For those who like the idea of a redundant power source, Plane Power has announced the Fly Safe, a 30-amp, less-than-6-pound alternator designed to plug into a standard vacuum pad. It’s available with an internal regulator, panel-mounted warning light and automatic dimmer for $795, or the price is $695 without the internal regulator and monitor panel. Plane Power is offering a $100 discount on these units through the end of 2010. For those who want this capability in their type-certified airplane, Plane Power will begin the certification process for the Fly Safe alternator in the fall of 2010. Read the rest of this entry »

E-Mag, the maker of self-powered electronic ignitions, has announced the pending release of its six-cylinder model for the Lycoming (I)O-540. The six cylinder, self-powered electronic ignition will be available in the fourth quarter of 2010. Priced at $1600, this ignition boasts a significant weight savings over traditional magnetos. It provides all of the advantages of the four cylinder 114 P-mags, but with fewer moving parts. By using fewer moving parts, E-Mag has reduced the parts count of this ignition to one. Yes, you read that correctly: There is only one moving part in the new ignition. Read the rest of this entry »

AFS has announced the introduction of its AF5600 EFIS. While priced at less than $8000, this 10.5 inch, 1024×768 pixel, 1500 NITS screen sounds impressive enough. The real news is the ergonomic changes implemented in the AF5600. AFS changed from a multitude of menus and a few buttons to a multitude of buttons and knobs with no menus. This system has sprouted 18 buttons, three knobs and a joystick, which allows the company to eliminate the menus typically found on an EFIS of this category. Read the rest of this entry »

The Levil EFIS-1831 series brings to the cockpit functionality that many of us have enjoyed on a desktop. The EFIS-1831 is based on the Windows XP operating system, which allows pilots to select their favorite flight packages. The three demo systems on display at AirVenture this year are running Mountain Scope, Flight Cheetah, and Levil default PDF software. With one knob and a touchscreen, the pilot can configure the layout of the screen by simply touching the screen and dragging the displays around to suit individual taste. For those who live where GPS map data is not readily available or who simply don’t want to pay for updates, the EFIS-1831 can accept map data from a number of different sources. Read the rest of this entry »

Setting a new standard in 406 Mhz ELTs, the Emerging Lifesaving Technologies ELT406GPS comes with a blade style antenna that incorporates both the ELT and GPS antenna. This ELT incorporates an integral GPS receiver, thus there is no requirement to connect the unit to your aircraft GPS receiver. Emerging Lifesaving Technologies has reviewed ELT failure modes and designed its G switch to limit false alarms while improving activation reliability. Sized about the same as any of the current D cell GPS units currently available on the market, the 2.7-pound, $1595 unit contains a proprietary long-life battery that boasts a two and a half year shelf life and improved signal broadcast life. A rubber ducky antenna is a $100 option and when used, turns the ELT406GPS into a personal locator beacon (PLB). Read the rest of this entry »

Xcom’s popular communications radios have gained the ability to accept serial channeling from an external GPS or EFIS. This feature allows the pilot to find and highlight a com frequency on the navigator and have it appear in the standby window of the Xcom radio.

The Xcom mounts in a 2.25-inch instrument hole. Also available is a remote head that can be used to channel control the radio; it’s intended for use in tandem-seat aircraft.

The transmitter is rated at 6 watts, and the device includes a two-place voice-activated intercom. Retail price is $1395 (Australian) or approximately $1100 (US).

For more information, visit Xcom Avioinics’ website.

Spidertracks introduced a new, smaller, less expensive GPS tracker at Oshkosh 2010. Rachel Donald explains the main features of the unit and the website that supports it.

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Following on the heels of its composite ground-adjustable propellers that are paired with Rotax and Jabiru engines, Sensenich has announced a new two-blade ground-adjustable composite prop for high-speed aircraft such as the Vans RV series or Glasair that use the Lycoming O-320 engine.

The new prop is manufactured using an internal pressure, closed mold system to produce a hollow, one piece blade. The blades also incorporate a patent-pending I-beam construction process that yields repeatable blades with maximum strength, durability and low weight, according to Sensenich. Read the rest of this entry »