Category Archives: General Aviation

Cessna announces order for 79 172 Skyhawks

In the largest puchase deal in the history of the company, Cessna Aircraft announced at Moscow’s JetExpo 2013 that Russian flight training group ViraZH has placed an order for 79 Cessna 172 Skyhawk aircraft.

This will give the Moscow-based ViraZH, the largest Skyhawk air wing in operation in the world, with 90 172s on the flight line. The company plans to use the Skyhawks, along with 11 172s purchased in 2011, for training purposes at flight schools throughout western Russia. The order is part of a multi-year agreement between Cessna and ViraZH. All 79 aircraft set to be delivered by the third quarter of 2014.

“We are delighted to have a strong relationship with ViraZH and are proud they have selected the Cessna 172 Skyhawk to be their training platform,” said Kriya Shortt, Cessna senior vice president of Sales.

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First Eagle Flight Pilot – New pilot satisfies long-held desire to fly

The EAA has a great first flight program, Eagle Flight, that allows you to opportunity to fly, and be introduced to everything that aviation has to offer.  From the EAA:

Ever since he was growing up in Los Angeles, Brian Lewis knew he wanted to fly. He fondly remembers family outings at LAX where they’d park near the end of the runway at night to marvel at the big planes taking off and landing.

Lewis, now 54 and living in Cottonwood, Arizona, finally realized his dream of becoming a pilot this year thanks in large part to EAA’s year-old Eagle Flights program. He went up with Dale Williams, EAA 1058739, in Williams’ Cessna Cardinal (177B) for an Eagle Flight on November 27, 2012, and this past July Lewis became the first “Eagle” to earn a pilot certificate.

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Kansas governor proclaims September Aviation Appreciation Month

The Kansas Aviation Expo is celebrating its inaugural event this year at the National Center for Aviation Training in Wichita, Kansas – “Where the state capital meets the Air Capital!”

The KAE is an event like no other, with various facets of the aviation industry meeting to discuss the current climate and challenges of the industry, and then developing strategies to leverage resources and join forces to work towards a brighter future.

This event is made possible by the collaborative efforts of several industry stakeholders, and under the leadership of the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation and the Kansas Commission on Aerospace Education.

From the press release about Aviation Appreciation Month:

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Paul Howard Poberezny EAA Founder and Aviation Legend 1921-2013

“You can’t be a success if you don’t love people.”

From the EAA website:

Paul Poberezny came from humble beginnings, yet he created one of the world largest aviation organizations and emerged as one of the 20th century’s greatest aviation leaders, creating a worldwide aviation organization and the world’s largest annual fly-in event, EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

He died on August 22, 2013, in Oshkosh after a career that spanned more than 70 years of flight at the controls of more than 500 different types of aircraft.

Paul is survived by his wife, Audrey; one son, Tom (Sharon) Poberezny of Brookfield, Wisconsin; one daughter, Bonnie (Chuck) Parnall of Oshkosh; two granddaughters, Audra (Michael) Hoy of Oshkosh and Lesley Poberezny of Brookfield, Wisconsin; and one great-granddaughter born in 2012, Charlotte “Charley” Hoy.

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Aviation Awareness Day in California

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has teamed up with the Association of California Airports and other aviation organizations to support the first California Aviation Awareness Day on April 24, 2013.

The even will take place from 11:00am through 1:00pm on the steps of the state capitol building, and will include interactive displays and presentations by the many businesses and organizations that rely on aviation in the state.

From the AOPA press release:

“This is the first time such a broad spectrum of aviation organizations has come together to host an event to educate state legislators, legislative staff, and the general public about the importance of aviation to California,” Pfeifer said.

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