Light Sport Aircraft Delivery Made to Cessna

I've been waiting to see this aircraft come into fruition and I hope it will succeed in the American marketplace. With the new tail feathers added as a result of abhorrent behavior during power-on stall trials, this aircraft is ready for flight training and the Light Sport Aviation pilot. Two aircraft were lost in flight tests--one being dragged across the ground by its BRS chute after having failed to recover from spin tests.

At a starting base price of $111,000, this is an aircraft that looks like it may be in the pocket book range of more private pilots and aviation clubs. .. lakotahope

Skycatcher Joins Light Sport Aircraft Fray
Dec 21, 2009
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Kerry Lynch

Kerry Lynch Cessna Aircraft Friday took a step forward in its plans to become a major player in the light-sport aircraft market with the delivery of the first Model 162 Skycatcher Light Sport Aircraft (LSA). The aircraft was handed over to Rose Pelton, wife of Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack Pelton, during a ceremony at Yingling Aircraft in Wichita, Kan. Yingling is one of three facilities in the U.S. that will reassemble Skycatchers produced by Shenyang Aircraft Company (SAC) in Shenyang, China. SAC builds the Skycatchers, integrates the engines and avionics, and then ships the aircraft to the U.S. for reassembly. Delivery followed Cessna's determination last summer that the aircraft has demonstrated compliance with ASTM standards. As an LSA, the aircraft is not required to receive FAA certification, but must meet the standards established by the international standards-setting organization ASTM International. The determination cleared the path for delivery, as well as signified that the program overcame development setbacks that occurred when the aircraft crashed twice during spin testing (BA, March 30/12). Cessna announced plans to enter the LSA market with the Model 162 Skycatcher two-place, single-engine piston, high-wing aircraft during the AirVenture Oshkosh in 2007. The company has since accumulated more than 1,000 orders for the aircraft, which was priced at $111,500. The aircraft was designed to fit within the LSA category, which calls for aircraft to have a maximum gross weigh of 1,320 pounds or less and a top speed of no more than 120 knots. Powered by the Continental O-200D 100-horsepower, air-cooled engine and a fixed-pitch propeller, the aircraft will cruise at speeds of up to 118 knots and have a 470-nautical-mile range. The Skycatcher is equipped with Garmin G300 avionics, which include either a single, split-screen primary flight display with a multifunction display, or two full-screen displays. Cessna said the aircraft will be capable of Visual Flight Rules/Day/Night operations. The Wichita airframer also has worked with King Schools to develop a Web-based training system for sport and private pilots. The training will be offered through the Cessna Pilot Center network. The first four centers gained approval to use the programs (see item on Page 285). Photo credit: Cessna

The Last Official Ice Airport in the Continental United States

In the small amount of time that I have flown as PIC, it never occurred to me to want to land on an ice covered lake. Granted, I've dreamed of having a Lake Amphibian or a Sea Otter and the thoughts of gliding over tall evergreens surrounding the perfect lake in a "very hospitable" valley. Landing gently on the mirror like surface and taxiing to the perfect camp site. Yes, dumping all of my camping gear out of my aircraft and setting camp, then throw out my first cast. I really can picture this moment now at this keyboard.

But, I want to lead up to the following article about an Ice Airport that is only open a couple of months a year--weather permitting. Ice on highways is dangerous and I've usually been cautious when driving in wintery conditions. Oh, there were a couple of times in my youth where we'd find the largest snow covered parking lot and see what the dynamics of sliding cars entailed. (I did learn how to get into, get out of and especially recognize inherent out of control phenomenon, which I am sure aided me in driving safely on the previously mentioned wintery roads). Ice on landing strips seems bad and wanting to land on an ice covered lake seems worse. Just because I haven't spoken with any pilots who have enjoyed this part of flying, nor do we have any lakes in my area that will freeze solidly and thickly enough to hold my weight and my aircraft's weight. But, the following video is great and read the article--just click on the title of this particular blog....Sigh! ... lakotahope
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Buffalo Crash Blamed on Cockpit Crew

After all was said and done, I reckon this wasn't hard to figure out. The plane virtually pancaked and the pilot never pushed forward on the control wheel to stop the stall. The instruments were there to tell him that a stall was in progress, but he refused to inhibit the stall and continued to hold the control column back.

Maybe, this was due to the fact he wasn't much above 1,000 ft. agl. Also, due to the co-pilot not being 100% at the time and they weren't abiding by one of the rules in the cockpit--no talking about anything other than what is necessary to fly the aircraft safely under 10,000 feet.

There was more than one factor involved in this crash and the pilot and co-pilot were victims to these circumstances as were the passengers and the victim on the ground..... lakotahope

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Russia To Launch MIM1 Module To ISS Next Year

It looks as if Russia is still gaining momentum in its space affairs. It does feel good to read decent news about Russia and its desire to continue building and providing for the ISS in light of the fact that the U.S. has effectively quit our space adventures for the next 6 or 9 years after 2010. This is when the Space Shuttle fleet will be stood down and each orbiter will be put on display around the country for a paltry 40 million dollars each. Well, somewhere around that number.

Russia is also putting up 2 more energy modules by 2014, which is boosting the energy supplies of the Russian segment. Can this strictly be only for the Russian segment. Do the other segments have ample power supply? I guess one can never have too much power for whatever demands that may arise when the U.S. cannot get itself back into space without asking or buying a way aboard one of Russia's spaceships..... lakotahope
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by Staff Writers
Moscow, China (XNA) Dec 09, 2009

Currently there are 10 modules on the ISS, with the Russian segment consisting of Zvezda service module, Zarya functional cargo module, Pirs docking station and Poisk scientific module.

Russia is scheduled to launch a MIM1 experiment module to the International Space Station (ISS) next year, said the head of Russia's aerospace conglomerate on Monday.

The 7.9-ton module, temporarily named "Twilight" (Sumerki), had been assembled and is awaiting shipment to the United States in mid-December, said Vitaly Lopota, president of Russia's Energia Aerospace Corporation, in Korolev in the Moscow region.

It will be sent to the ISS by a U.S. space shuttle in May 2010,together with a storage of some 1.4 tons of U.S. cargoes, Lopota added.

It is reported that "Twilight" will be deployed to conduct a series of scientific experiments, especially studies on biotechnology and hylology.

Currently there are 10 modules on the ISS, with the Russian segment consisting of Zvezda service module, Zarya functional cargo module, Pirs docking station and Poisk scientific module.

The Poisk, which will be formally deployed this month, is the first of three components Russia is planning to add to the space station in the next three years.

In keeping with its plans, Russia is scheduled to launch a node module to the ISS in 2012 and another two energy modules in 2014, which will boost the energy supplies of the Russian section of the ISS.

TSA Locks Out Local Pilots

So, as this security conscious government goes into overdrive to limit what was once a casual visit to the airport to go flying, I continue to imagine how far can this agency that didn't exist 10 years ago, go into undermining Americans right to exist.

If you put it to the TSA, I would be pretty sure that if they could do so at this moment, they would ban all casual, general aviation flying in the United States and think they were doing all of us a favor. Sure, keep the terrorists out, but we have to take some risks, otherwise, by what definition, do we consider ourselves a FREEDOM LOVING SOCIETY. .. lakotahope
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TSA Locks Out Punta Gorda Pilots

As the Transportation Security Administration continues to eye GA as a security threat, it locked out a group of owners from a through-the-fence arrangement at Florida's Punta Gorda Airport, south of Sarasota. Pilot Larry Hofmeister told us Friday that a group of owners with hangars on private property adjacent to the airport had a good working arrangement that allowed them to taxi from their hangars to a gate into the airport, which they could open by remote control. This week, the TSA halted that arrangement, claiming that it represents a security threat.

Now, to access the airport, the owners have to notify the FBO, which will send a lineman to open the gate on a time-permitting basis. Hofmeister told us the hangars have their own fenced-in area which itself requires a security card to access, so access to the runway is controlled by not one, but two gates. The TSA apparently took the action because it was unhappy with a pilot who taxied away from the access gate before it was closed. TSA didn't immediately return our call seeking additional information.