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 life vests, videos, window tints, engine management systems and much more.

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

LoPresti Cowling for Piper Turbo Arrow

LoPresti Speed Merchants have designed and STC'd a new cowling for the Piper Turbo Arrow (PA-28).

The kit includes a carbon-fiber replacement for the original fiberglass cowling. There is a cowl flap with a lockable push-pull cable. The front has new, round inlets and the gascolator is enclosed inside the cowling.

Although LoPresti hasn't yet announced the price or the specific speed increase available from this cowl, LoPresti says their cowl installed on a non-Turbo Arrow can give an extra five mph.

More info from the LoPresti Web site.

Sporty's Virtual Nav Chart

Sporty's Virtual Nav Chart is a program that explains in depth the World Aeronautical Chart, the Sectional Chart and the Terminal Area Chart.

This fully animated tutorial uses professional narration and 3D graphics to aid understanding of all the aspects of VFR charts. The program covers airspace classes, chart symbols, legal altitudes, ADIZ, Temporary Flight Restrictions, Military Operations Areas, laser warning signals and much more. It makes a great refresher for experienced pilots too.

Virtual Nav Chart is a 90-minute program on two CD-ROMs that runs on Windows and is available for $24.95. All Sporty's products may be ordered at their Web site.

King Schools Course Snippets on YouTube

You can learn valuable tips about everything from taming stalls and spins to making cross-wind landings while you sample KING courseware -- all for free on YouTube.

There are 22 courses posted, with more to come. Each snippet runs about two minutes and contains one or more valuable teaching lessons. Best of all, it's free. Current selections include:

• Cleared for Flying the Garmin G1000
• Flying the Garmin 430/530
• Takeoffs & Landings Made Easy
• Airport Signs, Markings and Procedures
• Surviving Your Most Feared Emergencies
• Taming Stalls & Spins
• Night Flying
• The Complete Airspace Review
• IFR With Confidence
• IFR Regulations Refresher
• VFR Regulations Refresher
• Communications
• CFI/FOI Exam Course
• Maneuvers For The COM/CFI
• Commercial Checkride
• Instrument Rating
• Multi-Engine Flying
• Navigation From A to Z
• Practical Risk Management For Weather
• Sport Pilot Exam Course
• VFR Cross-Country Flying
• Flying The Citation

Have fun for free at the Web site.

Sporty's Single Cell Life Vest

Sporty's offers an easy way to stay safe when flying over water with its Single Cell Life Vest. This vest has the features of airline-style vests, but is packed into a compact, lightweight size.

This Single Cell Life Vest inflates quickly by pulling sharply on a cord to activate a replaceable CO₂ cylinder. Just one tug readies the Life Vest for immediate, emergency use. The Life Vest can also be inflated manually through a tube.

Available in high-visibility yellow, this Life Vest also has an emergency locator light that is automatically activated in water.

The Life Vest folds to 7 in. x 6 in. x 2 in. and weighs 14 ounces, making it easy to stow one or more in your aircraft. Despite its light weight this Life Vest provides 37 pounds of buoyancy.

The Single Cell Life Vest [3388A] is available for $49.95 from Sporty's Web site.

LP Aero Plastics UV- and Infrared-Blocking Window Tints

LP Aero Plastics has made two new aircraft window tints available immediately for most non-pressurized aircraft.

These new UV-Green and UV-Solar Gray tints block over 99% of all UVA and 100% of the UVB radiation, and up to 30% more of the near-infrared radiation (heat) when compared to the standard Green and Solar Gray Tints.

The benefits are less UV exposure for the human occupants and less damage to interiors and avionics caused by exposure to UV and heat. According to the manufacturer, these new tints can reduce aircraft interior temperatures by 10 to 20 degrees or more, reducing the work load on air conditioning systems and the discomfort of the aircraft occupants.

The UV Green and UV Solar Gray tints have the same visible light transmittance as the standard Green and Solar Gray tints and fully meet the requirements of FAR 23.775e. They are fully interchangeable with the standard window tints.

For more information, visit LP Aero Plastics' Web site.

A Pilot's Guide to Safe Flying

A Pilot's Guide to Safe Flying is now available to Flight Schools around the world at a 25-percent discount when used as a gift to student pilots in recognition of an achievement, such as obtaining their private pilot license.

This book allows pilots to learn the accumulated wisdom (from over 80 years of accident investigation) on how to avoid situations that can impair the safety of a light airplane flight. Focusing on the facts a pilot really needs, this book covers almost every topic relating to safe flying.

The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority even includes a copy with every new private pilot license they issue.

Details of the discount offer can be found at this Web site.

Beyerdynamic Headsets from Aircraft Spruce

Aircraft Spruce & Specialty is now distributing Beyerdynamics headsets. The HS300 is lightweight, has low head-pressure, and high-quality sound reception and transmission. It features noise attenuation of approximately 30 dB. Users are able to plug in their MP3 stereo music player, or their cellphone, for added versatility. Radio transmission will automatically take priority over an MP3 or cellphone conversation.

The HS300 can be switched from mono to stereo sound and has an integrated volume control. Total weight of the headset is 325 grams and the units come with a five-year warranty and an optional lifetime warranty. The noise-compensating microphone and adjustable sensitivity can be used on the left or right side. All parts on the headsets are easy to replace and it comes with a leather case.

The HS300 Standard sells for $285 and the HS600 noise-canceling headset is $849 from the Aircraft Spruce & Specialty's Web site.

Fantasy Air Allegro LSA Bubble Door

Fantasy Air USA has introduced a new standard door on the Allegro light sport aircraft (LSA). The new bubble door is composite-wrapped, providing an additional three inches to the width for a 46-inch-wide cockpit.

Headset holders have been added in the top of the cockpit, too. The cloth and Velcro straps can be pushed to the center of the cockpit, so the passenger or pilot has an unobstructed entry.

To learn more about the Allegro as a training aircraft or for personal recreational flying, visit Fantasy Air USA here.

Sporty's Captain's Flashlight

A flashlight that is bright enough for a preflight may be way too bright inside the cockpit. That's why Sporty's offers the custom-made Smith & Wesson Captain's Flashlight.

Ten white LEDs provide maximum illumination for outside the cockpit, while three red LEDs preserve night vision within the cockpit. If three red LEDs are too much light for sleeping passengers, switch the flashlight to one red LED, perfect for viewing a chart or flight plan. Independent switches allow the user to select which color of light is needed without having to scroll through multiple colors.

The Smith & Wesson Captain's Flashlight comes in a carrying case with batteries included for $39.95 from Sporty's Web site.

Power Flow Dynamic Balancing Doubles Warranty

Power Flow Systems, whose tuned exhausts are designed to increase engine performance, has offered owners an opportunity to double the warranty period from one year to two years by performing a dynamic balance within the first 25 hours of service. The objective is to reduce engine vibrations that can cause problems to the exhaust system as well as other parts on the aircraft.

To maximize service life, Power Flow recently revised its FAA-approved "Instructions for Continued Airworthiness" to require lubrication of the slip joints at each annual or 500 hours (whichever comes first). Every new kit ordered receives a free tube of the recommended anti-seize lubricant, good for two to three annuals. Any commercially available high temperature anti-seize with a minimum of 1600-degree F temperature can be used. Supplies are also available through Power Flow Systems.

For more information visit the Power Flow Web site.

Xerion Avionix AuRACLE Engine Management System

Xerion Avionix is now making the AuRACLE Engine Management System available for general aviation aircraft. The new Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) gives pilots added engine information, resulting in the potential for significant improvements on in-flight fuel management and engine operations.

The AuRACLE operates with both four- and six-cylinder engines. The five-inch, high-definition, sunlight-readable, color screen can be configured to display any and all information required by an individual aircraft, including RPM, MAP, FF, oil temperature, oil pressure, CHT, EGT, percentage of horsepower, voltage/amperage, vacuum pressure, OAT, TIT, carburetor temperature, fuel pressure, induction air temperature, compressor discharge temperature, tach time and GPS interface. That data, combined with the AuRACLE's SmartLean Intuitive Leaning Process and fuel computer, gives general aviation pilots an entirely new level of power management.

The STC approval allows the AuRACLE to serve as primary instrumentation, replacing the aircraft's legacy engine gages. Additionally, the system employs a unique Engine Interface Unit installed on the engine-side of the firewall, reducing engine instrumentation firewall penetrations to one single, more-streamlined, cannon-style, bulkhead connector.

The new STC enables the AuRACLE Engine Management System to be installed immediately on the Beechcraft Bonanza A36. Xerion is seeking retrofit STCs for all major aircraft types.

For more information on the new AuRACLE, visit the company's Web site.

Sporty's So You Want to Fly Twins DVD

The multiengine rating is a necessity for pilots planning a career in aviation. For others, it's a fun and rewarding new challenge. Regardless of the motivation, Sporty's So You Want to Fly Twins DVD was designed to guide pilots through each step of training and beyond, from multiengine aerodynamics and flight maneuvers to performance and planning.

More than just engine-out procedures, this comprehensive video covers everything involved in flying these faster, heavier airplanes as well as tips for getting the most out of your multiengine training.

So You Want to Fly Twins uses Sporty's in-flight footage and 3D graphics and animations to explain every element of multiengine flying. The program shows every maneuver required on the flight test -- for both VFR and IFR flight -- as well as emergency and abnormal procedures. Special interactive features help reinforce important multiengine concepts.

The DVD includes an array of popular twin trainers such as the Aztec, Seminole, Baron, 310 and Twin Star. The fuel, hydraulic and electrical systems of these airplanes are explained, along with flight planning and performance calculations.

So You Want to Fly Twins is approximately 103 minutes in length and is available for $69.95 from Sporty's Web site. A free video clip from So You Want to Fly Twins can be viewed here.