By the time that you read this, I should be getting home from Sun-n-Fun. Supposedly there will be a new B-17 there from Kissimmee and the EAA web site announced a "rotary piston engine" from Mistral Engines LLC both flying and on display. The Sport Pilot Proposal was taken back by the FAA for revisions so that will probably delay it until summer.

We have 11 paid members this year. It would be nice if a few more of you would pay your dues. Checks for $20 payable to me. Unfortunately we have had several members move away over the last few years which has significantly depleted our membership.

There is an Aircraft Engine Historical Society (AEHS) which publishes a quarterly Journal called Torque Meter and has a web site at enginehistory.org. There are many interesting articles on their web site (hours of reading) along with items such as listings of engine displays in various museums and pictures of those in the new Smithsonian.

In the April 8 Star-Ledger it was noted that Burt Rutan received a license from the FAA for a manned suborbital rocket. After that they flew to 105,000 ft and Mach 2. He's not wasting any time. Also the French have announced that Antoine de Saint-Exupery's P-38 has been identified a few miles off the coast of Marseille.

The May Popular Mechanics has a jet aircraft on the cover with the caption Atomic Planes. In the article, they describe a new mini reactor which revives the dream of nuclear powered flight. What is expected is a nuclear powered Global Hawk. It would take off and climb with regular jet fuel but cruise with a hafnium-178 reactor excited by X-rays producing heated air to power the jet engine. There is also a short piece and picture of the Honda Business Jet and engine. Finally, Jay Leno has a hot rod with a V-12 tank engine.

Saturday May,15 Fly-in Chapter 1280, Orange County Airport (MGJ) 845 883 6267

Sunday May, 16 Fly-in Chapter 501, Warwick NY

973 838 7485/973 492 9025