Coming up, a flying car flies again.
See a Taylor Aerocar land at its new home.
Behind the scenes of crop dusting
in California, hear the story of Farm Air Flying Service.
Plus a tale of two bush planes.
We take you to where they were made
at Ragwood Refactory in Oregon.
AOPA Live This Week begins in just a moment.
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This is AOPA Live This Week,
with Tom Haines and Alyssa Cobb.
Hello everyone and welcome to AOPA Live This Week
Home Edition, day 69 for us.
And we're ready for something
that's just plain fun, okay?
(airplane engine roaring) (horn beeping)
Yup, that's a 1954 Taylor Aerocar
arriving at its new home in Colorado,
and yup, you did hear it beep as it flew by.
The Aerocar is the only,
remains the only standard category certificated flying car,
and there are some others that
are trying to be a flying cars,
I guess, you can say,
but this you can completely detach the wings.
You can drive it like a car.
You can re-attach the wings again.
You can fly it like an airplane.
It is FAA certificated.
And despite the efforts of all the manufacturers,
I think all the people that are actually
working on flying cars,
I mean there's Boeing, there's Airbus,
there's Tesla, there's Honda,
Google, Apple.
They're all working on flying cars,
but Moulton Taylor designed and built a flying car
that has proven itself
since the early 1950s
and it's still the only one in existence.
It's obviously airworthy and roadworthy.
It's licensed for the highway.
It has about 750 flying hours and 16,000 road miles.
I wonder if those are the original tires?
(horn beeping)
To me the Aerocar is just a fantastic
example of the confluence
of kind of aviation technology,
automotive technology
and that time when everything was possible.
Right after World War II,
people were going to be flying
in their cars and they were going to,
all the world's problems were gonna be solved
by nuclear power and et cetera, et cetera.
It was just a time of great optimism
and the flying car was certainly one of those
results of that optimism.
The new owner of the Aerocar
wishes to remain anonymous.
Thanks to Justin Dillon of Cirrus for the video.
So, Alyssa, that was a great thing to see that airplane
or, well, that airplane, that car
get back up in the air again after all those years.
Right, it's definitely a head-turner for sure.
(both laughing)
Yeah that would get attention on any ramp, I believe.
Yup.
Well from folding the wings yourself
to the airplane landing itself,
French Aircraft Manufacturer, Daher,
says its new HomeSafe emergency landing system
will be available for 2019 and 2020 TBM 940 models.
Now it'll only set you back 85,000 dollars
to retrofit your 2019 TBM,
and it'll come standard on the 2020 TBM 940s.
Now if you haven't heard about HomeSafe yet,
it can take over from an incapacitated pilot,
and land the aircraft at the closest appropriate airport.
Passenger just has to push the button.
Garmin developed the autoland system
for its G3000 avionics package.
Now we've showed it to you in operation in a Piper M600
and Cirrus Vision Jet,
and Tom I know you got first hand experience sitting along,
I guess, as the aircraft landed itself.
Yeah you can't quite say flying
when it does it pretty much all by itself,
yet it is pretty amazing what they've done
and great to see it in the TBM 940.
You know, speaking of new aviation technology,
French company, VoltAero,
is working on a new hybrid electric airplane.
The company just unveiled details for the new design
called the Cassio.
It'll be a canard with a pusher configuration.
The power plant will have a series of electric motors
and a piston engine to serve as a range extender.
The power plant is undergoing tests now
in a Cessna 337 Skymaster,
and then VoltAero plans to offer the Cassio
in three configurations,
from four seats all the way up to 10.
Well, now, let's turn back the clock to classic aircraft
and classic craftmanship.
Kyle Bushman runs the Ragwood Refactory in Creswell, Oregan.
He specializes in restoring tube-and-fabric aircraft,
but he also has a fascination with bush aircraft.
Now, here's a look at two of his creations,
so far apart that we call them the Beauty and the Beast.
The Yin and Yang is the Beauty and the Beast.
PA 14 is a testament of perfection,
beauty, make it perfect, make everything new,
and the 175 is, it's all function.
The looks weren't a driving force,
it was what makes it perform.
PA 14, they only made 237,
so it's a very rare Piper aircraft.
The baseline story for it was,
let's make the most beautiful aircraft restoration
that we can make, so every single part we made brand new,
every single piece of paint
sheet metal we made from scratch.
We restored it to be the nicest PA 14 on the planet.
Similarly we extended the wings.
We added VGs.
We extended the baggage.
We extended the gear,
put suspension on the airplane.
We made it very versatile.
Let's push the limits of backcountry airplanes,
and so for me I'm learning experience
of how nice you really can make a bush aircraft
and still have that function.
So it's really a, it's a very nice looking airplane,
but it also performs.
Yeah the Beauty, the PA 14 Beauty,
beautiful restoration paint, interior, everything.
And then this,
The Beast.
The battle wagon.
We stripped everything out of it
that we didn't need.
Interior, saved all the weight,
whatever we could find in the hangar,
kind of made the panel,
cut the holes,
stripped all the non-essential stuff out.
This is basic as it gets.
We wanted something just to
get muddy, and get dirty, and go out and play,
for on a budget.
That's kind of where it ended up.
The 175 isn't a hugely desirable airplane.
They're pretty affordable right now.
You can get one between 20 and 30,000 dollars,
which grant scheme of things
is pretty affordable for aviation,
and so this 175 became the perfect fit.
If we go experimental exhibition,
we can then pull all of that knowledge
that's kicking around in the experimental world,
and we can be the first ones ever
to put slats on a Cessna.
We could be the first one ever
to do all these mods
that have been proven in the experimental world.
But to be on a certified airplane
would take hundreds of thousands of dollars.
It's the function over form.
We wanted it to be able to perform very well,
but if it sat out in the rain,
the hearts wouldn't be broken.
It will be fine, it's a truck.
But when you get in this particular airplane,
you quickly realize
it's not your granddaddy's Skylark anymore.
It's a very rough, rugged, extreme airplane,
but we're doing sub 200 foot take-offs in an airplane
that is a four-passenger Cessna Skylark.
A certified airplane versus experimental airplane.
The certified airplane every single mod and change
has been proven and tested through time.
The experimental airplane,
everything we're trying is brand new.
It has never been done before.
Both of them have been a really fun airplanes to build,
but it's a cool beauty-and-the-beast scenario we have here.
You can see more video
of the Beauty and the Beast on our YouTube channel,
and read more about the Ragwood Refactory
in the June issue of AOPA Pilot Magazine.
With all that's going on right now,
there are a lot of questions about what's going to happen
at our public airports going forward.
You may have heard you'll have to wear a mask.
Maybe the TSA will be taking your temperature,
that there'll be limits on the bags that you can carry.
Well then, what about general aviation airports?
Well, a lot more questions than answers.
Congress wants to bring some order to all this.
The chairs of several key committees and sub-committees
have sent a letter to transportation Secretary Chao,
and Homeland Security acting Secretary, Wolf.
There're asking them to provide leadership
for the aviation sector in responding to the COVID crisis.
They want a working group to set the rules
and guidelines for everything affecting air travel,
and those members of Congress told the Feds
to coordinate with aviation organizations,
like AOPA, to develop the rules.
Now, there are many uncertainties with COVID-19,
and the food supply chain has shown some vulnerability.
But, thankfully, it's held up overall,
and that's thanks in part to aviators
who fly as part of agriculture.
Right now it's rice planting season in California,
and that means ag pilots are busy.
AOPA Live's Paul Harrop introduces us
to Farm Air Flying Service.
(helicopter roaring)
You're at Farm Air Flying Service
located in Sacramento, California.
Farm Air started out in 1948,
and it was a couple of World War II kids
that came back.
It was a real good chance
you've eaten rice that was planted or tended to
by Farm Air Flying Service.
California Sacramento Valley is one of the nation's
biggest rice production areas,
and Justin Staas and his crew have the
lion's share of work in the region.
I got license as an aerial applicator when I was 22.
I was learning for that.
Farming is in his blood,
but after his father passed away,
Justin found a different way
to continue the tradition.
It left me in the family business with him no longer,
and I was 17 at the time,
and I kind of wandered around,
but I ended up really always loving
the thought of flying airplanes
and that was a thought I adopted from my dad.
And, you know, flying is you kind of get involved in it.
It's a big snowball effect
and pretty soon a lot of money spent and all these ratings.
So Justin was able to take over a storied brand.
Farm Air has been serving the region for generations.
Will Cannon is an A&P and ag pilot for the outfit.
Well, I grew up in Bainbridge, Georgia,
and I watched ag planes my entire life.
And thought that, you know, in a town like that,
it's like one of the only escapes
as your dad's a rich farmer, you leave.
He earned his A&P as a way to pay
for his flight ratings
and has been all over the world with aviation,
and now helps keep food on all of our tables
by flying the fields and trees of California.
It feels great, I mean it's probably the most rewarding
ag flying job you can have, flying California rice.
Paul Harrop, AOPA Live.
We are thankful for all the ag pilots
who help keep crops growing.
You can read more of these profiles on our website.
Just go over to AOPA.org and search agriculture.
Yeah it's pretty amazing what they do
with those airplanes when it comes to agriculture.
I had the opportunity a few years ago
to witness a family operation in Arkansas
that also works on the rice industry,
Arkansas being one of the biggest producers of rice,
and that was pretty fascinating,
I got to tell you, to see them at work.
Right coming up after the break,
remembering VE Day with a gaggle of warbirds.
And living the dream flying of the farm.
We'll be right back.
(upbeat music)
Welcome back everybody.
Last week we told you all about the commemoration
of the 75th anniversary
of the end of World War II, VE day in Europe.
And to mark the occasion, a group of pilots
in Houston, Texas, put together
the Fight to the Finish Flyover.
Nearly 30 warbirds flew over the city for the event.
The goal was to honor those who served
and sacrificed during World War II,
and give the people of Houston
a little extra hope in these days.
The Flyover featured airplanes
from the Lone Star Flight Museum
and the Commemorative Air Force.
Well these are tough times for many in the industry,
but especially for flight training students
and providers.
Usually at this time of the year,
we start a survey where we ask you to tell us about
your flight training experience.
Then all the feedback is compiled,
and in the fall we usually have an awards ceremony
honoring the best flight schools and instructors.
Well, this year our You Can Fly team is doing
something a little different.
We believe this is a moment to build community,
and we're excited to take this opportunity
to celebrate our flight schools and CFIs.
Using social media, we are looking for stories
about your flight training experience this year.
We are seeking stories that inspire.
Overcome challenges.
Demonstrate resilience.
Show how flight training contributes to aviation.
And our communities.
Use videos, images or text to tell us your story.
Please keep your videos to 45 seconds or less.
Post your story on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
or TikTok with the hashtag fteproject, by July 31st.
Tell us your story.
The stories will be compiled into a video
that will be played at Redbird Migration later this year
an event to inspire the flight training community.
And if your finished with your primary flight training
and have your pilot private flying certificate,
you know there's a lot more to learn,
license to learn as we say.
And now pilot workshops has a new online course
called "Private Pilot: The Missing Lessons."
The course takes a deeper look at some things
you just don't have the time to cover
during primary training.
Topics like planning flights to challenging airports,
advanced GPS usage,
and an in-depth look at aviation weather.
You can find the course at the PilotWorkshops website.
And another learning resource for VFR pilots
is a new series of articles AOPA is putting together
called VFR Unleashed.
The first in this series is "500 Miles and Beyond."
Now the goal of the articles is to expand
your horizons on long cross countries
and face complex decision making with confidence.
You can find the articles
in our Travel Pilot email newsletter.
Sign up at the link on your screen.
Anyone want a great flight planner to make those trips
and would you like to learn about a new one,
our new iFLightPlanner?
That's our new online flight planner.
It has a bunch of nifty features
that'll help you out in those kind of trips,
and Tuesday we'll have a live webinar
to help you make the most of this free flight planning tool
for AOPA members.
Webinar is Tuesday 8 p.m.
You'll find it on YouTube.
Now if you fly with a Garmin GNS 400 or 500 series
navigator, there's a change you should know about.
Garmin will end WAAS upgrades for these units
at the end of the month.
Many pilots updated their navigators
to meet ADS-B out requirements,
so the updates were popular
as the ADS-B mandate approached.
Well, now that that mandate is in affect,
demand has dropped.
You can still submit a WAAS update order
until the end of the month,
but Garmin must receive the unit by the end of June.
Well, hey, it's a dream for many of us,
but for one Tennessee man, he makes it a reality.
Jon Humberd build a Zenith 701,
and flies it off his farm.
He sent us this clip.
(upbeat music)
Yeah, my name is Jon Humberd,
I live in Cleveland, Tennessee,
just outside of Chattanooga South East end.
I fly a Zenith 701.
I call it a Super 701.
I've got a 130 horsepower in it.
I'm a farmer.
I just walked to the top of the hill
so I can talk to you here,
you might be able to, you see the cows in the background.
Pretty much all of my flying
is STOL in some form or another.
I have about a 350 foot runway.
With the Zenith, I've got I've
probably never used more than about half of it,
but just about all of the things I do is off a grass strip
of some form or another.
(upbeat music)
We had a lot of fun.
We into Alabama.
We followed the river up from the Freeman Lake,
and we got down below the canyon, a few spots.
It's just a beautiful area here in the South East.
(upbeat music)
Thanks to Jon and the others who have sent us video.
We really appreciate that,
and if you have some video of a recent flight
you've made and like us to feature it,
send it to the address on there on your screen.
Well that's it for our show this week.
Thanks for joining us.
Like, comment, and subscribe.
Send us your thoughts.
We'd like to hear from you,
and we'll see you again, next week.
(upbeat music)
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