Volume III, Issue 2
May, 1998

We’re on the edge of a major breakthrough! The quality of online databases is rapidly improving - particularly interesting is the NTSB’s posting of over 39,000 accident summary records dating back to 1983, which are searchable by tail number, make, model (http://www.ntsb.gov/Aviation/months.htm). And the FAA has been doing reasonably inexpensive searches of the "official" record set, and providing copies on microfiche. We’ve started reviewing these two sources and updating the individual sheets.

Enclosed you’ll find six updated copies, for Cirruses Number 4, 5, 24, 55, 58, and 64. With the drop in prices of coated computer paper, we’ve also put those updated sheets that include a picture in much higher quality paper! Please replace the older versions in your Directory with these.

If you have a picture of your Cirrus, please share it with us. Either a sharp glossy photo, or a *.jpg file via e-mail to Jim@Kellett.com (note new e-mail address). Plus, if you have any data that supplements the official record or what we have now - e.g., updated total airframe hours, badges earned, records set, contests placed in, etc. -

Dick Vine (UIL, No. 77) writes: "We still plan a refinish but will probably do a sanding down of damage, replace with filler, the when all is done, a total sanding and a coat of two-part polyurethane--maybe Imron then cut down and polish. This way we can fly on the filler as we deal with the damage bit by bit and do the paint in late '98. Any comments from other refinishers?"

This year’s DuPont Regatta will be hosted by the Shenandoah Valley Soaring Club in Waynesboro, VA on September 18-20. This is another opportunity for Classic sailplanes (e.g., the Cirrus) to fun-fly (others are the two VSA Rallys - see the last issue of this newsletter!) Come for three days of low-key soaring fun, culminating on Sunday with a handicapped contest - the race from Waynesboro to Frederick, MD along the route that duplicates the world record distance flight (121.6 miles) of Richard C. duPont, flying his Albatross in September, 1933! Come join the fun.

We’re thinking of putting together an article for possible publication in SOARING on the general subject of safety, using, in part, a "case study" of the track record over time of the Cirrus, now widely recognized as an easy-to-fly ship recommended by Derek Piggott as a good "first single place glider" for relatively new pilots ("Gliding Safety", by Derek Piggott (1991) p. 103) What follows is very much a work in progress, with many blanks being filled in as new data become available.

What do you think? Any surprises here? Any additional accident information or suggestions as to what might be significant in these data?