Model Airplanes

Some people build model airplanes; others prefer to make furniture.

Dan Thaler crafts kayaks.

Thaler, who lives in Shrub Oak, will be on the cable television show “Handcrafted America,” which follows artisans who make products the old-fashioned way: with their own two hands.

Hosted by Jill Wagner, the crafters teach viewers about the history and cultural heritage that inspire and influence the design of their handmade products.

Thaler, the only professional wood kayak builder in the New York metro area, is also on the board of the Hudson River Watertrail Association, which represents paddlers from the top of the Hudson to New York City. He will be featured on the Nov. 4 episode, which airs at 9:30 p.m. on the family-entertainment television network INSP.

When he’s not crafting kayaks, Thaler works on cars. He has been an auto mechanic for the last 36 years, “though I prefer to call it automotive therapist,” he says. Previous to that, he painted houses and did various construction trades.

He answered a few questions:

Q. What’s the difference between a wood kayak and the mass-produced kayaks most people recognize?

A. Wood kayaks are lighter, more comfortable, and prettier. They are also easier to restore to like-new condition than composite kayaks.

Q. Why did you start building your own?

A. My wife and I had purchased

Article source: http://www.lohud.com/story/entertainment/2016/11/01/shrub-oak-crafter-featured-cable-series/93051500/

No, this isn’t an article about rogue drones or what we have to fear from drones in the hands of novice fliers. Far from it. This is about how the FAA’s new drone rules—a real boon for commercial operations—have quite the opposite potential effect on hobbyists (particularly students) and on teachers, whom the FAA has determined are “commercial” operators in all but the most limited circumstances. The FAA has underplayed this potential impact, including posting misleading information on its UAS websites. I strongly believe in the importance of educational and hobby flying with minimum unnecessary government bureaucracy, especially in school and after-school programs where students in elementary and high school should be able to learn to build, fly and even race model aircraft without the need to comply with FAA rules meant for commercial operators. So while FAA websites continue to tout the hobby/educational and non-hobby distinction [or fun vs. work as the FAA’s chart (www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/) puts it], the new rules do not, in fact, make that neat distinction any more. But more about the rules in a moment.

First, why should aviation employers even care about the barriers to hobby and educational flying erected by the FAA’s new rules? Well, we all know of the looming shortages in aviation personnel. Boeing’s most recent forecast doesn’t mince words: “As global economies expand and airlines take delivery of tens of thousands of new jetliners over the next 20 years, there is extraordinary

Article source: http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/blogs/torqued-drone-rules-could-stifle-student-interest

ORLANDO — Honeywell Aerospace’s new 10-year forecast projects market demand for 8,600 new business jet deliveries valued at $255 billion.

That is a decline of 6-7% by value over Honeywell’s 2015 forecast.

Honeywell revised its forecast downward as the business jet industry continues to face  slow near-term orders from a slow-growth economic environment in many markets around the world, the company said.

Honeywell released its 25^th  annual forecast during a media briefing Oct. 30 ahead of the National Business Aviation Association Convention Exhibition in Orlando.

“While developed economies are generally faring better, commodities demand, foreign exchange and political uncertainties remain as concerns,” said Brian Sill, Honeywell Aerospace president of commercial aviation. An increase in late-model used aircraft inventory for sale also impacts the sale of new aircraft. Used pricing has not stabilized across the board. When prices are falling, buyers tend to wait to make a purchase.

Honeywell forecasts 2016 business jet deliveries to total 650-675 units, down slightly from  2015 deliveries, due to slower order rates for mature models and stabilization of deliveries to fractional providers.

Deliveries are projected to fall slightly  again in 2017 as buyers transition from older models to new models scheduled for delivery in late 2017, 2018 and 2019.

“We see recovery, in volumes, beginning in 2018,” said Charles Park, director of market analysis for Honeywell. “We’re working through sort of a gap right now between phasing out of older models and phasing in new models.”

Longer range, the outlook

Article source: http://aviationweek.com/nbaa-2016/honeywell-forecasts-lower-bizjet-demand-bright-spots-remain

The deal involves setting up a new company in China to manufacture electric aircraft including the Alpha Electro and Panthera Hybrid models. The production capacity is expected to exceed 500 aircraft per year.

The seven-year project will include the construction of new centers with production facilities for both aircraft models as well as a runway, plus a maintenance and training facility for both models in Taizhou, Zhejiang Province and Yinchuan. The combined value of the project is more than 500 million EUR ($547 million U.S. dollars). Pipistrel will use a part of proceeds for the development of a new zero-emission 19-seat aircraft powered by hybrid electric technology and hydrogen low-temperature fuel cells planned for public transportation between the cities in China and all over the world.

The Chinese company will have the rights to sell the aircraft in Chinese territory and in neighboring countries, namely Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Korea, and Mongolia.

The contract also includes the delivery of 50 of each aircraft model, all required knowledge of assembly for the two models, training of personnel in Slovenia (where Pipistrel is located), implementing the assembly process in the new Chinese facilities, and supervision of newly established production for quality assurance.

Article source: https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2016/october/31/pipistrel-forms-electric-airplane-deal-with-china