What's New -- Products and Services

This month AVweb's survey of the latest products and services for pilots, mechanics and aircraft owners brings you a weekend private pilot ground school, altitude pre-select on an autopilot, pulse-demand oxygen for two and more.

If you know of a new product or service other AVweb readers should hear about, please send us a note.

Weekend Private Pilot Ground School

Want to learn to fly but don't have the time to attend a 10-week ground school session? Too busy to sit for hours in front of a computer with an online course? You can complete the Private Pilot Knowledge Test in a single weekend with a weekend ground school course from Am I High Aviation in Stevens Point, Wis. The course is taught by flight instructors Wanda Zuege and John Thompson, who have more than 50 years of flying experience between them.

The course provides a thorough review of the all of the FAA questions (60 of which are randomly selected for the actual Private Pilot Test) -- all this in one weekend.

If they can be assured of at least four students for a class in Wisconsin or surrounding states -- or eight students everywhere else -- the organizers can conduct the seminar at your airport or at an event very near you. They are also available for scheduling a two-day ground school as a companion attraction during other events.

Cost is $250 and includes all test materials. To register, or to get more information, check out their Web site.

Chelton Autopilot Adds Altitude Pre-Select

Chelton Aviation has enhanced their AP-3C autopilot by making it the first in general aviation to provide altitude pre-select without the addition of extra boxes. Pilots can now scroll in their assigned altitude, establish a rate of climb or descent, and the AP-3C will take the aircraft to that altitude, level off and then hold the altitude. The system upgrade is FAA approved as a TSO minor change.

All existing installations can be retrofitted with the new chip, by sending their units into the factory for a one-day turn time. The upgrade is free.

The Chelton autopilot utilizes an electro-magnetic friction clutch, instead of disengagement gears, rendering the Chelton servos adjustment-free. Even with the addition of altitude pre-select, the Chelton autopilot remains free of menu layers and complicated progressions.

Utilizing an ARINC 429 digital interface, which is built into the Chelton panel-mount controller, the AP-3C will follow any flight plan programmed into a GPS, including altitude changes, and can be easily modified as new directions are put into the GPS unit.

The Chelton AP-3C autopilot is available for $11,000. For more information visit the Web site.

"Wonderful World of Flying" DVD

"The Wonderful World of Flying" is available on DVD for the first time from Aviation Media, Inc. You can purchase each of the 23 volumes for under $30 (same price as the VHS) or order a complete DVD library for only $300.

Or, if you already have the set on VHS, you can upgrade to DVD for only $200 by returning your original videotapes. Aviation Media, Inc., will donate your videotapes to a high school or youth flying program and send you the complete 23-volume DVD library.

More information and ordering can be found on the Aviation Media Web site.

Mountain High Pulse Demand Oxygen for Two

Mountain High’s newest product is the two-person O2D2 Pulse Demand Oxygen Delivery System. The MH EDS O2D2 is the only single unit, portable, two-place, carry-on Pulse Demand oxygen system currently available for general aviation.

The MH EDS O2D2 enables the general aviation pilot and passenger to fly at pressure altitudes up to 30,000 feet with safety and comfort. The O2D2 digital pulse demand system reduces oxygen consumption dramatically. Different from constant-flow systems, the O2D2 pulse demand system wastes no oxygen during the breathing cycle (exhaling and pausing before inhaling again) when oxygen is not being delivered to the lungs. Studies show that 90% of the oxygen supplied by the O2D2 is transferred to the blood. The average user will enjoy a conservative consumption drop of four times compared to the constant-flow systems. The system operates, with two people, for up to 50 hours on three AA alkaline batteries. There are no oxygen flow indicators to watch or manually operated constant flow valves to adjust due to altitude changes. Two push buttons cycle the O2D2 through the various modes that automatically deliver the required supplemental oxygen pulses for various altitudes for both the pilot and passenger or two passengers. The complete standard system consists of an aluminum oxygen cylinder (buyer has a choice of sizes with upgrades available to very lightweight composite cylinders), a cylinder carry case, primary reducing regulator, low-pressure service line, connection fittings, the MH EDS O2D2 FADOC unit, breathing cannulas, face masks, and a tote bag. The complete system starts at $1100. Check out the Mountain High Web site for more details.