Finally home in California, there’s time for me to take a quick look back on this year’s Oshkosh. The highlights included the fact that it wasn’t a bust, economically. Pre-show scuttlebutt suggested that it would be lightly attended on the premise that the economy is suffering and high fuel prices are keeping pilots flying less [...]
GlobalAir.com’s new fuel route planner, in its final beta version, was displayed at AirVenture this year. President/CEO Jeffrey Carrithers anticipates that the finished screens, airport reports and icons should be finished by November 2008. The service is intended for the cross-country piston pilot, and he estimates that the subscription would run between $10-15 monthly. Carrithers [...]
Stewart Aircraft Finishing Systems introduced EkoPoxy, a new waterborne two-part catalyzed epoxy primer that also contains a proprietary corrosion inhibitor. No oxidation, no rust, no toxic vapors. Pretty cool. Oh, and it’s tough enough to resist a pretty good thumb dig into a coated fabric fabric surface. (It recovered shortly thereafter.) Company principal Doug Stewart [...]
If you are an aircraft builder who hates to wire, then TCW Technologies’ Intelligent Lighting Controller (ILC-4ch) could simplify your task. The electronic control system provides backlit, graphically depicted three-way rocker switches pre-mounted to a solid backing that control landing lights, taxi lights, strobe and nav lights on an airplane. The controller also provides dimmers [...]
UAV Navigation typically builds sophisticated avionics for aerial drones and military aircraft, but has recently branched out to create a touchscreen and/or joystick controlled EFIS suitable for experimental and light sport aircraft. The EFIS, which has been tested under Red Bull Race conditions (+9gs and +230 kts), has an extremely sensitive AHRS unit depicting attitude, [...]
Drafting behind the more widely publicized STOL CH 750, Zenith Aircraft’s second debut at AirVenture was the new Zodiac CH 650. Available as a kit, plans-built plane or factory-built SLSA by AMD, the CH 650 is based on the Zodiac CH 601 XL model. Developed in response to builder feedback, the 650 has a larger [...]
J.P. Instruments announced three new displays for twin-engine aircraft, as well as a fuel quantity instrument—all will be available in January 2009. JPI’s Ottis Cameron gave us the rundown of each display, starting with the 6.5 x 5-inch single display Twin EDM-960. Expected to sell for about $15,000 for a six-cylinder display, including all probes [...]
It’s been said that “bigger is better,” but where panel functionality is concerned, it just ain’t always the case. MGL Avionics has recently earned a solid niche among a plethora of glass panel manufacturers for building solid products that deliver the goods at very attractive prices. To add to the company’s lineup, welcome the Voyager, [...]
