http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php Copyright 2008, David Kervinen David Kervinen en-US SPHPBLOG 0.4.8 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080904-173209 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080904-173209 David Kervinen Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:32:09 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=09&entry=entry080904-173209 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080816-185024
The Chicago Air & Water show is celebrating its 50th anniversary this weekend, and doing so with a wonderful line up of performers including the Blue Angeles, US Army Parachute Team- The golden Knights and a F-22 rapture demo as just part of the entertainment line up for this weeks extravaganza.

ABC’s Good Morning America’s Taryn Winter Brill took an exclusive look into the biggest of its kind Air & Water show. Though the backdrop of the story was the actual show, the talents of Mr. Sean Tucker framed it out nicely. Good Morning America reported an “at venue” attendance of about 2 million over the course of the air show weekend!

But the real story is not the show or even Sean’s appearance on GMA. The real story is the delivery of raw numbers. Between Chicago’s Air & Water show attendance figures and Good Morning America’s average daily viewership of about 4.3 million, Oracle was able to reach about 5.3 million people in spectacular and memorable fashion. We’re not even factoring in all the local newspaper/print and local television coverage. Unlike traditional advertising, Oracle enjoyed more then two minutes of GMA editorial, which you literally CANNOT buy. I’d say Oracle made a heck of a return on their investment in Sean this year.

The formula for delivering raw numbers is what is perhaps Sean's biggest asset. I’m not talking his great piloting skills, nor am I talking about that very special aircraft of his, that’s all a given. No, I am talking about one of the best-kept secrets in Sean’s marketing arsenal. Brian Norris and the Oracle support aircraft.

The primary role of the Oracle support aircraft is to be a media platform. This six passenger aircraft provides the media an extremely dynamic way to tell their story, with their own cityscape as a backdrop. Whether it is still photography, video or motion picture, the support aircraft’s role is key to getting stories told, and what makes the team differentiated from most.

Brian’s job as a support pilot is demanding and requires the same kind of creativity as any air show pilot. Not only does he look for the best backdrops, lighting and formations to fly, he has to coordinate it all with the local ATC (air traffic controller). The support aircraft requires rock solid performance so Sean can literally do aerobatics around the aircraft. It also requires immense communication and training for this kind of formation flying. And above all, it requires safety.

If you’ve ever wondered why you see so many aerials of Sean with the Blue Angeles, his formation team and countless cityscapes on the front of about every major newspaper in the US, its because he provides the media, free of charge, a platform to get their story told. Getting the story told is what it is all about.

This is why we continue to express how important it is to have adequate resources to provide the title sponsor MEASUREABLE results, which Team Oracle has done nicely. Below is the link to Good Morning America's feature story.

ABC's Good Morning America Coverage of Chicago's Air & Water Show

]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080816-185024 David Kervinen Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:50:24 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=08&entry=entry080816-185024 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080804-172354
Susan Cress and I had just completed a very nice call with a company that really understands what our program is all about which, in itself was very refreshing. It always helps when a company is also involved in and understands the aviation industry. At the end of the call I headed out to the airport to check on a few things and have breakfast with the usual gang at the Sky Kitchen.

Well, Willie Turner of Hiller Aviation Museum comes walking in, in his usual upbeat stride saying hello to about everyone in the coffee shop. This time around he had a guest. Willie came over and said “David, I want you to meet Kermit, Kermit Weeks”. WOW, I’ve known about Kermit for years but have never had the pleasure of meeting him. Willie wanted Kermit to see the Turbine Toucan, an aircraft that Kermit had not heard of, until today.

At the end of lunch Willie arranged for Kermit to stop by and see the plane before heading out on business. I’m guessing, based on what Willie told him on the drive over to the hangar, his expectations were fairly low. After all, Kermit owns the most prolific aircraft collection in the world and is a guy who’s been there, done that and seen it all.

When we opened the hangar door, I believe Kermit’s eye’s lit up in a big way. Being that Kermit is a three-time U.S. Aerobatic Champion, he instantly understood exactly what he was looking at and the staggering potential of the aircraft. He walked around the plane several times. As he did, he asked some very good questions few people ever have ever asked.

Though he is a giant in the aviation world, he is a very approachable, down to earth person with a great sense of humor. I really enjoyed our meeting and hope we get the opportunity to spend more time together down the road.

If you haven’t had the chance, I would highly recommend a visit to Kermit’s Museum, which is called Fantasy of Flight. It is just off Interstate 4 in Polk City, Florida, just down the road from Orlando and Disney World. I’ve been there on several occasions and it really is a wonderful experience if you love aviation, like most of us.

For more information on Fantasy of Flight please go to www.fantasyofflight.com, you will not be disappointed!

To learn more about the man himself, Forbes did a great article a while back called “Mad For Airplanes” http://www.forbes.com/2001/01/15/0115garage.html

As I understand it, Kermit has some VERY big plans for his museum, so I highly recommend keeping an eye out for developments, should be very exciting times at Fantasy of Flight.

-Have a great week!

]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080804-172354 David Kervinen Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:23:54 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=08&entry=entry080804-172354 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080730-195050
All of us at Infinity Entertainment were very enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with Quique. For one, he is a pioneer in the 3D aerobatic space. But the reason we were so compelled to work with Quique is for reasons that might not be so obvious.

Quique is integrity driven and wants to change the way business is done in the RC world (like what we want to do in the air show world). Quique purchased exclusive trademark rights to reproduce the Turbine Toucan, the paint scheme and name. This kind of partnership is a rare affair in the RC world. And to us, it is a symbiotic relationship. With between 8-12 million hits a year on the Turbine Toucan site, projected 10-12 million annual “at venue” attendance and Quique’s dominate roll in the RC world, this will be a force to be reckoned with.

There are a great deal of air show fans that are also RC pilots, so anything we can do to get people to come out and see us, the better. And the better for our title sponsor! And of course the opposite is even truer. The popularity of the Turbine Toucan will ultimately drive sales of the RC kits world wide. In either case, we are a team. And the “team philosophy” is another differentiating component to what our entire program is all about. In fact, the next chapter of “The Other Side of the Business” rant talks about our very philosophy of team work from the inception of our journey.

In the mean time, its nice to see Quique make his mark at the famous Joe Nall scale RC event this year and even better to see the Turbine Toucan on the Cover of Sport RC Flyer!



]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080730-195050 David Kervinen Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:50:50 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=07&entry=entry080730-195050 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080730-160138
]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080730-160138 David Kervinen Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:01:38 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=07&entry=entry080730-160138 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080709-131858
Our journey has really been a two-part process. The first being the development and test flying of a very exciting, unique and unusual aircraft. The second part might be even more involved than the first… corporate sponsorship. In all honesty, this part of the process is by far the most demanding and much harder than building and flying the aircraft. The second part of this equation is also the hardest to articulate and why we extend an apology for the temporary radio silence.

What we are trying to accomplish in the air show industry is unprecedented and there are a lot of eyes watching. That includes many agencies of record we had early conversations with when we were at the exploration stage of building the Turbine Toucan.

And just what are we trying to accomplish? Our main focus since we got started was to create a highly differentiated marketing communication platform. This not only included our highly differentiated aircraft but also our custom 75ft tractor-trailer, support aircraft, pit equipment and team. We are intent on creating an experience both in the air and on the ground, which is second to none. Our tractor-trailer has several missions but is centered around our title sponsor for hospitality, similar to NASCAR, NHRA etc. We’ll also use the tractor-trailer for the ultimate static display. It will be complete with pit equipment and access to the pilot & crew, which will be a focal point at any air show. The static display/hospitality also provides air show event organizers that much more entertainment, adding value to their event.

We have had many meetings at the CMO level with Fortune 1000 companies, which is an achievement in and of itself. Each meeting takes more than a week to prepare for, with custom presentations for each of the prospective title sponsors. Many, if not all, of these meetings are confidential, making details something we can’t communicate. So, a lot is happening but unfortunately we can’t elaborate. Add the current economic conditions and it puts a whole new layer of challenges and complexity to our pursuit. Our focus over the last few months has solely been on positioning our entertainment property to the world.

We took on the challenge of building the Turbine Toucan because we identified a very unique opportunity (for which there are few and far between), after looking at the air show industry. What many don’t realize (including agency’s of record and corporations) is that air shows represent the single largest spectator event in the US. The top 14 air shows trump that of NASCAR, Indy Car, Champ Car or any other motor sport when it comes to “at venue” attendance. Air shows also represent both rich and wide demographics, with a higher average household income and education than NASCAR. They also provide the greatest geographic reach, with events in every state of the union. Air shows get overlooked for several reasons, one being the lack of television coverage. They are one of the few events that do not translate well to television, no matter how hard you try. It is such an emotive experience that you have to be there to truly appreciate and interpret.

To the savvy marketeer, the lack of television coverage is quickly overlooked when one considers the raw “at venue” attendance figures… the numbers are staggering! The reason this is one of the best-kept secret is because air shows don’t have an industry-sanctioned body and lack any kind of resources or voice to get the word out at an orchestrated national level. In a sense, we are that lone voice, educating individuals at any opportunity we can what an incredible opportunity this industry truly offers! Air shows, in our opinion, represent one of the best “experiential marketing” opportunities ever. And that is why we embarked on this journey, to help evolve an industry, raise the bar and provide incredible ROI to a forward thinking company!

Every motorsport/event in the U.S. is made up of and driven by corporate sponsorship… and with great success we might add. So why is the air show industry so slow to adopt? It is one of the last few event industries remaining that is not regulated or managed by a sanctioned body. The FAA has, in a sense, been that lone soldier. International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) unfortunately can only act in an advisory capacity for the industry, since it is grossly under funded. There is no industry marketing being done, it is only done at the local event level, which is one of the many reasons companies and ad agencies lump it into the same category as a county fair. Every fair is different; there is no cohesiveness, no standards for the guest experience, etc. With that said, we are also in one of the most enviable positions of any motor sport with regards to safety. Not a single spectator has been killed at an air show from an aircraft related accident. This unprecedented safety record is also a huge story to tell yet very few people are aware of this fact.

Not being a sanctioned event also has its advantages. Our research indicates that community/local driven events, such as air shows, are far more news worthy at a local and regional level. This is an important attribute, as part of the overall value to a potential sponsor and delivers valuable exposure and PR money can’t buy… literally.

In order for the air show industry to continue to evolve and prosper, a paradigm shift is needed. After years of researching the air show industry and its practices, we could only identify a few individuals/businesses that focus on this industry full time and receive 100% of their revenue or salary from it. Up to now, events have had the great fortune of relying on the generosity of air show performers who have been willing to subsidize the air show industry in order to perform at public venues. And all but a few are either independently wealthy or have another full time occupation/business to support their love of flying and performing. In either case, the monetary losses for being on the air show circuit full time is staggering! We won’t disclose what the elite level performer makes for a two-day show (from the event organizer) but suffice to say it is nominal considering the associated risk and costs involved. With fuel prices surging out of control, this paradigm shift is what the industry needs, if it is to survive.

Up to now, the industry has been fueled by the passion of pilots. Pilot/performers willing to subsidize (in most cases) the industry in order to do what they love is very admirable. But it is not sustainable. Nor does it give the industry the required resources to do things on a much higher level. At the end of the day, air show fans are also consumers, who have most likely been to other motorsport events such as NASCAR, IRL, NHRA and their expectations are high. So, the bar has been set for the industry for some time. But the bar will never be reached if we expect pilots and local air show promoters to brunt most of the cost.

By contrast, Sean D. Tucker, title sponsor Oracle, illustrates our point exactly. It provides him professional marketing talent and resources. It also allows him to have a top notch, full time crew, equipment and a back-up aircraft. More over, it also provides him much needed resources to provide hospitality at every venue he appears. Sean’s sponsorship allows him the time and resources to practice EVERY DAY leading up to and between his scheduled air show performances. What does all this really mean? For one, SAFETY! And on so many levels I can’t begin to emphasize the importance of. It also is a level of professionalism we need to see more of.

Many might question why Oracle, a software maker for business applications, would ever sponsor an event that is made up of the widest consumer demographics in the event business. It’s not like you can go down to your local strip mall and buy anything Oracle branded after you just saw Sean perform at an air show. Oracles sponsorship is not going to influence any impulse buy at your local store. But air shows provide a huge value and ROI for Oracle.

So why does Oracle sponsor Sean? For the very same reason Dupont, a B2B company sponsors NASCAR. Both companies use these unique venues to entertain key industry partners and distributors, top performing employees and their families, as well as providing invaluable and immeasurable company moral for such an association. And both companies have measured success with such an affiliation!

So, if there is truly measurable ROI for Oracle and their sponsorship, imagine the success a CPG (consumer packaged goods) company could experience from one of the best-kept secrets in the event/experiential marketing world.

]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080709-131858 David Kervinen Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:18:58 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=07&entry=entry080709-131858 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080704-161541 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080704-161541 David Kervinen Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:15:41 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=07&entry=entry080704-161541 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080609-172550 Sorry for not keeping up with the blog over the past two weeks. We’ve been very busy with activity on the marketing side of this venture. It continues to be very positive even considering the current economic conditions.

Fuel prices continue to drop the jaws of the entire team. We managed to burn some Jet-A over the weekend and though expensive, it was a very rewarding outcome.

We finally brought the smoke system online and all we can say is WOW! We could not believe the volume of smoke we managed to generate. We’ve only done ground tests, so the next thing we do is take it in the air and see how it performs. Because the exhaust nozzles discharge the exhaust along side the aircraft, this generates some challenges.

The right side of the plane is no issue, but the left swirls the smoke over the top wing in amazing fashion. We were in IFR conditions almost immediately. At over 120kts will be another thing, we just don’t know until we try it!

We are also planning on adding solenoid valves that can alternate between the two exhaust nozzles if the one on the left doesn’t give us problems while in flight. So programming the timing between each side could prove to be a very neat thing, especially if we can harness it to midi (music instrument digital interface) protocol, which could control tempo of the valves etc…

So, that will be a fun, creative endeavor over the summer months. We’ll keep you posted on the trek for a title sponsor as we get a little closer, a lot of great stories to tell.

Have a great week!

]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080609-172550 David Kervinen Mon, 09 Jun 2008 22:25:50 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=06&entry=entry080609-172550 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080520-171315

]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080520-171315 David Kervinen Tue, 20 May 2008 22:13:15 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=05&entry=entry080520-171315 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080516-123321
Been a little while since I have posted. Today we have some very fun news to share with you. For many of you that follow RC aircraft, Joe Nall in Woodruff South Carolina represents one of the largest and most prestigious RC events in the country. This event would be in a class similar to Oshkosh’s Airventure. People from all over the world come to see/fly some of the LARGE scale models. www.joenall.com/

It is with great pleasure that I get to introduce to you all Quique Somenzini’s 33.7% scale Turbine Toucan. Even more exciting is the fact that it indeed has a real turbine engine in it! We’ll get the full skinny on all the details.

We’ll be posting more photos and should have some video as well. This is really fun stuff. We'd like to credit Owen for some of these photos....Thanks Owen, ,wish we were there!!!! Kevin Kimball, thanks for the great updates and clarification on scale of Quique's Turbine Toucan.

It sounds like the Kimball's Python w/Kimball paint scheme was popular as ever, turbine or piston. Go Kevin!







]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080516-123321 David Kervinen Fri, 16 May 2008 17:33:21 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=05&entry=entry080516-123321 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080503-192557

]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080503-192557 David Kervinen Sun, 04 May 2008 00:25:57 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=05&entry=entry080503-192557 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080502-203445



Greetings & Happy Friday,

Boy am I glad this week is over, it was a long one! As promised, here is the sub panel which finally has all its placards. This is kind of a unique process and different than engraving. We anodize the panel, make a reversed out mask and then sand blast the letters into the panel. Charles Robenalt did this work for us as well as the throttle quadrant.

What I like about most about the process is the depth of the letters is a little more then a few thousandths and matte finish, unlike engraving. It also is much easier to clean as well.

In the works is our custom tow bar designed to attach to our tail wheel and be used with a golf cart. We’ve had it done for a few months but I just have to get it powder coated, which will happen next week so we’ll share that as well.

We’ve had some nice emails come in this past week. We want to thank everyone for the continued support! More to come…….


]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080502-203445 David Kervinen Sat, 03 May 2008 01:34:45 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=05&entry=entry080502-203445 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080429-224107
We are also excited that the team received our first new lens/visor for our flight helmets. What makes these so incredibly nice is just how rare they are. The custom visors are Iridium coated, which is just over the top esthetically beautiful.

Optional Iridium® lens coatings allow you to tune transmission for specific light conditions. Superheated metal oxides are fused to the lens at the molecular level, permanently bonding to create an optically uniform layer.
By varying the composition and degree of saturation, Iridium® can produce a spectrum of lens hues, tailoring transmission of the light through the lenses from 9 to 92% of available light condition. We’ll post photos in the next few days.

Matt Jackson of Proline Pit Carts is busy building us our refueling cart and should have that done fairly soon. This was the second part of our order, so we’re excited about finally seeing that addition to the family.

The Title sponsorship pursuit has been fantastic the past few weeks, we’ve had a lot of solid interest, which is keep us very busy.
Have a fantastic week and when we can, we’ll post photos of the panel and helmets for you all.


-Cheers!

]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080429-224107 David Kervinen Wed, 30 Apr 2008 03:41:07 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=04&entry=entry080429-224107 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080411-115153
We first met Brian when the Toucan was still in a shroud of secrecy (over a year ago now). Pat Forbes (Ninety-Nines member) was kind enough to bring Brian by our hangar, introduce us and share in our little secret that was about two thirds complete at the time. I believe Brian was on tour with select screenings of “One Six Right.” At that point, I hadn’t seen the film just the teaser, which was impressive enough.

As Brian and I conversed, we found common ground on several levels. The obvious love for aviation and something that is so very close to my heart… film making. It was so refreshing to talk about the art of storytelling. Most folks at the airport (home away from home) know little about my background, so the opportunity to talk “shop” with Brian was very rewarding. I remember asking Brian about frame rates relating to his film, I think he was floored I noticed something he said most overlooked.
After talking with Brian that day, I thought to myself, how can someone so young possess so much talent, it’s just not fair!

Most don’t know but before Infinity Entertainment Inc. was founded, I spend the better part of 20 years in the Entertainment Industry. I mostly focused on visual F/X for Feature Film and Television. Being one of the last industries that still believes in apprenticeships, I started at the bottom like everyone else. With a lot of hard work and incredible mentorship by some of the best, I managed to work with some of Hollywood’s very finest. In the course of my career, I managed to win several Emmy’s (team awarded) for technical achievement. But the most rewarding part of making any film was the camaraderie and creativity that went into everything you touched. And flying seems to possess a bit of that same spirit.

Brian was kind enough to provide the Team with a copy of “One Six Right” when he left our hangar that day. With great anticipation we watched it that evening. I think Harrison Ford got it right when he said, “it is one of the finest aviation films ever made.” Hard to describe, it moved us all in different ways. The essence of the film is so pure without distinction of class or economic status. Whether you fly a trainer, a P-51 or just dream about being a pilot, it found the common thread that binds everyone that is in love with the idea of flight. I have to mention the original score for this film which is just incredible.

If you love aviation and have not seen this film, it is HIGHLY recommended. If you love aviation and you haven’t heard of this film, then you must be living under a rock. I think the aviation community as a whole owes Brian a great deal of gratitude for poring his heart and sole into a film that has so many positive messages about general aviation, in a world that doesn’t understand it.

With the high definition format war concluded and a Blue Ray machine on my Christmas list, I think I’ll have to hit Brian up for a Blue Ray version of “One Six Right!!!”

For more information on “One Six Right”, please go to www.onesixright.com and do us all a huge favor buy supporting Brian with the purchase of this fine, “must see” film!

]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080411-115153 David Kervinen Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:51:53 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=04&entry=entry080411-115153 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080407-011959
As I’d like to call it, the thread to wisdom. And the end game (wisdom) comes from really good data, which is what we have been compiling since the advent of the Turbine Toucan. Other then Wayne Handley, very little exploration has been done with a turboprop in such demanding conditions as aerobatic flight with positive thrust to weight. And for this reason, data becomes an extremely important component to the success of our program. If it were not for this technology, we would literally be in the dark.

Just ten years ago the technology that we are now collecting in the Turbine Toucan was either not available or simply not possible. No, we’re not talking GPS/moving maps and the likes; we’re talking about VR Avionics TSLM. The TSLM acronym stands for Turbine Starter Limiting/Monitoring system.

This is an incredible piece of technology and the only one of its kind in the marketplace. The TSLM does three things really well; it is a start sequence controller for the turbine, an engine protection limiter and an engine monitor and recorder. You would think every Pilatus, King Air or any other PT6 powered aircraft would have this level of sophistication in the cockpit, but they don’t.

Lets start with the start sequence controller part of the TSLM. Starting our turboprop is a beautifully automated, hands-off, one button push operation. It monitors all engine parameters and makes any necessary fuel adjustment (something like up to 50 in a second) to get a clean, cool start every time. As an example, PT6’s in the certified realm require manual starting and reacting to instrumentation interpretation by hand. If you’re a second late catching an exceedence in ITT, it could easily result in a hot start. To give you an idea of the cost of a hot start, look around your average parking lot, and pick the nicest, most expensive car you can and you’d have a down payment on the repair. That is justification enough to have VR’s hardware!

Though we originally assigned the TSLM’s primary role for starting, we soon discovered that in our application, the In-Flight Limiting was perhaps the single most desirable feature set in the TSLM. The first generation TSLM’s as good as they are, did have some limitations and were not all that conducive to In-Flight limiting. But that has all changed.

VR Avionics was kind enough to send us a new second-generation unit that is full In-Flight limiting capable. It’s all do to major hardware changes in the TSLM architecture. The TSLM now has an analog controller (instead of digital) for controlling the EHT valve. What the heck is that you say? The EHT is an Electro-Hydraulic Thermocouple that is a component of the fuel control unit (FCU).

The EHT has two purposes, one for controlling fuel in the start sequence and the other is to meters/restricts fuel in the case of an exceedence in ITT, N1, N2 or Torque. Controlling the EHT digitally when starting is very easy and not hard on the engine. At full power, that is another issue. Controlling the EHT digitally at high power settings can create pulsing, which would be very hard on the turbine with the compressor spinning at a whopping 36,200rpm. Under analog control the TSLM can control voltage to the EHT giving very smooth, modulated fuel restriction to the EHT/Fuel control unit. This really is a huge breakthrough for In-Flight Limiting.

Let’s give you a practical example of why this technology and data has been so valuable to our team. On an aggressive take-off roll the Turbine Toucan can reach close to 100kt in just a few seconds. One can literally be airborne in less than 100ft. But in doing this we had several exceedences that we were totally unaware of because of the speed in which they were happening and the transitory nature of the exceedence.

We’re looking outside the cockpit during take off (as any high performance tail wheel pilot will attest). Because the plane weighs so little and accelerates so quickly under high power settings it takes every ounce of concentration to keep it on the centerline. About eight seconds into the flight we’re looking back in the cockpit at parameters, but in this case, it was to late.

The cause of the problem was the propeller governor not being able to keep up with the propeller as it is unloading from a high power setting, brake release type roll out. Our turboprop was designed for a twin-engine application weighing more then nine times what the Turbine Toucan weighs. The lack of mass/inertia and the speed in which the Turbine Toucan accelerates, the prop governor just couldn’t quite keep up. As the prop rpm exceeds, it takes everything else with it including ITT, N1 and Torque. If we didn’t look at the data after flying we would never have seen this transitory spike, which could ultimately have lead to a catastrophic failure if we continuously operated the engine in this fashion. And this is why In-Flight limiting is SO important.


For you piston guys let me illustrate why this data is REALLY important. On a piston aerobatic aircraft you usually set max RPM on the prop governor at about 2700rpm at the max throttle position. This allows you to put in all the power and forget about it and focus on flying. Now, imagine if you threw out the prop governor and set up your throttle quadrant to have max throttle at 4000rpm (knowing your engine will grenade at 3200rpm). All of a sudden your eyes would be glued to the panel! Well, it’s kind of like that. At high altitudes where the turboprop is most efficient you rarely have to worry about exceeding any parameters, but at seal level that is very much not the case.

You can see why this technology is so important to us! We are extremely grateful to both Maurits and Tjaart for the overwhelming support over the past year and a half. The technology they have provided us has proven to be the lifeblood of our aircraft. And I think it is fair to say that our application of their technology is about as extreme, mission critical as it comes.

]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080407-011959 David Kervinen Mon, 07 Apr 2008 06:19:59 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=04&entry=entry080407-011959 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080331-144840
It’s been a while since our last post so I thought we’d get you all up to speed. We’ve been working extremely hard trying to secure our title sponsor. We have managed to have several meetings a week. As we continue to get accolades about the program, the economy is really on everyone’s mind we have met with, and the reason most want to delay any commitment.

I can’t even begin to tell you how many emails we receive wanting to see the Turbine Toucan at their local air show. We have had a great deal of interest from air show promoters as well. It is really amazing and frustrating all at the same time. We continue to be absolutely amazed at the level of support we receive by folks like your selves. The frustration comes from not being able to perform for you all.

As we’ve stated before, it is impossible to campaign our air show program without a title sponsor. And this is true for several reasons. Our program is expansive; it not only includes the Toucan, it also includes a 75ft. tractor-trailer, support/media aircraft and support equipment. Add required spare parts inventory in excess of $300k and you start to see the picture.

And then there’s is the operational costs. Because our program is predicated on safety first, we require Ken to be flying at a minimum of four times a week, every week for several months before we campaign the aircraft. To illustrate the cost, the last time we topped off the Toucan it was about $500.00. It is a thirsty little bird that loves its nectar. At 60 gallons an hour in the aerobatic environment, Jet-A adds up quickly. That is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, but you get the idea.

So when we get requests to do a few shows while we are looking for our title sponsor, the investment in training still has to be made whether we do two shows or twenty. Our other major concern is for our title sponsor. Our title sponsor needs to be associated with the Toucan from day one.

In the mean time, we are now just designing and working out all the maneuvers. Many of these maneuvers will be proprietary to the aircraft and first-evers! The potential in the vertical really makes for an interesting exploration, which I know Ken has been mentally exploring since the start of this project.

And lastly, we continue to get hammered by people wanting to see “real” video of the Toucan doing its thing. We have learned a lot about shooting the Toucan and one thing is for sure, a helicopter seems to be the appropriate platform for this bird. So, once we get our maneuvers worked out, we’ll plan on doing some shooting. In the mean time, we really appreciate your patience.

]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080331-144840 David Kervinen Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:48:40 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=03&entry=entry080331-144840 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080312-173039
Now and then we get some fun e-mails of quotes that have been posted on the Internet regarding the Turbine Toucan. We can't find who the author was but found this saying very amusing. "Anything worth powering is worth over powering". I think I need to get some T-Shirts of that one made, very funny.

Now that the plane is back in the air and things seem to be moving along in that department, it is back to work for the team to acquire a title sponsor. More to follow in that department.

Have a great rest of the week!]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080312-173039 David Kervinen Wed, 12 Mar 2008 22:30:39 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=03&entry=entry080312-173039 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080309-193055
We learned one thing about the plane today, the plane will accelerate indefinitely straight up at about 75 kts -80 kts. I say indefinitely but perhaps it will finally slow down a bit by 10,000ft. The performance of the plane just continues to amaze all of us. After this last shake down cruise the plane will be handed back over to Mr. Ken Erickson. We will have a press release or two once Ken gets settled back in the plane and we are doing what the plane was designed to do in the first place.

All the best and have a great week!
]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080309-193055 David Kervinen Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:30:55 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=03&entry=entry080309-193055 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080308-232200
Insurance Technologies and Programs has endorsed 750T to flight status as of 9:30pm Saturday night. Talk about incredible service, we sent them an e-mail letting them know we're ahead of schedule with maintenance and that we'd like to return the aircraft to flight status for flying on Sunday. The e-mail was sent out tonight (Saturday at a 9:00pm PST). By 9:30PST (12:30AM EST) we received a confirmation e-mail that we are good to go, endorsed for flight status. UNBELIEVABLE.

This makes Team Turbine Toucan VERY happy. Now, if the weather cooperates we should be in the air tomorrow. Have a good weekend. ]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080308-232200 David Kervinen Sun, 09 Mar 2008 05:22:00 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=03&entry=entry080308-232200 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080305-220857
Syl has been a huge supporter of the Turbine Toucan for some time now and we are extremely grateful. I first saw Syl a number of years ago (before we actually met) at an anodizing facility named Dean’s Anodizing in Redwood City. Syl was having some absolutely beautiful fly-fishing reels anodized. What I didn’t realize at the time was, he actually made them from billet aluminum. He is a master of many things, including a CNC/Mill, lathe and other such hardware.

At 82 years old, this guy is sharper then any 30 something genius you’ll ever meet. I don’t know any sixteen year old that can keep up with him technology wise. He has EVERY latest gadget from Apple and is extremely well versed in SO many applications it blows my mind. Did I mention he is an accomplished pilot, yachtsmen and astronomer? The telescopes he has built are works of art. Even more impressive are the scale model engines he has built. From Sterling to Steam to a four cycles engine, Syl has built them all. Check out his site at http://www.syl.net/engines.html

I have had the extreme pleasure to enjoy breakfast with Syl several times a week for the past few years now. The thirst for knowledge is something that keeps him so young at heart. I don’t care the subject; he will have an opinion, and usually a very good one at that. And that included politics!

Syl, thanks for being such a good friend and the next lunch is on me!



]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080305-220857 David Kervinen Thu, 06 Mar 2008 04:08:57 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=03&entry=entry080305-220857 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080304-205722




It was a long time in the making but the panel is finally complete and the plane is about ready to fly. The Comm radios were relocated to the new sub panel on the left hand side with the new glass panel. Lots of little things done throughout the panel upgrade but would take to long to list them all. You’ll notice we even have a custom start screen on the new engine display. Electronics International was kind enough to help us out with our graphic, which I will also post. Enjoy the photos of the new panel and we’ll keep you posted on our flying now that we are just a few days away from it, finally.

Have a good week!!!

]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080304-205722 David Kervinen Wed, 05 Mar 2008 02:57:22 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=03&entry=entry080304-205722 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080304-204036


]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080304-204036 David Kervinen Wed, 05 Mar 2008 02:40:36 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=03&entry=entry080304-204036 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080302-043111 As of yesterday we received our custom-built start cart for the Toucan. Matt Jackson of Proline Pit Carts was kind enough to provide the team a custom cart specifically design for our application. The start cart consists of a GPU, Generator, Computer(s), telemetry system and all required general maintenance tools and supplies. It is designed to be with the Toucan on the line and will provide us with 3500 cranking amps at 28V! It will travel in with the tractor-trailer venue to venue.

We immediately got to work installing our Tesla GPU (another great sponsor!) today and should be done on Sunday with this. We also will be installing the generator so the cart not only has 28v but 110v service as well. Lastly will be the computer, telemetry system and antennas for both the telemetry radio and VHF crew radio.

Should be a fun little project. We will post pictures in the next few days along with the new panel.

We want to again thank our fantastic sponsors for all their help and continued support around the start cart.


Tesla's website
http://www.teslaind.com/lspeed/site_con ... lamain.htm

Proline Pit Carts
http://www.prolinepitcarts.com
]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080302-043111 David Kervinen Sun, 02 Mar 2008 10:31:11 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=03&entry=entry080302-043111 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080228-181605 As of today (Thursday the 28th), the panel upgrade is now complete. I'd have posted photos but didn't bring the camera down to the airport. We're still waiting for paving to be completed so we can roll it out of the hangar and fire it up. We have only to finish the bleed air system and we will start putting the Toucan back together for some flying, which could happen as early as next weekend.

Our start cart has been down in Los Angeles and we plan on picking it back up tomorrow other wise we'd post photos tomorrow of the new panel. We've customized the cart to accept our Tesla GPU w/Gen Set, so it really should be very nice. We'll post new photos of the cart as well, just as soon as we get back home. Over the weekend we should be able to get some photos posted of the new panel, so please stay tuned.

We are really excited about the new panel, the glass instrumentation is just awesome and is extremely flexible. Every element of the system is customizable and user definable, which is exactly what we needed.

]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080228-181605 David Kervinen Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:16:05 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=02&entry=entry080228-181605 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080223-210147
We'll move on to installing the new bleed air system which should only take a day or so to do. So all is looking good for flying in the first or second week of March.

Believe it or not, though they paved the taxi way next to our hangar row, they ran into soil issues with paving the taxi way in front of our hangars. No ETA on when they are going to be completing. To be completely fair, they have been dealing with an amazing amount of rain, which has left the area completely muddy. I could not get to the hangar without being ankle deep in mud, not at all fun.

Photos should finally be coming next week for anyone interested. Have a good week. ]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080223-210147 David Kervinen Sun, 24 Feb 2008 03:01:47 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=02&entry=entry080223-210147 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080215-042409



I promised a while back I would post a photo of our tractor for an individual who has followed our progress with the Toucan. He is also a fulltime driver. Since we are still waiting for a few parts and have no new exciting updates to share, might as well talk about trucks.

For anyone interested in trucks, this is our Kenworth T2000 (VIP interior) Aerodyne. The T2000 is powered by a 550hp CAT and 13-speed transmission. We plan on pimping the truck out a bit, as soon as we decide on a final paint scheme, which really is driven by the Title sponsor.

It really is a fun truck to drive. We bobtailed it out to St. Louis to pick up our 53ft. hospitality trailer from Craftsmen Industries, who are great people. The trip was a blast. We decided to see a bit of the country and stay off the interstate for a day or so. Going through Nebraska we stopped in Beatrice, which was one of our stops a few years prior ferrying my Pitts back to California from Wisconsin. We had dinner at a bar and grille that had live music, which was just a blast. They had a car show that afternoon, so we spent time with people showing us some great little hot rods.

Anyway, left Beatrice on hwy 136 West bound. All the small towns were just wonderful to see, something you just don’t appreciate on the interstate. We started back up north to interest 80 around Kearney NE. We spent some time in Sidney NE, we really enjoyed our visit there too. That was our last real stop, and then we started the drive back to San Francisco on good old interest 80, an old friend. I think I’ve driven cross-country at least 12 times now. Next time I do it (in a car) I’m going back roads all the way; it is just fun and a great journey. Obviously I don’t drive for a living, though I do have a class A.

Back to the long-winded and never ending story….. Just about 10 or so miles from the border of Wyoming, we witnessed an accident that really took the winds out of our sails, and everyone around us going westbound. Two guys in fully dressed out Gold Wings were in the median between eastbound and westbound traffic. It was a fairly wide area, about 50 or so yards between east and west bound traffic. They obviously were going to attempt to make a u turn and head back east. About a quarter to half a mile in front of them, looking west bound, was a large sweeping turn, which descends from a large hill.

They thought they were clear and entered the fast lane. What they didn’t see coming was a 75ft fully loaded tractor-trailer, at speed, in the same lane. They literally never saw it coming. I don’t think there was a part of either motorcycle that was even remotely recognizable. Body parts were everywhere. The trucks front end was virtually destroyed, which is a scary thought if you think about the size of this conventional (our size tractor).

As awful as all this was, we couldn’t stop thinking about how traumatic it must have been for the poor driver of that truck. He will carry that with him the rest of his life and he did absolutely nothing wrong. Obviously it was a real tragedy for the bikers and their families too, but thankfully I don’t think the bikers felt a thing.

We and a few other tractor-trailers pulled off at the very next truck stop to collectively gather our thoughts before continuing west. There was a line from “Finding Nemo” when Marlin (the father) said to Dory……”good feeling’s gone.” Boy that was the truth. I don’t remember anything past that point in the trip other then crossing the border into California and thinking just five more hours and we’re home. I just wanted to get home safely, and we did.

Our poor truck needs to get out and be driven! Promise #326, will be to provide Rosie a sponsor so she can pull that hospitality trailer around the country to all those fun air shows. I think that would make her happy. OK, that is not the best story to kick off a weekend but non the less a story from the vantage point of Rosie the Kenworth.

Have a great weekend!

]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080215-042409 David Kervinen Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:24:09 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=02&entry=entry080215-042409 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080208-165541
We are just waiting for parts and we’ll start the reassembly process now that everything works nicely. We still have a few calibrations to do on the engine side as well as fuel tank recalibrations. We’re also going to rework the bleed air mix venturi for cabin heat, which could be performing a bit better. So, it looks like we’ll be in good shape for flying by the end of the month.

On the Sponsorship trail, we continue to receive fantastic feedback regarding our overall presentation, market data and property offerings which, is a nice shot in the arm during these tough times. We are extremely grateful to have secured more then 20 meetings at the CMO level with many Fortune 500 companies. Anyone who has ever done serious business development knows how challenging making contacts at this level can be.

As far as unique and compelling properties go, we have made good impressions. That said, we are faced with an economy that has many of these companies a bit scared. Many are either cutting back on spending or delaying any decisions for one to two quarters. So, obviously this is making it a very big challenge.

Have a great weekend and we’ll follow up with more news in a weeks time.

]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080208-165541 David Kervinen Fri, 08 Feb 2008 22:55:41 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=02&entry=entry080208-165541 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080204-020136
As soon as the panel is complete then we will start the re-calibration of all the transducers and thermocouples. We'll also configure all the aural annunciators for warning and redline. This should be a few days work as well.

We won't be able to run the engine for at least another few weeks considering there still is no taxi way and a large mound of dirt right outside.

Anodizing should be happening this week, which means things will be going back together shortly.

Have a good week!]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080204-020136 David Kervinen Mon, 04 Feb 2008 08:01:36 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=02&entry=entry080204-020136 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080131-160641
The physical panel itself is just now being finished up and will be sent to the anodizing shop along with a few other parts from the panel. We should have this wrapped up in the next week.

We have a few other projects around the plane which are coming along nicely as well.

There is still eight feet of dirt right outside the hangar, not sure how much longer it is going to be here, but it doesn't look promising.

More to follow. ]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080131-160641 David Kervinen Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:06:41 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=01&entry=entry080131-160641 http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080126-022925 Well the wiring for the new panel upgrade is going well and should be complete as of this Saturday evening. We have a lot of new warning systems to integrate which might take us a few more weeks as we are waiting for special order parts. All in all, we are on track. The only thing that makes us feel a little better about our pace is the fact that there is still tons of dirt and no taxi way, so we couldn’t fly if we wanted to.

The sponsorship hunt is consuming better then forty hours a week with the team. The current economy sure has had a HUGE damper on available marketing dollars and this past week sure has been tough on the team. Add an election year to the mix and it sure has paralyzed spending.

Hopefully we’ll be at a point we can finally start taking pics of the new panel.

On the weather front, it's actually been snowing around the Bay Area, flooding down south and just bizarre weather overall. Stay warm out there and have a good weekend!

]]> http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/index.php?entry=entry080126-022925 David Kervinen Sat, 26 Jan 2008 08:29:25 GMT http://www.turbinetoucan.com./blog/comments.php?y=08&m=01&entry=entry080126-022925