Summary: Steve Tupper, aka Stephen Force, produces the Airspeed podcast and is the man behind the Acrocamp aerobatics documentary. He’s is an aviation lawyer, a private pilot, and serves as a Civil Air Patrol Major and search-and-rescue pilot. Steve tells us about the Civil Air Patrol and it’s missions: airforce assigned inland search and rescue with a fleet of 550 single engine piston aircraft, aerospace education, and the cadet program. We talk about Acrocamp, which brought together a diverse group of pilots to learn aerobatic aircraft. Also, the Acrocamp documentary movie, and what aerobatics does to pilots. Follow Steve on Twitter as @StephenForce and also see his facebook page. The week’s aviation news: Boeing Fire Spotlights Hazard of Plug-in Cars, Laptops Dreamliner plane review ordered by US regulators Eclipse Hopes To Build USAF Trainers Chinese investors acquire Enstrom Helicopter David’s Aircraft of the Week is the Antonov AN-12 NATO “CUB,” the C-130 of the East. In this week’s Australia Desk report: Grant is off this week, so Steve is flying – or podcasting – solo. A China Southern student pilot makes an emergency landing at Mangalore, 75 miles north of Melbourne, after the starboard wheel fell off his Piper Warrior in flight. After a bringing the aircraft to a stop, the pilot walked away un-harmed. Virgin Australia spent the week switching over to its new Sabre booking system, and was mostly praised for its handling of a very challenging process. Their domestic airline code has also changed from DJ to VA. In defence news, the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshall Geoff Brown announces the re-activation of 35SQN, better known as “Wallaby Airlines”, as preparations for the introduction of the C-27J Spartan continue.” Find more from Grant and Steve at the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, and follow the show on Twitter at @pcdu Steve’s at @stevevisscher and Grant at @falcon124. Australia Desk archives can be found at www.australiadesk.net. Wasatch Mountains by listener Jodi In this week’s Across the Pond segment: Our Mini Series continues from Southampton Airport this week.Continuing our look behind the scenes we go back to talk to Dan Townsend about some innovative solar powered LED lighting being used for aircraft movements signalling and upgrades to the lighting on the aircraft stands. Find more about Southampton Airport at SouthamptonAirport.com and their blog, and follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Todd Erickson’s father with the Champ, now and then Mentions: When Thunder Rolled: An F-105 Pilot over North Vietnam Palace Cobra: A Fighter Pilot in the Vietnam Air War Thunder Tales Biofuels could lead to mass hunger deaths: U.N. envoy Must the poor go hungry just so the rich can drive? Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.
