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 diesel engines for new Skyhawks, glass-cockpit flight training devices, an electric folding bike and more.

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

Thielert Diesel Engine for New Skyhawks

The Centurion 1.7 diesel aircraft engine from Thielert Aircraft Engines will now be installed in brand-new Cessna 172 Skyhawk aircraft. Van Bortel Aircraft, in Arlington, Texas, will be responsible for replacing the conventional engines. Van Bortel will then sell the diesel Cessnas worldwide. (Thielert has been offering retrofit kits for older Cessna 172s for the past three years.)

Equipped with the latest technology such a single lever control, the engine also features a constant-speed propeller, full-authority digital engine control (FADEC) as well as a turbocharger for improved performance at high altitudes.

Van Bortel has already put the first retrofitted Skyhawks into operation and uses them for demo flights. In addition to fuel savings, the Centurion engines offer other technical benefits, according to Thielert:

• Qualitative mixture control: Only the desired amount of fuel is injected; the engine always operates at the optimal mixture. By design, a diesel engine cannot be destroyed by lean run.
• Self sparking: No danger of uncontrolled detonation, since fuel is not introduced until the optimal moment of combustion.
• Jet-fuel piston engines are robust. As a result of their combustion process, the peak combustion chamber pressure is extremely high event at partial load. As opposed to a gasoline engine, the jet fuel engine is designed for continuous high stress, making it suitable for aviation applications.

For more information visit the Thielert/Centurion Web site or the Van Bortel Aircraft Web site.

Precision Flight Controls' Garmin G1000 Modular Flight Deck Training Devices

Precision Flight Controls (PFC) has introduced the M.F.D.-G Series of Modular Flight Deck Advanced Aviation Training Devices.

Using the actual Garmin G1000 system, the M.F.D.-G is available in Beechcraft, Cessna and other aircraft configurations, with dual or single controls, and with open or enclosed cockpits. The G58 Baron configuration was also available for pilot and instructor evaluations at AOPA Expo 2006

The system includes a 10-inch primary flight display (PFD) and 10-inch multi-function display (MFD) with XGA (1024 x 768) resolution. Each unit comes standard with analog standby instruments (airspeed, altimeter and attitude indicator), manual and electric motorized pitch trim, hydraulic dampened controls, intercom jacks and dozens of other features to produce a high-fidelity training environment. It is available with up to five-channel, wrap-around visual systems. It includes a photorealistic worldwide terrain database and a global navigation database. Control loading, motion and custom aircraft development are available on request. Pricing for the M.F.D.-G Series begins at $65,000 and is available for immediate ordering.

For more information visit the Precision Flight Controls Web site.

Riviera Electric Folding Bicycle from Aircraft Spruce & Specialty

The new Riviera Folding Electric Bicycle was designed to answer the question: What do we do for transportation when we get there? A pair of the Riviera's could fit into the back seat or cargo area of most four-place aircraft.

In about a minute, the Riviera can be made drive- or storage-ready. There are three options for riding: First, it can be used like a normal bicycle in the "off" mode; Second, it can be driven using pedals with electric assist in the "on" position; Or third, it can be operated with a thumb throttle and no pedaling. All of this is accomplished with a 260 watt, automatic, three-speed, direct-drive motor.

With a maximum capacity of 210 pounds, the Riviera will cruise at 15 mph for about 15 miles, depending on terrain and rider weight. The battery can be recharged 300 times before replacement and it takes on a full charge in four to six hours. The Riviera sells for $489 and can be ordered from the Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Web site.

Remos G-3 Light Sport Aircraft

The Remos G-3 aircraft was designed eight years ago but only recently began selling under the new light sport aircraft rules in the United States.

The aircraft has side-by-side seating for two, a high wing, tricycle landing gear, folding wings, and carbon fiber and composite construction. Capitalizing on a cockpit width of 46.8" (an increase of more than five inches over the Beech 58 Baron), German engineers developed a wrap-around windshield and blister side windows that offer great visibility. Cockpit size and insulation, along with a useful load of 704 lbs., permit big and tall pilots to sit comfortably in well-padded seats, allowing for extended cross-country flying without the normal levels of fatigue. A stainless-steel exhaust and after-muffler were engineered to exceed rigid European noise standards.

The folding wings reduce the size of the Remos, allowing for home storage or "tucking" into the corners of most existing hangars already housing a resident aircraft. Elevator and rudder locations assure quick response to any changes in power settings. Entry and egress are easy through large cockpit doors that seal tightly when closed.

Instrument panels can be configured for basic VFR up through advanced IFR systems. Power for the G-3 is provided by a certified Rotax 912S, 100-hp, four-cylinder, four-stroke engine. High-performance hydraulic disc brakes are a departure from the typical cluster braking mechanisms found in most LSAs.

At gross weight, 1320 lbs, the manufacturer reports the G-3 will take off in 330 ft, climb at 1100 fpm, cruise at 120 mph, and stall at 45 clean or 38 with full flaps. It has a glide ratio of 1:17 and a range over 500 miles with 5 gph fuel burn.

For more information visit the Remos Web site.

Enhanced Aviation Radio System

The E.A.R.S.2 (Enhanced Aviation Radio System) is a standalone system to connect a cell phone to your headset. In three steps the system is set up:

1. Plug headset to E.A.R.S.2.
2. Plug E.A.R.S.2 into radio or intercom system.
3. Connect E.A.R.S.2 cell phone cable into headset jack.

The system then allows you to talk and listen on your cell phone through your headset, which is great for filing and closing flight plans, contacting ATC/FSS or any other location. In the event of an avionics failure, you can still talk right through your headset with your cell phone or a handheld radio

E.A.R.S.2 will not interfere with radio transmissions (using an interrupt system). The unit works independently so no need to worry about passengers listening to your calls. Passengers can even use an MP3 player to listen to music without you having to.

The unit uses one 9-volt battery to amplify the cell phone volume through your headset. The unit will automatically go into "stand-by" mode until making or receiving a call. Battery life is approximately 18 months in stand-by and 25 hours of talk time.

The E.A.R.S.2 sells for about $100 from AvShop.

Firewall Forward's Centrilube Camshaft for Lycoming 320, 360, and 540

Firewall Forward's Centrilube cam is now available for Lycoming 320, 360, and 540 engines. The cam can be purchased from Firewall Forward, or Firewall Forward can STC modify customers' existing cams.

The Centrilube cam is the culmination of over seven years of metallurgical research into the nature and causes of premature cam and lifter failures. The Centrilube cam distributes oil directly to the lifter face, utilizing holes strategically drilled in the cam lobes of a certified Lycoming cam. The Centrilube modification utilizes a new or re-ground camshaft and introduces no additional moving parts.

Firewall Forward claims the Centrilube cam proved itself in the TIO-541-E1C4 engines used primarily in the Beech Duke. Over three years, and thousands of hours of heavy usage, the cam demonstrated its abilities by reducing the cam/lifter failure rate from 35% to 1.3%, according to the manufacturer.

More information is available from Firewall Forward.

Avidyne Envision Integrated Flight Deck

Avidyne Corporation has introduced the Envision series of Integrated Flight Decks for retrofit installation in most general aviation aircraft.

Based on the Entegra integrated flight deck selected for 18 models of new aircraft, Envision integrates an Avidyne EXP5000 primary flight display (PFD), an Avidyne EX5000 multifunction display (MFD) and includes interfaces to many existing autopilot, GPS, traffic, terrain, lightning, radar and other systems. Owners may choose dual-redundant EXP5000s or an EX500 MFD depending on the aircraft.

The first implementation of the Envision integrated flight deck is the Alliant system for King Air 200 aircraft. Produced in cooperation with S-TEC, the Alliant system features dual-redundant PFDs, an EX500 MFD and the S-TEC IntelliFlight 2100 Digital Flight Control System. Envision systems for additional light GA aircraft are in development and in flight test.

The Avidyne PFD has standard flight instrumentation and pilot-selectable moving-map flight plan data, horizontal situation indicator (EHSI), an RMI pointer, digital RMI readouts and integrated flight director command bars. The PFD is integrated with a solid-state air data and attitude/heading reference system (ADAHRS) providing full redundancy as well as much higher reliability than traditional "spinning-mass" gyros. The PFD may be coupled with the autopilot for altitude pre-select, vertical speed select and heading select without the need for an external control panel. Envision integrated flight decks with dual redundant PFDs also come with dual independent ADAHRS.

The EX5000 and EX500 MFDs feature a high-resolution moving map display that can show flight plan information and two-way datalink weather service. Options include interfaces to 19 different airborne weather radar systems, an EGPWS/TAWS display, lightning and traffic. Additional options are services for flight tracking and two-way text messaging capabilities, and JeppView electronic charts.

Pricing for the Envision integrated flight deck depends on the aircraft and configuration. For more information visit the Avidyne Web site.