Kitplanes Newsline » Video

German NEO kit helicopter flies for first time October 31

Omar Filipovic — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 03:45:16 +0000

Watch as NEO takes to the air for the first time at Mainz Airfield on October 31, 2011. NEO is the prototype of the new generation kit helicopter. The company reports the rotor is very responsive and that for yaw control the Jet Control System (JCS) requires only small inputs.

More information on Youncopter’s website.

MythBusters: Duct Tape Plane

Omar Filipovic — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 23:54:37 +0000

If your ultralight aircraft were torn up by a bear, could you tape it up with duct tape and fly it home? Mythbusters finds out (video preview).

“Kari, Grant and Tory attempt to use a few rolls of $5 duct tape to replace an aircraft’s mauled-to-pieces $13,000 aerodynamic fabric covering. Hmm.”

Green Flight Challenge Video Report by CAFE Foundation

Omar Filipovic — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:05:12 +0000

The CAFE Foundation published a video report showing takeoffs and landings of the participating aircraft. Each aircraft’s efficiency is evaluated using special hardware to measure total energy output, whether as electricity or liquid fuel. The resulting metric of Passenger Mile Per Gallon or pMPG is used as a component of each team’s final score. Aircraft must achieve 200 pMPG across all competition phases to qualify for the US $1.5M prize.

Credits: The CAFE Video Team – TIm Seeley, Dave Cox, Craig Clement, Rusty Reed, Marty Kornfeld, Damon Seeley

AVweb video: New IO-360 from Continental

Paul Bertorelli — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 03:59:02 +0000

While the industry awaits an unleaded replacement for 100LL, Continental has moved rapidly forward to certify a new version of its six-cylinder IO-360 that will run on lower octane fuel. At AOPA’s Summit in Hartford, Connecticut, the company’s CEO Rhett Ross told us the new engine will be used in the four-place C4 announced by Flight Design earlier this year. The engine’s designation is IO-360-AF for alternative fuel and it’s intended to operate on fuels such as 94UL with sufficient detonation margin. The IO-360, which is used in the Cirrus SR20, normally has an output of 210HP, but for the AF variant, Continental has essentially de-rated it to 180 HP by installing lower-compression pistons (7.5 to 1) and with minor tweaks to the fuel injection system. The version we were shown, which represents a new type certification for Continental, has conventional magnetos, but it might eventually use Continental’s PowerLink FADEC system.

And how about auto fuel approvals? Yes, says Ross, but not just pump gas. As does Lycoming’s Michael Kraft, Ross believes any auto fuel approved for a type certificated engine will need some kind of approval or certification standard to assure its octane and consistent composition. Ross says Continental’s view is that automotive fuels are not tightly enough controlled and on the international market—where this new engine is clearly going to be pitched—an auto fuel bought in Germany might not be the same as one sold in Brazil.

Product Tour: New 796 from Garmin

Omar Filipovic — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:42:48 +0000

At AOPA Summit in Hartford, Garmin will unveil its latest portable, the touchscreen aera 796. Take a video tour of the navigator’s features, which include synthetic vision, enhanced chart functions, and a new touchscreen interface.

Paul Bertorelli from AVweb provides an in-flight commentary and demonstration of the new 796.

AvWeb Video: New Lycoming O-233 Takes Flight

Omar Filipovic — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 04:32:03 +0000

By Paul Bertorelli, AVweb Editorial Director

Compared to Rotax and even Continental, Lycoming hasn’t had much of a presence in the light sport market. It does now. Lycoming announced this week that its O-233 four-cylinder engine is nearly ready for volume production and that a handful of airplanes are flying with it, including a new Kitfox and a pair of Renegade E-LSAs here at AirVenture. In this video, Lycoming’s GM, Michael Kraft, takes us on a tour of the 115-hp electronic-ignition O-233. Although the Kitfox version has carbureted induction, the experimental models can also have fuel injection.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ_act-nDbE

News Brief: PS Engineering's PAR100EX Audio Panel

Marc Cook — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:52:33 +0000

KITPLANES talked to PS Engineering’s Mark Scheuer about the new PAR100EX Experimental-class audio panel with a communication radio.

News Brief: Sebastien Heinz at Sun 'n Fun 2011

Marc Cook — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 04:15:20 +0000

KITPLANES talks with Zenith Aircraft’s Sebastien Heintz at Sun ‘n Fun 2011.

News Brief: Garmin’s developments and rebates for the G3X EFIS

Marc Cook — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 04:07:51 +0000

KITPLANES gets the scoop on Garmin’s developments and rebates for the G3X EFIS at Sun ‘n Fun 2011.

News Brief: Dynon DX15

Marc Cook — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 22:17:00 +0000

KITPLANES caught up with Dynon Avionics at Sun ‘n Fun to get a glimpse of the new DX15 handheld com radio.

Factory Tour: Whirlwind Propellers

Marc Cook — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 04:44:29 +0000

KITPLANES tours the Whirlwind Propeller factory in San Diego, California, where the firm’s fixed-pitch and ground-adjustable propellers are made, as well as the blades for Whirlwind Aviation’s constant-speed props. Join us as owner Jim Rust leads the tour.

News Brief: Advanced Flight Systems 5000-series EFIS

Marc Cook — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:03:50 +0000

Advanced Flight Systems’ Rob Hickman details the company’s new 5000-series big screen EFIS at Oshkosh 2010.

News Brief: Spidertracks Introduces a New GPS Tracker

Marc Cook — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:11:27 +0000

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.

News Brief: Carbon Cub Adventure Package

Marc Cook — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:26:51 +0000

CubCrafter’s Randy Lervold gives us the skinny on the new Carbon Cub Adventure package introduced here at Oshkosh.

News Brief Video: Glasair Sportsman TC Introduced

Omar Filipovic — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:04:59 +0000

Glasair Aviation’s Mikael Via introduces the new turbocharged, carbon-fiber-bodied Sportsman TC at Oshkosh 2010.