BruceAir, LLC (bruceair.com)

The FAA published several revisions to CFR 14 Part 61 on 22 October, including a change to § 61.73(g) that allows current and former U.S. military instructor pilots to apply for a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight instructor certificate with the equivalent ratings. Military IPs, included retired aviators, can earn a CFI by documenting their experience and passing a knowledge test. No training or practical test is required.

The FAA has published guidance for its FSDO inspectors. The description of the process and requirements are available at http://fsims.faa.gov; search for “New Section 61.73(g) That Allows Current and Former U.S. Military Instructor Pilots to Apply for an FAA Flight Instructor Certificate.”

ASA (publisher of my Flight Simulator book) has a download edition of its Prepware to prepare for the Military Competency and Military Competency Instructor (MCI) FAA Knowledge Exams. The software is available as a download for Windows or the Mac for $39.95.

Here's another YouTube video from my last visit to the Las Vegas area. Three of my RV-flying friends and I did a practice four-ship formation flight over Lake Mead. The RV owners include experienced former fighter pilots (lead on this flight was the aggressor squadron commander at Nellis AFB before he retired); I'm still learning.

We practice regularly, always with a detailed preflight briefing and a post-flight critique. It's a fun skill to learn with proper instruction.

Here's a short YouTube video that shows a few tumbles from knife-edge in the Extra 300L. I demoed a couple, and then a friend of mine tried some, with interesting results.

For this type of tumble (a variety of Lomcevak), the procedure is:

• From straight-and-level and at full power and 120-140 KIAS, pitch up smartly to 45 degrees.
• Roll to left knife-edge (90 degree bank) and immediately apply full right rudder to hold the nose up.
• Briskly push the stick to the forward-right corner. It should be held against the stop.
• The airplane begins an outside snap roll to the right and rotates around all three axes.
• At an entry speed of about 90 KIAS, the airplane has enough energy to complete three full rotations.
• At the entry, you normally experience about -2.5G.

Note that during the demos, after the first full rotation, the airplane appears to pivot around the left wingtip. My version of turns around a point.

Jeppesen is gradually releasing a series of new VFR+GPS paper charts that, according to the company, "offer a fresh perspective on what a VFR chart should be with intuitive symbols and colors, better coverage areas and an emphasis on GPS navigation."

For a comparison of the new charts with conventional sectional and terminal area charts, see my review at BruceAir.com.

CH Products has updated its line of flight yokes with the Eclipse, an all-in-one yoke that includes an innovative solution to the "rudder problem" and several new features that put scores of customizable controls at your fingertips.

My review of the Eclipse is in the Product Reviews section of www.BruceAir.com.