Page 19 - Twin and Turbine December 16

Sharing the opening session was author and historian David McCullough, whose latest book “The Wright Brothers” portrays an intimate look at the life and times of the fathers of controlled powered flight. McCullough related how the Wrights efforts were supported by strong family ties and perseverance in the face of failure. He quoted the Wrights as saying “No bird ever soared in a calm.” McCullough was also feted on the second day at NBAA by receiving the Combs Gates Award from the National Aviation Hall of Fame, an unexpected honor but well deserved.
The Second Day’s General Session was more political in tone, in keeping with the looming history-making election. Representative Bill Flores of Texas and Senator Bill Nelson of Florida told how bi-partisan work in the Senate helped thwart plans for ATC privatization, user fees and other mischief. Senator Nelson, who flew on the Space Shuttle, was presented with NBAA’s Meritorious Service to Aviation Award. However, the most heavily-attended presentation was one featuring
remarks from political power couple Mary Matalin and James Carville, whose across-the-fence repartee always brings insight into the workings of the political process. By the time you read this, of course, their predictions of a Presidential election full of surprises will be history.
News At The Show
There are always notable announcements forthcoming at NBAA. The major surprise on Mondy was the presentation of an FAA type certificate to Cirrus Aircraft for its SF50 Vision personal jet, the first single-engine jet to achieve such status. While not exactly a business aircraft, the 6,000-lb. all-composite Vision seats six or seven and cruises at 300 knots up to FL280, pushed along by a Williams FJ33-5A fanjet. Deliveries are to begin in December. Commonality with the piston-engine Cirrus airplanes includes a ballistic emergency parachute, sidestick controls and Garmin’s G3000-based Perspective touch-screen avionics suite. It has reportedly attracted
DECEMBER 2016
TWIN & TURBINE • 17