Piper Aircraft recently rolled out the 500th Meridian to SouthEast Piper for delivery to the aircraft's new Florida-based owner. "The milestone delivery of the 500th Piper Meridian, since first delivery in the year 2000, emphasizes its enduring value proposition even during recent periods of economic uncertainty around the world," said Piper President and CEO Simon Caldecott. Visit www.piper.com.

Cobalt Aircraft has selected CMC's SmartDeck avionics suite as standard on the new Co50 single-engine aircraft. David Loury, Cobalt CEO, explained: "The reason we chose SmartDeck can be summed up in one word: simplicity. The SmartDeck's design philosophy mirrors our design philosophy for the Co50---both are very simple to use." The all-composite Co50 is powered by a 350 hp, FADEC-equipped, TCM TSIOF-550-D2B piston engine. The aircraft is projected to deliver a maximum cruise speed of 250 knots at 25,000 feet and a fully loaded maximum range of 1,150 nm. The first prototype has undergone high-speed taxi testing and is entering the initial phases of its development flight test program. Visit www.cmcelectronics.ca and www.esterline.com.

Lightspeed Aviation Founder Allan Schrader accepted the Champion of Public Benefit Flying award from the National Aeronautical Association and the Air Care Alliance at an awards ceremony in the Lyndon B. Johnson Room of the U.S. Senate. The Lightspeed Aviation Foundation was selected for this prestigious award "in recognition of Lightspeed's significant contribution by creating a support system enhancing groups involved in public flying." The National Aeronautical Association created the Public Benefit Flying Awards in 2003 to recognize significant contributions by people and organizations who voluntarily put their aviation skills, talents and equipment to use to benefit other people. Visit www.lightspeedaviationfoundation.org.

Myron "Ole" Olson, owner of O&N Aircraft Modifications, Factoryville, Pa., announced the company has received an FAA Supplemental Type Certificate for the installation of two Rolls-Royce 250-B17F/2 turbine engines in Cessna models 340 and 340A---a conversion known as the Silver Eagle 340. Olson shares credit with a group of highly experienced engineers and pilots who worked on the project, and Mr. Steve Hardie, the owner of the prototype aircraft and backer of the project. Located in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the company operates a full-service FAA repair station, and sells and installs all major avionics. Visit www.onaircraft.com.

Tailwheels Etc. Flight School has left its long-time home at Gilbert Airfield in Winter Haven, Fla., and moved to new facilities at the Lakeland-Linder Airport in Lakeland, Fla. This move has given the school a much needed larger facility, with more office space for the staff and instructors, increased hangar capacity and even their own fuel tanks. There are plans to renovate the facilities to offer pilots more amenities. Visit www.tailwheelsetc.com.

New Zealand's Waikato Aero Club has purchased two Italian-manufactured Tecnam P2008 LSA. Giovanni Nustrini, Managing Director of Tecnam Australasia, said, "Waikato Aero Club is a perfect customer for the P2008. The club's mix of recreational and full-time flying will continue to demonstrate the versatility of the aircraft and its ease of use. The Club will benefit from the reduced operating costs associated with the Rotax engine and modern airframe." As well as recreational flight training and club trips, Waikato Aero Club runs a student loan-funded full-time flight school for budding professional pilots. Visit www.flywaikato.co.nz and www.tecnamaircraft.com.

Cessna's Citation Performance Calculator (CPCalc), part of the CESNAV flight planning and performance suite, is now available from the Apple App Store for current production Citation business jets, as well as many out-of-production Citations. The program maximizes takeoff and landing data, and determines engine-out performance, taking into consideration user-inputted obstacles or minimum climb gradients. "The new Cessna CPCalc app unquestionably gives us, as pilots, the ability to maximize the performance of our aircraft in conjunction with a tool like the iPad," said Steve Workman, Cessna Flight Operations Manager. "We don't have to round up, round down or interpolate the data. The app allows us to demonstrate all our models to their maximum capability." Visit www.cessna.com.

The 4,000-foot runway on Ford Island, in the heart of Pearl Harbor, was part of Naval Air Station Ford Island from 1921 to 1961. It has been part of the Pearl Harbor National Historic Landmark since 1964 and on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976. The U.S. Navy is proposing to cover the runway and 14 acres of adjoining land with 60,000 photovoltaic panels. It will require inverter stations between the former runway and ramp area, and the area will be surrounded by a black chain-link fence. To date, the Pacific Aviation Museum (PAM) has welcomed more than 800,000 visitors. PAM's mission is to educate young and old alike, honor aviators and their support personnel who defended freedom in the Pacific region and preserve Pacific region aviation artifacts. The museum feels that the Ford Island runway, which played a key role in World War II, is one such artifact. At its meeting on July 19, 2012, PAM's Board of Directors voted unanimously to oppose the Navy's plans and encouraged the Navy to relocate the project to a far larger tract of Navy land at Waipio Peninsula. Visit www.pacificaviationmuseum.org.

Designed by pilots for pilots, Flying Eyes sunglasses are made to be comfortable while wearing headsets in the cockpit. The strap on Flying Eyes is soft, flat and unnoticeable between your head and the headset, so there's no pressure or pain, even after a long day of flying. A better seal between the headset and your head will make your noise-cancelling headsets even quieter. Non-polarized lenses provide clear viewing of LCD multifunction displays on the instrument panel and through acrylic aircraft windows. Contact: www.flyingeyes.biz.

Commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Piper Cub with Sporty's crystal holiday ornament. The limited-edition collector's item features an elegantly etched Cub in flight. It comes with a bright-red ribbon for hanging and is boxed for gift giving with some historical notes about the airplane. Contact: www.sportys.com.

Chasing Reno Gold is a four-hour feature that's packed with information and personality, as director Mark Chiolis interviews every living Unlimited Gold winner of the National Championship Air Races. These remarkable men, aged from the low 20s to their 70s, are among the fastest humans on the planet, and the fastest-ever behind a spinning propeller. Chasing Reno Gold is available on DVD and high-definition Blu-ray. Contact: www.justplanefunvideos.com.

Michael Hayes' guide is written to help prepare applicants for the oral-exam portion of their multi-engine checkride with FAA examiners, and has been updated to reflect the latest regulations, procedures and technology. Using a question-and-answer format, it lists the questions most likely to be asked by examiners and provides succinct, ready responses. Immediately following each question line is a reference to the specific FAA source from which the answer is derived. It's also available as an eBook. Visit www.asa2fly.com.