Zenith Aircraft Company has combined the features and advantages of a “real” airplane with the short-field capabilities of ultralight aircraft in its new kit airplane. Based on the popular STOL CH 701 design (introduced more than 20 years ago), the recently introduced STOL CH 750 incorporates all of the 701′s short-field capabilities and also maximizes cabin size and load-carrying capability allowed under the FAA’s Light Sport Aircraft category. Read the rest of this entry »

Ron Gremban's Cessna is now electric.

Ron Gremban is an early developer of plug-in electric hybrid (PHEV) automobiles, having converted hundreds of Toyota Prius vehicles to extend their electric-only range and make them even more practical real-world automobiles.

As part of the Electric Aircraft Symposium hosted by the CAFE Foundation in April, he shared some of his concerns about potential safety concerns for another form of EV, electrified aircraft.

He proposed standards for knowing when an electric aircraft motor is “On,” explaining that electric aircraft motors do not turn over when their controller is on “O,” as spectators at the Green Flight Challenge could appreciate. Normal aviation practice is for the pilot to yell “Clear!” and verify that bystanders have indeed cleared the area before the engine is fired up. The noise and visual indications let people know the engine is active, and even that is not always enough to prevent some unfortunate prop strikes each year. Read the rest of this entry »

NavWorx, Inc. announced the addition of Wi-Fi support to its line of ADS-B receivers, enabling greater connectivity with a variety of display devices including the iPad.

Wi-Fi capability was also added to the NavWorx ADS600-B UAT. The ADS600-B delivers ADS-B/TIS-B traffic and FIS-B weather and flight information to a variety of aircraft electronic displays. It is designed to meet FAA TSO-C154c and is FCC approved. The traffic, weather and flight information is provided subscription-free as part of the nationwide ADS-B aircraft tracking network.

Both the ADS600-B and WxBox capture and display this freely broadcast information directly in the cockpit. The ADS600-B and WxBox can be installed in both Experimental and certified aircraft, when the FAA’s “portable installation guidelines” are met, the company says.

For more information, visit www.navworx.com or call 888/628-9679.

World Aircraft Company (WAC) formally introduced its new Vision this spring at Sun and Fun in Florida.

“We designed an airplane called Sentinel for surveillance and law enforcement with a huge cabin, incredible visibility and STOL capability,” said WAC President Eric Giles. “We then realized that such an airplane would also be desirable to GA pilots. We now manufacture a civilian version appropriately called Vision.”

Vision is built on the company’s Spirit airframe, which debuted at Oshkosh last year. The instrument panel has been reduced in size, and glass runs down the sides of the cabin so pilots can look both forward and down. Doors have been enlarged by 14 inches with full glass, and even more glass was added to the roof panel.  Baggage compartment windows are wrapped around the airframe for more rearward and downward visibility.

The Vision kit is available for $34,495; a painted version is $42,295.

For more information, visit www.worldaircraftco.com or call 731/642-1995.

Wag-Aero, a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of aircraft parts, has released two new catalogs. Their March 2012 catalog includes a variety instruments, wheels, brakes, tires, engine mounts, exhaust systems, seat belts and fuel tanks.

For more information or to view the catalog, visit http://onlinecatalog.wagaero.com or call 800/558-6868.

For Aeronca enthusiasts, Wag-Aero has also released a 2012 Special Edition Aeronca catalog. To see a PDF of that catalog, visit www.wagaero.com, or call 800/558-6868.

Aggressive Aviation Insurance offers coverage tailored to small aircraft (up to 12-seat capacity), including Light Sport and Experimental planes with retractable gear, tricycle gear or floats. Now the company is offering premium discounts of up to 15% for those owners and operators of small general aviation aircraft that fly with proven safety equipment.

That equipment can include any or all of the following:
- Enhanced vision systems such as those made by Max-Viz.
- Seat belt airbags, such as those made by AmSafe.
- Airframe parachutes, such as those made by BRS Aerospace.

Aggressive Aviation Insurance products are now available in more than 40 states, through more than 100 independent aviation agencies. The insurance is underwritten by the Stonewall Insurance Company, a member of the A++ rated Berkshire Hathaway Group of Insurance Companies.

For more information, visit www.aggressiveaviation.com or call 866/424-9511.

At Aero Friedrichshafen, ULPower showed off its new line of six-cylinder engines, from 145 HP  to 200 HP.

A sub kit purchase program is now being offered by Altitude Group, LLC for the Radial Rocket TD aircraft, allowing builders to stage their projects according to their own schedule and budget. The elements of the four sub kits for the tailwheel version are the horizontal stab kit ($8935), fuselage kit ($20,980), wing kit ($29,750) and finish/final assembly kit ($14,985) for a total sub kit price of $74,650.

In addition to the standard kit and the sub kits, there is a fast-build option ($17,500) for the Radial Rocket, which has the majority of the fuselage and wing structure preassembled at the factory, saving 400 to 500 hours of build time, according to the company. Customized builder assistance is also available.

The two-seat, M-14P-powered Radial Rocket features a composite airframe designed for aerobatic flying. In addition to a fixed tailwheel landing-gear configuration, the company recently made a retractable trigear (RG) version available for pilots less experienced with conventional landing gear.

For more information and demo videos, visit www.RadialRocket.com or call 913/634-8531.