Look-up.com Aviate the Web!

AVweb has recently run two stories in which aircraft were tampered with or parts were stolen. Programs like Airport Watch work well when there are people around. This week, we'd like to know how you rate the night security at your airport. Plus: See how many single-engine personal jets AVweb readers think will be around in ten years' time.

In the latest installment of our blog, AVweb Insider, Paul Bertorelli opines on why GA is asleep at the switch when it comes to doing something about the escalating price of oil.

Work-study visas that allow foreign flight students to train and work in the U.S. will no longer be granted, effective June 2010, according to a new policy issued by the U.S. State Department. The current J-1 visa program allows foreign students to train in the U.S. and work as flight instructors to build flying time. Eight U.S. flight schools make use of the program, and some of them could lose up to half of their revenue once the program is eliminated, according to AOPA. "While this only impacts a small number of students, we are deeply disappointed that the State Department believes that flight training programs no longer further the public diplomacy mission of the United States," said Craig Spence, AOPA vice president of aviation security. "This country has long been a world leader in flight training, and we want to see that continue."

The General Aviation Technology Challenge, hosted by the CAFE Foundation and funded by NASA, has announced the five teams that will take part in this year's event, coming up Aug. 5 to 9 in Santa Rosa, Calif. The competition aims to promote the development of "green" and efficient GA aircraft. CAFE will award $300,000 in prizes for achievements in noise reduction, fuel economy (mpg), safe handling, and speed. The five teams will be: "Team Pipistrel" flying a Pipistrel Virus 912, team leader Frank Vance Turner; "Team Aerochia" flying a modified Diamond DA20-A1, team leader Geoff Stevenson; "Team Wilkinson Aero Sport" flying a Dynamic WT9, team leader Neil Wilkinson; "Team Lambada" flying a UFM-13 Lambada, team leader John A. Dunham; and "Team Flight Refine" flying a Flight Design CT, team leader John Robert Basham. All of the competing aircraft are two-seaters, and four of the five are light sport aircraft. One will fly on biodiesel fuel.

"It was a great adventure," said Thierry Pouille, president of Air Journey, this week, after his small group of GA pilots completed the company's first-ever 10-week-long, 25,000-mile trip around the world. "We're all back -- and we're doing it again!" Pouille said the company will definitely offer the tour a second time in 2009. The six aircraft on this year's trip -- a PC12, two TBMs, a Cessna Conquest, a Cessna Mustang and a Duke Turbine conversion -- all completed the journey without any major mechanical problems or other setbacks, he said. "It takes a lot of organization and preparation and office support," Pouille said, to make the trip run smoothly and on time. "But it's been a fantastic experience." Since AVweb last checked in with the group, they have flown up the east coast of Asia via Taipei, Taiwan; Seoul, South Korea; and Vladivostok, Russia; then across the Bering Sea to Anchorage, Alaska. The pilots stopped in Juneau for a cruise and ended their journey in Seattle, then each aircraft headed for home.

Bruce Van Beek of Sioux Center, Iowa serves up this fantastic image of the AeroShell Team doing what they do best. Believe it or not — and, to be honest, we're not sure we would! — the fact that our top photo this week features the AeroShell Aerobatic Team is completely unrelated to the fact that we're giving away a chance to right with these guys during their Monday morning practice at Oshkosh. (But, of course, we will take the opportunity to link to the page where you can enter our drawing.)("POTW" will be on hiatus during the show, but we'll return with more of your pictures in two weeks. Don't forget to send 'em, though, or we won't have anything to share!)

Thieves were apparently in search of scrap metal when they made off with two irreplaceable vintage aircraft wings from a storage yard used by the Wingspan Aviation Heritage Foundation in Mesa, Ariz. When the theft was discovered, about a week ago, foundation director Robert Kropp went to the media in hopes of uncovering information about the wings' fate -- and he got lucky. An anonymous tipster led Kropp and police directly to both wings, hidden in two separate remote locations in the desert. "I really feel like I found a winning lottery ticket in the street," Kropp told The Arizona Republic. "I'm just absolutely elated. Without the media exposure, it was gone, baby, gone." The wings, from a 1940s-era Lockheed T-33 trainer and a 1950s Lockheed PV-2 bomber, were found intact and police dusted them for fingerprints.

When the first Lancair Evolution showed up at Sun 'n Fun earlier this year, still in its plain white undercoat, the design attracted plenty of attention. Pressurized and turbo-powered, the four-seat kit aircraft promised high performance, with 385-mph speed. Now prospective buyers will be able to find out for themselves how it performs. The company is bringing the newly painted prototype to Oshkosh, where it will be available for demo flights. Lancair also said this week it has delivered the first Evolution kit, and the buyer will participate in the two-week builder assist program at the company's facility in Redmond, Ore. Also, Forward Vision said this week its EVS-100 synthetic vision system will be offered as an option for the Evolution.

A Cessna twin crashed into a construction site in Ocean Ridge, Fla.... NTSB is investigating a near-midair between an ERJ-145 and a Learjet at O'Hare...Bombardier Challenger training should emphasize stabilizer trim, says NTSB...British pilots lead in Red Bull Air Race in Rotterdam, London is next.

Diamond Aircraft will be exhibiting the new AE 300 Austro engine next week at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. The Austro is a jet-A-burning, 170-hp, next-generation turbo-diesel engine that soon will be available on the DA42 Diamond twin. The AE 300 offers 26 percent more power than the engines currently on the DA42, says Diamond, for better takeoff and climb performance, better single-engine performance and more speed. Diamond has been working with MB Tech (a Mercedes Benz daughter company) and Bosch to develop the engine, and they expect European certification within a few months. The "next-generation" features include a clutch-less gearbox, a cast-iron crankcase, integral oil/coolant heat exchanger and improved turbocharger air induction and cooling systems.

Over the next few days, AVweb's crew will be packing up our gear, heading for various airports, and winging our way to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, ready to bring you daily news (including a full AVwebBiz edition next Wednesday) from the EAA AirVenture grounds all next week. The show promises to be an exciting one, with several aircraft making their debut, new products galore, a diverse lineup of unique aircraft on the flight line at Aeroshell Square, the unveiling of the Rocket Racing fleet, the latest experimental electric aircraft, the world's best airshow pilots, and much more. Staffers from Kitplanes and other Belvoir publications will be pitching in to help AVweb bring you the fastest, most complete, and in-depth coverage possible. Watch for frequent blog updates, daily videos and podcasts, and of course our daily AVwebFlash newsletter to bring all the news from the show straight to your desktop. And if you are in Oshkosh next week, check in with AVweb on your handheld device to be sure you are not missing a thing.

>>> AVWEB FUEL FINDER CURRENT PRICE FOR 100LL: $5.65 (up 1¢ from last week)CURRENT PRICE FOR JET A: $6.05 (up 2¢ from last week)Fuel prices provided weekly by AirNav, based on prices from the past 2 weeks. Changes are relative to last week's prices. /TEXT_ONLY-->AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to TAC Air at GMU in Greenville, South Carolina.AVweb reader John Hey hadn't stopped at GMU for six months, but he tells us "they still remembered me":Great, cheerful, and competent service — even though I had just saved $30 using their self-service pump. Call ahead, and they get you a great discount on the nice Phoenix Motel one block away with the best free full Southern breakfast ever!Keep those nominations coming. For complete contest rules, click here.AVweb is actively seeking out the best FBOs in the country and another one, submitted by you, will be spotlighted here next Monday!

While on tower freq for VGT (North Las Vegas), I overheard the following:Cessna 1234N:"Tower, this is Cessna 1234N, 10 miles northwest with yankee, inbound full stop."Tower:"Cessna 1234N, tower. Continue inbound. Report 4-mile final for runway 12 right."Cessna 1234N:"Tower, Cessna 1234N reporting 4-mile final."Tower:"Cessna 1234N cleared for landing. Runway 12 right. Say type, Cessna."Cessna 1234N:"Tower, 1234N is a Cessna 152 Heavy!"Tower:"Cessna 1234N, roger!"(And before the mike keyed off, there was substantial chuckling in the background.)J. Brandonvia e-mail

A Sterling Boeing 737 ended up in an unnatural position (for a 737) at the airport in Malaga, Spain on Saturaday after a strange encounter with the airport bridge. For some reason, the bridge went up and caught the aircraft under its open door. Early reports didn't have a damage estimate. Thanks to AVweb reader Robert Reid, who turned us on to the video and also referred us to this incredible photo from Robert Campbell. (Click through to watch.)

Kalitta Boeing 747 Bogota crash rumored result of dual engine failure ...Xerion engine monitor approved for all light Cessnas and Pipers ...CASA moves to facilitate influx of experienced aircraft engineers ...A passenger tried to open the door of a 767 flying at 35,000 feet ...B-52 crashes off Guam, crew's fate unknown.

A British soldier and jump instructor participating in a parachute competition in Germany got hung up on the landing gear of his jump aircraft, reportedly a Britten-Norman Islander, and was rescued by the only person left on the aircraft -- its pilot. The aircraft was 3,000 feet above the Joint Service Parachute Centre at Bad Lippspringe when five soldiers successfully departed the aircraft. The sixth, the instructor, suffered a partially deployed chute that caught his rigging on the aircraft's gear. The aircraft's civilian pilot became aware of the situation and left his seat, cutting snagged lines until the parachutist fell free of his aircraft and deployed his reserve. The pilot's excursion left him out of the cockpit for approximately 30 seconds, according to initial reports. Claiming he was only doing his job, the pilot has so far asked to remain anonymous. A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence told the Daily Mail, "The pilot showed significant bravery and skill. We are unaware of a rescue like this happening before." Initial reports did not indicate the type of aircraft involved in the incident.

If you want to win a vintage 1957 Cessna 172, your chances are one in 2,500 (as of Saturday). The 1940 Air Terminal Museum at Hobby Airport, Houston, Texas, Saturday announced the new contest along with the winner of its prior and first annual "Win Your Own Plane" raffle. Joe Montano of Pearland, Texas, won a 1947 Cessna 140 over the weekend. The 172 is up next. The museum's press release notes that, "The winner [of the 172] will be announced at the Museum's July 2009 Wings & Wheels open-house, or a sooner Wings & Wheels if all tickets have been sold." Both promotions are part of a fundraising program created by the museum. "At the museum, we meet people every day who have always dreamed of flying. This contest will give one lucky winner the chance to realize that dream," said museum president Drew Coats. Funds acquired through the promotion support day-to-day operations and museum expansion. We don't have a horse in this race, but will note that there are more than 110,000 people reading this right now and we'll remind you that no more than 2,500 tickets will be sold at $50 each. Translation: If you're interested, you might want to hurry up ... but there's one catch.

It's the economy, stupid. Bombardier's pre-Farnborough assertion that its Pratt & Whitney geared-turbofan-powered CSeries 100-149 seat regional jets (due in 2013) could be 20 percent more efficient than rival aircraft has rival aircraft manufacturer Embraer saying "not so fast." Embraer (the third largest aircraft manufacturer in the world) has spun the argument to operating costs and says its 110-seat E195 would only fall behind a CSeries C-110 by 3 or 4 percent in 2013 -- after the E195 undergoes improvements. Speaking of the CSeries, Embraer CEO Frederico Curado said in an interview with the Montreal Gazette, "We're not making any assertion that the airplane will not deliver what it promises, nothing like that. We are assuming that it will." He then went on to add, "But we are disputing the figures they are promising, this 15 to 20 percent thing is really unreal." Curado believes that the Pratt's efficiencies exist, but are compromised by their attachment to an airframe in the real world. Bombardier says it has taken those considerations into account and stands behind its math.

Ballistic Recovery Systems (BRS), maker of whole-aircraft parachute systems, Friday announced that its new 5000-series canopy complies with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. BRS has submitted to the FAA its plan for 5000 series Part 23 certification testing. This BRS system can support heavier piston airframes and higher-weight-category very light jets. It's not yet certified and the system's precise operating limitations have yet to be announced, but the system marks another step forward for the company (and, arguably, the rest of us) and makes inroads into the arena of "heavier aircraft." First applications of 5000-series recovery systems may include Diamond's D-Jet and the Lancair Evolution, according to BRS' financial statements for early 2008. The company has since 1981 delivered more than 29,000 parachute systems to aircraft owners worldwide, 3,500 of which reside on FAA-certificated aircraft including Cirrus Design's SR20 and SR22 aircraft. The company says its systems "have been credited with saving the lives of 213 pilots and passengers."

The National Aviation Hall of Fame Saturday conducted its 47th annual enshrinement in Dayton, Ohio, and along with an airline man, a WWII triple-ace and military commander, active air show pilot and general aviation ambassador Sean D. Tucker was on the list. Dr. Peter Diamandis and his X Prize Foundation were also honored, being awarded the "Spirit of Flight Award." As for enshrinees, Clarence E. "Bud" Anderson flew the P-51B "Old Crow" while assigned to the 357th Fighter Group. The 357th was credited with shooting down a record 609 1/2 enemy aircraft in only 15 months and produced 42 aces. Fellow military man, the late William A. Moffett, the "father of naval aviation," was also enshrined as was Herbert D. Kelleher, founder and retired chairman of Southwest Airlines.