Vicki Cruse, former U.S. Aerobatic Champion and competitor in this year’s World Aerobatic Championships at the venerable Silverstone race track in England, was killed when her Zivko Edge 540 “nosedived” into the ground, according to witnesses. According to the International Aerobatic Club’s team manager Norm DeWitt “Cruse was flying the early round ‘Q’ program when she lost control of her Zivko Edge 540 aircraft by what appeared to be a mechanical problem in flight. She was at an altitude that prevented her from bailing out of the aircraft.”In addition to her success in aerobatic competition and Reno racing circles, Cruse was a contributor to this magazine and formed Berkut Engineering in the early 1990s to help resurrect the Berkut canard kit aircraft.
In Case You Missed it
What’s New
Dr. RoTech introduces an engine analyzer for Rotax 912/914 engines, Planemakers offers builder assistance for composite aircraft, and Ameritech distributes Electroair ignition systems.
Engine Beat
Do kit aircraft owners have to comply with ADs? Steve Ells examines the dos and donts of this tricky question.
Around the Patch
Editor-in-Chief Marc Cook looks at the potential impact on GA of Lycomings new IE2 engine that features electronic engine management.
