| This special Sun 'n Fun issue of
AVweb's AVflash is brought to you by ... Oregon Aero
TRY AN OREGON AERO™ CUSTOM HEADSET UPGRADE AT SUN
'N FUN
 If you are tired of
flying with pain caused by your headset, Oregon Aero has a
painless, quieter solution that can be installed right at the Oregon
Aero booth in Building A at Sun 'n Fun. Oregon Aero offers Custom
Aviation Headset upgrades for practically every brand and model of
headset. Components include the Oregon Aero™ SoftTop™
Headset Cushion, SoftSeal™ Ear Cushions, SoftSkin™ Ear Seal
Covers, the HushKit™ Passive Ear Cup Noise Attenuation Kit, and
the MicMuff™ Microphone Cover. You'll enjoy pain-free flying;
reduced overall sound pressure; improved intelligibility and
transmission clarity; and cooler, drier ears. Stop by Oregon Aero's
booth in Building A or purchase online at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/oregon/avflash.
Visit Oregon Aero at Sun 'n
Fun Booth
#MD-009A |
The Top
Headlines From AVweb's Expanded, Illustrated News Coverage At
AVweb's
NewsWire.
INNODYN
(STILL) PROMISING GA'S TURBINE
A small company from Osceola Mills, PA, Innodyn, Inc intends
to prove its line of 165, 185, 205 and 255 hp, less-than-$35,000
turbines will soon run in customers' aircraft (at 60,000 rpm) and
eventually well past their 5,000-hour projected TBO. According to the
company, the 188 pound turbine spins an MT or NSI
electric prop at closer to 2750 rpm through a 12-part planetary gear
reduction while burning roughly seven gallons (of almost anything
combustible) per hundred horsepower per hour. We were hoping to see
(read: told to expect) first deliveries this past February, but
Innodyn, Inc. instead brought four "production" model turbines to Sun
'n Fun ... albeit, free of airframes (look again for those -- attached
to airframes -- OSH). For optimists: the company has been making
progress, granted more slowly than advertised, but it seems they're
doing the work. For pessimists: you don't have to invest.
More...
PROTECT YOUR FAMILY WITH A PILOT-FRIENDLY RATE ON YOUR
LIFE INSURANCE
Don't pay another life insurance premium
without comparing your coverage with the Pilot Insurance Center
(PIC). In addition to a quick and easy application, PIC offers big
savings to pilots on full-coverage term life insurance, which is
easily convertible to a permanent, cash-value policy. Take advantage
of the best life insurance program available to pilots through the
Pilot Insurance Center. PIC specializes in providing pilots (from
students to ATPs) premium rates that are not available through other
agents — with NO aviation exclusions. A+ rated carriers. Fast and
easy application process. For a no-cost, no-obligation quote, call
(800) 380-8376 or visit http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/piclife/avflash.
Pilot Insurance Center is an
Official Sponsor of AVweb at Sun 'n Fun
2005 |
EPIC:
LT FLIES IN...
The big Epic
LT single-engine turboprop is flying in Lakeland this week, and CEO
Rick Schrameck said there is a lot of interest in the design. The
six-seat carbon-fiber airplane has a big, powerful, graceful look, and
strong performance specs with 350-knot airspeed, 1,600-nm range, and
1,350-pound payload. It's being sold as an Experimental aircraft. The
airplane is assembled at Epic's facility in Bend, Ore., where the new
owner gets full factory support while contributing the FAA-mandated
51-percent effort. "The FAA is very comfortable with the way we do
it," says Schrameck. "We've taken the Experimental category about as
far as you can take it." More...
...WITH
EPIC JET YET TO COME
Meanwhile, the Epic Jet will be flying later this summer, Schrameck
said, and debut before the end of the year. "Our first customer
delivery is in December, so we have to make that," he said. The
six-seat twinjet will follow the same development model as the LT,
being introduced first as an Experimental with extensive
builder-assistance at the factory. Schrameck plans to seek FAA
certification for both aircraft. The company is growing and will open
an expansion of its facility in Bend in mid-May, he said.
More...
P2
AVIATION TECHNOLOGY GPS SWEEPSTAKES!
Register to win a
Garmin® 296 GPS from P2 Aviation Technology. Learn more about
P2 products including TimeTrac, Audio Advisory, and SkyBuddy. P2
products make your flying experience more convenient, safer, and more
cost effective — leaving you more time for what you love ...
FLYING! Register to win at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/p2inc/avflash.
Visit P2 Inc. (with Eastern
Avionics) at Sun 'n Fun Booths
#C-043-045 |
GET
YOUR LIGHT JET TODAY, FOR UNDER $500K...
It's loud, and it slurps fuel at 125 gallons per hour, but it's ready
to fly, and you can even slide the canopy open in flight and get a
suntan. There's a place in Calhoun, Ga., you can today go, write a
check, and buy yourself a fully certified, four-passenger, pressurized
twin jet, plus get change from your half-mill. It's the Paris Jet, a
50-year-old design originally built in Europe as a military trainer
(read: it's aerobatic, too). Your
Aircraft Source (YAS) has about 20 of them for sale, and is
working to get more. They are totally refurbished with optional
Chelton avionics. The engines are available new or used. "I've sold
four in the last four months," Greg Webster, director of marketing and
training for YAS, told AVweb on Wednesday. "And from the leads I have
already, I expect to sell three or four more from this show." Webster
said that two of his last four customers were pilots waiting for new
Cessna Mustang and Eclipse 500 jets. "They can build time in this jet
for the next couple of years, and it makes it much easier and cheaper
for them to get insurance when they get their new jet," he said.
More...
...OR
BUILD A (ROOMIER, MORE EXPENSIVE) COMPAIR JET
Aerocomp
flew its new kit-jet into the show. The jet has accumulated 43 flight
hours since its first flight last June, said company President Steve
Young, and it's been signed off so they can fly people in it besides
the test pilot. The interior is not finished yet, and the start system
still needs some tweaking, but he says they're satisfied that it's
ready enough to start taking orders. The big six-foot tall cabin can
fit up to nine seats, and it's single-pilot ... operable. With "full
everything," the price is about $866,000. Base price -- for the kit --
with engine but minus interior and avionics is just $449,000. The
company is developing a factory-assist builders' center, says Young.
For now they are delivering the kit with parts in "a high state of
completion." Any homebuilder who can tackle a Glasair or Lancair can
handle this jet, he said. "It's the same thing, just bigger." A
turbo-prop is in the works. More...
CONFUSED ABOUT DATALINK WEATHER?
UNDERSTANDING
DATALINK WEATHER AT SUN 'N FUN
WSI Corporation is offering a
no-cost Seminar Series on the topic of Datalink Weather. Created with
the pilot in mind, these seminars will instruct on the proper use of
datalink weather systems in the cockpit. Close attention will be paid
to the exact nature of data products now available on various systems
— ask your own questions about datalink at WSI's premiere
presentations: 10:00 AM April 12 and 17th at Sun 'n Fun. For
more details, visit http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/wsi/snf/avflash.
To
help you get to Sun 'n Fun, WSI offers a no-charge Sun 'n Fun
Weather Web Site. See what the conditions are in Lakeland right
now at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/wsi/snf/wx/avflash.
Visit WSI at Sun 'n Fun Booths
#A-040-042 |
GLACIER
GIRL FLIES IN SUN 'N FUN DEBUT
The story of the twin-engine P-38 fighter known as Glacier Girl is
well-known by now, but the airplane this week is making its first
appearance at Sun 'n Fun. It's been opening the daily 2 p.m. airshow
with dramatic low fly-bys, climbing out steep and banking hard to show
off that distinctive profile with the double tail booms and sounding
... fantastic. The World War II-era airplane was recovered from
beneath the Greenland ice cap in 1992, and after 10 years of
restoration, flew again in October 2002. Glacier Girl is made up of 80
percent original parts, project manager Bob Cardin told AVweb
yesterday. More...
HIGH-TECH
FOR THE REST OF US
While the new-generation airplanes with their glass panels and
satellite datalinks are awesome machines, the fact is there are still
thousands of pilots hand-flying their little puddlejumpers behind
round dials. They're pre-planning flights on paper sectional charts,
and getting their weather before they leave the ground. To help those
pilots out, Enflight.com offers a newly upgraded online
service with pre-flight briefings, weather information, route
planning, and flight-plan filing all packaged with easy-to-read
graphics and organized according to your own pre-set criteria.
More...
|
LIGHTSPEED EXPANDS TO TWO LOCATIONS AT SUN 'N
FUN
Along with LightSPEED's usual space in Hangar D
(#052-053), a second location in Hangar C (#011) has
been added to feature the new LightFlight headset. The first wearing
of the ITE (In-The-Ear) LightFlight headset is enhanced with
personal assistance to optimize the fit. With all the activity going
on at LightSPEED's regular booth, the additional location has more
staff to handle the growing interest in this new and innovative
LightSPEED product. Stop by both booths this year! For more
information about LightSPEED headsets, go to http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/litspeed/avflash.
Visit LightSPEED at Sun 'n Fun
Booths #D-052-053
Experience the LightFlight Headset at Sun
'n Fun Booth
#C-011 |
BUILDING
A BETTER OIL FILTER?
It looks like an oil filter and it acts like an oil filter but makers
of the Tempest
Original Aviation Spin-on Oil Filter say this is no ordinary oil
filter. In fact, according to spokesman John Herman, this oil filter
represents the first technology change in the industry in more than 30
years. The filter incorporates a small, but powerful magnet that traps
ferrous particles but doesn't affect instruments. And unlike other
magnets that have been tried on oil filters in the past, this one
keeps its magnetism at high temperature. "It'll go up to about 450
degrees [F]," he said. The company claims the filter adds extra
protection for Continental engines in particular. More...
LUSCOMBE--NOT
DEAD YET?
Despite a tangle of legal problems, at least one eviction and
continued bad blood between various factions, a California man vows
that the Luscombe tail dragger will live on. "We're going to get it
into production one way or another," said John Dearden, president of
Renaissance Aircraft. Dearden's design is a souped
up and modernized version of the all-metal high wing, first introduced
in the 1940s. He has the type certificate and all the tooling. What he
needs now is a place to build it. Renaissance was set up in a
municipally-owned hangar at Cape Girardeau, Mo., but was unable to
meet its first bond payment for the city-financed building.
More...
|
LANCAIR COLUMBIA 400 — NOW CERTIFIED TO
FL250
The Columbia 400's twin turbochargers can now be put
to full effect with the aircraft's recent certification to 25,000
feet. With the added altitude to play with, the Columbia
400 gives pilots even more flexibility than before. Set the
throttle to 80% power and cruise at 235 knots — that's faster
than any other piston-powered aircraft in production today. Or ease
the power back and increase range to standard-setting
levels. A company official recently flew an unmodified
Columbia 400 non-stop from Bend, Oregon to Fort Worth, Texas (a
distance of more than 1,300 nm) while averaging 200 kts.
Find out what a Columbia 400 can do for you. http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/lancair/avflash
Visit Lancair at Sun 'n Fun
Booth #MD-009A |
NEW
WINGS IN THE WORKS FOR FLYIN' TIGER
Never-say-die recordseeker Bruce Bohannon has been trying for a year
or so now to push his highly modified RV-4, the Exxon Flyin' Tiger, up
to 50,000 feet, and keeps coming up short. "We bolted an extra 18
inches onto each wing, and there were no gains at all," he said
Wednesday morning at a Sun 'n Fun press conference. He and his team
kept trying, tweaking the prop and the aerodynamics, and made multiple
attempts with little progress. At one point, Bohannon said, they were
about to accept that maybe 47,500 feet is just as high as you can get
in an RV-4. But that didn't take, so now former astronaut "Hoot"
Gibson is working with Bohannon to design a new wing extension that
will add 8 feet to the end of each wing, stretching the wingspan from
22 to 38 feet. "And if that doesn't work, we'll start over with a
totally new airfoil," Bohannon said. More...
ON
THE FLY...
AVweb's Sun 'n Fun picture galleries are up...
Seawind amphibian is
"about 75 percent" of the way to certification...
Bonanza A36 and
Baron 58 with G1000 are now G36 and G58...
Mooney donated
one-of-a-kind Mooney Tiger to the Florida Air Museum.
More...
AVWEB'S
NEWSTIPS ADDRESS ...
Drop us a line. Heard something that 130,000 pilots might want
to know about? If it caught your eye, it will probably interest
someone else, too. Submit news tips via email to newstips@avweb.com.
More...
|
GAMI CUSTOMERS RAVE ABOUT A SMOOTHER RIDE AND SAVING
FUEL
"The first ground runs were with the original
injectors, then we installed the GAMIs. I didn't need the EDM 700 to
tell me I had spent my money wisely. The motor is notably smoother and
more responsive, with mixture totally controllable." "I put my GAMIs
in my 470 and love them. I run LOP; couldn't before. My airplane uses
less fuel on a trip than some SUVs!" Check out GAMIs for your
airplane at Sun 'n Fun, or go online at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/gami/avflash.
Visit GAMI at Sun 'n Fun Booth
#A-065-066 |
NEW
ARTICLES AND FEATURES ON AVWEB
COLUMNS
The Savvy Aviator #17: But It
Just Came Out Of Annual!
When an IA signs off an annual
inspection, most owners assume the aircraft is airworthy and safe to
fly. That's usually true, but not always. In this month's Savvy
Aviator column, AVweb's Mike Busch offers a particularly egregious
example. More...
|
ASA MEETS THE NEEDS OF SPORT PILOTS
ASA and
Sport Pilot expert Paul Hamilton have introduced a new line of
products dedicated to the Sport Pilot, the "Freedom to Fly"
series. The Sport Pilot airman certification provides a simple
path to a pilot certificate and to a variety of aircraft that people
can own and/or operate inexpensively. Learn about all your flying
options and what is right for you with the Sport Pilot
DVD. Gain FAA certification with the Sport Pilot Test Prep
book or Prepware. Learn whether to fly with the Weather to
Fly DVD. Meet the pilot record-keeping requirements with the
Sport Pilot Logbook. For complete details about this new series
of Sport Pilot products, visit ASA at Sun 'n Fun or go online at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/asadirect/avflash.
Visit ASA at Sun 'n Fun Booth
#B-059-061 |
AVWEB'S
BUSINESS AVFLASH
HAVE YOU SIGNED UP yet for AVweb's NO-COST twice monthly Business
AVflash? Reporting on breaking news, Business AVflash also focuses on
the companies, the products and the industry leaders that make
headlines in the Business of Aviation. Business AVflash is a must
read. Watch for a Business AVflash regular feature, TSA WATCH: GA
IN THE "SPOTLIGHT". Sign up today at http://www.avweb.com/profile/
More...
|
MODERNIZING YOUR KT76 DOESN'T GET ANY
EASIER!
Narco Avionics proudly announces that their
plug & play line of digital dransponders now includes the new
AT165/K Transponder, a competitively priced replacement for the
mechanical KT76/78. Narco's line of plug & play transponders also
includes the AT165, a replacement for the AT50 through AT155 and the
AT165/KA, a replacement for the KT76A/78A. Coming Soon: Narco's
AT165 Value Series, a cost-effective way to put a no-frills digital
transponder in your panel. SPECIAL: Purchase an AT165 and get
an AR850 for $99. For more information, go to http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/narco/avflash.
Visit Narco Avionics at Sun 'n
Fun Booth
#B-082 |
| Sponsor News and
Special Offers
Access to AVweb and AVflash is provided by
the support of our fine sponsors. We appreciate your
patronage. |
| SHOPPING DEALS |
|
|
AVEMCO CONTINUES TO OFFER COVERAGE FOR PILOTS AT ALL
AGES!
There has been a lot of press recently regarding an
insurance "crisis" for older pilots. But NOT at Avemco,
the only direct insurer of general aviation pilots and aircraft
owners. Since 1961, Avemco has insured hundreds of thousands of pilots
of all ages. Find out about the advantages of insuring with Avemco.
Call (888) 241-7891 or visit Avemco's website at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/avemco/avflash.
Visit Avemco at Sun 'n Fun
Booths #C-055-056 |
SEE WHAT ATC SEES — AND THEN SEE WHAT THEY DO WITH
THE INFORMATION
The AVweb Edition of Flight Explorer
is the PC-based graphical aircraft situation display that gives you a
real-time picture of all IFR aircraft in-flight over the U.S. and
Canada. Whether you're tracking a friend or want to learn more about
the system in action, Flight Explorer has the information you want for
just $9.95 a month. Subscribe at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/flightexplorer/avflash. |
LOVE
THE CHALLENGES AND REWARDS OF FLYING THE GAUGES?
Then don't
miss this opportunity to subscribe to IFR Magazine! Each
issue briefs you on what you need to know to fine-tune your technique,
sweet-talk the system, and bust-proof your ticket. Order now and save
at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/ifrmag/avflash. |
AIRSPORT AVIONICS OFFERS A $100 DISCOUNT & COMPLIMENTARY
SHIPPING
AirSport Avionics is the only manufacturer
of Altitude Alerters that work by listening to everything your
transponder and encoder are reporting to ATC, both Mode A (squawk
code) and Mode C (altitude). A double benefit! AirSport Alerters are
completely portable and don't require permanent installation.
SPECIAL: $100 discount on all models, with complimentary ground
shipping. Order online at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/airsport/avflash. |
| SPONSOR NEWS |
HOW
CAREFUL A PILOT ARE YOU? HOW CAREFUL DO YOU NEED TO
BE?
Exercising care in your flying involves more than just
setting personal limits or adhering to the FARs. Instead, it should be
a frame of mind. In the May issue of Aviation Safety,
the editors explore these questions. Plus: "Dynamic Stability"; "Your
POH Is Lying"; "Finessing the Flare"; "Overhauling FSS"; "Stacking the
Deck" to manage risks; along with the FAA's recent airworthiness and
maintenance information bulletins, including details about worn valve
lifters/tappets in Lycoming and Continental engines, cracked
crankshafts, and other maintenance-related issues. All this and more
in the May issue of Aviation Safety. Order your money-saving
subscription at http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/avsafe/avflash. |
ATTENTION, PIPER OWNERS & PILOTS
The new
Piper Flyer Association (PFA) provides parts locating, tech
support, a monthly member magazine, online forums, national & regional
events, an annual convention, seminars, and more. For less than a tank
of fuel ($39.00 for a one-year membership), you can access the needed
information to expand your knowledge and get more enjoyment from
owning and flying your Piper aircraft. Join the Piper Flyer
Association (PFA) today as they build the ultimate Piper association.
Go to http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/pfa/avflash. |
ATTENTION, MECHANICS! SOFTWARE FOR YOUR
HARDWARE!
John Schwaner's The Mechanic's Toolbox
+ Engineering Manual Companion has been a mainstay of mechanics
for years. John has revised and updated this publication and put it on
CD. The Mechanic's Toolbox Program contains everything from:
Ohm's Law for Mechanics, Torque Wrench Extension Calculator, Pressure
Conversions, Velocity Computing, and more; to a Palm operating system
including: Alternator Charging System Checker, Hose Shop, Starter
Analyzer, Metals ID using Field Methods, and more. This is immense!
For complete details and to order (U.S. only), go to http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/skyranch/avflash. | |
|
ARE YOU AT SUN 'N FUN THIS
WEEK?
Time is running out to stop by
our advertisers' booths and tell them how much you appreciate their
support of AVweb! Their ad revenue makes this publication
possible, so please make time to visit with them during your Sun 'n
Fun travels. Print out this complete list to help you find them
at the show: http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/snf/avflash | |
_____________________________________
We Welcome Your
Feedback!
AVflash is a twice-weekly summary of the latest aviation news,
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