December 2008 Readback

New AFIT Programs
Accelerated Flight & Instrument Training has announced that it will offer new Pilatus PC-12 Accelerated 10-Day IFR Training Programs across the United States. AFIT has trained and licensed senior instructors specializing in and dedicated to the Pilatus PC-12 and its owner. See AFIT's new e-brochure to learn about the company's many services. Visit www.afit-info.com.

New iPhone App
Laminar Research has released a version of X-Plane for Apple's iPhone. X-Plane is a highly customizable flight simulator that uses "blade element theory" technology to model flight characteristics; some of its implements have been certified for logging simulation flight time for pilots. While X-Plane had to be scaled down for the iPhone, many of its key characteristics remain intact: You can adjust types of weather conditions and turbulence characteristics, and you can also choose from different aircraft models. X-Plane 9 runs on any iPhone or iPod touch running at least iPhone 2.0. Visit www.x-plane.com.

Redbird & Xwind Join Forces
Redbird Flight Simulations is now the exclusive dealer for the Xwind 200 Crosswind Landing Trainer. The Redbird Xwind teaches proper crosswind landing techniques and sharpens stick-and-rudder skills by employing an electric motion platform that provides 60 degrees of roll, 90 degrees of yaw and 14 feet of lateral drift. "The combination of Redbird and Xwind delivers compelling value for our customers," said Redbird CEO Todd Willinger. "It allows us to extend our leadership in providing exceptional motion-based flight simulation at a price point that all flight-training programs can afford." Visit www.redbirdflightsimulations.com.

Jet Man Crosses English Channel
On September 26, Swiss adventurer Yves Rossy became the first person to fly across the English Channel using a homemade, single, jet-powered wing. Covering the 22-mile distance in 13 minutes, he traveled at an average speed of 125 mph. Rossy traced the route of French aviator Louis Blériot, the first person to fly an airplane across the English Channel. An airplane transported Rossy to nearly 8,200 feet, at which point he started his four engines and jumped out of the plane above Calais, France. Once his wing stabilized, Rossy began traveling full throttle for the United Kingdom, landing at the White Cliffs of Dover. He hopes to next tackle the Grand Canyon. Visit www.fusionman.ch.

Mooney's New CEO
Robert B. Gowens has been named the CEO of Mooney Airplane Company. He brings more than 36 years of senior leadership experience to his new role. While Gowens has assumed the CEO role, Dennis E. Ferguson remains the president of Mooney. "Bob Gowens brings a valuable mix of top-level operating, strategic and financial leadership to Mooney, having served as both a chief executive and a management consultant," Chairman of the Board Steven E. Karol said. Visit www.mooney.com.

Goodyear Sponsors Patty Wagstaff
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has announced that it will supply Patty Wagstaff's Cirrus Extra 300S with Flight Custom III tires. Wagstaff, a six-time member of the U.S. Aerobatic Team, was the first woman to win the title of U.S. National Aerobatic champion. "I'm happy to be affiliated with the world's largest supplier of aviation tires and am looking forward to being part of the Goodyear team," said Wagstaff. Visit www.goodyearaviation.com and www.pattywagstaff.com.

Sporty's Sweepstakes Winner
Jeff Hux of Sikeston, Mo., is the winner of the 2008 Sporty's Sweepstakes. He wins a brand-new, Garmin G1000--equipped Cessna 172 Skyhawk, two Bose Aviation X headsets and a fully stocked Sporty's Leather Flight Gear bag. Hux, a commercial pilot with an instrument rating and 1,700 hours of flying time, will travel to Batavia, Ohio, to receive his airplane and a complete G1000 checkout. The 2009 drawing for a brand-new Cessna Skyhawk with Garmin Synthetic Vision Technology is scheduled for May 16, 2009, at Sporty's Annual Fly-In and Open House. Visit www.sportys.com.

Around The World For A Cause
Two women plan to fly a Mooney 201J around the globe in seven days to raise $1,000,000 for ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). CarolAnn Garratt, a 3,100-hour instrument-rated private pilot, and copilot Carol Foy will depart early December from Orlando and head west with stops in San Diego, Hawaii, Guam, Thailand, Oman, Gabon, Cape Verde and then back to Orlando again. The Mooney will be equipped with two 50-gallon wing tanks and one 120-gallon tank in place of the passenger seats, providing for an endurance of 24 hours. Garratt lost her mother to ALS in 2002 and is paying for the attempt on her own. All donations go directly to the ALS Therapy Development Institute. Visit www.alsworldflight.com.

Sport Cruisin'
Japanese pilot Shuhei Seki, a 55-year-old retired investor, flew a CZAW SportCruiser from Florida to Japan, over the Atlantic and across Europe and Asia. Equipment that he had installed for the long flight included extra-capacity ferry fuel tanks, a variable-pitch propeller, AvMap Jeppesen flight maps, a Dynon D180 EFIS panel, a TruTrak autopilot and an Iridium satellite phone. The modifications required the LSA to be classified in the experimental category. "Everyone wishes at least one time to go back home in his own plane," said Seki upon reaching Japan safely. Visit www.czaw.cz and Seki's blog, blue7700.blogspot.com.

Stocking Stuffers For Warbird Lovers
Since 1994, Lost Squadron has been producing high-quality adventure/warbird clothing. Featuring iconography that includes depictions of storied warbird squadrons, such as the six P-38s (and two B-17s) buried beneath a thick layer of ice on a Greenland ice cap in 1942 (Glacier Girl was recovered in 1992), Lost Squadron's offerings include T-shirts, baseball caps, flight jackets and aviation photography. New for the Christmas season are four-panel, 100%-cotton-chino-twill F4U Corsair caps. They join the company's line of popular P-51 Mustang and P-38 Lightning apparel. For more, contact Lost Squadron at (888) 977-5678 or visit www.lostsquadron.com.

A Cirrus Christmas
Though you'd probably prefer an actual Cirrus with a big red bow, Sporty's offers you a chance to dream big with its annual Christmas ornament, which has become something of a holiday tradition among GA aviators. In its 24th incarnation, the limited-edition ornament proudly features the best-selling, single-engine Cirrus laser-etched onto its face. Equipped with a colorful ribbon for hanging on your tree, the ornament arrives nestled in an attractive gift box. Keep Cirrus in your thoughts, and perhaps next year, you'll have an even bigger ornament to call your own. For more, contact Sporty's at (800) SPORTYS or visit www.sportys.com.

AvMap's XM Weather Package
XM Radio has long endeavored to bring pilots XM WX--capable display solutions, and in pursuit of that goal, the company has teamed with AvMap to offer XM WX Satellite Weather as an option on AvMap's EKP-IV, EKP-IV Pro and GeoPilot II Plus GPS products. Pilots will now be able to access constantly updated, high-resolution weather information right in the cockpit. (Such information is particularly invaluable when a flight path is marked by approaching storms.) With the addition of XM WX to AvMap's moving-map GPS devices, AvMap portable navigation systems become the most versatile on the market. For more, contact AvMap Satellite Navigation at (800) 363-2627 or visit www.avmap.us.

VFR Charts For Mexico
Because of its proximity, Mexico is a popular destination for many U.S. pilots. In our November 2008 issue, we featured an instructional article, "South Of The Border," about flying in this Latin American country. With the release of Caribbean Sky Tours' VFR World Aeronautical Charts (WAC) for Mexico, flying in and around America's next-door neighbor has become even easier than uno, dos, tres. Published by Mexico's INEGI (National Institute of Statistics, Information & Geography), the charts contain up-to-date topographical and airport information---they're much more accurate than charts currently available in the States. Twelve chart regions cover the entire country, and there are two regions per chart, yielding a total of six separate charts. The charts' development was spearheaded by the director generals of Mexico's Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) and SENEAM (Servicios a la Navegación en el Espacio Aéreo Mexicano). For more, contact Caribbean Sky Tours at (866) 420-9265 or visit www.caribbeanskytours.com.

Organization Is Next To Godliness
Keeping your cockpit organized can be a pain, but for safety and sanity, it's a necessary pain. With Sporty's new Flight Gear Kneeboards, pilots have an ally in keeping their mess to a minimum. The spacious interiors offer numerous pockets, such as a clear chart holder, and elastic straps for E6B storage. When folded, an exterior pocket has room for charts, and a wide elastic strap and padded back promise a comfortable, stationary fit when in flight. An aluminum clipboard allows you to keep track of flight-plan forms, weather printouts, etc. Additional features include a (VFR or IFR) placard with cruising altitudes, a flight-plan template and other useful tools. The Flight Gear Kneeboard comes in two versions: VFR or IFR Tri-Fold Kneeboard. For more, contact Sporty's at (800) SPORTYS or visit www.sportys.com.

Staying In Vogue
A former flight attendant has more than a beverage cart and an airline meal up her sleeve; indeed, she has developed a line of handbags based on the airplanes she once served. Building upon the success of her SkyBelts, made from airline seat belts, her new line of handcrafted Jumpseat Bags are constructed out of vintage aircraft textiles. All of the bags are made out of new high-quality-wool fabric that's derived from airplane seat covers and lined with military-flight-jacket satin; unique materials include seat-belt straps and buckle connectors. For more, contact Jumpseat Bags at (866) 759-2358 or visit www.jumpseatbags.com.