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July 25, 2007
By The AVweb Editorial Staff
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Share Your Thoughts on Aviation Headsets
Pilots have many choices when considering aviation headsets. So we'd like to know: What features lead you to purchase? How do you choose between brands? In short, we want to know what's important
to you.
Please take a few moments to complete our survey and help influence the future of the aviation headset industry.
Go to survey. 
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On Tuesday morning at EAA AirVenture, Sonex Aircraft made public its AeroConversions division's E-Flight Initiative, which started
in 2006 with the intention to pioneer alternative energy research and development for sport aircraft engines. The unveiling included a proof-of-concept 80-hp-equivalent electric powerplant installed
in a Sonex Waiex airframe and news that the company is testing an AeroVee 2.0 engine that will run on E85 (a blend of up to 85 percent ethanol with 15 percent gasoline). According to Sonex, the
E-Flight Initiative has three major areas of focus -- electric power, ethanol fuel and engine efficiency enhancements -- that take a diverse approach to the problems of rising energy costs and
environmental effects of burning fossil fuels to provide near, intermediate and long-term "green" powerplant solutions. Addressing the first focus area, Sonex has developed a prototype brushless DC
cobalt motor that is the size of a coffee can but weighs only 50 pounds.
The 270-volt, 200-amp AeroConversions motor is modular and scalable -- the core's design has modular sections that can be reduced to a lower-output, smaller (shorter in length) motor or vice versa.
Sonex has also developed a proprietary electronic motor controller and lithium-polymer battery system to run the AeroConversions electric engine for about one hour under normal flight conditions.
First flight of the electric-powered Waiex is expected by year-end. Meanwhile, Sonex has begun testing to optimize the AeroConversions AeroVee 2.0 to run on ethanol-based fuels, which burn cleaner
than fossil fuels. The piston engine is equipped with a versatile carburetor and an ignition system that allows the engine to be configured for higher-compression ratios to optimize the performance
for ethanol-based fuels. Testing has already begun on an AeroVee engine run at a higher compression for E85 and other blends, Sonex said.
A three-cylinder, opposed piston two-stroke diesel engine may seem like a strange configuration, but Derek Graham, chairman of the U.K.-based Powerplant Developments, says the design has been around
in aircraft since the 1930s. His engineering team believed the concept could be updated with new technology and deliver a high weight-to-power ratio. "Everyone wanted an engine that would deliver 100
horsepower at a 150 pounds, but it was thought to be impossible," he said. The new Gemini engine delivers 100 hp at 166 pounds installed, according to Graham. "And the design eliminates the need for a
camshaft, valve gear and cylinder head joints -- three main causes of unreliability and high maintenance costs of older-generation piston engines," he said.
Timothy Archer, president and CEO of the company, said the engine will be marketed to the experimental market by next spring, and then for the LSA market via the ASTM process by the end of next
year. Both FAA and EASA certification are planned for the future. In addition, larger versions of the engine, including a four cylinder, are possible.
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The New WSI InFlight® Cockpit Weather System
Introducing the new WSI InFlight® AV-300 datalink weather receiver and the all new AV-350, a cockpit weather system capable of receiving both WSI's aviation weather content
and SIRIUS Satellite Radio entertainment. It's just the latest innovation from WSI, the most trusted name in aviation weather.
For more information,
click here. 
» Visit WSI in booth 2123 (Hangar B) at AirVenture
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Aspen Avionics on Tuesday morning at EAA AirVenture introduced the Evolution Flight Display system glass cockpit system for certified general aviation aircraft. The system is not only modular,
expandable and upgradable, but the company says is easy to afford, install and own. According to Aspen, the evolution line includes three primary flight display (PFD) models starting at $5,995 and
two
models of multifunction displays (MFD) starting at $4,995.The Evolution system enables aircraft owners to upgrade their primary flight instrument "six pack" to glass cockpit technology all at once, or
in stages. “At Aspen Avionics, we believe that installing the latest avionics technologies and safety advances in GA aircraft shouldn’t have to mean emptying your bank account,” said
Vice President of Marketing Doug Cayne. “And you shouldn’t have to throw out the old every time you want to add something new.” Starting with a common hardware platform containing a
miniature solid-state air data, attitude and heading reference system (ADAHRS), the EFD1000 slides easily into existing three-inch instrument panel holes, requiring little to no panel modification or
mounting of heavy remote boxes.
Different software loads turn each EFD1000 into one of three levels of PFD or an MFD. The first EFD1000 is typically installed as a PFD, replacing the old attitude indicator and directional gyro
(or HSI. A second EFD1000 can replace the altimeter and VSI and be configured as an MFD. A third unit can offer a second MFD to gain even more capability. Since the hardware is common, an EFD100
configured could be an MFD could revert to PFD mode in case of a failure of a PFD. The three PFD versions of the device will be available in the fall, while the MFD versions will ship next
spring.
Avionics maker Avidyne and weather provider WSI have teamed to provide Sirius satellite-radio-delivered weather information to aircraft. Under the agreement, Avidyne's Safety Systems Group in
Columbus, Ohio, is developing and manufacturing WSI’s new AV-300 data receiver and AV-350 data/audio receivers, and the MLB700 receiver specifically for Avidyne EX500 and EX5000 multifunction
displays. Meanwhile, WSI is providing its InFlight weather service via the Sirius satellite network for the datalink receivers. According to Avidyne, the AV-300 and AV-350 systems will be compatible
with a wide array of multifunction displays and available as upgrades to existing WSI AV-100 and AV-200 receivers. The MLB700, which is available in a $4,795 data-only version or a $5,495 data/audio
combo, is schedule to start shipping in the third quarter. All of the Avidyne datalink receivers use advanced chipsets that improve receiver performance and reception and eliminate interference from
ground-based signals. The AV-350 and data/audio version of the MLB700 come with a remote controller to select audio programming from the more than 130 channels of Sirius sports, news, talk, and
commercial-free music programming that can be heard through an aircraft's audio system.
WSI's InFlight graphical weather product includes NOWrad radar mosaic and radar summary showing current cell height; movement and forecast movement; icing levels; and datalink lighting strike
plots. The system also shows winds and temperatures aloft, TAFs, graphical and textual METAR, AIRMETs and SIGMETs and PIREPs. Avidyne said two weather data product packages will be offered -- the
$39.99/month Avidyne Performance package and $29.99/month Avidyne Essentials package. "This is a great and productive partnership between two leaders in general aviation," said Avidyne President Dan
Schwinn. "Our combined resources will help give pilots in all segments of GA a powerful new set of tools for improved situational awareness, safety and comfort."
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End Pain and Fatigue with Oregon Aero® SoftSeat™ Cushion Systems
A comfortable seat is more than a luxury when it helps pilots fight fatigue and focus on flying. Oregon Aero® offers the Portable Universal SoftSeat™ Cushion System that can
be used in aircraft, cars, and boats. Visit Oregon Aero® in Building C at AirVenture to try out the Portable Universal SoftSeat™ Cushion System, or
visit
OregonAero.com online. 
Note: Lumbar support, shown in photo with cushion, is highly recommended and sold separately.
» Visit Oregon Aero in booths 3137-3141 (Building C) at AirVenture
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After a flurry of product announcements in recent years, Mooney Airplane Company is concentrating on turning the resulting orders into black ink. CEO Dennis Ferguson told the media at EAA AirVenture
on Tuesday that the product line is set for the foreseeable future as the focus turns seriously to "getting Mooney on its feet financially." The venerable Kerrville, Texas company has been through
several ownership changes, including a brief period as a public company, and has struggled financially, but Ferguson says he's optimistic about the future. The Acclaim, a turbocharged version of the
M20 that was introduced in the spring of 2006, has enjoyed particular success, with 50 copies delivered since last November.
Ferguson said a revamped management team is concentrating on manufacturing processes and other efficiencies designed to make the company profitable in its current form. Once that's accomplished (no
timeline was offered), he said the company can entertain new product development. He said the light sport market is "really interesting to us," but did not say if it's something that will be pursued.
Likewise with a future jet -- it's something they're thinking about."We have to get our feet on the ground and make money, and then we can put our heads in the clouds," he said.
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Fly with the Bose® Aviation Headset X
Enjoy an unmatched combination of benefits: Full-spectrum noise reduction, clear audio, and comfortable fit. Voted the #1 headset for the sixth consecutive year in Professional Pilot's 2006
Headset Preference Survey.
Buy today and receive a Garmin® Geko 201 handheld GPS.
Learn more and
order. 
» Visit Bose Corporation in booths 173-176 at AirVenture
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"We have no new engine models in the works," Frank Thielert said at EAA AirVenture on Tuesday morning. But a lot of work is under way to expand the U.S. service network, improve the TBR of the
Centurion diesel engine and secure additional STCs so the engine can be mated with more airframes. "The trend is definitely toward diesel, especially in Europe," Thielert said. "We're certain that the
diesel trend is real and right." When he flew into Paris Le Bourget several weeks ago, Thielert said there was no avgas available there, and it is the biggest GA airport in all of Europe. He said that
as more engines are returned to the factory for replacement, each one is torn down and inspected, and as the database builds up, that statistical information about engine wear can support a change in
TBR. Currently the engines are replaced after 1,000 hours of use.
Thielert also said that all future deliveries of the Centurion will be as complete firewall-forward kits. Systems are very complex, he said, and by delivering entire systems he believes they can
avoid interface problems like the battery issue that caused an engine failure and prompted an AD for the DA42 Twin Star recently.
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Grab Hold of the Sky. And Never Let Go.
The Cessna Skycatcher. Introducing an aircraft from a company that needs no introduction. The very latest technology. Unprecedented affordability. Extreme flyability.
Click here to catch
the excitement. 
» Visit Cessna Aircraft in booths 143-156 at AirVenture
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Jeppesen spokesman Todd Krawczyk told media at EAA AirVenture that the FAA has formally recognized electronic charts for use in Part 91 operations and cleared up all the ambiguity that has been his
industry's biggest marketing impediment. The FAA issued Advisory Circular 91-78 on
Monday that gives specific guidance to Part 91 operators on the use of electronic charts. "This just completely clears things up," Krawczyk told AVweb. In a nutshell, electronic charts in Class
1 and Class 2 electronic flightbags can be legally used in all phases of flight in lieu of paper documentation. The AC suggests (but doesn't require) back up, but it says that back up can be another
source of electronic charts and doesn't have to be paper, although it's pretty easy to print out the electronic charts.
Krawczyk said previous FAA language on electronic charts dealt with commercial operators, and his company and pilots were left to extrapolate those rules for use in Part 91 operations. "It resulted
in a lot of confusion and uncertainty," he said."It's one of those things that's been holding the industry back."
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Avidyne's New MLB700 Broadcast Datalink Receiver Really Delivers!
Avidyne's MLB700 Broadcast Datalink Receiver delivers aviation-quality datalink graphical weather from WSI InFlight® and audio entertainment from SIRIUS® Satellite Radio. With
the MLB700, you get WSI's industry-leading NOWrad® radar mosaic displayed on your EX500 or EX5000 MFD for the most up-to-date and highest-quality aviation weather available and over 130
channels of music, sports, news, and talk radio right through your aircraft's audio system. See for yourself at Avidyne's AirVenture booth, or
click for more
information online. 
» Visit Avidyne in booths 2098-2101 at AirVenture
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The president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) told the House aviation subcommittee on Tuesday morning that while the group supports modernization efforts, the bricks and
mortar that house that equipment and controllers are from the Stone Age. Patrick Forrey described problems ranging from toxic mold to condensation on tower windows that contribute to making
controllers' jobs even tougher than they already are. "Unfortunately, the aging air traffic control facilities that house these advances have gone unchanged," he said. "More importantly, the
maintenance and basic structures are not keeping pace with the rest of the industry and this is weakening controllers’ ability to operate."
Forrey said some of the problems present serious health hazards to workers. Several facilities have had recurring problems with toxic mold and when efforts were made to get rid of the mold, workers
were exposed to harsh chemicals that made some of them sick. He said climate control systems work poorly in most facilities, sapping controllers' concentration from working in too-cold or too-hot
conditions. Unfortunately, the temperature problems are not restricted to older facilities. He said the temperature ranges between 50 and 100 degrees at the new tower at Addison, Texas.
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Wishes Do Come True!
Ever wish you could fly every approach like it was sunny and VFR?
Click here. 
Happy Flying,
True Flight
(866) 443-3342
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Spinning Normal Category Aircraft — What Is the Risk?
Aside from aircraft certification requirements that normal category single-engine aircraft be fully recoverable within a one-turn spin, what really is the risk of doing spins in them? If you
feel this way, please follow the link below on this topic.
Integrate 10,000 hours of specialized upset recovery expertise into your safety training today. Call (866) 359-4273 or
read more on Spinning
Normal Category Aircraft. 
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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.
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Trade-A-Plane, Aviation's Original Search Engine, Is Celebrating 70 Years
Back in 1937, Trade-A-Plane was the original (and only) place to look for parts to repair an airplane. It's still the best, with everything that keeps you flying — thousands of
planes, products, and services. Call (800) 337-5263 or
subscribe
online. 
In print or online, start your search with the world's largest aviation resource.
» Visit Trade-A-Plane in booths 1121-1124 at AirVenture for a complimentary copy
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XM WX Satellite Weather Uses a Continuous Satellite Broadcast to Deliver Graphical Weather Data to the Cockpit
Pilots view and interact with the data — including radar, winds, METARs, lightning, and more — on compatible MFDs, EFBs, and PDAs from a wide range of industry partners, as well as on laptop
PCs. The situational awareness afforded by XM WX Satellite Weather allows pilots to enjoy their journeys with more confidence and comfort than ever before. For more information, please visit
XMWXweather.com. 
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FLITELite™ Reinvents Light ... Once Again
FLITELite, aviation's LED innovator, introduces the next step in headset technology — a new intercom-powered, hands-free LED flashlight built into the headset microphone without loss of
audio system quality, factory installed by AVCOMM Communications. Never lose your flashlight again. And the FLITELite never requires batteries. FLITELite controls are
hands-free; just a gentle touch with your lip to turn it on — give it a kiss, and conquer the night.
More details
online. 
» Visit FLITELite & AvComm in booth 223 at AirVenture
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AVwebFlash is a twice-weekly summary of the latest news, articles, products, features, and events featured on AVweb, the internet's aviation magazine and news service.
Today's issue was written by Contributing Editors Glenn Pew (bio)
, Mary Grady (bio) , and Russ
Niles (bio) and Editor-in-Chief
Chad Trautvetter (bio)
.
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.
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