Marco Island Named One of the 100 Places that Can Change Your Child's Life

To contact us Click HERE

Sharing an exciting press release from our local Chamber of Commerce:
MARCO ISLAND NAMED ONE OF 100 PLACESTHAT CAN CHANGE YOUR CHILD’S LIFE

Photo Courtesy Dolphin Explorer

10,000 Islands DolphinProject only Florida experience featured in National Geographic book
MARCO ISLAND, FLA., February 4, 2013 – MarcoIsland will be the only Florida destination featured in an upcomingNational Geographic book, “100 Places That Can Change Your Child’s Life: FromYour Backyard to the Ends of the Earth,” to be released on February 5,2013. In the book, author Keith Bellows showcases the 10,000 IslandsDolphin Project as the premier excursion that best highlights thedestination, its culture and people while also providing an experience thatwill enrich the life of a child.
           “The world is the greatest classroom we have,” writes Bellows —editor-in-chief of National Geographic Traveler magazine and fatherof three — in his introduction. “I’m convinced that any parent willing togive the gift of travel offers the gift that keeps on giving. Children wholearn to travel will travel to learn. And they will do it all their lives.”
           From the treetops of Costa Rica to the Grand Canyon to Loch Ness, “100 PlacesThat Can Change Your Child’s Life” explores the world, plumbing the heartof each special place and presenting it through a kid’s eyes. Each chapterfeatures one unforgettable trip designed to leave a lasting impression on anychild. Divided by region, the book looks at exciting travel locations forchildren in the United States/Canada; Caribbean/Mexico/South America; Europe;Africa/Middle East; Asia; and Oceania/Antarctica.

“It is a distinct honor to be featured as one of the toptravel experiences for children, not just in Florida but around the world,”said Capt. Chris Desmond, founder and director, 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project.“Our goal is to provide an eco-tour that is both fun and educational for kidsand adults alike, and this recognition is a testament to the hard work anddedication of the entire Dolphin Project team.”
            The 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project is the onlyongoing study of wild dolphins in Southwest Florida and the only one in theUnited States that engages and is supported by the general public. For morethan seven years, the Project has identified, catalogued and studied over 300resident bottle-nose dolphins. The 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project welcomes publicparticipation. Guests who purchase tickets to cruise on one of two dailytrips alongside dolphin researchers aboard the Dolphin Explorer boatbecome citizen scientists through onboard involvement in dolphin surveyactivities, in addition to providing financial support with their ticketpurchase. Children participate alongside researchers to complete the “DolphinChallenge” and assist with photo identification, behavior evaluation andmore. 
            In addition to public cruises, the 10,000 Islands DolphinProject also offers an environmental studies program designed for elementaryschools that is highlighted by live video reports from the boat. The Project isfunded and managed by Sea Excursions, Inc., a provider of water-relatedactivities and services to visitors, residents, groups and hotels in SouthwestFlorida. For more information or to schedule your own dolphin experience, contact Sea Excursions at (239)642-6899.

President's Day Weekend in The Everglades with Clyde Butcher

To contact us Click HERE
Make this President's Day Weekend memorable when you Meet Clyde and Niki Butcher at their gallery and enjoy a swamp walk in their "back yard". Located within the Big Cypress National Preserve, this weekend, Clyde Butcher will be available to do book signings in the gallery. Clyde Butcher has Bring a picnic lunch.   Clyde Butcher is known around the world for his powerful black and white photographs of The Everglades.  He is known locally as a generous member of the community who has worked tirelessly to promote the beauty and delicacy of the places he choses to photograph.  The artist himself explains his passion and life's work in his Artist Statement:“I’ve been pursuing the concept of wilderness preservation through photography since 1961. I think it’s important for an artist to have a passion – you need to find a source of inspiration,” adds Butcher. “You have to follow a path and develop a sense of character in what you’re doing. What I’ve done with the Everglades is to help turn a swamp into a precious resource. I think it’s important for an artist to have a passion about the medium they use, but they also need to have a passion about what they are trying to express. Without that passion there is no heart, no soul, in the final piece of work.” Cost $50 per person, special for this weekend, receive a $25 credit to use in the gallery. Child free with every paid adult. Reservation Required.  Call 239-695-2428 for more information.  Still need accommodations for President's Day Weekend?  The team at Hilton Naples Hotel looks forward to welcoming you. Call 239-430-4900 or make your hotel reservations online. 

World Famous Naples' Swamp Buggy Races Spring Classic

To contact us Click HERE
 Collier County's early development in the 1930's and 1940'swas highlighted by the emergance of strange looking vehicles featuring hugeballoon tires, gun racks, and usually sporting an unusual name like "DirtDobber or Tumblebug". These buggies were born out of necessity, as therewas no effective way to penetrate the vast, boggy mire known as Collier countyexcept for the versatile "Swamp Buggy". Early Collier County settlersrecall the beginnings of Swamp Buggy Racing as a gathering of hunters. Aslegend has it, every year, just prior to the opening of hunting season,(usually the end of October or early November) all the "Crackers"would spend a week or so preparing their buggies for the first legal day ofhunting.  Today, thousands of people turn out to watch the popular andcolorful swamp buggy races. See what all the fuss is about March 2 -3, 2013!Admission ranges from $6 to 65. Saturday gates open at 10:30am. Time Trials12:00pm- 3:30pm. Sunday gates open at 10:30am. Racing begins at 12:30pm -4:30pm. For more information, contact Florida Sports Park at (239) 774-2701.

Indy Transponder 23-FEB-2013 2300z

To contact us Click HERE

Annual Certification Cycle Rolls On from US Army Golden Knights by Brian Karst | The skies are blue in Homestead, Florida, where the Golden Knight’s Black and Gold demonstration teams and elite Tandem team are working hard to complete their Annual Certification Cycle. The days start early in order to get as many training jumps as possible. The demonstration teams have been working on all facets of the skills required to begin the show season. These skills include various freefall formations, canopy relative work, target accuracy, and perfecting the narration used during our shows....

Girls take wing at annual flying festival in Frederick - Baltimore Sun | Earning their wings. Keiko Cahill, 12, left, Yumiko Cahill, 9, and a friend from their Brownie troop at the Frederick Women in Aviation program last year...

Federal sequestration could eliminate Rockford Airfest - WREX-TV | Lawmakers actually moved part the fiscal cliff a few months down the road, across the board federal spending cuts that are scheduled to go into effect March 1st. That deadline is almost here. If our nation's leaders can't come up with a spending plan ...

Military cuts could limit flyovers - ESPN | ... Cup race at Phoenix. Instead, a private company has provided the track a B-17 that is not a part of Air Force inventory. Las Vegas Motor Speedway has an agreement with the Thunderbirds based nearby at Nellis Air Force Base for its March 10 Cup event.

The Gathering Of Warbirds And Legends Our Final Times Together - AvStop Aviation News | The Douglas aircraft siblings will travel to Topeka from all over America and include two newly restored historic original Pan Am aircraft, numerous authentic D-Day aircraft, and a host of other workhorses from the fleet that have served well for more ...

Recruiting Sarah – Life’s a Race - Hangar Talk 950 | ...She joined my EAA chapter during a meeting I happened to miss but we finally met at a Women in Aviation event. Her first question to me was, “Why air racing when you can do acro?” I had to laugh. Knowing she’s never raced an airplane before I understood, as I too love acro. But, as I explained, there’s this...

AirPower History Tour to feature WWII planes - Arizona Daily Star | World War II airplanes, including a Boeing B-29 Superfortress, are flying into town Monday as part of the Commemorative Air Force's AirPower History Tour. The CAF collects, restores, and displays historic airplanes. The Tucson International Airport is ...

Ball turret gunner to speak to Veterans History Project - Allentown Morning Call | A World War II veteran who was a ball turret gunner on B-17 bombers will speak Thursday at the Lehigh Valley Veterans History Project meeting. Mel Schissler flew 25 missions over Nazi-occupied Europe as a staff sergeant with the 323rd Bomb Squadron of ...

LT. COL. WALTER P. SCHLAGEL - Times Herald-Record | He had over 9,000 hours of flying time in some 20 different types of aircraft among those were the T-33, F-84, F-86, B-25, B-26, B-47, C-47, C-54, T-29, C-121 and the C-130, which he flew for a year from November 1963 November 1964 in Vietnam. He was ...

The Balikpapan Raid, revisited - again! from Bayou Renaissance Man by Peter | Back in 2008, in Weekend Wings #28, I profiled a raid on the oil refineries at Balikpapan (now part of Indonesia) by US bombers during 1944. It was one of the most difficult and demanding air attacks of the Pacific War. Some time later, Mr. Pete Hobstetter contacted me to inform me that his father had flown on that raid. He allowed me to reproduce some of his father's recollections of the mission. (Some other children of those who flew on that mission added their comments below that post - they're worth reading.)....

Air museum open house provides close look at historic plane - Fairbanks Daily News-Miner | FAIRBANKS - One of the most important airplanes in the history of Alaska stands in pieces at the Pioneer Air Museum in Pioneer Park, waiting to be assembled and returned to a place of honor at the airport terminal. After a lengthy restoration campaign ...

Birmingham Aero Club Annual Awards Presentation from Alabama Aviator - Aviation News | BIRMINGHAM AL- At the Southern Museum of Flight last night, the Birmingham Aero Club presented their annual awards. Founded in 1932 and having over 200 members, the BAC has a long history of aviation involvement in Birmingham and the state of Alabama. Aero Club awards recognize unselfish contributions of time, effort, interest, and willingness to promote all phases of aviation and aviation activities.

Where are they now - Douglas DC8 ZK-NZE from MRC Aviation by Mike Condon | John M has provided us with these awesome images of ex Air New Zealand Douglas DC8-52 ZK-NZE.  ZK-NZE (msn 45985) came to being in 1967 and its first flight is quoted as 11 January 1968. It was delivered to Air NZ on 27 February 1968 and remained in service with the national carrier until divestment saw it sold to....

"Nestful of Woolyworms" UCAP #318 from Uncontrolled Airspace: General Aviation Podcast | AOPA and the NTSB want us to expand our preflight passenger briefings... The US government is taking down their observation blimps in Florida, but threatening to add them into the airspace around Washington DC... It seems that the airlines are safer than ever... And... Rumors of the demise of magic ingredient in 100LL are at least somewhat exaggerated. Uncontrolled Airspace General Aviation Podcast. Recorded February 15, 2013....

Indy Transponder 24-FEB-2013 1230z

To contact us Click HERE

Red Arrows to soar at Cosford Air Show - shropshirestar.com | Red Arrows to soar at Cosford Air Show. The Red Arrows will headline this year's Cosford Air Show, organisers confirmed today. RAF Cosford Air Show Red Arrows. Tweet. The world-famous RAF display team will fly at the 75th anniversary event on June 9.

My Favorite Planes  by kf6ybl  | The Chino Planes of Fame Air Show is just around the corner! Mark May 4th and May 5th in your calendar. This year should be great, there’s supposed to be 5 P-38′s in the air....

WWII aviation pioneer dies at the age of 94 - Local 10 | But Snapp says the women in aviation were quickly forgotten about. “It was completely left out of the history books,” said Snapp. Snapp flew numerous target missions. Her secret assignments came by telegram, directly from the Pentagon. She says the ...

SIPA S.200 minijet from Planeshots

From Commemorative Air Force, Indiana Wing's Facebook Wall | ...Prior to 1940, most US cadets were cutting their teeth in Boeing-Stearman PT-13/17/18 bi-planes. While the Stearmans were a challenge to handle on the ground, their characteristics in the air were quite docile. Given the rapid growth in performance of WWII combat aircraft, Army leaders were concerned that the existing fleet of trainers did not sufficiently challenge new pilots. Army leaders wanted a new breed of trainers with higher wing...

New POW Exhibit Opens at Enlisted Heritage Hall from Alabama Aviator - Aviation News | MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, GUNTER ANNEX AL -- Forty years since America welcomed home 591 Vietnam War prisoners under the Operation Homecoming mission, Gunter's Enlisted Heritage Research Institute honored their sacrifice and those still missing. On Feb. 15 a new exhibit focusing on one enlisted man's story of freedom was unveiled....

Bills Filed Seeking Congressional Gold Medal for CAP WWII Members from Alabama Aviator - Aviation News | NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS - Civil Air Patrol members who served during World War II may soon be recognized for their service with the Congressional Gold Medal.U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, has introduced S. 309 and U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, has introduced H.R. 755 in the 113th Congress to honor the founding members of CAP, who used their own aircraft to conduct combat operations and other emergency missions during World War II....

MV-22 Ospreys Land On USS Bonhomme Richard from Aero-News Network | First Tiltrotor Operations Aboard An Forward-Deployed Amphibious Assault Ship For the first time while forward-deployed, amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) conducted landing operations with the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, Feb. 19. The MV-22 Osprey is...

B-2 Spirit with USAF Lt Col (Ret) Chris “Cliff” DeVaughn – Audio Episode Show Notes from Airspeed Online by Steve Tupper | These are the show notes to an audio episode. You can listen to the show audio by clicking here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/airspeed/AirspeedB2withPreRoll.mp3. Better yet, subscribe to Airspeed through iTunes or your other favorite podcatcher. It’s all free! In 2010, Rod Rakic and I flew to Whiteman AFB near Knob Noster, Missouri (or very close thereto) to meet Lt [...]

Video: the advantages of an afterburner from Bayou Renaissance Man by Peter | I'm sure many readers know that most military fighter and strike aircraft are equipped with afterburners...

The First International Air Meet of the 21st Century

To contact us Click HERE

Sadler, Texas-February 21, 2013 High Velocity Events, LLC presents the first annual International Air Meet – Championship Cross Country Air Races to be held June 6-9, 2013 at Durant, Oklahoma. Pilots will head for America’s heartland where the Great State of Oklahoma, the Choctaw Nation and Durant Municipal Airport-Eaker Field, Durant, Oklahoma will welcome pilots to their own “Big Show”.

The Sport of Cross Country Air Racing steps into the 21st Century with the first annual multi-event Air Meet. More than a century has passed since the first International Air Meet in the United States took place at Los Angeles, California in 1910. It is now time for the Sport to present an annual meet for all. Cross country air racing is for everyone. This is the Sport of Flying, Flying is the Sport! Any pilot with a fixed wing propeller driven aircraft may compete. The planes line up in classed competition and are timed on a cross country course. There is a class for everyone from a home builder’s pride and joy to the family Bonanza and the mighty P51 Mustang and even the company King Air.

The Sport Air Racing League sanctions the Air Meet. The League has grown since its inception in 2006 and those pilots who have taken part in the League events give cross country racing an enthusiastic thumbs up.

Durant Municipal Airport-Eaker Field. Durant, Oklahoma will be “Race Central”. All flying competitions start and finish here. The airport has a new terminal that is truly 21st century. Taxiways and runways are set to accommodate any aircraft and KDUA is a full service airport. Adjacent to the airport is the Choctaw Resort Casino. Pilots will be able to bed down here and when not racing, enjoy all the amenities of a world class resort casino. Southeastern Oklahoma State University Flight Department calls KDUA home. Our future pilots will be on hand to assist and learn.

Engine start will be signaled for the first event on June 7, 2013 at 10:00am. The 100nm Sport League sanctioned Championship Point event will fly a round robin multi-turn course over the Red River Valley of Oklahoma and Texas. It’s fast, it’s exciting and it is safe. Aircraft will be launched in speed order. The flying is VFR and there is a “Short Course” for aircraft with limited range and/or a top speed of less than 100mph. The gala awards ceremony will be held the evening of the 7 th.

When the green flag is raised on June 8, 2013, the race window will be open for the 600mn Championship Cup event. The three leg course must be VFR and pilots will launch at their discretion to return before the race deadline that evening. The two course turns are designated no penalty stops for fuel or to accommodate race strategy. Pilots will be competing in expanded classes and there will be no League points awarded for this event. The League classes will be used as well as Challenge Classes and the ultimate prize, the Championship Cup Competition. The League classes are based on engine power and landing gear configuration and are divided into three categories: Experimental, Factory and Heavy Metal. The Challenge Class is for the same make and model of aircraft. The Championship Cups will be awarded in major categories and will recognize the very fastest ships and establish the records to be pursued in the future. For example, the homebuilders will name “the fastest single engine normally aspirated” plane. What manufacturer’s name will be beside the “fastest multi-engine propjet”? Heavy Metal will bestow honors on our War birds and Classics.

Whatever aircraft you fly, there is something for you to take part in. Planes of all type will bring their pilots from all over the world come together to FLY and exchange ideas and to have the best time of their lives. If you are a seasoned racer, this is your showcase. If you want to be a racer, this is the place to start.

Vendor space is available on a first come basis. Sponsorship opportunities include advertising in the official program and named award sponsorships that will allow individuals and companies to honor a favorite.

To be part of this inaugural event: www.internationalairmeet.com

About US: High Velocity Events, LLC specializes in producing and organizing cross country open course air racing events. Patricia E. Purcell, manager, is a retired air racer and corporate pilot. For over a decade, Patricia has continuously produced multiple air racing events in the United States and Canada. She served as Vice President of the U.S. Air Race, Inc. from 2001-2007 and since has produced racing events under her own banner. High Velocity Events can manage a one day event or multiple day races. We work with Air Shows and other aviation events and have produced cross country air races in conjunction with the Cleveland National Air Races, Wichita Flight Festival and the Texas Motor Speedway.


Photo Credits:
Photo #1 Caption: Champion Racer, Michael Smith, Brandon, MS, gives the “Thumbs Up” while racing his SX-300 on the open course. Credit: LiveairshowTV
Photo #2 Caption: Experimental Racers lined up and waiting for engine start. Credit: unknown
Photo #3 The “Smoking V” is off and running. Racer, Jim Huff, Denton, Texas flew this N33 Bonanza to a Silver Championship in 2012 Credit: Jo Hunter

Indy Transponder 21-FEB-2013 1730z

To contact us Click HERE

Thunder in the Valley Air Show Tickets Now Available from Alabama Aviator - Aviation News | Columbus, GA - Advanced tickets to the March 16 and 17 Thunder in the Valley Air Show are now available for sale. Building on last year's popularity of the option, tickets can be purchased online as well as at a variety of local retail locations...

New Team AeroDynamix Video from VAF Forums by ronschreck | The Team performed a night show at the Sebring Sport Aviation Expo in January. This was the first air show associated with the Expo and they have already expressed an interest in having us back again. A great place to escape the Winter chill and meet some very nice folks. Enjoy the VIDEO.

Grant Denyer Passes Out Live On TV - 2DayFM (blog) | Matt Hall being the former RAAF Top Gun and badass Red Bull Air Race pilot. Grant stood no chance but credit to him he actually got in the plane which is a step further than I would have gone. Up in the air after a few minutes of wizzing around doing ...

A Hero Among Us - Novato Advance | At first glace, Everett remembered being impressed after seeing the new B-17s in theater newsreels as a teenager. In early 1943 Everett finished his B-17 pilot training and boarded a train for Washington where he picked up his B-17 and nine-member crew.

Timeless Voices - Harold Neumann from eaavideo.org | Harold Neumann (1906-1995) was a barnstormer, air racer, airline pilot, and aerobatics competitor. In 1935, Harold won the Greve Trophy Race flying Benny Howard's "Mike" racer and the Thompson Trophy Race flying Howard's Mister Mulligan.

Traveling wall exhibit pays tribute to Vietnam veterans - The Desert Sun | PALM SPRINGS — The American Veterans Traveling Tribute group's wall, a replica of the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C., arrived by motorcycle escort Wednesday afternoon at the Palm Springs Air Museum. The wall, which is an 80 percent replica with ...

B-17 Aluminum Overcast Reskinned After Hailstorm from EAA - The Experimental Aircraft Association  | Thanks to many helping hands, damage caused by last year's hailstorm won't prevent EAA's B-17 Aluminum Overcast from heading out on tour this spring.

Gadsden Students Project Picked by NASA from Alabama Aviator - Aviation News | GADSDEN, Alabama ---Four Gadsden State Community College students have been selected to participate in a NASA program to test the long-term effects of zero gravity on water....

[Photo Gallery] Typhoons and F-16s at the Winter Hide 2013 exercise
from David Cenciotti's weblog | The following images were taken at Grosseto airbase, by The Aviationist’s photographers Giovanni Maduli and Alex Fucito....

Sporty’s awards Alaska Seaplane Adventure Sweepstakes from General Aviation News by Janice Wood | Jonathan Evans of Bedford, Texas, has been chosen as the winner of Sporty’s Alaska Seaplane Adventure Sweepstakes. Evans will travel to Moose Pass, Alaska, to earn his Single Engine Sea Rating with Alaska Float Ratings in a PA-18 Super Cub....

‘Charlie Victor Romeo’ goes from theater to 3D from AOPA Pilot Blog: Reporting Points by Jill Tallman  | Mention the Sundance Film Festival to most pilots, and you’ll get a blink or a shrug. That’s because Sundance, which yearly showcases new work from U.S. and international independent film makers in Park City, Utah—and attracts large numbers of Hollywood types—doesn’t usually screen films with a lot of aviation content....

Podcast: X-Plane Innovations and Patent Lawsuits from AVWeb Podcast - Podcast | Our conversation with X-Plane creator Austin Meyer ranged from flight simulation to synthetic vision highway-in-the-sky iPad apps, avionics for experimental aircraft that could theoretically land real planes, and patent-trolling lawsuits that cripple innovative, successful companies for the benefit of unscrupulous plaintiffs.This podcast is brought to you by Bose Corporation.

King Alma Mater Recognizes NASA Administrator's Achievements from Aero-News Network  | Receives Prestigious Award From Morehouse College In Atlanta NASA Administrator Charles Bolden has received the Candle in Military Service and Aeronautical Science Award from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. The award recognizes exceptional achievement in a field by an African-American man.