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 vortex generators, a flight simulator, leading edge protection and much more.

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

"Success on the Step: Flying with Kenmore Air" Book

Daring air rescues, treacherous glacial landings and a colorful cast of characters are the typical stuff of fiction, but readers will find this and more in "Success on the Step: Flying with Kenmore Air," by C. Marin Faure, the recently published true account of Kenmore Air, from its humble beginnings on the shores of Lake Washington in Washington State to its improbable growth to become the largest seaplane airline in the world.

Kenmore Air is a household word in the world of seaplanes, and renowned throughout the Pacific Northwest, along the rugged coast stretching up to Alaska, where locals are accustomed to the distant drone of floatplanes flying low through the mist. Around the world, Kenmore is celebrated for its floatplane innovations; its parts, modifications and service for the indestructible de Havilland Beaver and today's popular turbine float planes. But the story of Kenmore Air is as much about the role of character and integrity in business as it is about a start-up company that recognized a niche in the air travel industry and found success despite the odds.

Success on the Step is available in hardcover and softcover, suggested retail price $25.00 and $17.95. To order, contact Earmark Publishing.

X-Plane Flight Simulator v.8

One of the few flight simulators that runs on Windows, Mac and Linux has been updated -- X-Plane version 8. Using advanced aerodynamic modeling, X-Plane is able to simulate flight with incredible realism -- from helicopters to the space shuttle.

X-Plane is provided with 29 aircraft that span the aviation industry, from light, general aviation aircraft and gliders to civilian airliners and airships. There are vertical take-off and landing aircraft, military jets, helicopters, amphibious aircraft, and highly advanced, military X-planes.

X-Plane also lets you design and build your own aircraft with special software provided free with the simulation (Plane-Maker). Design and build your own aircraft and X-Plane will model the aerodynamic characteristics and allow you to fly the aircraft.

Compared to the previous version of X-Plane, v.8 requires lower load times and lower RAM requirements, and provides significantly higher frame rates than its predecessors, according to the manufacturer.

The scenery is now crafted to fit any terrain feature, no matter how irregular or oddly shape. Buildings and other landmarks are then overlaid on the terrain to give you a realistic 3D world to fly in.

As well as providing new virtual 3D cockpits, v.8 also provides aircraft designers with total freedom to design any aircraft. Plane-Maker now includes options for many more parts and wings which may be attached to any part of the aircraft. These new parts may then be attached to flight controls, meaning that they can be moved independently, or triggered by movement of other parts (e.g. inner and outer wing flaps). Textures may be applied to any part of the aircraft for complete customization of liveries.

For more information, see the X-Plane Web site or resellers such as Horizon Simulation.

Life Insurance for Pilots

Avemco, the only direct writer of property and casualty insurance for general aviation in the U.S., is sponsoring a Term Life Insurance Program underwritten by well-respected insurance companies that have products tailored to general aviation pilots.

The Avemco Program will be administered by the Pilot Insurance Center (PIC), using PIC's unique criteria. This collaborative effort will make life insurance more widely available to pilots at the best possible rates.

For more information, go to Avemco's Web site.

Chelton EFIS for Bell 204 and 205

The FAA has granted STC approval for installing Chelton FlightLogic synthetic vision EFIS systems in the Bell 204/205.

The systems feature the Chelton primary flight display with forward-looking synthetic vision, a multifunction moving map display, GPS WAAS, full FMS, helicopter TAWS, air data computer with fuel totalizer, solid-state strap-down AHRS, master caution voice warning system, digital flight recorder, and NVG compatibility.

Already approved for the Bell 206, 206L, 407, and the Eurocopter AS350/355 (see What's New for December 2004), Chelton has introduced two unique capabilities to the helicopter market: HITS and hover vector. HITS (highway-in-the-sky) navigation symbology provides 3-D GPS guidance for en route and instrument procedures as well as search grids and precision helipad approaches. The hover vector, designed to eliminate whiteout/brownout accidents, provides the pilot with a real-time drift vector that allows zero-zero takeoff and landing.

For more information, see the Chelton Flight Systems Web site.

Landshorter! Vortex Generators

Harrison Designs has introduced their line of Landshorter! vortex generators (VGs) for experimental and field-approved certified aircraft. The precision-molded fin-shaped pieces added to an aircraft's wing or tail and are intended to be an affordable way to increase performance and safety.

According to the manufacturer, most customers see stall speed reductions of 4-12 mph and decreased takeoff and landing distances of 10%-30% with no noticeable loss in cruise speed. Testimonials indicate that when Landshorter! VGs are added, customers report significant improvements in low-speed handling and response and feel their airplanes are much safer.

The vortex generators are small, fin-shaped pieces that are temporarily taped or permanently glued to the upper-front portion of an aircraft wing just behind the leading edge, usually around the 10% chord point. According to the manufacturer, they spin the air, allowing it to stay better attached at higher angles of attack. By increasing the wing's angle of attack before the air separates the aircraft's stall speed is reduced and the pilot is able to take off quicker, climb to altitude faster, and land shorter.

The Landshorter! vortex generators are molded from a very clear Lexan, the same stuff used in bulletproof glass. Because they're molded instead of made from heavier aluminum extrusions, the manufacturer is able to design in a curve to the VG base that better matches the curvature of the airfoil and provides for better adhesion and a more efficient product. They are also lightweight: A complete set of 100 VGs weighs less than an ounce.

A complete VG kit with instructions and templates is priced at $95. For more information, check out the Landshorter Web site.

3M Polyurethane Protective Tapes

3M has produced polyurethane protective tapes that provide protection for leading edges of wings, stabilizers and vertical fins, and anyone can apply them in minutes. The self-adhering, thermoplastic, polyurethane elastomers are designed for outdoor applications.

The tapes resist abrasions, erosion, scratches, punctures and impacts from bugs or small stones. Available in glossy black or transparent, the tapes will conform to most surfaces (leading edges), and are easy to clean. The tape comes in two versions, both of which are designed for long life and ultraviolet resistance; however, Tape 8674 -- which is available only in transparent -- has more UV resistance and can be ordered in two liner configurations. The tapes are available in widths of 1", 2", 3", 4" and 6". Prices range from $40 to $450 for 36 yards.

For more information or to order these leading edge tapes, visit Aircraft Spruce' on-line catalog.