OK – so I was all ready to take my PP-ASEL checkride  (in part, thanks
to all
the great posts here), and went to register for IACRA.  Couldn’t do it.
 Called the web folks at FAA.  Turns out the number on the
medical/student pilot certificate in my physical posession (the one
with my endorsements on it) has a different number than the the medical
form that the FAA has on file.

What happened?  After canceling my checkride last Tuesday and talking
to the AME’s office several times, including talking with the
unsympathetic-sounding doctor, I have yet to get a straight answer, let
alone a solution.  Here’s my educated guess:  When I did my exam in
February of this year, I had to get some follow-up from my primary
medical doctor due to a medication I was taking.  After submitting that
to the AME’s office in person, I still never received my certificate.
I called several times over three weeks and didn’t get any explanation.
 The office assistant repeatedly told me she would call me back when my
certificate was "ready," but she never did.  Eventually, I sort of
insisted that I get my certificate, and she told me to come in and pick
it up.  I speculate that she lost it, and to appease me, she just
filled out my part of another one, tore it off, and gave it to me, not
caring that it didn’t match the medical exam form she sent to the FAA.

When I spoke to the doctor upon first discovering this, he treated it
like an annoyance (hey, he cashed the check already, right?) and didn’t
seem to care that I had to cancel my checkride.  By contrast, the FAA
was very helpful – gave me a fax number so the doctor could fax a note
straightening it out (which he hasn’t done —  last week the doc said
they would call me the next Monday, I called on Monday when they didn’t
and the new office assistant said she would check into it and to call
Tuesday, called today (today) and she isn’t in…)

I rescheduled my checkride from December 2 to December 20, my next
available date.  May not have the opportunity to fly in the meantime,
so that’s 18 days of rust building up…

Contact me off list if you are looking for an AME in the Washington, DC
area, and want to know who to avoid.  Sorry to sound so critical, but
under the circumstances, I think I’m justified.

Wiz

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10357510

Something you don’t see in the travel magazines

Howdy folks,
 I was browsing the web and came upon this odd photograph of the Piper
Cub strung on wires above the ground. Apparently it was used to launch
aircraft and catch them without landing/takeoff.

Here’s the picture:
http://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/us_navy/pipercub_brodie

Anyone seen that before? Was it practical? Did they actuallly  use it?

Secondly — and this has nothing to do with the above question — I am
interested in purchasing some land out in the country and would like to
be sure I can eventually fly a Cub or Super cub into "my backyard".
Anyone know how many acres are needed for a decent grass landing strip?
Please no answers like "2 acres can be attempted/CIA bush style" . I
want safety in mind! I have some options to get maybe around 25 acres,
but not sure if that’s enough.

Thanks for your time folks. I look forward to your response.

How much longer is the Loran system going to be active?

–

Roger Long

As we were flying over to Newton, IA today, we started discussing icing and
snow — something that we must constantly worry about in these parts for at
least the next 4 months.

As we were talking, we heard a "Flight for Life" ‘copter on Unicom, which
got us to wondering how it is that these guys seem to fly in ANY weather.

Which got us to wondering further:  How do helicopters handle ice?  Are the
main rotor blades heated?   Does the centrifugal force on those huge blades
prevent ice build up?   What about the rest of the fuselage?  How do they
de-ice themselves?

Thanks!
—
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

belfortsucks wrote:
> Is anyone out there, aware of an investigation of Belfort Instruments
> and it’s business practices!  If so, let me know.

> Based on the postings which I have seen here, it appears that Belfort
> Instruments is engaged in an attempt to suppress the ideas and "freedom
> of speech" of individuals who do not perceive them as a successful
> company.  Even their responses to legitimate criticisms displays their
> lack of "Customer Service" and desire to correct their faults!  Thus,
> they would rather "SHOUT" down anyone who has something to say rather
> than fix the problems!  As we all know, this only makes things worse on
> them and their business when they count their pennies earned!

> Question:  Should demos be considered as sold units?  Are demos sold as
> new units?  What do you think?  Open discussions serve to raise the
> question, offer solutions, uncover misleading activity, and serves to
> correct such problems!

> Also, if a company utilizes inferior materials in a product, they only
> shall change such materials once they have been identified.  Purchasing
> from a reliable company forces the others to change in a free economy.
> Any consumer should weigh all of the facts which they have obtained and
> make a thorough buying decision.

> Also, what kind of company publicly labels it former employees as
> backstabbers?  Do you want to purchase from such a company with such a
> philosophy!  You be the judge!  Where is the story of "Little Red
> Riding Hood" when you need it!

I’m stumped.

What is the high-wing airplane in the foreground please:
http://home.gci.net/~sncdfalk/Warbirds/nicetry.jpg

–
Dale L. Falk

There is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing
as simply messing around with airplanes.

http://home.gci.net/~sncdfalk/flying.html

TV station KCAL recently aired this video showing how three partners
in a Columbia 400 use their aircraft for fun and business.  This high
quality promotional video is just what GA needs to get before the
public to swell the ranks of airmen:
http://www.flycolumbia.com/.docs/pg/10375

I’ve been giving some thought on to how to replace DAFIF navigation data
now that it’s going away.  And I think the solution is a community of
pilots, software developers and others interested in aeronautical data
developing and maintaining data which can be shared by all interested
parties.

I’ve started a discussion on what I’m talking about on my blog at
http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/2005/12/01/free-aeronautical-data

If you’re interested in my ideas or in participating in the discussion,
please go there and have a look.

–
Paul Tomblin <ptomb…@xcski.com> http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
"A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction into a
battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day."
     - Calvin discovers Usenet

These are awesome. Other aircraft too.
Made by one of the heritage flights pilots.

I have seen these heritage flights at Miramar and Nellis.
Much appreciated. And a good reminder exactly why our skies are free.

Raptor heritage flights

http://homepage.mac.com/lightningrodpictures/iMovieTheater33.html

Heritage flights vid

http://homepage.mac.com/lightningrodpictures/iMovieTheater9.html