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 an oil filter adapter, a leather jacket, a satcom system and more.

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

ECi 90-Degree Angled Oil Filter Adapter Kit

Get the benefits of using a full-flow oil filter with the new 90-degree Angled Oil Filter Adapter Kit for Lycoming 320/360/540/720 direct-drive engines from Engine Components, Inc. Designed as an alternative to the straight oil filter adapter, the angled adapter shifts the filter to a vertical position, resulting in additional clearance between the engine and firewall, allowing for easier access and maintenance.

The Angled Oil Filter Adapter is machined to accept a spin-on, internal bypass-type filter, which permits oil to flow even if the filter becomes plugged. No additional wiring and plumbing is necessary as the adapter is machined to accept the thermostatic bypass valve (vernatherm) and oil temperature probe.

Features of the Angled Oil Filter Adapter Kit include a 1/8-inch NPT threaded boss that can be fitted with a quick-drain, making filter removal drip-free and easy clean-up. The extension kits can be customized with spacers ranging from 0.75 to 2.50 inches, and with the fasteners, fittings and gaskets, the kit allows for complete and simple installation.

For more information, visit the ECi Web site.

King Schools Garmin G1000 Training Video

King Schools has created the Cleared for Flying the Garmin G1000 Computer-based Interactive Video course. Master the 108 knobs and buttons and learn the quickest and most efficient way to do things and how to avoid the "gotchas" that can lie in wait for the unprepared.

Become proficient with:

• VFR operations
• IFR operations
• Navigation
• Communications
• Loading and activating instrument approaches
• Departure and arrival procedures
• G1000 systems
• What to do when things go wrong
• Best operating procedures

Learn with easy to understand video snippets showing close-up fingers-to-button demonstration that make it easy to see the actions Reinforce your learning after each video snippet with questions that utilize King School's super realistic G1000 simulator so you put into practice what you've just learned ... cement your knowledge with additional interactive questions that follow each lesson

And, you can print out a Course Completion Certificate for your checkout instructor, FBO or insurance company.

Cleared for Flying the Garmin G1000 contains 7 CD-ROMS and runs approximately 4 hours before interactive questions. The course is currently offered for under $200. For more information, visit the King Schools Web site.

Sporty's Airline Captain's Jacket

Sporty's Airline Captain's Jacket brings the classic aviator's jacket into the 21st century. The Jacket offers a full cut that sits slightly off the shoulder. Constructed from jet black goatskin leather, the Jacket has an elasticized leather waist, snap-shut leather cuffs and a large leather-lined inside pocket.

Airline or other professional pilots may be able to use this jacket as part of their uniform since it features epaulet holders. Sporty's can also embroider a name and company logo on a Velcro leather chest patch. Patches usually cost $20 each, and a one-time setup charge may apply.

The Airline Captain's Jacket comes in sizes small through extra-extra large and is available for $249. Long sizes from large to extra-extra large are $279. Epaulets may be added for $21.

All Sporty's products may be ordered from Sporty's Web site.

2006 Astronaut Autograph Club

Entering its third year, the Astronaut Autograph Club (AAC) -- benefiting the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) -- is now accepting membership applications for its very limited 2006 enrollment.

Started by the ASF in 2004 to raise funds for exceptional college students pursuing degrees in science and engineering, the AAC is the only 12-month club that delivers a different U.S. astronaut autographed photo and personalized letter to its members for every month of the year. Past astronaut participants have included such U.S. heroes as Apollo 11 moonwalker Buzz Aldrin, first American in orbit John Glenn and the Space Shuttle's first pilot Bob Crippen.

Members in 2006 will receive signatures from some of the most well-known and highly admired space explorers. Such astronauts include Apollo 13's Commander Jim Lovell and the "Last man to walk on the Moon," Gene Cernan.

Two pioneering female astronauts are also lending their signatures to the Club. America's first woman in space Sally Ride and first U.S. female spacewalker Kathy Sullivan will share their unique experiences in their letters, which will be addressed personally to each member.

Other historic and heroic astronaut participants include Apollo 7's Walt Cunningham, first tether-less spacewalker Bruce McCandless and veteran Hubble Space Telescope 'repairman' Story Musgrave. All 12 astronauts taking part are enshrinees in the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame located at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

AAC members also receive a handsome photo box to keep their letters and autographs, along with two admission tickets to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, including access to the Astronaut Hall of Fame.

Subscriptions are available at $49.95 per month or a one-time charge of $499. Orders can be placed online at the ASF Web site. All money raised will go to fund scholarships for exceptional college students pursuing advanced degrees in science or engineering.

Pilot Journey Tips Series

Pilot Journey has just started a free weekly series that contains information on getting started in flying or if you are now flying will make your flying better. In the very first email you may watch a 30 minute on-line seminar called Flight Training – Life Changing. In this seminar that you can watch at your leisure you will learn:

• What you will do in your training.
• What all the various options in becoming a pilot are.
• How to choose your flight school and instructor.
• All about loans that are available to get your pilot certificate.
• Some tips on how to save money by learning better.
• Some common mistakes that most people make.

This on-line seminar will also share why flying will change your life for the better and why pilots are so in love with flying!

Written and produced by a Gold Seal Flight Instructor with years of teaching time -- and available online for free at the Pilot Journey Web site.

Aspen Avionics AT300 Hazard Awareness Display

Aspen Avionics recently received an FAA TSO Authorization for the AT300 Hazard Awareness Display. The AT300 has been certified as a TSO C8d Vertical Speed Indicator and as a TSO C113 Multipurpose Electronic Display. This dual certification allows the product to directly replace the legacy mechanical vertical speed indicator that is found in virtually all light aircraft.

According to Aspen Avionics, the AT300 is the only color moving map display available in the market that can be directly installed in a standard, three-inch instrument hole. This allows the AT300 to show valuable situational awareness information in the pilot’s primary instrument scan, and to do so without the expense or installation complexity associated with traditional Electronic Flight Information Systems (EFIS) or Electronic Horizontal Situation Indicators (EHSI).

The AT300 moving map display shows the pilot current and next navigation leg information overlaid on a high-resolution terrain and obstacle map. Terrain and obstacle data is color-coded based upon its vertical separation from the aircraft’s current altitude (similar to a TAWS display), providing the pilot an intuitive and easy to understand display to help improve their awareness of potential hazards along the current flight route. The AT300 also provides the pilot with a full time display of the aircraft’s height above ground – information which has not previously been readily available in most light aircraft. The AT300 can also be configured by the pilot to display either side profile terrain or a data block showing the active waypoint identifier, desired track, groundspeed, distance to go and estimated time enroute.

The AT300 has a list price under $4000 and is currently available from any Aspen Avionics Authorized Dealer. A complete list of dealers can be found on the company Web site.

International Communications Group Iridium Satcom System

International Communications Group (ICG) has announced a new-generation Iridium satellite communications system for the aviation market.

The new CIS-100 is a single-channel Iridium transceiver with an internal GPS receiver and built-in cabin telecommunications unit (CTU) features. According to the manufacturer, the unit is smaller, lighter and less expensive than other airborne Iridium terminals, and is designed primarily for use on helicopters and light aircraft. The compact rugged unit is just 9 x 5 x 3 in. (22.9 x 12.7 x 7.6 cm) and weighs less than 3.5 lbs. (1.6 kg).

The CIS-100 can be connected to existing conventional telephony devices or legacy PABX systems via a standard two-wire “tip-and-ring” circuit or a four-wire audio circuit. It offers standard dialing conventions and PABX functions with familiar call progress tones and familiar operations.

The built in GPS receiver provides automatic flight-following services permitting periodic time and location updates to be sent to a data link services provider or directly to a flight department or dispatching center.

For more information, visit the Web site.

Aviation Consumer Now In Color

Beginning with the November 2005 issue, AVweb's sister publication Aviation Consumer has been redesigned to include color photos, charts and drawings. They still provide readers with useful, compelling and practical information in an easy-to-read, colorful format without any commercial advertising.

As an AVweb reader, you can try seven issues of Aviation Consumer for $19.97. You'll also receive Aviation Consumer's Annual Buying Guide and access to the Aviation Consumer subscriber-only Web site as our bonus for subscribing.

Take advantage of this special offer here.

Plane Power Lightweight Alternators

Plane-Power Lightweight Alternators are now available. The new, rugged alternators provide an alternative to rebuilt or used aircraft alternators. Extensively tested and significantly lighter in weight, the Plane-Power alternators raise the level of technology in alternator operation and performance.

The Plane-Power Alternators generate a higher level of power at low engine RPMs and develop less heat while producing their rated power. Mounting bracket failures are reduced due to improved balancing and the service life is enhanced due to new design features and materials.

Plane-Power alternators are FAA PMA certified and are designed to replace many general aviation alternators. The company also produces an alternator kit for experimental aircraft. All Power-Plane Alternators come with a two-year warranty against component failures.

Depending on application, the Plane Power Alternators range in price from under $400 to about $580. For further information visit

For more information, visit the Plane Power Web site or contact the exclusive dealer for Plane Power Alternators, Aircraft Spruce & Specialty, at their Web site.

Adventure Pilot Web Site

According to the mission statement of Adventure Pilot, they want to inspire, inform, and enable a community of passionate pilots to fulfill their desire for aerial adventures.

The Web site offers:

• Database of thousands of great flying destinations
• Powerful searching tools, find things along a route or near an airport
• Free flight planning tool
• Customizable maps with TFRs, Terrain, Airspaces, and more
• TFR warnings when a planned flight intersects a TFR
• Detailed airport information pages
• Downloadable approach charts (coming soon)
• METAR weather right on the maps (coming soon)
• Magazine-style aviation stories
• User-submitted flying stories
• Pilot forum area and more

Check out Adventure Pilot.