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Aviation History
1985
1985 - 2464.PDF
OSHKOSH '85 EAA 33rd CONVENTION Oshkosh breaks all records Despite line squalls over Oshkosh on the first day, the world's greatest fly-in saw a record attendance. ROBIN BLECH reports on the latest products and developments available to the US amateur aircraft builder today. To anyone with a passing interest in sport aviation, the US Experimental Aircraft Associ ation's (EAA) annual Oshkosh convention is known as the world's greatest airshow. This year's atten dance figures broke all previous records. The FAA logged 55,000 movements, and the EAA hosted 15,000 visiting aircraft, of which up to 5,400 were parked on the field at any one time. More than 750,000 people attended the event, and the Sunday airshow was seen bv a crowd of 250,000. For those who delight in designing, building, and flying sport aircraft, Oshkosh repre sents the Mecca of their faith; and faith is what home build ing is all about. Most amateur builders take as much plea sure from the years of plan ning and back-aching construction as they do from flying their creations. From garages, garden sheds, and bedrooms emerge the results of their labours. Trailered or carefully flown from all over the American continent and beyond, the aircraft converge on Oshkosh each summer to be judged, admired, and criticised. Wittman Field (named New shape makes debut The Presott Pusher is undergoing initial flight testing. The generously proportioned cabin offers ample comfort, with a 1001b baggage area behind the rear seats. The aircraft is offered in both fixed- and retractable-gear versions, with 75 per cent cruising speeds given as 140kt and 160kt respectively. Fuselage structure is a composite shell covering a metal square tube frame. Wing and tail structure is alumi nium with composite skin. The price of the kit is $36,500. MNfcfltffci A^ after Steve Wittman, legend ary racing pilot and engineer, who still lives on the field) is the EAA's home. The EAA has grown from a small enthu siasts' organisation to a major force in American private flying. The convention has expanded over the years to include a massive number of historic, classic, and warbird types. Flying discipline at Oshkosh is high, with impressive stan dards in formation flying, aerobatics, and airmanship. Every pilot must have a per sonal briefing. Visual signals are received from a team of highly competent ground marshallers. Little use is made of formal R/T pro cedure, and non-radio aircraft are welcome. The EAA's re laxed organisation is safe and efficient, relying on the self discipline and co-operation of both public and participants. EAA chairman Tom Poberezny is disappointed with the FAA's latest proposals for a new recre ational pilot's licence. The EAA is looking for a licence which allows the pilot of a simple fixed-gear, fixed- propeller aircraft to have unrestricted operation in daytime VFR outside controlled airspace. Accord ing to Poberezny, the FAA. have only given concessions bv tightening the require ments for the full PPL. "While the FAA grass-roots personnel, many of whom help at the convention, are terrific and work hard, the FAA bureaucracy resists making decisions. We need simpler requirements for proper light aircraft." US courts threaten kit industry The EAA is very concerned that technical development in * "homebuilts" is being badly hindered by kit manu facturers' increasing fear of* "unreasonable" product liab ility settlements. The USf legal system allows lawyers to sue manufacturers for acci dents that may involve third*- or fourth parties who have never had a direct business/- relationship with the manu facturer. Product liability is the most* serious EAA issue today. The financial burden it generates^ has persuaded Burt Rutan to pull out of the homebuilt market completely. While' emphasising his commitment to support existing customers* who have had a constructor licence with his Rutan Aircraft Factory (RAF),y Rutan has reluctantly decided that the risk of selling kits has* become too high. "Product "• liability has driven me out of the kit business", he says. Rutan has also decided that he will no longer market*, any new homebuilt designs, due to "unfair" competition from other manufacturers "copying" plans and mat erials. The company will no^ longer send plans, informa- "7 tion, or newsletters to third | parties, and only those • customers with a direct contract with RAF will be i supported. Rutan warns i people who intend to build I FLIGHT International, 17 August 198*
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