EAA Sport Aviation - April 2010

MARY JONES

Vol. 59 No. 4 | April 2010

Joy of Spring

Cover story and more

AH, SPRING! WE THOUGHT it’d never get here. It’s a good day when you don’t have to shovel snow or chip ice to get into your hangar. On Facebook recently, a local pilot posted that it had been 123 days since he’d flown his aircraft. No doubt he was quite conscious of how his skills might have “rusted” during that time frame. So our caution to you…be careful; make sure you and your aircraft are ready for those first flights of the season, and have a great time!

We’re guessing this month’s cover grabbed your attention; we hoped it would. The developers of the ICON A5 light-sport aircraft are some innovative thinkers, especially about the design and marketing of their airplane, so it followed that the best way to convey that feeling would be a slightly out-of-the-box cover. It also highlights our recognition of illustration as being an important storytelling technique, one we’re using extensively in this new EAA Sport Aviation. Fear not, we won’t make a habit of using illustrations on the cover; we love beautiful aviation photography, too. But, we are curious what you think of this cover. Drop us a line at Feedback@EAA.org.

This month’s features lineup offers something for everyone. We learned about an awesome group of airplane re-creators in New Zealand—The Vintage Aviator Ltd. group—which has an impressive list of clients, including filmmaker Peter Jackson of Lord of the Rings fame. This month, we’re highlighting one of the World War I aircraft they’ve re-created, a rare Farman FE.2b fighter. Imagine yourself strapped into a gun box in front of the cockpit taking aim at Max Immelmann. Here’s an interesting history tidbit: The first American ace wasn’t a pilot but rather a gunner in an FE.2b. His name was Frederick Libby, and his memoir, Horses Don’t Fly, is still in print.

While looking for interesting aircraft at
the Sun ’n Fun Fly-In last spring, Associate
Editor Kelly Nelson and I came upon
a couple of fellows huddled around a
Velocity with the engine compartment
open. Turns out it was Bill Mulrooney and
Dan Horvath checking over the 450-hp
small-block Chevy engine that powers
their aircraft. A rock had put a nick in
their prop, and they were looking for any
other damage. After talking with them,
we quickly realized their experience in
modifying their engine would be of interest
to lots of members. Ergo, the CheVelocity.

EDITORIAL

Publisher: Tom Poberezny

Vice President-Membership: Adam Smith Interim Director of Publications & Editor: Mary Jones Associate Editor: Kelly Nelson Assistant Editor: Rose Dorcey Senior Art Director: Phil Norton Art Director: Michael Annino, Olivia Trabbold News Editor: Ric Reynolds Copy Editor: Colleen Walsh Proofreader: Rachel Krubsack Editorial Assistant: Dana Heimos Multimedia Journalist: Brady Lane Webmaster: Sue Delrow Photography Staff: Jim Koepnick, Bonnie Kratz Production/Special Projects: Kathleen Witman Contributing Writers: Mike Busch, Dave Matheny, Lauran Paine, Jr., Bob O’Quinn, Robert Rossier, Max Trescott

ADVERTISING

Director of Advertising: Katrina Bradshaw Advertising Coordinator: Sue Anderson Classified Advertising Coordinator: Lesley Poberezny

REPRESENTATIVES: Northeast: Ken Ross Phone: 609-822-3750 Fax: 609-957-5650 E-mail: kr40@comcast.net

Southeast: Chester Baumgartner
Phone: 727-532-4630
Fax: 727-532-4630
E-mail: cbaum111@mindspring.com

Central: Gary Worden and Todd Reese Phone: 800-444-9932 Fax: 816-741-6458 E-mail: gary.worden@spc-mag.com todd@spc-mag.com

Mountain & Pacific: John Gibson
Phone: 916-784-9593
Fax: 510-217-3796
E-mail: johngibson@spc-mag.com

Europe: Willi Tacke
Phone: +498841/487515
FAX: +498841/496012
E-mail: willi@flying-pages.com

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3086, Oshkosh, Wi 54903-3086 Phone: 920-426-4800 Fax: 920-426-4828 E-mail: Editorial@EAA.org Website: www.EAA.org EAA® and SPORT AVIATION®, the EAA Logo® and AERONAUTICA™ are registered trademarks, trademarks, and service marks of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc. The use of these trademarks and service marks without the permission of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc. is strictly prohibited.