Like the original 701, the STOL CH 750 aircraft was developed as an “off-airport” aircraft offering short takeoff and landing capabilities. The 750 kit, which promises to be easy to build, the company says, features fixed leading-edge slats for high lift, full-span flaperons (ailerons and flaps), an all-flying rudder and all-metal construction.

Other features include competitive cruise speed, a large cabin with side-by-side seating, wrap-around visibility and bush-plane capabilities with tricycle gear.

For a quick walk-around video, click here.

To view the CH 750 in flight, click here.

For more information, visit www.zenithair.com/stolch750/index.html or call 573/581-9000.

Location: Athens, AL

e-mail address: samcbuchanan@gmail.com

Website: http://eaglexl-58.com

This post was submitted by Sam Buchanan.

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.

One clever possibility, according to Gremban, is to start the motor in one rpm mode, with the propeller turning as an indicator the motor is on without posing a lethal threat to ground crew or bystanders.

The state of charge (SOC) for a battery is also a concern. As electric aircraft go higher and fly through cooler air, their batteries become “less capable,” Gremban says. As cells reach a low SOC in cold temperature, how do we measure their true state? Is there enough energy left to allow a go-around? How low can the SOC get before causing damage or shortening the battery’s life? How do we determine true charge reserve to allow staying within 30- or 45-minute standards?

He suggests other problems that need common solutions, such as pushing the power system past 100% output in emergencies such as clearing a tree. How will pilots know that systems are working as they should and not giving bad readings because of a low battery?

Even though individuals and manufacturers have reached means of addressing these issues, Gremban thinks it would be helpful if standards and protocols were in place for these and other concerns surrounding this new technology.

He would like to see a non-binding industry consortium come together, much like his nonprofit CalCars program, which developed the first plug-in hybrids.

Gremban can be reached via email at Gremban@forsites.com or by calling 415/758-7014. If you have serious ideas that would help fellow electrical aviators, he’d like to hear from you.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73ncmHS5924

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.

Features include percent of horsepower, all engine temps in Fahrenheit or Centigrade, lean find, manual dimming with CD cell bias, EGT/CHT/TIT, USB port for downloading and uploading, a non-primary instrument area, turbine inlet temp and more, plus a message area where all functions show up by tapping step.

The unit is TSO and STC primary to replace all engine gauges. Fuel quantity probes are not included. Units are available for four cylinders up to nine cylinders. The 900-D model may also be used to display parameters in a second location.

There is also a special $1000 discount from standard prices for Experimentals. Standard prices range from $5790 for the primary four-cylinder package to $8400 for the nine-cylinder left/right and aux four tanks setup.

For more information, visit www.jpitech.com.

Other features include dedicated serial channels for AHRS communication along with triple serial outputs from AHRS, synthetic approach standard on all models that couples to the autopilot, flight director that combines lateral and vertical steering, demo recording to capture incoming data, XM weather radar, ADS-B weather and traffic, TIS traffic datalink, Strikefinder interface, five or eight serial ports (depending on the model) and one or two USB ports (depending on the model).

There is no charge for standard Android interface and app. The Android phone or tablet must be purchased separately.

Introductory pricing of $6995 is available for orders placed before April 10, 2012, for the 10.4-inch HXr complete (display and AHRS for four-cylinder package). (The regular price is $10,550.) The limited time introductory price for an additional 10.4-inch display unit is $3600.

For more information, visit www.grtavionics.com. GRT is located at Booth D-005 and 006 in the D hangar at Sun ‘n Fun.

Absorbed Glass Mat retains only the amount of electrolyte required for battery function, making the battery non-spillable in any position and maintenance free. PolyGuard separators are used between the plates as an additional layer of protection against shock and vibration, according to Concorde.

Outside, the battery is constructed with a robust polypropylene container. Silicon bronze alloy terminals and hardware are corrosion free and provide low impedance connections.

Primary purpose: general aviation starting and emergency power.

Voltage: 12 volts

Cold cranking amps: 200

Maximum weight: 13.0 pounds

Constructed with non-removable vent valves, no addition of water or electrolyte is required–ever.

The battery is shipped fully charged.

For prices and availability check aviation supply houses. Aircraft Spruce & Specialty has a list price of $218.95.

For more information, visit www.concordebattery.com.

“From integrated flight decks to mobile apps, Garmin is committed to providing our customers with a broad suite of best-in-class products,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin’s vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “Garmin Pilot is the perfect complement to our extensive line of avionics products and services. And because it incorporates the intuitive pilot interface, easy-to-use menu icons and many of the same great features from our other popular systems, pilots will find it very familiar and easy to use.”

Garmin Pilot’s capabilities start with pre-flight planning, providing the information pilots need to make better-informed flight decisions. With access to comprehensive aviation weather information for the U.S. and Canada, pilots can check NEXRAD radar, visible and infrared cloud imagery, METARs, TAFs, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, PIREPs, NOTAMs, winds and temperature aloft, TFRs and lightning data. They can also overlay weather on the map, add text-based weather widgets and use the NavTrack feature to look ahead along the planned route to preview weather conditions. Using their DUAT(S) account, pilots can receive and log FAA-approved weather briefings that meet legal briefing requirements.

Additional pre-flight planning tools available with the app include access to the AOPA Airport Directory, fuel pricing information to help plan refueling stops, as well as built-in calculators to estimate fuel burn, enroute legs and arrival times.

With Garmin Pilot, users can enter a flight plan and view it on the map screen. From there the app allows the pilot to overlay weather, pan across the entire route, pinch-to-zoom or graphically modify any leg of the flight. When the flight plan is ready, Garmin Pilot makes it simple to file, amend and close the flight plan via DTC DUAT or CSC DUAT(S). For frequently traveled flights, Garmin Pilot saves all flight plans within the app so they can be easily accessed and filed again in the future.

Using the built-in GPS receiver or compatible external receiver (sold separately), Garmin Pilot provides full enroute navigation capability on its moving map, while showing ETE, ETA, crosstrack error, distance to waypoint and current position. Pilots can also navigate with Garmin’s Panel Page, a GPS-derived instrument pack that displays a graphical HSI directional display and indicators for groundspeed, altitude and vertical speed. After takeoff, pilots can continue to view real-time weather information by wirelessly connecting to XM WX Satellite Weather through the Baron Mobile Link paired with a satellite weather receiver (sold separately, subscription required).

Electronic flight bag capabilities help minimize the amount of paper needed for navigation reference in the cockpit. Garmin Pilot includes IFR high and low enroute charts, VFR sectionals and Garmin FliteCharts. Optional geo-referenced FliteCharts and SafeTaxi diagrams are also available to assist in navigating approach procedures and unfamiliar airports, and all charts can be downloaded to the device for access in flight.

Garmin Pilot is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play, formerly the Android Market, as a free download for the first 30 days. After that, pilots can pay a monthly fee of $9.99 or an annual subscription of $99.99. Pilots can upgrade the standard FliteCharts to geo-referenced FliteCharts for an additional $49.99 annually. Geo-referenced SafeTaxi diagrams are available for an additional $29.99 annually. Customers who currently subscribe to Garmin Pilot My-Cast can upgrade to Garmin Pilot for free by downloading the update in the App Store or Google Play. Features vary based on mobile platform.

For more information, visit www.garmin.com.

“We wanted an aircraft which significantly advanced the state of the art in ultralight aircraft,” said James Wiebe, CEO of Belite Enterprises LLC.

The company says the plane has many features designed to improve takeoff, cruise and landing performance in the low-speed regimen of ultralight aircraft:

Faired lift struts, substantially reducing drag, and increasing climb rate and cruise

Faired landing gear and springs

Improved horizontal stabilizer and elevator, featuring a non-flat (aerodynamic) cross-foil

Cockpit adjustable elevator trim

Improved cockpit panel

Hoerner wingtips, increasing wing area and lift, and reducing drag

Expanded wingspan and chord

Expanded span and chord dual function flaperons

Ground-adjustable rudder trim

Hydraulic toe brakes

This prototype aircraft flies with a Hirth F33 28-hp two-stroke engine, though other engines will also be evaluated as testing continues, Wiebe said. The airframe can be made of either chrome-moly or aluminum. The main landing gear use steel springs, replacing bungees.

Wiebe will be presenting a forum on the airplane’s features Thursday, March 29 at noon in Room 11 of the Central Florida Aerospace Academy on the SNF grounds.

The WoW airplane, as seen ready to fly, is $49,000. For more information on kits or ready to fly Belite designs, visit www.beliteaircraft.com.

Scaled Composites is looking for qualified applicants in the following categories:

- Aerodynamicist
- Avionics Engineer
- Composite Fabricator
- Composite Structural Analyst
- Composites Design Engineer
- Data Analyst Engineer
- Electrical Engineer
- Manufacturing Engineer
- Materials and Process Engineer
- Mechanical Design Engineer
- Program Business Manager (PBM)
- Program Business Analyst (PBA)
- Domain/Software Administrator (IT)

Scaled asks that you RSVP by emailing the company with a resume attached, using the subject line, “Career Day.”

Good luck!