August 2011 NAA Record Newsletter

NAA Record August 2011

NAA and Air Care Alliance to

Present Public Benefit Flying Awards

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA), in partnership with the Air Care Alliance, a nationwide league of humanitarian flying organizations, will honor the 2011 recipients of the National Public Benefit Flying Awards at the "Above and Beyond" Ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, September 15, 2011. This year's recipients are:

Distinguished Volunteer Pilot - Dr. Lewis Young, Angel Flight Central Dr. Lewis Young has provided more than 700 flights since 2001 for Angel Flight Central, a volunteer organization that provides long-distance transportation at times of personal and community crisis.
Distinguished Volunteers - Dick Gooch, Angel Flight Central and Larry A. Lemke, Wings of Hope Dick Gooch has provided volunteer services for Angel Flight Central for more than 14 years as a volunteer staff member, outreach ambassador, board member, and advocate for patients, pilots, and staff.
Larry Lemke's extraordinary Wings of Hope program, which he joined in 1995 and has chaired since 2004, provides humanitarian efforts worldwide. Lemke has flown more than 1,100 U.S. flights and worked more than 7,000 hours in charitable efforts, providing advanced health care to impoverished people.
Outstanding Achievement in Public Benefit Flying - Bruce Robin Stoddard and Wright Flight Inc.
For more than 25 years Bruce Robin Stoddard and Wright Flight have used the powerful motivator of aviation to help America's children stay in school and attain higher personal and educational goals. Relying almost entirely on volunteer teachers, pilots, and ground crews, the program currently operates in nine states and has more than 20,000 graduates.

Minnesota Special Olympians

display their medals.

Texas Special Olympians prepare to depart The Games.
Champion of Public Benefit Flying - 2010 Cessna Citation Special Olympics Airlift In July 2010, the Citation Special Olympics Airlift capped a two-year planning effort led by Cessna Aircraft Company, involving more than 200 employee volunteers and some 160 volunteer Cessna Citation business jets to provide transportation for Special Olympics athletes from around the country to the quadrennial Special Olympics USA National Games.

In announcing the winners, NAA President and CEO Jonathan Gaffney said, "I am very proud of the recipients of the 2011 Public Benefit Flying Awards. All of the nominations were worthy and the list of our honorees again demonstrates again the diversity of public benefit flying in America and the many different people who benefit from it."

Air Care Alliance Chairman Rol Murrow noted, "Each year thousands of volunteers in aviation quietly work to fly patients for care, provide educational flights for youth, support environmental causes, serve in times of emergencies, help our veterans, and provide help in many other ways to those in need. Along with NAA, we are pleased to be able to work with leaders in our Nation's capital to honor these selfless individuals, their groups, and those who provide essential support for them."

The public is invited to attend. Space is limited and prior registration is required. Click here for details.

Jim Albaugh Warns of "Intellectual

Disarmament" at NAA Luncheon

Jim Albaugh is concerned.

As the Executive Vice President of The Boeing Company and President and Chief Executive Officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, he is seeing what he calls the "intellectual disarmament of our country."

"Aerospace really defined the 20th century," he recalled, speaking at the July 2011 NAA Luncheon. "Look at Neil Armstrong - he changed the way people look at the world around them."

Today, however, Albaugh sees many people at Boeing who joined the company during the space race and will retire in the near future. "You know, about half of Boeing's engineers will be able to retire by 2015. When they leave, they will take a lot of knowledge with them," he warned, seeing his company's predicament as just one example of a larger slowdown in aerospace development that could rob the nation of its top engineering talent.

Jim Albaugh wants to inspire young people to enter aerospace engineering.

"For the first time in a long time the government is not building any new development airplanes," said Albaugh, who previously led Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. "We don't want them to build things they don't need, but without any new starts and projects to keep small teams together so their skills don't go away, we will be in trouble. It would be a real travesty if we lose the knowledge that has kept the world free. Once you lose it, it is very hard to get back."

He recently watched the final launch of the Space Shuttle, which he called "the most devastating day of my career. Parking the Space Shuttle marks the end of 60 years of hard work. Tens of thousands of engineers will retire or go into other industries and be lost forever.

"It puts our country at risk - we could lose the advantage in aerospace we have enjoyed. We have 800,000 people working in a $2 trillion industry and that could be in jeopardy.

"We have no mission, no dream, and no leadership. Even when the Russians cut their budget they preserved their space program. When government cuts the budget they need to take a hard look at the industrial base - they may find that we don't have the people anymore to do things that are needed.

"I fear that we are in a downward self-perpetuating spiral and we can't sustain ourselves as an aerospace leader."

To recover, he sees the need to come up with the same type of inspiration that happened in 1969 with the moon landing to get young people interested in aerospace engineering.

"The Russians, Indians, and Chinese - some of them will be very successful," he predicted, citing the development of the Chinese J20 stealth fighter aircraft. "I see that as a new competitor in the defense marketplace rather than a security threat.

"Are we going to seize these challenges and retain our dominance in aerospace or give that mantle to some other country? We have a history of rising up to meet these challenges."

Despite the challenges, Albaugh is proud of the commercial airplanes that Boeing is producing, especially the new 787 Dreamliner. He described December 15, 2009 - the day of the first flight of the Dreamliner - as one of "concern, apprehension, and then great pride when it took off. It really changed the way airplanes are built."

Addressing this issue of the delay in completing the Dreamliner, Albaugh quipped, "When customers fly the 787 they will forgive us for the delay."

During the production of the 787, he said he "gained an appreciation of how hard it is to build complex airplanes at a rapid rate - it is very challenging to do." Nevertheless, Boeing announced earlier this summer that it plans to boost the production rate of its 737 airplanes to 42 per month and Albaugh believes "we will stay there for a while" due to strong demand.

Looking to the future, he also predicted that "supersonic travel will happen - it's just a matter of when. New materials that can change shape in flight will improve aerodynamic performance." Albaugh also noted the Boeing, like other aircraft companies, is experimenting with biofuels and sees them making a big difference in the industry.

"It's going to take investment and innovation - if we don't do it some other country will," he said.

Marion Blakey Receives

Marion Blakey accepts the Henderson Trophy from NAA Chairman Walter Boyne.

Henderson Trophy

The Honorable Marion Blakey was presented the 2011 Cliff Henderson Award for Acheivement at the NAA July 2011 Luncheon.

The former Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, Blakey is currently President and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association.

She was honored for her "vision, leadership, and skill that made a significant and lasting contribution to the promotion and advancement of aviation and aerospace in the United States."

"I want to share this award with my team and all those who make aviation great," Blakey said.

The full size trophy was brought to the luncheon from its permanent home at Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Luncheon Season Gearing Up

The 2011 -2012 NAA Luncheon Series season (September 2011 through June 2012) will get underway in early Fall. Scheduled to speak to date are General Jim Amos, Commandant, United States Marine Corps and Richard Aboulafia, an aviation analyst with Teal Group. Check this newsletter and the NAA website for Luncheon Dates and information updates.

Guarantee you and your group seats by purchasing a Season Table. Sign-up forms are available now.

You Too Can Set an Aviation Record

NAA has a rich 105-year history as the official record keeper of all U.S. aviation records.

If you don't have one yet, don't despair - you still have time! It's not easy, but with some good advance planning and the right conditions, you too can have your rightful place in the NAA record books.

The July 2011 issue of the NAA Record newsletter highlighted some of the recent remarkable records and shows the different types of records that can be set. It includes six keys for making a successful city-to-city speed record claim - one of the most popular records to set.

You can also win a beautiful leather flight jacket inscribed with the NAA logo and the words, "World Record Holder." Contact Art Greenfield at [email protected] for more information on setting records and this special jacket offer.

NAA Leader John Alison

Passes Away at Age 98

John R. Alison, NAA President from 1977-1980 and Chairman of the Board from 1980-1989, died on June 6, 2011 at age 98 at his home in Washington, DC.

Alison, who was also named an NAA Elder Statesman of Aviation in 1998, was a retired Air Force major general and World War II fighter ace who helped lead a nighttime invasion by glider into enemy-held Burma - a logistical feat that included the transport of troops, heavy machinery, and even mules.

He was decorated with the Silver Star, two awards of the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Purple Heart.

First Flight Foundation Planning

Soaring 100 Event in October 2011

In honor of the centennial celebration of Orville Wright's 1911 World Record Glider Flight and the birth of modern soaring, the First Flight Foundation (The Foundation) is hosting the Soaring 100 International Symposium October 21-24, 2011 in Nags Head, North Carolina.

Aviation novices, enthusiasts, and professionals will enjoy a diverse program of aviation history developed by Dr. Tom Crouch, Ph.D., Senior Curator, Aeronautics, of the Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum.

Three 1911 Wright Gliders -replicas built by independent teams (VA, MD, KS) at their own expense (no corporate sponsorship) -one will be displayed at Wright Brothers National Memorial and two will be flown (weather permitting) at Jockey's Ridge State Park.

Glider/sailplanes demonstrations will take place on the grounds of the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Legendary glider pilots will be on hand to tell amazing stories, including Lt. Col. (RET) Al Hulstruck of the U.S. Army World War II Glider Pilots. He will bring an exhibit that he personally funded and built that will tell the story of flight missions he conducted, including the Normandy Invasion. During the Rhineland Invasion Hulstruck landed his glider 12 miles behind German lines.

The Soaring Society of America (SSA), the United States Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association (USHPA), and the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) will have numerous displays and exhibits, including a sailplane flight simulator, vintage hang glider flight demonstrations and glider model building.

The Foundation has partnered with the National Park Service (NPS) and Wright Brothers Memorial since 1995, when The First Flight Centennial Foundation was established to help commemorate the 100th anniversary of powered flight on December 17, 2003. During that period and since, The Foundation's primary purpose has been to raise money for infrastructure and capital improvements for the Wright Brothers Memorial, including the design and construction of a new visitor center.

Click here for more information.

President's Message

AirVenture: Are You In?

gaffney I am going to start calling this my "Annual You-Need-To-Visit-Oshkosh Column" . . . because, every year, I am astounded as to how many of our colleagues in aviation and aerospace have never visited EAA's AirVenture.

To make it easy - here is what I do. First of all, since it is nine days long (weekend to weekend), you can come for as many days as you want (I come for two full days dur air show 1 ing the week). There are displays, exhibits, workshops, lectures, an enormous collection of manufacturers and OEMs, probably every major aviation and aerospace association, a load of activities for kids, and vendors for every possible piece of equipment or service. (Some of the photos shown here give you a glimpse of what the show offers.)

Of course, there is flying from dawn-to-dusk. (As I write this on July 27, the airshow will cover 100 Years of Naval Aviation - very dear to my heart.) There are concerts during the evening and a nightly movie in the outdoor theater. As AirVenture air sow 2 is a massive physical layout, there is transportation throughout the site with lots of volunteers to help you along. You won't go hungry, either.

Second, lodging can be a challenge (close-in) but they have camping on-site and thousands of hotel rooms in the region. I stay in Green Bay where I air show 3 can get reasonable room rates, good air fare, and it is a very quick and pleasant one-hour drive down to Oshkosh (I love to drive).

Finally, The most enjoyable part for me - even on par with the flying - is that it is a great place to see and meet with friends and colleagues from the industry (particularly those who support the work of NAA) - so many of them are here . . . except, of air show 4 course, those of you who have never attended before.

E-mail me any questions, but - more importantly - go to www.airventure.org. There is only so much I can describe in 250 words.

Jonathan Gaffney

NAA President and CEO

Air Sport Organization News

USPA Urges Contacting Congress to

Oppose User Fees for General Aviation

The United States Parachute Association (USPA) has posted an article urging its members to oppose any proposals in the U.S. Congress to impose new user fees on general aviation to reduce the federal deficit.

"There has been similar talk in the past, but Congress squashed the idea," the article said. "There's not yet any formal proposal, but there are enough rumors from official sources that many of the general aviation associations representing pilots and businesses that operate aircraft have asked their members to contact their Senators and Member of Congress to oppose the idea."

The article also noted that a fee-per-flight charge could be anywhere from $25 to $100, and it could be assessed per takeoff or per radio contact with air traffic control (ATC).

"USPA joins our general aviation brethren in fighting the user fee concept," the association said. "Please take action now to ensure that Congress rejects the user fee idea."

Ballooning Documentary Wins

Wolf Aviation Fund Grant

The Balloon Federation of America reports in an article written by Glen Moyer that "The Fantastic Flights of Sophie Blanchard," an independent documentary directed by Jen Sachs, has been awarded a 2011 Wolf Aviation Fund Grant.

Moyer notes that the documentary, which is currently in production, will recount "the little-known story of the first woman to live and die for flight. Live action interviews and animated reenactments illustrate the story of Sophie Blanchard, a pioneer balloonist, the first professional female pilot, and the Official Aeronaut of Napoleon's Empire."

The film's prominent cast of international experts includes Tom Crouch, Senior Curator of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and Audouin Dollfus, the award-winning French balloonist and astronomer.

EAA Reports on Brief Reprieve

From California Avgas Ban Attempt

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) posted a report from the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) announcing that California's Center for Environmental Health (CEH) has agreed to put its Proposition 65 enforcement action against the use of leaded avgas in the state on hold until October 28, 2011 so a federal judge can rule on a lawsuit requesting an injunction against the action.

The NATA-led coalition, including California fixed-base operators and fuel distributors, seeks a federal preemption claim and request for injunction, contending that Prop 65 (the California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act) lawsuits will disrupt ongoing efforts by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which are working with industry groups including EAA to identify an alternative to leaded fuel that can be safely and reliably used by piston-powered airplanes.

NATA and EAA firmly believe that regulation of the sale, content, and use of aviation fuel is a federal matter and must be left to the FAA and EPA. State intervention in this process, by way of private lawsuit, will only lead to a frustration of this effort and a patchwork of regulations across the country, NATA contends.

California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris has also agreed not to sue over avgas without providing notice to the coalition, which has received significant support from EAA, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

Aero Club News

Randy Babbitt Speaks at Atlanta Aero Club

Left to right: Randy Babbitt, Steve Champness and Richard Anderson.

The Atlanta Aero Club (AAC) welcomed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Randy Babbitt on May 5, 2011. More than 150 members and guests attended, including Delta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson, FAA Southeast Regional Manager Doug Murphy, ATP Flight School President Derrick Dennis, World Airlines Founder Hollis Harris, and Col. Eric Boe, a NASA Astronaut.

AAC will meet again on August 23, 2011 at the Capitol City Club in Atlanta. The guest speaker for this meeting will be Southwest Airlines Senior Vice President Brian Hirshman.

AAC is the proud sponsor of the Georgia Air Challenge, offering $500 in prizes. Currently more than 250 pilots are registered to promote aviation and encourage aspiring pilots in Georgia. AAC is planning a fly-in cookout lunch on August 13, 2011 at Gwinnett Airport for all Georgia Air Challenge participants and Aero Club members and will hold a winners drawing. The last day to register has been extended to August 12 to allow for Oshkosh EAA attendees.

ACONE Scholarships Awarded to New England Students

The Aero Club of New England (ACONE) awarded 13 scholarships this year totaling more than $27,000. The scholarships are awarded to students in the New England area who are working toward advanced ratings, airframe and powerplant licenses, and basic flight training. The scholarship program was established more than 25 years ago and has awarded scholarships every year to deserving students in the area.

ACONE Scholarship Recipients.

Dr. John Johnson to Speak at Wichita Aero Club

Jonathan Gaffney (left), Steve Champness (center) and Dave Franson (right) meet up in Oshkosh.

The Wichita Aero Club (WAC) will host Dr. John Johnson, President of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), as its guest speaker on August 16, 2011 at the Wichita Airport Hilton.

Johnson will also participate in ERAU alumni events in the Wichita area during his visit to Wichita, known as the "Air Capital," where a significant number of alumni from the Daytona Beach and Prescott, Arizona campuses of the university are employed at Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier-Learjet, Cessna, Hawker Beechcraft, Spirit AeroSystems and many other suppliers and aerospace-related firms.

WAC Executive Director Dave Franson attended EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin at the end of July where he met with NAA President and CEO Jonathan Gaffney and Atlanta Aero Club President Steve Champness during the World's Greatest Aviation Celebration.

WAC has two events planned for September with its regular luncheon slated for September 7, 2011 when Women In Aviation Founder and President Peggy Chabrian visits Wichita to address the club, and that will be followed eight days later by a reception and a screening of the first episode of the second season of The Aviators, hosted by WAC and Wichita's Public Broadcasting Service Television station, KPTS-TV, Channel 8. The producer of the series, Anthony Nalli, will attend the event, which will be held at the National Center for Aviation Training.