for “duck”) to describe an airplane with a small wing at the front of the fuselage. Rutan added a canard to the VariEze to give the pilot better control during a stall, when the wings lose lift. Rutan set the canard to stall before the main wing. Composite Construction is Key Rutan studied the construction of high-performance European sailplanes as he designed the first VariEze. In a construction method called fiberglass-reinforced plastic, or FRP, craftsmen cut foam to shape, place it in molds, and cover the foam with fiberglass and synthetic resin glue. An autoclave cures the layers with pressure and heat. On his first VariEze, Rutan used a variation of FRP that did not require a mold. The first homebuilt VariEzes were flying less than a year after Rutan published plans. The key to the rapid construction? The mold-less FRP. Object Highlight: License Plate License plate from Zahn’s Airport on Long Island, New York, formerly one of the busiest general aviation airfields in the United States. 6/15
Sport Aviation, Part 2 From Hang Gliders to Ultralights The first practical hang glider appeared well over one century ago. In the 1970s, an engine-powered glider called an ultralight came on the scene. Otto Lilienthal made the first successful, repeated, and documented flights in a foot-launched glider. Between 1891 and 1896, he flew more than 2,000 times in hang gliders of his own design. See an original Lilienthal glider in Early Flight on the first floor. Enthusiasts revived the hang glider in the 1960s. When pilots added small engines to fly higher and farther, the ultralight was born. Modern ultralights such as the yellow Belite Chipper look like full-size aircraft but they still carry traces of hang glider “DNA.” Ultralight aircraft are the most accessible form of powered flight. Can anyone fly an ultralight? There are no age limits for ultralight pilots. Yet as with all aircraft, it’s essential for passenger and pilot safety to use good judgment about what, when, and where to fly. Francis Rogallo (right), with wife Gertrude, holds their invention, a flexible kite. It could be folded until air flow formed it into a simple airfoil shape. The Rogallos sold a toy version until Russians launched the Sputnik satellite in 1957. During the Space Race, the U.S. government sought to use a “Rogallo wing” to recover spacecraft. See a Rogallo wing on the Gemini Paraglider Research Vehicle 1-A at the Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. Early in the Space Race, NASA engineers enlarged the Rogallos’ kite into a wing. But test flights showed that unfolding the wing was too unpredictable to help brake and guide a spacecraft reentering the atmosphere. When popular magazines described NASA’s tests on the Rogallo wing, citizen entrepreneurs seized the idea and transformed it into one of the simplest forms of flight. Richard Miller built the “bamboo butterfly” for a few dollars in 1966. Hang gliders became popular in the 1960s. Three characteristics separate them from other aircraft:
Power + Parachute = Paraplane The powered ultralight category includes powered parachutes, called paraplanes. Glider + Parachute = Paraglider Paraglider pilots soar beneath modified parachutes. Frank Brown, Donizete Lemos, and Marcelo Prieto set a new world record in 2016 with a flight of 319 miles (513 kilometers) across northeastern Brazil. Let’s Go Parahawking Paraglider pilot Scott Mason created parahawking by combining falconry with modern paragliding. Mason trains endangered birds of prey to fly with paragliders and their paying passengers. The birds can guide the paragliders to thermals—currents of warm air—that help keep paragliders aloft. A portion of parahawking fees goes to efforts to save endangered birds. Only pilots flying ultralights can fly slowly enough to interact safely with birds. Just a few thousand white-backed vultures, slender-billed vultures, and long-billed vultures remained in 2017. The drug Diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory used to treat sick and dying livestock across Asia, poisoned 40 million vultures and pushed these species to near extinction. Operation Migration Canadians Bill Lishman and Joe Duff founded Operation Migration in 1994 to teach captive-reared birds to migrate by following the Cosmos Phase II ultralight aircraft “…the wildlife equivalent of putting a man on the moon” - John Christian This quote from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s John Christian sums up the work of Operation Migration. Hazards in the air and on the ground complicate the work. Then there’s getting those cranes across the Appalachian Mountains. Why use an ultralight to lead birds? It’s slow, pretty quiet, and fairly easy to control. The pilot can cruise along with the birds without causing them harm or stress. Once Plentiful, Now Vulnerable Whooping cranes once numbered in the thousands. By 1941, only 21 remained. The species was headed for extinction due to human interference. It would take captive breeding, an ultralight, and reintroduction to bring these birds back from the brink. Whooping Cranes Migrate In nature, whooping cranes breed in the north during the summer, and migrate south in the fall. Young cranes learn the migration route by following the adults. For captive-bred birds, people would need to train them to migrate. Training Cranes to Be Cranes Whooping crane reintroduction was not about “letting them go” to fly home. It took imagination plus painstaking work, starting with eggs, to teach hand-raised cranes—who have no migration knowledge—how to find their way along a 1,200-mile (1,930-kilometer) route. My Mom’s a Puppet! Crane chicks identify with whoever raises them. So aviculturists dressed in costumes, and used hand puppets that looked like adult cranes. That way, when released to nature, the young birds would recognize other cranes—rather than people—as their own kind. From Puppets to Planes The captive-raised cranes—who had no migration knowledge—needed to rely on the ultralight to guide them along the 1,200-mile (1,931-kilometer) route. Even as eggs they “heard” recorded sounds of an ultralight engine. Eight weeks after hatching, the birds were following the ultralight as it taxied, and flying with the aircraft at 80 to 90 days old. En Route After taking off, the whooping cranes jockeyed for a position to “surf” the strong wing tip vortex generated by the ultralight. A bird can fly with less effort from this coveted position. On the Ground and in the Sky The 2005 migration required a dozen people. Two flew Cessnas, providing “top cover” by communicating with Air Traffic Control and coordinating the migration with the ground staff. Success Took Extraordinary Effort In 2006, the first migratory whooping crane in over 100 years hatched in the United States. But the aircraft-guided reintroduction method, deemed too “artificial” to be sustainable, ended in 2016. Object Highlight: Smock, Hood, and Goggles Operation Migration staff wore this disguise so the birds wouldn’t imprint on humans. Staff forbade talking near the cranes for the same reason. Biologists gave numbers—but not names—to each new hatchling to remind people that the birds were not pets. Object Highlight: Hand Puppet Staff wore hand puppets to keep crane chicks from imprinting on humans. This made it easier for the birds to bond with, and follow, the ultralight. Object Highlight: MP3 Player and Loudspeaker A whooping crane brood call played through the loudspeaker attached to the ultralight’s left landing gear strut. The recording encouraged the birds to stay in formation with the ultralight. Object Highlight: Pilot Helmet, Headset, and GPS Unit The whooping cranes’ migration route stretches from Wisconsin to Florida. Depending on weather—and the cranes—a flight leg can cover as much as 200 miles (322 kilometers) or as little as 23 miles (37 kilometers). The GPS unit allowed precise navigation. The pilot used the headset to communicate with the chase aircraft and ground crew. Object Highlight: Outside View By Leon Applebaum Glass, 1983 Applebaum’s bowl depicts impressions of flight. Look for the glider, birds, a parachutist, a pterodactyl, and cloud forms. Object Highlight: Cosmos Phase II From 1995 to 2001, Joe Duff and other Operation Migration pilots led Canada geese to South Carolina, trumpeter swans to the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, and whooping cranes from Wisconsin to Florida in this Cosmos Phase II ultralight. The aircraft had its Hollywood debut in Columbia Pictures’ Fly Away Home. Ultralights are ideal for training endangered, captive-bred birds to migrate. The ‘trike’ pilot sits on a three-wheeled airframe that supports the Rogallo wing. Birds follow the ultralight thinking it is “mother.” The pilot safely matches the birds’ cruising speed, about 38 mph (24 km/h) for whooping cranes. Propeller Guard Do you see the wire mesh caging around the propeller? This propeller guard protected the birds if they drifted too close to the spinning blades during flight. Gliders and Sailplanes Soar After balloons, gliders are the oldest form of human flight. Strong updrafts on the windward side of mountain ridges can keep a glider aloft for hours. In 1921, German gliding pioneers discovered columns of warm air, called thermals. They adopted the term “sailplane” (in German, Segelflugzeug—literally “sailing airplane”) to describe a glider capable of climbing after takeoff and soaring high and far in the uplifting air currents. Thermals are the most common form of lift used by sailplane pilots. In 1933, German pilots discovered the most powerful lift known. “Wave lift” usually forms above mountains, and can reach the stratosphere. This is a view inside a volcano. Its hot air can lift a sailplane. Using ridge, thermal, and wave lift, sailplane pilots can remain aloft all day, fly more than 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers), and reach altitudes exceeding 40,000 feet (12,200 meters). Hawley Bowlus designed the Baby Albatross in 1938 to sell as a series of kits. Bowlus placed ads in Popular Mechanics magazine. See the first BA-100 Baby Albatross at the Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. Join a Club! Nearly every region of the U.S. has a soaring club, and most clubs here and abroad offer flight training. Soaring clubs welcome high school volunteers every summer. Learn to Fly! At age 14, a student pilot can fly a sailplane solo. Soaring instructors review procedures on the ground, then fly with the student. When the instructor gives the go-ahead, the student is cleared to solo. Notable Soaring Enthusiasts Diverse Stories: Neil Armstrong "I wish I could join you. There is only one thing I would rather be doing: fortunately I am." - Neil Armstrong Neil A. Armstrong had planned to compete in the 1969 U.S. National Soaring Contest, but more pressing duties called him away: preparing to fly to the Moon. He sent his regrets in a telegram. Armstrong earned badges in 1964 for soaring goals in distance, duration, and altitude. In January 1965, Armstrong soared to 28,500 feet (8,690 meters). He commanded the Gemini VIII spaceflight less than three months later. Diverse Stories: Anne Morrow Lindbergh "Oh, the relief of getting off! It was quiet and the ship rose steadily…the ship responded easily to the controls. And it was so delicious, so still." - Anne Morrow Lindbergh Anne and Charles Lindbergh visited the San Diego area in early 1930 to learn the art of soaring. With Hawley Bowlus—who helped build the Spirit of St. Louis—as her instructor, Anne became the first woman in the United States to qualify for a First Class glider license. The media reports about Anne’s flight brought new awareness to women’s aviation. Diverse Stories: George Watkins George C. Watkins was the first naval aviator to make 1,000 landings aboard an aircraft carrier. A White House social aide to Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon, Watkins soared sailplanes and towed them aloft at Virginia’s Warrenton Soaring Club during the 1980s. Relocating to Lompoc, California, in 1998, Watkins taught glider aerobatics and competed in his custom Fox glider. Diverse Stories: Robert Harris IMAGE: Robert Harris stands beside the tail of his Grob 102 sailplane. World Record Altitude On February 17, 1986, pilot Robert Harris set a World Altitude Record of 49,009 feet (14,938 meters) in a single seat Grob 102 Standard Astir III sailplane over the Sierra Nevada Mountain range in California. See the record-setting Grob 102 at the Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. Object Highlight: Barograph Robert Harris carried this battery-powered barograph to document his world altitude record flight on February 17, 1986. Once airborne, it traced on paper the duration of the flight and the altitude reached. BalloonsImagine. The first general aviation flight took off more than 200 years ago. Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier made the first piloted balloon flight in Paris in 1783. More than 500 balloons ascend during the annual nine-day Balloon Festival at Albuquerque, New Mexico. Fly a Balloon! Are you at least 14 years old? Can you read, speak, write, and understand the English language? Are you healthy without a medical condition that would prevent you from safely operating the aircraft? If yes—then you can become a balloon student pilot! Double Eagle II Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson, and Larry Newman became the first balloonists to cross the Atlantic Ocean on August 17, 1978. They launched from the coast of Maine. After flying 3,100 miles (4,990 kilometers) in 137 hours and 6 minutes, they touched their Double Eagle II down in a wheat field northwest of Paris. Double Eagle II was 112 feet (34 meters) high, 65 feet (20 meters) in diameter, and had a capacity of 160,000 cubic feet (4,531 cubic meters). Object Highlight: Maxie Anderson’s Flight Suit, Ben Abruzzo's Flight Goggles, and Larry Newman's T-Shirt See the Double Eagle II wooden gondola at the Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. Object Highlight: Adams Balloon Basket Today most balloon baskets are still made of wicker and leather. To decrease weight, aluminum has replaced wood in the basket frames. In 1971, Mike Adams designed this rugged wicker basket. The sculptured corners safely house the fuel tanks while steel suspension cables are woven into the sides, adding rigidity. Diverse Stories: Larry Walters A Pilot and His Lawn Chair "I was so amazed by the view I didn’t even take one picture." - Larry Walters Forty-two helium-filled weather balloons lifted Larry Walters in this aluminum lawn chair from San Pedro, California, on July 2, 1982. Walters reached 16,000 feet (4,880 meters), drifting into the controlled airspace surrounding Los Angeles International Airport. Commercial pilots reported sighting him to the tower. Facing freezing temperatures and lower oxygen levels, Walters popped balloons with a BB gun to establish a controlled descent. The Federal Aviation Administration charged him with violating controlled airspace, flying without a balloon license, and operating a non-airworthy craft. Object Highlight: Larry Walters' Lawn Chair 7/15
General Aviation Takes Off, Part 1 In the early 1900s, any civilian powered flight was “general” aviation and commercial airlines didn’t exist yet; flight was a novelty, and few people owned airplanes. As the civil airplane progressed from experimental designsa to practical transportation, three U.S. aircraft companies formed the backbone of general aviation aircraft. Pilots set records, and explorers excited the public. The federal government set guidelines and put money into research. Aviation also became a place for social change. Since then, general aviation has anchored our businesses and influenced how we live. New materials and technology have again revolutionized the field in the 21st century. Today, aviation affects us all. The big world of small planes is for everyone Golden Age of Flight The 1920s and 1930s found the nation “air-minded.” Record-setting flights commanded headlines. Exploratory flights introduced learning about science and people in the farthest reaches of the globe. People of color and women used private flying—the only avenue available to them—to pioneer change. Pilots and the airplane community who believed in aviation’s future shifted into high gear. They aimed to prove that aircraft were sound, versatile, and safe—and they encouraged investment in the field. Diverse Stories: Charles and Anne Lindbergh "We had been flying in the land of the midnight sun." - Anne Morrow Lindbergh, North to the Orient Air Routes and Literature In 1931 and 1933, Charles and Anne Lindbergh explored possible airport locations and air routes to Asia and Europe. The Lindberghs flew their own Lockheed Sirius aircraft 40,000 miles (64,400 kilometers), treasuring the experience. Anne, the co-pilot and radio operator, wrote two books, North to the Orient and Listen! The Wind, about their flights. Planes still fly their air routes today. Object Highlight: Anne Morrow Lindbergh's Flight Clothing and Kamik Boots Object Highlight: Charles Lindbergh's Flight Suit Diverse Stories: Bernt Balchen "I would not have minded staying another year. I liked the climate and I liked my work." - Bernt Balchen First Flight Over the South Pole In 1929, polar aviator Bernt Balchen and Adm. Richard Byrd were first to fly over the South Pole. Object Highlight: Bernt Balchen’s Goggles and Helmet Balchen wore this cap during a failed attempt at transantarctic flight in 1933. Balchen advised Amelia Earhart on her 1932 transatlantic flight. Diverse Stories: George Noville George Noville (far left) wore this leather and fur parka as executive officer for Adm. Richard Byrd’s Second Antarctic Expedition at Little America, Bay of Whales, 1933 to 1935. The scientific team’s work included seismic investigations, meteor observations, and electric power generation. Object Highlight: George Noville’s Parka Diverse Stories: Charles Kingsford Smith First Transpacific Flight Australian Charles Kingsford Smith (second from right) and his crew departed Oakland, California, on May 31, 1928, in the Southern Cross, a Fokker F.VII-3m. With stops in Hawaii and Fiji, the Southern Cross landed in Brisbane, Australia, on June 9, 1928, after 83.25 flight hours and about 7,250 miles (11,670 kilometers). Object Highlight: Charles Kingsford Smith’s Fur-Lined Helmet Diverse Stories: Lincoln Ellsworth IMAGE: (Left to right) Polar Star designer Jack Northrop, Bernt Balchen, Lincoln Ellsworth, and an unidentified man. First Transantarctic Flight In 1935, Lincoln Ellsworth successfully completed a flight in the Northrop Gamma Polar Star across unchartered, interior Antarctica, opening it up for scientific study. It was Ellsworth’s fourth try. Object Highlight: The Hubbard Medal National Geographic awarded Ellsworth the Hubbard Medal to honor his Arctic and Antarctic achievements that included collecting 28 species of fossils. Toys Through movies, celebrities, and the Cleveland Air Races, children reveled in a state of “air-mindedness.” Adventure stories based on World War I barnstormers enthralled them. These early aviation toys inspired kids like Neil Armstrong, who later became the first person to walk on the Moon. Object Highlight: Pedal Plane Tricycle This modified late 1920s Gendron Scout Pedal Plane belonged to Gen. William “Billy” Mitchell, U.S. Army Air Corps, and his son. Object Highlight: Ornithopters Object Highlight: Lindbergh Toys Airplane Model (left) and Airplane Kit Box (reproduction) (right) Manufacturers produced hundreds of toys like these after Charles Lindbergh’s solo Atlantic crossing in 1927. Object Highlight: Neil Armstrong’s Model Kit As a child, Neil Armstrong read aviation magazines and built model aircraft from balsa wood and tissue paper. Armstrong usually hung the models from his bedroom or basement ceiling. Avenue for Change Diverse Stories: Jacqueline "Jackie" Cochran "I guess racing was in my Blood from the beginning. And I was always looking for something or someone else to better." - Jacqueline Cochran General aviation offered a way for social change. People of color and women pursued aviation through persistence, networking, and clubs. Their opportunities were limited, as military and commercial aviation barred their entry before World War II. Diverse Stories: Amelia Earhart Amelia Earhart first flew in 1920. A record-setting pilot, Earhart created an aviation career when few women flew at all. Earhart used her celebrity to speak and write about aviation and women’s issues. Diverse Stories: Louise Thaden "We women of the Derby were out to prove that flying was safe: to sell aviation to the layman." - Louise Thaden, 1929 The Ninety-Nines International Organization of Women Pilots The 20 women who flew the Women’s Air Derby of 1929, the first transcontinental female race from California to Ohio, wanted respect and jobs. They achieved the former—although humorist Will Rogers dubbed it “The Powder Puff Derby”—but not the latter. The Derby proved women could fly a rugged, cross-country race. The annual Air Race Classic is the legacy cross-country women’s derby, revived in 1949. After the Derby, some pilots chose to organize. Ninety-nine women became charter members, with Amelia Earhart as president. Today the Ninety-Nines International Organization of Women Pilots promotes mentoring and scholarships. The 1,049 civilian women of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), led by Jacqueline Cochran, ably ferried military aircraft from factories and bases around the U.S. during World War II. They cleared the path for women military pilots’ acceptance in the 1970s. People of color and women gained skills and opportunities in aviation during World War II. Though the fight was long, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 banned racial discrimination in hiring. Military and commercial aviation finally began allowing female pilots into their ranks in the 1970s. Diverse Stories: Bessie Coleman "I first went to Paris and decided on a school. But the first school to which I applied would not take me because two women had lost their lives at the game." - Bessie Coleman In the early 1900s, African Americans faced discrimination in aviation. Determined to become pilots, Bessie Coleman and Eugene Bullard trained in France when denied in the United States. Coleman and William Powell later organized flying clubs, schools, and shows to help others. Diverse Stories: Dale White and Chauncey Spencer White and Spencer Fly to Washington, DC In 1939, Dale White (left) and Chauncey Spencer (right) flew cross-country from Chicago to New York City, with a final stop in Washington, DC. There they discussed the lack of opportunities for African Americans with Sen. Harry S. Truman. The pilots were denied hangar space in Morgantown, West Virginia. They flew on to Pittsburgh, landing in the dark. President Truman ordered the integration of the U.S. military in 1948. Object Highlight: Dale White’s Silk Scarf and Fabric Helmet The Big Three in General Aviation Manufacturing "Once you have learned to fly your own plane, it is far less fatiguing to fly than it is to drive a car." - William T. Piper Which came first, the pilots or the airplanes? In a single decade—despite the Great Depression—manufacturers Beechcraft, Cessna, and Piper created both the aircraft and the pool of pilots that transformed general aviation. Before the 1930s, private flying had been for wealthy sport pilots or working pilots flying expensive planes. Many aviation enthusiasts wished for simpler aircraft, and designers needed pilots to market their ideas. The military needed the companies’ small aircraft during World War II. Post-war, the “big three” went on to dominate general aviation production, with their legacy continuing into the 21st century. Diverse Stories: Walter Beech and Beechcraft Corporation Walter Beech risked his life savings by marketing the Staggerwing, an expensive cabin biplane, during the Depression. Its beautiful lines and performance prevailed, setting Beech Aircraft on the road to success. After Beech’s death, co-founder Olive Ann Beech guided the company to steady growth. Object Highlight: Beechcraft G17S Staggerwing The executive high-speed aircraft was produced in 1932 by the new Beech Aircraft Company of Wichita, Kansas. How do you think the Staggerwing gets its name? The aircraft’s upper wing is staggered behind the lower wing. That gives the Model 17 its shape and name, and increases the pilot’s visibility. Object Highlight: Taylor E-2 Cub C. G. Taylor installed a 20-horsepower (15-kilowatt) Brownback Tiger Kitten engine in his new airplane. It barely left the ground. Employee Ted Weld named the Tiger Kitten-equipped airplane a “cub.” The E-2 Cub was certified in 1931 with a 37-horsepower (28-kilowatt) Continental A40-2 engine. Diverse Stories: Clyde Cessna IMAGE: Dwane Wallace (left) and his uncle, Clyde Cessna, pose for a full length photo beside the Cessna 170 prototype, 1936. Clyde Cessna began building airplanes in 1911, and formed Travel Air Manufacturing Company with Walter Beech and Lloyd Stearman in 1925. He founded Cessna Aircraft in 1927, but the company closed when his single-wing light aircraft design failed. Nephew Dwayne Wallace later rescued the company with the Airmaster and T-50 Bobcat. Generations of 20th century pilots learned to fly in Cessna high-wing trainers, from the bare-bones Model 120 to the ubiquitous 150/152 and 172 trainers. Diverse Stories: William Piper and C. G. Taylor C. G. Taylor [right] designed an easy-to-fly light aircraft, the Taylor E-2, in 1930. By 1937, investor William Piper [left] of Piper Aircraft had supervised its transformation into the Piper J-3 Cub. It became the most popular light aircraft for training civilian pilots before World War II. Piper CubIf any aircraft can be anointed “generic light plane,” the Piper Cub is the one. A simple and inexpensive machine with gentle flying features, the Piper Cub fostered the rise of private flying and the light plane industry. Nearly 20,000 J-3 Cubs were built, and its legacy continues in light sport and backcountry Cub-based designs. See the Piper J-3 Cub at the Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. Diverse Stories: Jerrie Mock "His white-kaffiyeh-covered head nodded vehemently, and he shouted to the throng that there was no man. This brought a rousing ovation." - Jerrie Mock, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia First Woman to Fly Solo Around the World As announced in a 1964 National Aeronautic Association press release, Geraldine “Jerrie” Mock was the first woman to fly solo around the world. Mock flew the Spirit of Columbus—a 1953 Cessna 180—and later wrote about it in Three-Eight Charlie. Mock earned her private pilot’s license at age 32 and followed her dream to see the world. Twenty-seven years after Amelia Earhart’s ill-fated flight, a restless but determined “housewife” succeeded. Mock departed Columbus, Ohio, and flew an easterly course from March 19 to April 17, making 14 stops. After 29 days, 11 hours, 59 minutes, and 23,103 miles (37,181 kilometers), Mock touched down again at Port Columbus Airport. She set seven records, including first woman to fly across both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. And all in a skirt. Object Highlight: Jerrie Mock's Sunglasses Jerrie Mock in sunglasses begins her taxi for takeoff before her world flight on March 19, 1964. Object Highlight: Cessna 180 The Cessna 180 was introduced as a rugged, high-wing utility aircraft in 1952. But this Cessna really made news in 1964 when it was piloted by Jerrie Mock, the first woman to complete a solo flight around the world. Her husband Russell and his partner Al Baumeister installed additional fuel tanks, radios, navigation, and survival equipment for Mock’s flight. This single-engine four-seat airplane was named Spirit of Columbus, for Mock’s Ohio hometown. The 180 led to the tricycle gear (single wheel in the front) 182 Skylane, still in production in the 21st century. 8/15
General Aviation Takes Off, Part 2 Flivvers and Flying CarsHenry Ford wanted his tiny 1927 airplane, the Flivver, to equal the success of his Model T car. Charles Lindbergh declared it one of the worst airplanes he’d ever flown. Still, “flivvers” became shorthand for “very light airplanes.” Years later, homebuilt, ultralight, and light sport aircraft would become the real “flivver” aircraft movement. Flying cars grew out of the flivver idea. But does the quest to combine cars and aircraft have a practical future? In 1934, the director of the Bureau of Air Commerce posed a challenge: Design a “poor man’s” easy-to-fly airplane and sell it for $700. Big manufacturers dismissed it, but Waldo Waterman’s Arrowplane and Fred Weick’s Weick W-1A won. The W-1A flivver went to market as the Ercoupe. The Museum has the first production model. Still Searching for a Marketable Flying Car The problem isn’t building a flying car. Engineers reached that milestone in the 1930s. The problem is making it practical for air and road travel, and reasonably priced. The vehicle requirements differ: Cars must be heavy and stable on four wheels while aircraft should be light and maneuverable in three dimensions. And Federal Aviation Regulations complicate the dream of urban commuting by air. Taylor Aerocar Molt Taylor produced the Taylor Aerocar, an equally intriguing and unmarketable flying car, certified with a folding wing in 1956. Actor Bob Cummings owned one of the six built. He featured it on his 1950s TV show. IMAGE: The PAL-V Liberty (Source: PAL-V) The PAL-V Liberty is a gyroplane, not a helicopter—it has wind-powered rotors and an engine-powered propeller. It is a flying car with a second engine for driving mode. For personal town-to-city transportation, a private pilot can pull the vehicle from the garage and be airborne after a short take-off run. The rotor blades fold for driving to its final destination. Diverse Stories: Robert Fulton Robert Fulton and the Airphibian "Anyone who already can drive and fly can fly this machine safely." - Robert Fulton In 1945, Robert Edison Fulton Jr. developed the Airphibian design as a flexible means of business and personal transportation. Fulton flew it all over the country and in Great Britain, logging more than 100,000 hours on the road and in the air. Though his dream of a marketable roadable aircraft never happened, the idea lives on. Converting from Airplane to Car
Object Highlight: Fulton Airphibian The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) made Robert Fulton Jr.’s Airphibian the first approved roadable aircraft. Fulton could drive it from airport to town as a car by disengaging the wings, tail, and propeller. To fly again, he rejoined the two sections by moving three locking levers and reattached the propeller. The CAA certificated this aircraft, FA-3-101, in June 1952. Fulton completed an order for eight production models for CAA inspectors, but company officers pulled financial backing. A technical success, the Airphibian’s failure was linked to financial troubles and the conflict of air and car technologies. Robert Fulton III restored this Airphibian in 1998. Object Highlight: Terrafugia Transition Conceived by MIT graduate students, the Transition is a prototype light sport flying car with foldable wings. The light-sport category will ease the pilot requirements for the driver, but will the follow-up TF-X meet its stated cruise speed of 200 mph (322 km/h) and find a market? Growing Pains After World War II Manufacturers expected a post-WWII boom in aircraft sales, but it never came. Aircraft companies, like car manufacturers, offered “improved” models every few years, with only small creative changes. By 1980, with the rise in disposable income, dealers and flying clubs helped bring the number of American pilots to an all-time high of 827,000. But the numbers slid from there. Lawsuits and a glut of airplanes closed some manufacturers. At the turn of the 21st century the market responded. New aircraft with cutting-edge equipment sparked interest and imagination. Safety Drives InnovationWhen Cirrus Aircraft co-founder Alan Klapmeier [left] barely survived a midair collision in 1984, he vowed to put a parachute into his planes. By 1999, Alan and brother Dale [right] had created the Cirrus SR20. With a parachute, better visibility, and an ergonomic interior design, it was safer and looked great. In 2001, Cirrus debuted the faster and improved SR22. In 2003, it added a full glass or computer-based Avidyne instrument panel to both designs. The Cirrus series was a “clean sheet” design—new inside and out—the first in 50 years. Object Highlight: Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) Adapted from the Ballistic Recovery System and integral to the Cirrus SR22, CAPS is a proven lifesaver. The pilot pulls a handle to activate a small rocket that ignites and deploys a bag containing the parachute. The parachute inflates and ensures the airplane’s descent and safe landing. Object Highlight: Cirrus SR22 This is what pilots had been waiting for. In 2003, this Cirrus SR22, N266CD, became the first single-piston engine aircraft with a “glass panel”—fully integrated avionics via computer screens—to be FAA certified. The primary flight display showed basic instrument information like altitude and airspeed. Its multi-function display provided moving maps, communication, and other data. Prior to the SR22’s full Avidyne panel, this technology had only been available in commercial and multi-engine aircraft, or as separate components. As an all-new design, the SR22 became the instant best seller of its class, energizing the general aviation market. Object Highlight: Cirrus Perspective+ by Garmin The 2017 Cirrus-adapted G1000 NXi, one of a long line of modern Garmin electronic cockpit displays, helps pilots operate aircraft. The display shows altitude, direction, engine performance, and many other systems and tools needed for safe and efficient flying. Object Highlight: Continental IO-550-N This engine is from the Continental IO-550 family that set the standard for high-performance general aviation engines. The IO-550 was developed in 1983 for use in light aircraft by Teledyne Continental Motors. It is a fuel injected, six-cylinder, horizontally opposed, air-cooled engine. Continental A4 The Continental A4 horizontally opposed engine was an essential development for small, light aircraft of the 1930s. It replaced the older, heavier, and more complex radial engines. General Aviation Components Old and NewAircraft components change over the years. Today’s electronic flight instrument displays are rapidly replacing “analog” or electromechanical instruments that used pointers or “needles” to indicate a measurement, like miles per hour. Object Highlight: VHT-2 Superhomer VOR Receiver/Indicator For navigation. Object Highlight: Altimeter and Level Flight Indicator For measuring height. Object Highlight: Artificial HorizonIndicates aircraft orientation relative to Earth. Object Highlight: Airspeed Indicator Object Highlight: Rate of Climb Indicator Object Highlight: E6B-2P Flight Computer For altitude and airspeed computations. Object Highlight: Navigation PlotterFor use with navigation charts. 21st Century Aerospace Everyone is welcome in aviation and aerospace. The door is open for new pilots, mechanics, engineers, dispatchers, and more. New technology adds special excitement to the mix. Private flying is the training ground for airline and military pilots, and astronauts. What’s your interest? Construction materials? Engines? Civilian, service, or business flying? General aviation has it all—even recreation, popular culture, and the arts. Think about getting your aerospace education, training, or pilot’s license. Aviation needs writers, salespeople, and aircraft assembly workers, too. Civil Air Patrol Created during World War II, the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a civilian program of the U.S. Air Force. The all-volunteer organization operates about 550 aircraft and works in aerospace education, cadet programs, and emergency services. CAP fliers were cleared to photograph the remains of the World Trade Center towers on September 12, 2001. Object Highlight: Bill Kershner’s Flight Instructor Jacket "No pilot ever forgets his first airplane ride." - Bill Kershner Bill Kershner wrote manuals for all levels of flying. The standard Cessna trainer aircraft flight manual is Kershner’s work, too. His humor and observations from his years of flight instruction delighted all, from novice students to astronauts. See William Kershner’s Cessna 152 Aerobat at the Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. Object Highlight: Lt. Robert B. Meyer’s Civil Air Patrol Uniform and ID Card Local Airports The View from Both Sides The United States has more general aviation pilots, aircraft, and airports than any other nation in the world. Commercial airlines and cargo carriers don’t serve all domestic or international airports. General aviation does. About 5,200 of the 19,000 total U.S. landing fields are public airports available for civil aviation. Commercial airlines fly to only 560 airports, with about three-fourths of their flights into just 30 hub airports. More than 13,000 airports are privately owned. Not only do airports serve as economic gateways, remote communities rely upon airports to reliably get the goods and services they need. The Upsides Jobs, jobs, jobs It’s the economy, citizens! Airports mean jobs and opportunities for growth. Direct access to your town Does your town have an airport? If not, some businesses may look elsewhere. Airports provide access to your local area. Increased activity An influx of people can help sustain and grow the area. Investment and community participation Airports must be good neighbors and responsible partners in the community. The Challenges Noise and pollution Piston and small jet engines make noise. Airports must operate as cleanly and quietly as possible. Quieter engines and noise reduction guidelines are constantly evolving. Safety Accidents do happen. What can you find out about pilot training and safety programs? Revenue Would a different use of the land bring in more money? Be part of that discussion and evaluation with community leaders and airport users. Perception Is the airport part of the community, or not? Airports must understand how they impact communities. Residents can visit an airport to learn more. Or take a flight! Airport as Education Center Opened in 1925, Flabob Airport in California is a model for reinventing an airport as a community asset. Nearly closed in the 1990s, Flabob endures as a small but vibrant, friendly 21st century airport. Learners of all ages use Flabob for education and technical opportunities like aviation science programs. Object Highlight: White Lightning By Tom Blackwell Oil on canvas, 1973 Blackwell depicts a North American AT-6 Texan in White Lightning. Military pilots from all over the world trained in the AT-6. Painting in the photorealistic style, Blackwell portrays a casual vintage aircraft scene. Object Highlight: Fly with Patco By Ralph Goings Oil on canvas, 1973 General aviation aircraft such as the Cessna 180 depicted in this painting generally fly in and out of local airports. A Fixed Base Operator (FBO) would provide services such as fuel, maintenance for the aircraft, flight training, and rentals. Object Highlight: Weather Mural By Eric Sloane Acrylic on canvas, bonded to wall, 1976 Eric Sloane (born Everand Jean Hinrich) was an American painter best known for his skyscapes. Weather Mural is one of two murals painted by Sloane for the opening of the National Air and Space Museum in 1976. Sloane was also a weatherman for a New York television station. Object Highlight: Night Sky By Eric Sloane Oil on Masonite Many of Eric Sloane’s artworks focused on weather and meteorology. Pioneer pilot Wiley Post taught Sloane to fly, which inspired the artist’s fascination with weather. Amelia Earhart may have purchased one of his early sky paintings. 9/15
Taking Care of Business Corporations around the world depend on airplanes. No electronic device, teleconference, email, or social media platform has replaced traveling to conduct business. Business aviation gets people where they need to go. It’s part of a flexible and timesaving business plan. To own, charter, lease, or rent aircraft opens a world of business possibilities. Face-to-face contact is still the best way to close a deal. Flying in Business AircraftMost people will never fly on business aircraft. But for those who do and the companies that employ them, business aircraft support their success. When “time is money,” efficient business flight is money in the bank. Did you know?
Why Fly in a Business Aircraft? Corporate aircraft transport people and cargo for two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies. Why? Aircraft save time, provide security and privacy, and fly into and out of airports of all sizes. Plus, they run on the company’s schedule. Some corporations have offices or plants in three or more locations far from major airports. Business aircraft can guarantee face-to-face connections when they’re needed most. Who’s Flying in Those Aircraft? From sales reps to engineers to executives, corporate travelers use business aircraft to get their jobs done. Surprisingly, most business passengers are not top management. From sales reps to engineers to executives, corporate travelers use business aircraft to get their jobs done. Surprisingly, most business passengers are not top management. Athletes Get Airborne For major sports figures, it’s a matter of practicality: How can you win a competition if you’re not there to compete? Athletes build major-league careers by pursuing the best competitions—wherever they may be. The 20th century saw the number of games, matches, and races increase across the globe. Athletes took to the air. Today, it’s not uncommon for professional athletes to incorporate business aviation into their lives. Diverse Stories: Arnold Palmer "I could never have accomplished even half as much as I have in my golf and business careers over the last four decades without having my own airplanes." - Arnold Palmer, Professional Golfer Professional golf legend Arnold Palmer earned his pilot’s license in 1956 to commute between golf tournaments and his home in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Palmer pioneered a sports management model of international tournaments, golf course design, product lines, and philanthropy. Palmer flew more than 20,000 hours, setting speed and distance records. Latrobe Airport was renamed Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in 1999. Object Highlight: Arnold Palmer’s Citation X, N1AP (Model) Palmer bought Citation X #1, the largest and fastest Citation jet, in 1996. Palmer’s friend Russ Meyer, then CEO of Cessna, had influenced him to buy his first Citation 20 years earlier. 1:40 scale Diverse Stories: Bobby Unser "I will go fast until the day I die." - Bobby Unser Indianapolis 500 Winner After 10 years of commuting by car from New Mexico to racetracks in California, professional race car champion Bobby Unser needed practical transportation to get to races around the country. Conquering his fear of heights, he learned to fly. Diverse Stories: Carl Edwards Race Car Driver Carl Edwards got his pilot’s license as a teen, but his success on the racetrack allowed him to buy his first airplane. Edwards commutes to racetracks by jet. The Business Aircraft Evolves After World War I, businesses advertised with company logos painted on open-cockpit biplanes. Later in the 1920s, closed-cabin monoplanes had more reliable engines, enticing business travelers with more comfort and a sense of security. Business aviation progressed in the post-World War II boom years. Businesses converted surplus transport aircraft like the DC-3. At the same time, terminals for private airplanes, called “fixed-based operators,” provided a base for repairs and other services. Business jets arrived in the 1960s, flying greater distances at high speed. Ultra Long-Range Jets The Bombardier Global 7000 [top image] and the Gulfstream 650ER [bottom image] provide long-range flight and large business and luxury cabins designed for customers’ needs. Beech built the King Air No. 1 business aircraft from its existing Queen Air piston production line. Turboprop-engine aircraft can fly farther and higher than piston-engine airplanes because the propeller is powered by a turbine engine. Unlike many jets, they can land on smaller airports’ short runways. Object Highlight: Beechcraft King Air 350 The King Air remains the most popular turboprop aircraft in the early 21st century. The King Air 350 line offers a flight ceiling of 35,000 feet (10,668 meters), well above the weather. Object Highlight: Beechcraft Bonanza 35 Waikiki Beech The single-engine Bonanza executive aircraft, introduced in 1947, has the world’s longest continuing production run. See the Beechcraft Bonanza 35 in One World Connected on the second floor. Object Highlight: William Odom’s Electric Razor William Odom carried this electric razor (and a clean shirt) when he set a transcontinental record in the Bonanza 35 in 1949. Object Highlight: Cessna Citation I (Model) In 1971, Cessna introduced the Citation fanjet series that now offers the fullest range of aircraft. The series won the prestigious Collier Trophy in 1985 for its safety record, and in 1996 for the speedy Citation X. 1:40 scale Object Highlight: Gulfstream GIV The GIV debuted in 1985 as the first civilian aircraft with digital flight management computers. It featured ocean-spanning range and near-speed of sound cruising. The GIV family, the best-selling large-cabin business aircraft in history, is rooted in Gulfstream’s GI turboprop and GII jet. 1:48 scale Object Highlight: AlliedSignal TFE731 The AlliedSignal TFE731 engine led the trend toward medium-size corporate fanjet aircraft in the early 1970s. Many leading business jets use the TFE731. Its fuel efficiency expanded the range of corporate jet aircraft. Diverse Stories: Willliam Lear "That bird looks like she wants to fly, let her go." - William Lear William Lear Creates a Classic Self-taught engineer William “Bill” Lear conceived and branded the Lear Jet. A pioneer in radio and avionics (aviation electronics), Lear designed the first autopilot for small aircraft. Once he created a small cabin jet perfect for business use, brilliant marketing did the rest. Lear Jet Thoughts What words come to mind when you see the Lear Jet: Sleek? Speedy? Powerful? Prestige? Jets like this are symbols of success, but are also a practical way to travel for professional athletes, musicians, and celebrities on tour. The Dawn of the BizjetThe business jets Lockheed JetStar and North American Sabreliner were expensive and too large. The smaller Lear Jet targeted corporate, executive, and personal jet users. Suddenly “business jet” was “bizjet.” The Bizjet Goes to HollywoodCelebrities loved the Lear Jet’s speed and its sexy look. Frank Sinatra and the “Rat Pack” flew in them, and 007 tumbled into freefall from a Lear 35 in Moonraker. Lear Jets turned up in pop music, like the Byrds’ Eight Miles High and Carly Simon’s You’re So Vain. Innovation and Speed The Learjet Model 28 prototype featured the first winglets used on any jet. First designed at NASA by Richard Whitcomb, winglets reduce the strength of the trailing vortex that spirals off wing tips, reducing induced drag. Object Highlight: Lear Jet 23 The first Lear Jet flew in October 1963. This second prototype, Model 23 N802L, Flew 1,127 hours and 864 flights as a test aircraft. Successor airplanes, now called Learjets, flew to speed and distance records with pilots like astronaut Neil Armstrong and Clay Lacy, who opened the first Lear dealership at Van Nuys Airport in California. The Learjet line is now part of the Bombardier Aerospace family of business aircraft. Business Aircraft: Rent or Own? Is it worthwhile to own aircraft for your business? Full ownership demands a substantial commitment but there are several other options:
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Humanitarian Flight is Good for All For people who need aid—vital medical help, relief services, and transportation—humanitarian flights can mean survival. The pilots and teams who volunteer find personal satisfaction in serving. Nonprofit and religious organizations, foundations, and individuals fly these critical missions. Some use their own aircraft, and others rely on the goodwill of pilots and aircraft owners. Some are corporate partners. The ability to respond quickly to an urgent situation or disaster is one of the game changers of aviation. The Orbis Flying Eye HospitalOrbis supplies volunteer medical professionals while donors fund aircraft and flights to deserving destinations. Outfitted with exam and treatment rooms, an operating center, and classrooms, the airplane makes healing happen. Available eye care and prevention of avoidable blindness bring lasting change for people and their communities. Orbis modified a Douglas DC-8 airliner for its first mobile teaching eye hospital. In 1992, Orbis converted a DC-10 wide-body aircraft into a full teaching and surgical hospital. Donated by United Airlines it was the first non-land-based hospital to gain U.S. hospital accreditation. Nearly 80% of visual impairment can be prevented or cured. The Flying Eye Hospital trains local medical staff and invites doctors to watch or perform surgery on the aircraft. Global telemedicine allows the healthcare providers to continue their training. Experienced pilots volunteer to fly these rewarding missions around the world. Most are retired or current cargo or airline pilots. In 2016, Orbis accepted an MD-10 cargo plane modified from the original Boeing DC-10-30F type by Federal Express. The MD-10 became a state-of-the-art hospital carrying doctors, nurses, engineers, support staff, and supplies. Modular medical units are removable for easy upgrade and resupply. One Week on the Flying Eye Hospital Prepping for a Mission The Flying Eye Hospital averages three trips a year, each lasting two to three weeks. The airplane usually lands a couple of days before the training program starts. Setting up the airplane and equipment as a hospital takes six to eight hours. (It takes as long to pack it up.) Orbis flew its first mission in 1994 to Beijing, China. Monday Patients are first screened at the local partner hospital. Then staff selects the best cases for teaching and free surgery. Tuesday–Friday Morning Live surgery is performed on the aircraft for cataract, glaucoma, retina, pediatric, or other sub-specialties. Orbis staff conducts training lectures between surgeries. Each patient receives a post-op exam the day after surgery. Local ophthalmologists, residents, and nurses at partner hospitals attend ophthalmic or nursing symposiums. Helping the World See Clearly Medicine and aviation come together through the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital. Since 1982, this teaching hospital with wings has been working to prevent blindness around the world. It not only treats patients, but also educates healthcare workers in their communities. Surgery on the Airplane The airplane’s operating room is fully equipped. Object Highlight: Orbis Surgery Simulator This simulator for cataract surgery allows local doctors to train, test their competency, and learn to manage complications without harming patients. Object Highlight: Orbis Laser This laser machine is used for patients with diseases like diabetic retinopathy, a serious complication that can occur from diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is potentially blinding, but is easily treated by laser therapy. Object Highlight: Prism Sets These are used to examine patients with strabismus (crossed eyes). The prisms help doctors decide whether to recommend corrective glasses or surgery. Object Highlight: Hand-Held Lenses for Eye Examinations Object Highlight: Indirect Ophthalmoscope Ophthalmologists use this instrument to examine the retina and other parts of the back of the eye. They’re looking for retinal detachment and other diseases. Diverse Stories: Jerrie Cobb A Humanitarian Life in the Amazon In 1963, at age 32, Jerrie Cobb stunned family and friends by becoming a missionary in South America. For more than 50 years, the record-setting pilot and former corporate executive transported supplies and medicine to the people of the Amazon rainforest in Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and Brazil. Cobb pioneered air routes and shared her faith. Many indigenous, isolated tribes in the world’s largest rainforest had died out from lack of food and medicine. Cobb used the power of general aviation to reach and serve remote populations. Cobb worked without a set plan. When there were no maps, she made her own. Cobb stored fuel at headwaters and flew hundreds of miles up tributaries. Indigenous Amazon people would clear away trees for her short, muddy runways. "Having the only twin-engine airplane in this vast jungle, the “bird” and I have been busy searching for survivors, flying rice and medicines to muddy strips that aren’t under water." - Jerrie Cobb Cobb wanted to be an astronaut, but when NASA refused to accept women in the 1960s, she went to the Amazon. When missionary groups would not hire a female pilot, she did it alone. Object Highlight: Hammock Cobb slept in this cotton hammock that she tied to the wing of her plane. Indigenous people tied theirs to tree branches. Why sleep in a hammock? With insects, snakes, and water on the rainforest floor, it’s not safe to sleep on the ground! Object Highlight: Galvanized Bucket Cobb poured fuel from this bucket into the wing tanks. Object Highlight: Wooden Chocks These kept Cobb’s airplane in place when parked. Object Highlight: Flight Computer Cobb used this hand-held computer to plan flight time, distance, and heading. Object Highlight: Quiver with Hunting Darts Darts are dipped in poison before hunting. Object Highlight: Woven Baskets Object Highlight: Wooden Animals An indigenous tribe member presented these hand-carved animals and handmade baskets to Cobb. Cobb first flew Juliet, an Aero Commander 500B, supporting missions with aerial surveys, consulting, and private donations. In 1978, she replaced Juliet with a twin-Engine Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander [above], capable of short takeoffs and landings—handy deep in the rainforest. For years her aircraft carried her registration number of N12JC. Reaching People in Need "This is general aviation, to me, at its best." - Mark Evans, volunteer pilot on disaster relief General aviation moves supplies and people to a town or country, or around the world, in response to human, animal, or natural needs or disasters. Aerial aid from global volunteers can mean the difference between life and death. Empty seats in private or business aircraft can be filled with people in need of transportation for a variety of reasons. Founded in 1981, Corporate Angel Network matches cancer patients in need of treatment to vacant seats on routine business flights.This valuable service saves time, money, and allows patients to travel in a safe environment. People with intellectual disabilities compete in many different sports that are part of the Special Olympics. Cessna Aircraft Company organized the first Citation Special Olympics Airlift in 1987 to make travel easier for the athletes. Angel Flight helps find free air transportation for people with medical and financial needs. The non-profit organization has regional U.S. offices. Disaster Relief Volunteers of Remote Area Medical delivered 23,455 meals to villages in Haiti devastated by Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. Flying a Cessna Caravan and a Cessna 206, pilots landed on dirt strips and beaches or dropped supplies from the air. After a 7.0 earthquake, the general aviation community created the 2010 Haiti Airlift in coordination with U.S. Operation Unified Response. Volunteers delivered about 500 tons (453,600 kilograms) of relief aid and medical supplies, and ferried the injured to medical treatment. Animal Rescue! The overpopulation of pets—primarily dogs and cats—cries out for humanitarian aviation. Nonprofit organizations and volunteer pilots work together to transport vulnerable pets away from harm. Full and overcrowded shelters mean low odds that a stray will survive. When possible, pets are flown to places where the chances of being adopted are more in their favor. Did your dog or cat take a plane? If you own a rescue pet, it may have traveled on an aircraft to get to you. Thank general aviation for your forever friend! Pilots N Paws connects people who rescue and shelter animals in need with pilots who volunteer their aircraft and time for animal transport. The organization coordinates pilots, animals, rescue stories, and travel arrangements online. 11/15
Aviation's Jack-Of-All Trades “Pilot” is just one of many jobs in utility flight. Getting people, goods, and services to remote areas often requires teamwork. Keeping the public safe, managing crops, mapping, and more fall under the category of utility flight. Many airplanes, helicopters, and remotely piloted aircraft (RPA, or drones) in the air right now are flying utility missions. They are truly the jack-of-all trades of aviation. What’s That Sound? Imagine you need to be rescued. You hear the helicopter before you can see it. You search the skies.Finally, it comes into view, getting louder as it approaches. What a relief! As it comes closer you feel the wind created by the blades. You are saved. Object Highlight: Bell Model 47B In 1946, the U.S. Civil Aeronautics Authority awarded the first civil helicopter certification to the Model 47. Since then, helicopters have proven their unique ability to carry out missions that other aircraft cannot. During 40 years of service, this Model 47B was a factory demonstrator, news chopper, crop duster, power line patrol, and aerial photography platform and trainer. In 1989, Douglas Daigle set a world hovering record of 50 hours, 50 seconds. Police Helicopters Helicopters and other aircraft are invaluable to law enforcement. Sophisticated technology and equipment in the air provide a broader view. The aircraft’s instruments can relay crucial information, provide tracking, and shorten response time by air or on the ground. Airborne enforcement is sometimes the only way to reach remote situations quickly or safely. Object Highlight: Bell 407 Fairfax County Police Helicopter (Model) The Bell 407 is one of three aircraft operated by the Helicopter Division of the Fairfax County Police since 1972. Located in Northern Virginia adjacent to Washington, DC, the Division supports ground missions and performs search and rescue. It averages more than 2,500 missions annually. 1:48 scale Object Highlight: Bell 429 Fairfax County Police Helicopter (Model) A helicopter crew of one pilot and two tactical police officers/paramedics is efficient and economical. The Division flies two Bell 429 helicopters outfitted with night vision goggle technology, mapping and medevac equipment, and other tools. 1:32 scale Object Highlight: MD 520N Prince George’s County Police HelicopterIn 2017, two MD 520N light helicopters supported ground police forces in Prince George’s County, Maryland. The helicopters, equipped with state-of-the-art systems such as the FLIR thermal imaging system, have no conventional tail rotors. Object Highlight: Fairfax County Police Helicopter Division Uniform The combined officer/paramedic flight suit has standard police equipment, a hemostat (a surgical tool to control bleeding), and scissors. Firefighting from the Air A forest fire rages: winds carry heat and smoke, and trees explode into flames. The roar stuns the ears. The U.S. Forest Service’s aerial mission includes battling wildfires in 155 national forests and 20 grasslands—nearly 200 million acres (81 million hectares) of land—and supporting firefighters on the ground. It bought its first airplane in 1938. "Only you can prevent forest fires." – Smokey Bear A bear cub was found after a 1950 New Mexico forest fire. He became the symbol of the U.S. Forest Service’s Smokey Bear fire safety poster campaign. A Bombardier CL-415 Super Scooper can fill its belly with up to 1,600 gallons (6,000 liters) of water from a lake. The Fire and Aviation Management Branch of the Forest Service uses tankers like this, as well as lead airplanes and helicopters, to perform precision water, retardant, and personnel drops in dangerous flying conditions. Smokejumpers and Helitack CrewsParachutes and helicopters get firefighters and their equipment to wilderness areas in a hurry. Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane delivers equipment, supplies, and water. Helitack crew rappel from a hovering Bell 212. A smokejumper parachutes down. Object Highlight: Smokejumper Clothing and Equipment Smokejumpers jump with a protective helmet, padded Kevlar jump jacket and trousers (removed on the ground), gloves, boots, a let-down rope, and a harness with a main parachute and emergency chest chute. The line gear backpack holds an asbestos foil-covered fire shelter, personal gear, food, and water. Tools, like this pulaski (a combination ax and hoe), are dropped separately. Object Highlight: Douglas DC-3 (Model) The venerable Douglas DC-3 first performed firefighting duties in the 1940s. It carried 16 smokejumpers. Johnson Flying Service Inc., founded in 1924 by Bob Johnson, was a respected name in mountain flying services from 1926 to 1977. CAL FIRE The California Departments of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) used crop dusters to douse fires in the 1950s. Today, its aviators cover over 31 million acres (13 million hectares) of wildlands and respond to several hundred thousands of emergency calls each year. Aerial Photography Images shot from aircraft provide visual information that’s used widely every day. The client or customer can analyze and interpret the images as data for mapping, environmental study, disaster investigation, art, and other public or corporate needs. Object Highlight: Cine-Kodak 16mm Camera Flying for Hollywood Aerobatic pilot and cameraman Art Scholl mounted this Cine-Kodak 16mm, and other Hollywood studio cameras, on aircraft to film scenes for documentaries and movies including The Right Stuff and many others in the 1970s and 80s. Object Highlight: Applanix DSS The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) used the Applanix DSS (Digital Sensor System) for national mapping needs and documenting damage from natural and manmade disasters. This medium format DSS, which was provided by Quantum Spatial, began the transition from film to digital photogrammetric imagery in the commercial and public sector. Before and after coastline images of Marineland, Florida, document new inlets carved by the powerful winds and waves of Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. Object Highlight: Graflex Model RB The Lindberghs Pioneer Aerial Archeology Charles and Anne Lindbergh’s 1929 aerial surveys revealed to archeologists the sophistication of pre-Colombian Puebloan and Mayan civilizations, and located other potential ruins. "White masonry sticking nobly out of the tangling jungle, still fighting for breath. Unspeakably alone and majestic and desolate—the mark of a great civilization gone." - Anne Morrow Lindbergh The Lindberghs took this photograph while on their 1929 aerial survey of Chichén Itzá, Mexico. On the left is the Temple of the Warriors and on the right is the Temple of Kukulkan, also known as El Castillo, built in the 11th–13th centuries. Object Highlight: Fairchild K-3B The First Practical Aerial Camera Sherman M. Fairchild’s 1922 K-3B aerial film camera became the industry standard with its precision photography for vertical and oblique missions. Fairchild Aerial Camera prepared this first aerial mosaic (100 photographs assembled into one map) of Manhattan Island, New York City. Watching Over the EnvironmentObserving the changing land or waterscape from the air is a perfect way to keep tabs on our Earth. CAVU—Calm Air Visibility Unlimited CAVU, a conservation nonprofit, uses flight to help solve environmental and community problems in North and Central America. A 2011 view from 3,737 feet (1,139 meters) of Sierpe, Costa Rica, shows its topography and a close-up of housing for flooding, pollution, or other concerns. CAVU also means good flying weather: Ceiling And Visibility Unlimited. Belize Mangrove Islands This 2008 mapping image of fragile mangrove islands, shot from 1,952 feet (595 meters), provides visual answers to questions about people and their ecosystem. LightHawk Conservation Flying A LightHawk volunteer pilot flies over the Delaware River near a New Jersey tributary just south of the Delaware Water Gap. Working with the William Penn Foundation, LightHawk helped remove a dam from the tributary, allowing migratory fish access and protecting water quality to the Delaware River, a critical drinking source for more than 15 million people. Over 300 pilots fly their small aircraft for LightHawk to protect land, water, and wildlife. Low and Slow Aircraft Aid to Farmers Aircraft are used to drop or spray seed, fertilizer, and organic or chemical products that make a difference in the food we eat. Delivering pesticides by air ensures that they are widely distributed to control or destroy insects that harm crops. Agricultural aviation affects not only the quantity and quality of food around the globe, but it also plays an important part in the health and safety of people, animals, and the crops we grow. High-tech sprayers ensure precision product application while GIS (geographical information system) and GPS (Global Positioning System) systems keep the delivery airplane on target. What’s for Dinner? Seventy percent of U.S. cropland growing food receives herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizer—and aircraft deliver 20% of that. Especially efficient for large areas, EPA-approved airborne sprays control weeds, pests, and crop damage. Air Attack on Mosquitoes Pesticide spraying helps wage the battle against dangerous diseases carried by mosquitoes, such as West Nile and Zika viruses. Pilots usually spray at dawn or dusk when wind and other insect activity are calmer. The 1925 Huff-Daland Duster was a new method of controlling the boll weevil beetle that ravaged cotton fields in the South. The Huff-Daland Manufacturing Company, a forerunner of Delta Airlines, established the nation’s first aerial dusting business. See the Huff-Daland Duster in America By Air on the first floor. Object Highlight: Grumman G-164 Ag-Cat (Model) Grumman Aircraft Company introduced the Ag-Cat in 1957, the first aircraft designed for agricultural aviation by a major company. 1:16 scale See the Grumman Ag-Cat at the Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. In the animated films Planes (2013) and Planes: Fire and Rescue (2014), Dusty Crophopper and his airborne costars entertain and familiarize families with practical uses of utility aircraft—from crop duster to firefighter aircraft. Aviation for Remote Access "You can’t get there from here." The state of Alaska is over 600,000 square miles (155,400 square kilometers) of remote and rugged land, snow, and ice. Eighty-three percent of Alaskan communities are inaccessible by road. You can’t even drive from Anchorage to Juneau, the state capital. Alaska has six times as many pilots and 16 times as many aircraft per capita than the lower 48 states. In Alaska, aviation is the practical means of transportation. Diverse Stories: Ellen Paneok "I have had to chase bears off the runway before I could land. I would just buzz the heck out of them." - Ellen Paneok Women and Flight Ellen Paneok was the first female indigenous Alaskan pilot. Her Inupiaq elders called her “Owl Eyes” for her superb ability to fly in severe weather in over 15,000 hours of flight time. She restored aircraft, too. Diverse Stories: Will Rogers Humorist Will Rogers (left, with Alaskan musher Leonhard Seppala, long-distance flier Wiley Post, and pilot Joe Crosson, in 1935) was an avid promoter of aviation in Alaska. Today, flying in Alaska represents the last of the Wild West. The Douglas World Cruiser fleet stopped in Alaska on its round-the-world flight. In the 1920s and 30s, Alaska was a waypoint for record-setting flights, soon to be followed with bush, commercial, and airmail flying. "Bush" or Backcountry Flight: What Is It? In backcountry flight, people and cargo fly from a populated point to a remote area for work, everyday life, or pleasure. Backcountry flights can carry:
Getting Safely from Here to There: Capstone to ADS-B Starting in 1999, the Capstone program brought together general aviation pilots, the FAA, the University of Alaska, and industry partners to reduce aviation accidents. Their efforts led to new ways of sharing GPS (Global Positioning System) data. New equipment called Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) improves safety, air traffic control, and navigation. Few Alaskan airports had air traffic control, but Capstone-equipped aircraft cut weather accidents and collisions in half by improving a pilot’s awareness of the flight environment. Object Highlight: Point-to-Point Flight Saves Lives, Time, and Fuel The ADS-B Capstone GDL-90 was the first practical Universal Access Transceiver (UAT) or datalink transceiver. The GDL-90 broadcasts position and aircraft performance data while receiving air traffic and weather data. ADS-B equipment is now required in all U.S. aircraft. Ground Based Transceiver (GBT), ADS-B, Capstone Multi Function Display (MFD), Garmin, MX-20 ADS-B Transceiver (UAT), GDL 90 GPS Receiver, Garmin, GX-50 Ground Based Transceiver (GBT) Test Set Drones!Remotely piloted civil aircraft now outnumber general aviation airplanes. Used foremost for aerial photography, many new uses are appearing. Crop spraying and home package delivery are just a few of the applications being developed. Drones challenge existing aircraft control and safety regulations. Open questions remain about where they will ultimately be able to fly and how much autonomy drone operators will be allowed. Have You Flown a Drone? Popular with hobbyists, drones have brought increasing numbers of people to general aviation. Just remember, as with all aviation, regulations do apply. How do you feel knowing there are drones flying over you? Object Highlight: Amazon “Hybrid” Delivery Drone Part helicopter, part airplane, Amazon’s Mk23M-1 hybrid drone was used in 2016 to test its aerial home delivery service. Combining lifting rotors for vertical takeoff with airfoils for longer range, this drone could deliver packages weighing up to 5 pounds (2.3 kilograms) to homes within approximately 10 miles (16 kilometers) of a distribution center. Object Highlight: Flirtey F3.0 Delivery Drone This hexacopter carried medicine from a general aviation airfield to a community health fair in 2015. That demonstration was the first FAA-approved cargo delivery using a remotely piloted aircraft. Object Highlight: Draganflyer X4-ES and Controller First Civilian Drone Rescue Assist On May 9, 2013, a Canadian Mountie used the infrared camera in this quadcopter drone to locate an accident victim who wandered away from a crash in sub-zero weather. Object Highlight: DJI Phantom Hobby Drone and Controller In 2012, the Phantom became an instant success among drone hobbyists: even a novice drone pilot could operate it. Chinese manufacturer DJI has produced over one million Phantoms. Utility Flight General aviation is useful and impacts our daily lives in many ways. A helicopter tour is a spectacular and safe way to view erupting Kilauea in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. This Airbus EC130 is part of the Blue Hawaiian Helicopters fleet that provides aerial tourism flights throughout the Hawaiian islands. In 1969, Central Hudson Gas and Electric contracted William Kobelt Jr., owner of this Piper Super Cub, to patrol high voltage and gas lines in eight counties in Mid-Hudson Valley, New York. The fuselage bears an electricity advertising symbol, “Reddy Kilowatt.” A pilot of the Haverfield Corporation’s Hughes 500D helicopter delivers a Pennsylvania Power and Light lineman to power lines for maintenance work. News helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft offer instant access to unfolding events and traffic. Pilot-reporters flew AIR 7HD, a Eurocopter AS350 B2, for many years above the sprawling Los Angeles metropolitan area. 12/15
vSys Shifts: Signing Up For Spotlights You MUST sign up for Spotlight shifts using vSys. How To Sign Up For NMB Spotlight Shifts in vSys:
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Recording Your Hours in vSys 14/15Next Steps
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