AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2008 - (Page 33) COMPILED BY JULIE SUMMERS WALKER March 28, 1979 | The FAA requires the removal of lithium sulfur dioxide batteries from U.S. civil aircraft. The batteries were used primarily to power emergency locator transmitters (ELTs). The agency acted because of incidents in which the batteries exploded, burned, or leaked gas that formed corrosive acid. The order affected approximately 60,000 aircraft, most of them privately owned. March 25, 1982 | The thirty-fifth anniversary of the start of Beech Bonanza. Almost 15,000 aircraft were sold in this period, two-thirds of these being the V-tail Model 35. March 6, 1990 | A Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird sets a transcontinental speed record on a flight from Oxnard, California, to Salisbury, Maryland, at an average speed of 2,124.05 mph (Mach 2.8) in slightly less than one hour and eight minutes. March 16, 1991 | Seven members of country-western singer Reba McEntire’s band, along with her road manager and two pilots, are killed when their Hawker twinjet crashes in a mountainous area near the Mexican border. The crash, which leaves no survivors, occurs shortly after takeoff from Brown Field, near San Diego. March 24, 1992 | The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announces that it will sign open skies treaties with any nations that wish to reciprocate. March 1, 1999 | The Breitling Orbiter 3, piloted by Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones, rises from a Swiss Alpine village and becomes the first balloon to fly around the world nonstop, landing in the Egyptian desert 19 days, 21 hours, and 35 minutes later. March 6, 2000 | Eclipse Aviation Corp. launches the Eclipse 500, the first of a new breed of very light jet aircraft. The twin engine jet seats six and is designed for a 423 mph cruising speed, a 41,000-foot service ceiling, and a range of 1,300 nautical miles. March 27, 2004 | The Guinness Book of World Records recognizes the world speed record set by NASA’s hypersonic X-34A aircraft in an experimental flight over the Pacific Ocean. Using a scramjet engine, the unpiloted, 12-foot-long aircraft achieves Mach 6.83—almost seven times the speed of sound—or nearly 5,000 mph. March 28, 2007 | The Sporty’s Foundation, a charitable organization to promote aviation education and safety initiatives with emphasis on youth programs, is established by Hal Shevers, founder of Sporty’s Pilot Shop. Gallon of gas Yearly wage $4,600 25 cents $12,500 New home 1958 Trivia: Average costs Can of Campbell’s Tomato Soup 10 cents Chevy Corvette Cadillac Coupe de Ville $4,163 $3,631 AOPA PILOT • 33 • MARCH 2008 http://www.gleim.com/ogs http://www.gleim.com/ogs http://www.pennyanaero.com http://www.pennyanaero.com
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