AVWEB'S FRIDAY PODCAST:
AVIDYNE'S PAUL HATHAWAY ON THE FUTURE OF AVIONICS
At the recent EAA AirVenture, AVweb Editor-in-Chief Chad Trautvetter had a one-on-one discussion with Avidyne director of product marketing Paul Hathaway on the future of avionics. Hathaway first discusses the design philosophy of the Avidyne system before getting into a bigger-picture talk.

Click here to listen. (11.8 MB, 12:56)

Special Post-Show Edition: Keep reading for a complete recap of our AirVenture podcasts, plus four bonus audio programs from our sister publications Aviation Consumer and Kitplanes — and a link to two pre-AirVenture audiocasts you may have missed!

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AVWEB'S AIRVENTURE 2007 PODCAST #1:
INTRODUCING THE CESSNA 162 SKYCATCHER
On Sunday, Cessna gave its light sport aircraft a model number (Cessna 162) and revealed more details, including basic performance figures and other specifications for the Wichita-based company's entry-level piston single. AVweb Editor-in-Chief Chad Trautvetter sat down with Cessna 162 Program Manager Derek Mookhoek at the EAA AirVenture show grounds for an in-depth look at the $109,500 two-seat trainer.

Click here to listen. (9.6 MB, 10:27)

AVWEB'S AIRVENTURE 2007 PODCAST #2:
BEHIND THE SCENES OF ECLIPSE'S CONCEPT JET WITH CEO VERN RABURN
Eclipse CEO Vern Raburn talks with AVweb's Mary Grady about the new Eclipse single-engine "concept jet," which made its surprise debut on Monday at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. He talks about his opinions regarding composite versus aluminum; the advantages of a "go-home button" versus a parachute; his take on the safety of flying at 41,000 or 25,000 feet; and more.

Click here to listen. (18.5 MB, 20:16)

AVWEB'S AIRVENTURE 2007 PODCAST #3:
CESSNA'S KEEPING BUSY (MAYBE TOO BUSY?)
It's busy at this year's EAA AirVenture, and nobody's been busier than Cessna CEO Jack Pelton. With the announcement of the company's Light Sport Aircraft (which is being well received), does Cessna have some time to pursue other projects? AVweb's Russ Niles found a relatively quiet place at AirVenture to ask Pelton about Cessna's current projects and the future of its Next Generation Piston airplane.

Click here to listen. (6.8 MB, 7:27)

AVWEB'S AIRVENTURE 2007 PODCAST #4:
POWERPLANT DEVELOPMENTS RESURRECTS THE JUMO FOR A WHOLE NEW MARKET
Although it's been all but forgotten, the Junkers Jumo engine was one of the most successful powerplants of World War II. But did you know it was a two-cycle diesel? A UK company called Powerplant Developments is seeking to develop a new LSA engine based on the same operating principles used in the Jumo. In this podcast, the company's chairman, Derek Graham, explains how the engine works.

Click here to listen. (7.5 MB, 8:13)

AVWEB'S AIRVENTURE 2007 PODCAST #5:
CIRRUS ENTERS LSA — BUT ON ITS OWN TERMS
Cirrus surprised most of us at EAA AirVenture this week with the announcement that it will enter the Light Sport Aircraft market. Rather than design an aircraft, it's adapting the German-built Fk14 microlight to the LSA market. AVweb's Russ Niles met up with Cirrus co-founder Dale Klapmeier to discuss the philosophy and direction of the company in joining this new market sector.

Click here to listen. (9.8 MB, 10:42)

AVWEB'S AIRVENTURE 2007 PODCAST #6:
DIAMOND'S DA50 SUPERSTAR GOES FADEC
Teledyne Continental invested heavily in FADEC technology nearly a decade ago, but it has few takers for electronically-controlled engines among GA manufacturers. But Diamond says it will use TCM's IOF-550-N in the new Diamond DA50 SuperStar. Diamond's Peter Maurer explains why the company opted for this intriguing new engine.

Click here to listen. (9.0 MB, 9:53)

AVWEB'S AIRVENTURE 2007 PODCAST #7:
FLYING FARMER FIGHTS FEES
Monticello, Iowa may not be the biggest name in aviation circles, but aviation plays a vital role in the day-to-day lives of almost everyone in and around the bustling farming community. AVweb's Russ Niles spoke with farmer, student pilot, and aviation advocate Max Dirks about what he sees as the biggest threat to aviation down on the farm and why he's busy bending his Congressman's ear on a range of topics.

Click here to listen. (5.0 MB, 5:27)

KITPLANES MAGAZINE PREVIEWS THE EVOLUTION FROM LANCAIR
Lancair International, longtime producer of kit aircraft, announced at AirVenture a new model called the Evolution. It takes up where the Lancair IV-P and PropJet have left off, offering more speed, improved "buildability," an entirely new structure and an increased emphasis on safety. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6-A turbine detrated to 550 shp for takeoff, the Evolution is expected to cruise at nearly 340 knots TAS and go as far as 860 nautical miles at its most efficient cruise settings. The four-place, pressurized, all-carbon-fiber airplane starts as a $250,000 kit; expected completed prices range from $600,000 to $850,000, depending upon engine choice. The prototype Evolution is expected to fly later this year. Company CED Joe Bartels talked to Kitplanes editor-in-chief Marc Cook about the aircraft and its gestation.

Click here to listen. (10.5 MB, 11:30)

KITPLANES MAGAZINE EXAMINES THE TALON A600 HELICOPTER KIT FROM ROTORWAY
Rotorway International introduced its new Talon A600 helicopter kit at AirVenture this week. The ship, a dramatically refined version of the popular Exec 162F, is a two-place, kit-built helicopter powered by a proprietary four-cylinder, FADEC (full-authority digital engine control) fuel-injection and ignition system. The A600 features a wider cabin, improved systems and a standard MGL Avionics EFIS (electronic flight information system) glass cockpit with comprehensive data logging capabilies. In addition, the Talon features a new shaft-driven tail rotor the previous one was belt driven) and new hydraulic tensioners for the main belt-drive system. Prices will start at $95,700. Company CEO Grant Norwich talked to Kitplanes editor-in-chief Marc Cook about the new ship.

Click here to listen. (8.0 MB, 8:44)

AVEMCO'S JIM LAUERMAN TALKS TO KITPLANES MAGAZINE ABOUT EXPANDED KIT COVERAGE
Avemco Insurance announced relaxed restrictions on certain homebuilt aircraft and the availability of third-party and passenger liability policies for Experimental designs previously not covered by the company. Avemco executive vice president Jim Lauerman spoke with Kitplanes editor-in-chief Marc Cook about the new programs, as well as the company's sponsorship of the Airmanship Education Research Initiative.

Click here to listen. (6.5 MB, 7:03)

EXTRA! LAMA CHAIRMAN DAN JOHNSON DISCUSSES THE LSA MARKET WITH AVIATION CONSUMER
Our sister publication, Aviation Consumer, takes a hard look at the Light Sport Aircraft sector in this month's issue. Is it time to buy? What about parts and service? Some of those answers came from Dan Johnson, chairman of the Light Aircraft Manufacturers Association and a leading expert on this new aircraft category. We caught up with him at EAA AirVenture after Cirrus and Cessna both announced their entry into the Light Sport market, as Johnson talks about the impact of those announcements on the industry.

Click here to listen. (5.0 MB, 5:26)

Still have room on your iPod or time to listen sitting at your computer desk? Here are links to the last two regularly-scheduled podcasts we published on our way out the door to AirVenture.

A PRE-AIRVENTURE LOOK AT LIGHTSPEED'S ZULU HEADSET
LightSPEED says it's time for Zulu, the company's newest active-noise-cancelling aircraft headset. It won't be officially unveiled until next week at EAA AirVenture, but AVweb Editor-in-Chief Chad Trautvetter caught up with LightSPEED President Allan Schrader before the air show to get a sneak peek at the next-gen, Bluetooth-capable ANR headset.

Click here to listen. (16.1 MB, 8:48)

ALOUETTE HELICOPTERS DECLARED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS BY THE FAA
When Joe Altizer's employer (Marpat Aviation of Logan, West Virginia) bought three French-built Alouette helicopters, they'd all been flying previously in the U.S. All three came certified in the standard category and with current airworthiness certificates. A couple of weeks ago, FAA inspectors, accompanied by state troopers, visited Altizer's hangar and grounded the helicopters, resulting in the layoff of two pilots and a very uncertain future for the company.

The FAA says the absence of a piece of paperwork called a Certificate of Airworthiness for Export, which should have been with the aircraft when they were originally certified in the U.S., means they aren't eligible for that certification, and inspectors are tracking down all the Alouettes in the U.S. to possibly ground them as well. What's frustrating Altizer and other Alouette operators is the FAA doesn't seem to have a solution for a bureaucratic error of their own making and it's the current aircraft owners who are paying the price. We've contacted the FAA and expect a response from them shortly, but, in the meantime, AVweb's Russ Niles talked with Altizer about the unusual situation and the burden it's placing on unsuspecting Alouette owners.

Click here to listen. (9.7 MB, 10:34)