On May 10, at the IDEF−2017 exhibition, TAQNIA AERONAUTICS COMPANY(Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), HAVELSAN Hava Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. (“HAVELSAN”) (Turkey) and ANTONOV Company (Ukraine), which is a part of SC «UkrOboronProm», signed Memorandum of Understanding on joint designing, fitting and manufacturing Maritime Patrol Aircraft on the basis of AN−132 transport. This Memorandum became the first step in collaboration of the parties on the AN−132MP programme. The signing ceremony was held in presence of Oleksandr Turchinov, the Secretary of NSDC of Ukraine, head of the official delegation, and Roman Romanov, Director General of SC «UkrOboronProm». Dassault-Châteauroux Völkers Rzeszów-Jasionka Donauwörth Brégier.

Win a Garmin 396 when you name the Parrot at Oshkosh!

Czech Aircraft Works, designer of the S-LSA Parrot, has decided that its streamlined, all-metal, cantilever high wing machine flies just so much better than its namesake, that it has decided to re-name the "Parrot" to better reflect the machine's capabilities.

After having named its new Mermaid (amphibian) and SportCruiser (competent, roomy, and comfortable) S-LSAs over the past year or so, the manufacturer had a new look at the fit its name had made with the airplane's market. "The Parrot, as a bird, isn't a particularly good cross-country flier," said designer Chip Erwin, President of Czech Aircraft Works. "But the Parrot, as an airplane, is, well, brilliant. It's as fast as the rules allow. Its streamlined, clean shape allows long-range cruise at mild power settings; it's roomy and comfortable, with plenty of useful load; and it handles so well… It just doesn't make sense to call such a machine a 'Parrot.'" Chip should know: he made up the original name! Danny Defelici, President of Sport Aircraft Works, the Florida-based importer and chief development and test pilot for the to-be-renamed airplane, agreed. "It ought to be called something that reflects the engineering and the performance. Or maybe it should describe the styling – the hydroformed, compound curves in the sheetmetal are so clean and modern-looking.

The all-metal construction is so comfortable, repairable, insurable – it's not a 'Parrot.' It's… something else, something cooler." Bill Canino, President of Sportair USA, the sales and service component of the Parrot's triad, is happy to handle the logistics. "The Parrot will be on the most prominent corner of our site and the first thing you see from the main concourse," he said, as he packed for the big show. So, if you would like a new Garmin GPS 396, bring your imagination to Oshkosh Airventure '06. Look at the airplane, in the Sportair USA area; ask questions; understand its capabilities. Then submit your entry, and you could find a new GPS in your flight bag! For details and to fill out your entry, visit Sportair-USA and see the Parrot (located near the main west gate, just south of Cirrus, sites 5,6,7,12,13,14) at Oshkosh, July 24-30. (In case of duplicate winning entries, a random drawing from among those entries will be held.)