April 14, 2008

By The AVweb Editorial Staff

Cirrus Announces New Standard Maintenance Program A planemaker fond of comparing its planes to high-end luxury automobiles just brought those two seemingly disparate markets a little closer. Cirrus Design has announced the launch of Cirrus Maintenance, a new "standard with purchase" benefit designed to help reduce the cost of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. For more information, click here. A Final Word from Sun 'n Fun — And It's "FADEC" back to top  Sponsor Announcement Exclusive Video from Sun 'n Fun 2008: FADEC Coming Of Age? Original, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos For more than 100 years, piston aircraft pilots have been priming, pumping and leaning their engines to coax maximum performance out of them (or just keep them running). Other types of gasoline-powered conveyances largely ditched carburetion and all that comes with it 10 years ago but aircraft have been slow to adopt digital control of the things that make the prop go around. Continental has certified Full Authority Digitial Engine Control (FADEC) on its 0240 engine and the lessons learned are modestly leading the industry in a direction that seems inevitable. AVweb flew the FADEC demo Diamond DA20 at Sun 'n Fun and, thanks to software upgrades and other tweaks, there were none of the running faults that have been reported in the past. Not only does the engine run well, it can tell you when it's not feeling well. In this AVweb Exclusive Video from Glenn Pew, Continental's Phillip Grice explains the system and its advantages: Don't see a video screen? Try disabling ad blockers and refreshing this page. If that doesn't work, click here to download the video directly. This video brought to you by WxWorx XM WX Satellite Weather and Bose Corporation. Aerocar Flies Again — With FADEC (Really) Modern technology has come to the rescue of a persistent problem, which, had it been addressed in its time, might have made Molt Taylor's Aerocar more appealing in its day. The aircraft flew to Sun 'n Fun (it's the only flying example of five left) from its home away from home at a museum in Kissimmee, Fla. with its O-360 engine equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC). Owner Ed Sweeney said that through most of its life the machine suffered chronic running faults because of the geometry of its old carburetor installation. Sweeney explained that on the old engine, the carburetor had to be offset to accommodate the drive shaft. As a result, two cylinders got most of the fuel while the others were starved. "It runs better than it ever has," said Sweeney, who knew Taylor and first flew in the aircraft when he was 17. The Aerocar was owned by actor Bob Cummings for years and it came into Sweeney's hands about 20 years ago. Don't see a video screen? Try disabling ad blockers and refreshing this page. If that doesn't work, click here to download the video directly. Do You Have Enough Life Insurance? The truth is most people do not. Studies show that 40% of adult Americans have no life insurance whatsoever and over 50 million people in this country lack adequate life insurance. Pilot Insurance Center can help you protect your family with full-coverage life insurance and no aviation exclusions. PIC specializes in providing pilots — from student to ATP — with the life insurance protection they need. For a personalized quote, call PIC today at 1 (800) 380-8376 or visit online. Venerable Vendors back to top  G3 SR20 Has New Wings, Refined Interior When Cirrus unveiled the G3 SR22 at last year's Sun 'n Fun, the reaction was positive and the response from customers was favorable. Lessons learned from the improvements of the flagship model were applied to the entry-level SR20 and it made its show debut at this year's Sun 'n Fun. Probably the biggest change (and biggest mystery) of the project was putting the new wing from the SR22 on the new SR20. Previous SR20s had a smaller wing than their more powerful stablemates. But when the larger wing was put on the SR20, the cruise speed actually went up by six or seven knots. The carbon fiber spar in the G3 wing weighs 40 lbs. less. Cirrus also added vortex generators and other small aerodynamic touches to improve handling, including a one-degree dihedral increase that eliminates the need for a rudder/aileron interconnect that had caused problems. The interior has also been redesigned with smoother lines and recessed switches with backlighting and a reworked fuse panel. Don't see a video screen? Try disabling ad blockers and refreshing this page. If that doesn't work, click here to download the video directly. New Cessnas Make Show Debut Cessna 350 and Cessna 400 models made their air show debut at Sun 'n Fun last week and company officials say there's been overwhelming response to the aircraft. Cessna was the winning bidder at a bankruptcy auction for the former Columbia Aircraft late last year and began building the speedy composite singles in Cessna colors in December. The aircraft have been integrated into the company's sales and support systems and Cessna continues to hire more staff at the Bend, Ore. plant. In fact, according to the Bend Bulletin the Oregon community is pinching itself over Cessna's move to Bend. While the company made headlines over its request for a $25 million subsidy from Kansas last week to build its Columbus large business jet there, Cessna hasn't asked for anything (except for a tower at the airport by 2009) from Bend officials. That's perhaps a good thing since Bend doesn't have any budget for business incentives. Don't see a video screen? Try disabling ad blockers and refreshing this page. If that doesn't work, click here to download the video directly. Cessna Caravan Introducing the perfect union of brains and brawn. With more than 10 million fleet hours under its heavy-lifting wings, the Cessna Caravan now has brains to match. The standard Garmin G1000® glass cockpit combined with the WAAS-certified GFC700 automated flight control system integrates all primary flight, engine and sensor data to provide intuitive, at-a-glance situational awareness and precise flight guidance and control. For complete information, go online. Nifty Newbies back to top  Crowds Gander At New Goose Antilles Seaplanes made its first appearance at Sun 'n Fun 2008 and the company says it hopes to be delivering newly-manufactured modern versions of the venerable Grumman Goose in the next year or two. The company has the type certificate for the aircraft and has been developing the manufacturing processes at its plant in Gibsonville, N.C. and the company says it's getting close to actually building aircraft. A company spokesman said that rather than taking advance orders, the firm wanted to ensure it could actually build the aircraft. Now that they've determined the plane can be manufactured again, they're getting ready for the marketing of the plane. Radial and turboprop versions will both be offered. Don't see a video screen? Try disabling ad blockers and refreshing this page. If that doesn't work, click here to download the video directly. "Convertible" LSA Offered Warner Aerocraft is offering a unique concept in Light Sport Aircraft design with a three-way convertible cockpit. The Sportster can be flown single or tandem with or without a canopy. The company says it only takes five minutes to reconfigure the plane. It's powered by a Continental 0200 and has a top speed of 130 mph. It has a fabric fuselage and metal wings. The aircraft has a useful load of 504 lbs. and carries 14 gallons of useable fuel, with an option to double that amount. The company says it's a good training aircraft but it also boasts load limits of +6 and -4. The aircraft has been offered as a homebuilt for 10 years and while an LSA kit is in the works, the company is focusing on manufacturing the aircraft under the LSA category for the moment. Don't see a video screen? Try disabling ad blockers and refreshing this page. If that doesn't work, click here to download the video directly. JA Air Center, Your Garmin GPSMap 496 Source, Is Looking to Purchase Used GPS Units, Avionics, and Aircraft Call (800) 323-5966 for current value, with no purchase required. JA Air Center is your source for Garmin GPS and Avionics, including the popular GPSMap 496 with XM Weather, Terrain, AOPA Airport Guide, Taxiway Database, and built-in StreetPilot Auto GPS. JA Air Center [Dupage Airport (KDPA) in West Chicago, IL] provides the finest avionics installations, turbine/piston maintenance, avionics/instrument service, mail order, and aircraft sales. Call (800) 323-5966, or click for more information. AVweb Audio — Are You Listening? back to top  Glasair Aviation's Mikael Via on "Two Weeks To Taxi" and the 51% Rule (Recorded Live at Sun 'n Fun 2008) File Size 14.7 MB / Running Time 16:05 Podcast Index | How to Listen | Subscribe Via RSS One of the more visible of the "new generation" of builder-assist programs, Glasair Aviation's Two Weeks to Taxi program has been continually updated since its inception in 2006. Company president Mikael Via talks about the program and the possible impact of changes to the 51% Rule. Click here to listen. (14.7 MB, 16:05) This podcast brought to you by Bose Corporation and WxWorx XM WX Satellite Weather. First Completed Texas Sport Cub Debuts at Sun 'n Fun (Recorded Live at Sun 'n Fun 2008) File Size 9.9 MB / Running Time 10:49 Podcast Index | How to Listen | Subscribe Via RSS Texas Sport's Kurt Sehnert talks with Kitplanes magazine's Marc Cook about the first completed Texas Sport Cub, which was on prominent display in the company's booth at Sun 'n Fun. The Texas Sport Cub is a derivative of the Legend Cub factory-built Light Sport aircraft that is constructed as an Experimental/Amateur-Built aircraft. It can be built to conform to LSA rules so it can be flown by Sport Pilots or to a higher gross weight for the rest of us. Click here to listen. (9.9 MB, 10:49) This podcast brought to you by Bose Corporation and WxWorx XM WX Satellite Weather. No Slippery Stuff On Aviation Oil (Recorded Live at Sun 'n Fun 2008) File Size 8.3 MB / Running Time 9:02 Podcast Index | How to Listen | Subscribe Via RSS To wrap up our daily Sun 'n Fun coverage, we have a quick chat with ConocoPhillips' Harold Tucker, director of technical information and training. An industry veteran, Tucker offers his thoughts on the ideal oil and external additives and gives us a few tips that could help pilots and owners get more life from their engines. Click here to listen. (8.3 MB, 9:02) This podcast brought to you by Bose Corporation and WxWorx XM WX Satellite Weather. Lycoming Engines Lycoming Engines specializes in Engineering, Manufacture, Service and Support of piston aircraft engines. Headquartered in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Lycoming piston engines power more than half of the world's general aviation fleet — both rotary-wing and fixed-wing. Lycoming Engines is a division of Avco Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc. More information is available online. News Briefs back to top  On the Fly ... A pilot leaving Sun 'n Fun about 11:30 a.m. Sunday was killed after his plane crashed shortly after takeoff. Identity and address of the pilot weren't available at deadline ... A blown flypast by National Guard F-16s at Fenway Park in Boston has resulted in the grounding of the out-of-position pilot. The maneuver he chose to remedy his error busted an altitude limit, but having video of the maneuver distributed on YouTube likely added to the attention ... Prince William has qualified as a military pilot. The second in line to the throne got his wings along with 24 other RAF cadets. William's dad, Prince Charles, pinned on the wings. AVweb's Newstips Address ... Our best stories start with you. If you've heard something 200,000 pilots might want to know about, tell us. Submit news tips via email to newstips@avweb.com. You're a part of our team ... often, the best part. What Are the Advantages of Working with an Aviation Insurance Broker? An aviation broker gives you a choice of coverage and pricing options offered by numerous insurance companies. Today's policies offer more enhancements and features, including coverage for handheld avionics, automatic increase in insured value, trip interruption, and more. The AOPA Insurance Agency can help you select the features that best meet your unique insurance needs. Call for a complimentary quote at (800) 622-2672, or go online. New on AVweb back to top  Columns | Features | What's New | Calendar | Brainteasers AVmail: Apr. 14, 2008 Reader mail this week about LSAs, N. Mex., and much more about GA vs. F-16s in MOAs. Click here to read this week's letters to the editor. Probable Cause #56: Night Shift Flying VFR at night can be very safe and enjoyable, but not when you're in the mountains. Click here for the full story. Find Your Next Aircraft on ASO! When you search for used aircraft on ASO, you get the most complete picture of the market available anywhere. View thousands of listings with detailed specs and photos or use ASO's advanced search tools to quickly find your next aircraft. Best of all, know that every ad is current and no time is wasted on stale listings. If you're ready for your next aircraft, it's ready for you — on ASO. Visit ASO.com today! Your Favorite FBOs back to top  FBO of the Week: Amelia Reid Aviation (KRHV, San Jose, CA) Nominate an FBO | Rules | Tips | Questions | Winning FBOs AVweb's "FBO of the Week" ribbon goes to Amelia Reid Aviation at KRHV in San Jose, California. AVweb reader Konstantin Blank recommended the FBO, citing the unique training experience: Amelia Reid Aviation is a rare place where you get excellent flight instruction while connecting with the roots of aviation. While they instruct for all airplane ratings, the spcialty is in tailwheel aircraft ... a place where hangar flying is a both a pleasure and valuable (non-loggable) flight experience. I recommend everyone get a tailwheel transition training here as it will be fun and make you a better pilot. While tailwheel training isn't on our list for this year, we'll definitely spread the word. (And now we know a good FBO in San Jose to stop in on during our travels.) Keep those nominations coming. For complete contest rules, click here. AVweb is actively seeking out the best FBOs in the country and another one, submitted by you, will be spotlighted here next Monday! Cessna Owners & Pilots — Gain Knowledge, Have Fun Join the fastest-growing and best association for Cessna Flyers — the Cessna Flyer Association (CFA), since 2004 providing same-day parts locating, faster answers to technical questions, an informative monthly magazine, online forums, national and regional events, an annual gathering, seminars, member discounts, and more for only $40 yearly. The CFA is located in the Blue Hangar on the Waupaca Municipal Airport (PCZ) in Waupaca, Wisconsin, 35 nm NW of Oshkosh. For more info, visit CessnaFlyer.org. The Top Reporter on Our Crack Staff ... Is You! back to top  Got Cylinders? Tell Us About Your Service History Our sister publication, Aviation Consumer, is conducting a survey on aircraft engine cylinder products. If you've done an overhaul during the past several years, the magazine's editors would like to hear from you on how the cylinders have performed. Just click on this link to take the survey. The results will appear in a future issue of Aviation Consumer. For subscription information, click here. Choose the Flight Explorer Edition Right for You Flight Explorer is an information system tracking commercial and general aviation flights. With the Flight Explorer Personal Edition, view air traffic for the U.S., Canada, or New Zealand and monitor and display real-time delay information, TFRs, SUAs, and more. With the Flight Explorer Pilot Edition, view weather along a route, receive alerts with your preliminary flight plan, and have an e-mail sent to someone on departure or arrival. Click here for more information and to subscribe. Signing Off from Sun 'n Fun back to top  AVweb's Sun 'n Fun 2008 Galleries #6 of 7: Winding Down CHOOSE GALLERY: one | two | three | four | five | SIX | seven CLICK FOR LARGE IMAGES EACH IMAGE WILL OPEN IN A NEW WINDOW Parallel Landings Garmin's New Synthetic Vision Technology PT-19 Approaches Rwy 9L Corky Fornoff & His LoPresti Fury Love Air Shows Formation Landing Thunderbirds' Trademark Logo in Four-Ship Fly-By C-130 Warms Up Engines on the Military Ramp A Big Flag for a Big Show! Patty Wagstaff Pulls to the Vertical Aaron Alt Imitating Patty Wagstaff (Now 5 Years Old, Aaron Has Yet to Miss Sun 'n Fun!) Aspen Avionics' Affordable Glass Instruments Legend Cub's Vintage-Looking Display Campking Close to Home Doubling as a Towel Rack MSquared Lines Up for Paradise City Dan Gryder Readying the Herpa Miniatures DC-3 Bogey, 9 o'Clock! Aircraft Arrived at a Steady Pace Throughout the Week ... CHOOSE GALLERY: one | two | three | four | five | SIX | seven AVweb's Sun 'n Fun 2008 Galleries #7 of 7: See You Next Year! CHOOSE GALLERY: one | two | three | four | five | six | SEVEN CLICK FOR LARGE IMAGES EACH IMAGE WILL OPEN IN A NEW WINDOW T-28s, Anyone? Tying Down for the Week Ground Crew Positions Another Warbird on the Ramp CGS Hawk Makes a Sunset Take-Off Powered Parachutes Kept the Skies Alive DC-3 Holds Short for AeroShell's T-6 Texan P-51 Taxis Out for Departure T-6 Texan The Short Grass Runway at Show Center Camping Is Part of the Experience Eclipse's Joe Cozza Answers Questions Float Planes and Amphibs' Light Sport A-22 Valor Rans Kept Busy Flying Demo Flights All Week Keith Uhls Demonstrating GHT Avionics Paradise City Ground Crew Watch Another Sunset Approach The Sun Sets on the Show — More Fun to Be Had Next Year! CHOOSE GALLERY: one | two | three | four | five | six | SEVEN Big thanks to photographer Mariano Rosales for snapping pics for us throughout the show; for more of his work, visit 12OClockLevel.com. The Lighter Side of Flight back to top  Short Final We were a flight of three consisting of two Cessna 180s and one Maule headed into the Lake Parker holding pattern [for Sun 'n Fun 2008]. We had dropped to extended trail and began circling the lake following a Glastar, and we had two twins holding above us as well. After about 20 minutes of circling and waiting for the field to re-open after the airshow, we were joined in the hold by a new Cirrus pilot. Controller: "Tailwheels, nice job keeping the seperation. Keep the pattern a little closer to the shoreline on the west side of the lake. The field should open in the next 10 to 15 minutes. Cirrus, enter the hold behind the red-and-black high wing." Cirrus: "Control, we have a rental car waiting for us, and if we don't get down there in time they may give it away. Could we get priority consideration as soon as the field opens?" Maule: "Control, we have cold beer waiting for us in the campground, and if we don't get down there in time, it may get warm. Could we get priority consideration as soon as the field opens?" Controller (laughing): "All aircraft continue in the hold for now. We will advise when the field re-opens and release the aircraft as they arrived." Chris Davis via e-mail during Sun 'n Fun More AVweb for Your Inbox back to top  AVwebBiz: AVweb's Business Aviation Newsletter HAVE YOU SIGNED UP yet for AVweb's NO-COST weekly business aviation newsletter, AVwebBiz? Reporting on breaking news, Business AVflash focuses on the companies, the products and the industry leaders that make headlines in the business aviation industry. Business AVflash is a must read. Sign up today at http://www.avweb.com/profile/. Names Behind the News back to top  Meet the AVwebFlash Team AVwebFlash is a weekly summary of the latest news, articles, products, features, and events featured on AVweb, the internet's aviation magazine and news service. The AVwebFlash team is: Publisher Timothy Cole Editorial Director, Aviation Publications Paul Bertorelli Editor-in-Chief Russ Niles Contributing Editors Mary Grady Glenn Pew Features Editor Kevin Lane-Cummings Click here to send a letter to the editor. (Please let us know if your letter is not intended for publication.) Comments or questions about the news should be sent here. Have a product or service to advertise on AVweb? A question on marketing? Send it to AVweb's sales team. If you're having trouble reading this newsletter in its HTML-rich format (or if you'd prefer a lighter, simpler format for your PDA or handheld device), there's also a text-only version of AVwebFlash. For complete instructions on making the switch, click here. Aviate. Navigate. Communicate.