AircraftOwner Online

     This past weekend I flew to the annual Antique Airplane Association Pumpkin Drop near my home town of Ottumwa, Iowa.

      This event is a lot of fun and this year nearly 30 airplanes showed up to drop pumpkins on a target in a near by field. The target was an old boat. The event starts with a potluck lunch followed by a briefing and then the “bombing” begins.

      People get really into it. One year they even had a B-25 load up the bomb bay and carpet bomb the target!  Don’t try this at home!
     As you can see, we had plenty of amo...

Have you checked out the new Garmin Aera yet?

I was just wondering what Garmin was going to come up with next and here it is. The QVTA wide-format 4.3 inch screen is crisp and relatively easy to use, even with my five thumbs. The screen offers a menu-driven tap-and-drag interface.

The Aera's Sectional chart-style shaded mapping, terrain and aviation databases with a color terrain advisory feature and pop-up alerts when possible obstructions or the ground is coming at you.

The 550 and 560 have chards and taxi diagrams for more than 950 airports. This is Garmin’s most comprehensive GA product yet. I have a 496 that’s made my flying easier and safer and was well worth the investment. The new Aera is an improvement over an already remarkable product line. We just posted a video on the new Aera in the AircraftOwner Videos section ( http://www.aircraftowner.com/members/profile/1/video/440 ).
Check it out!

As I mentioned last week, I attended the premier of the movie “Amelia.”  Now let me say I am a bit biased as my Ford Tri-motor appears several times in the film. That being said, I really liked the film!  It is a sophisticated portrayal of Amelia’s life. Sure, everyone knows the ending but that’s the point in my view. book. Being an Amelia fan, I can tell you that she is one of the most misunderstood icons of the last century. I know of which I speak. 

Back in 2001, I organized the re-creation of her first record flight. It was a flight across America. Her Avro Avian which was given to her by Lady Mary Heath after the Fokker crossing.  I studied Amelia’s life in great detail in preparation for this 2001 re-creation (see: www.AmeliaFlight.com). 

What always has bothered me is that everyone knows a great deal about her last flight, and nothing-to-precious-little about her life before that final flight.  This new film goes a long way to correcting that. 

Her life was full of ironic twists and turns. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Amelia lived in St. Paul for a while! I was able to drive by her old house (pictured here to the right) and even got a copy of her high school transcripts!  

Trust me on this one – see the movie. You will enjoy it. And don’t forget to look for the Ford too!

 

Good morning all you pilots!

It's Friday and I'm getting ready to head for the the NBAA convention in Orlando next week.  This after one last trip to the backcountry of Idaho a couple of days ago.   The contrast reminds me of one more reason why we fly.

Idaho was great. Steve Appleton, Dave McDonald and I flew up to Stanley then on to Moose Creek. What a great place that is.  It was a relative quick two day event but really fun.  

On the way to NBAA I'm stopping in NYC for the premier of the new movie "Amelia."  They used my Ford Tri-motor in the movie.  We were there for two weeks and I will be suprised if the Ford appears for more than a minute.  I'll see if I can find a picture to post of Hillary Swank.

Fly safe and have a great weekend.
Greg

On the way to NBAA, I'm going to stop in New York City for the premier of the new movie "Amelia," Tuesday the 20th.   Here's the Trailer...

My Ford Tri-motor has a small roll in the movie. The scenes were filmed in Canada last year.  We were on the set for two weeks with Hillary Swank (!!), Richard Gere and Ewan McGregor.  I was invited to the premier by my friend (and former computer business competitor) Ted Waitt who owns Avalon Films and is the Executive Producer.

The Ford was in four scenes. Who knows if they will all make it into the movie or not but it was fun.  I am attaching a shot showing Hillary Swank in the pilot's seat during the filming. 

During a break in the filming, I found myself in the cockpit of a DC-3 parked in the hangar with Hillary Swank and Ewan McGregor. We talked about flying for at least half and hour. Hillary said she was taking flying lessons in a Cirrus and had about 20 hours!  Then, Ewan started asking about it, and also became interested in learning.  I encouraged them both to continue to pursue flying.

Also, while on the set, Richard Gere came into the Ford, sat down, and started asking about the history of the ship.  He was genuinely interested and took a small history booklet I have printed about the aircraft.  You can read more about the Ford here.

Back in 2001 I sponsored the re-creation of Amelia Earhart's first record flight as a pilot which was across America in an Avro Avian.  You can read all about that adventure at www.AmeliaFlight.com.

All in all, just being on the set for two weeks was an absolutely fantastic experience, as was interacting with all the folks in the cast.  This is a "must see" movie.

More later!
Greg

We have gathered quite a bit of information concerning Hamilton Standard ground adjustable propellers. If you have any information please share it with us.

In particular we are looking for drawings and specifications. Props being considered to put back into produciton include the A11C1 and A1C1 blades.