Summary: Guest Alan Klapmeier, the CEO of the Kestrel Aircraft Company talks with us about his single-engine turboprop Kestrel. We discuss the Kestrel’s capabilities, features and design objectives, and choice of the Honeywell TPE331-14GR engine. Also, the status of the program and when first flight is expected. We have an interesting conversation about form versus function in airplane design and what composite construction allows designers to do. This aircraft features a glass cockpit with side-stick that creates an unusual amout of room. Attention was given to how the pilot and the plane interact together – presenting information rather than data so pilots can be decision makers instead of processors of data. That has an impact on safety, but also comfort. Alan also collects diecast model airplanes and has a collection that could easily be called giant. Follow @KestrelAircraft on Twitter. The week’s aviation news: Small plane crashes in eastern Georgia, killing 5 United Airlines grounds Dreamliners through June 5 F-35s grounded as precaution after crack found in engine blade David’s Aircraft of the Week is a bit of a surprise. It’s the Sopwith Triplane! In this week’s Across the Pond segment: We continue with the Southampton Airport mini-series this week and look at what’s required to keep the airport terminal clean and tidy by talking to Operations Manager Karren Pattar from Amey. Southampton achieved platinum in the 2012 Loo of the Year Awards (LOYA). Find Pieter on Twitter as @Nascothornet, on Facebook at XTPMedia, and at the Aviation Xtended podcast. Rob talks with David Parker Brown about Aviation Geek Fest 2013. Mentions: Spoof of American’s new ad about the Merger Feb 2013 El Centro Photocall Clip by Stephen Tornblom Japan Identifies Oil Leak, Cockpit Cracks in 787 Dreamliner 50 Tales of Flight: From Biplanes to Boeings, an eBook by Owen Zupp A Yank in the Luftwaffe – A World War 2 suspenseful thriller in France, an eBook by Robert V. Ricard, illustrated by Stephen Ricard Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at www.brotherloverocks.com.
