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 portable ladder, magnetic pick-up tool, electric DG and more.

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

Sporty's AeroLadder

Sporty’s AeroLadder is a stool that makes preflight inspections and other tasks easy to accomplish on high-wing airplanes. Unfold the AeroLadder and you’ll have a stable platform with room for both feet -- for checking fuel, cleaning or performing maintenance in those hard-to-reach areas.

The AeroLadder’s aluminum construction is rated to hold up to 300 pounds. Measuring 17.5 inches wide, 28 inches high, 7.5 inches deep and less than five pounds, the AeroLadder can be stored in your airplane so you’ll always have it on hand.

The Three-Step AeroLadder is available for $44.95 and a Two-Step AeroLadder is available for $34.95 from Sporty's Web site.

Aircraft Spruce Mag-It Magnetic Pick-Up Tool

Aircraft Spruce has added a tool for removing metal chips and debris from machinery and work areas. Manufactured by SteelMax and called the Mag-It magnetic pick-up tool, the wand-like probe picks up steel filings and shavings from drill presses, lathes, and from the surfaces of metal being worked on in aircraft. It is also very useful in removing items like screws that fall into an aircraft fuselage and are difficult to reach.

Once removed, the metal scraps or parts can be dropped from the tool with a slide-action lever that demagnetizes the tip of the probe. Available with 10-inch and 15-inch wands, the Mag-Its are available for $24.95 and $39.95 from Aircraft Spruce.

King Schools' Cleared for Flying the Garmin G1000 -- WAAS Update

Learn the Garmin G1000 on the ground with the Cleared for Flying the Garmin G1000, a computer-based, interactive-video course from King Schools, updated with WAAS information.

Become proficient with:

• WAAS
• Garmin GFC700 Autopilot
• VFR operations
• IFR operations
• Navigation
• Communications
• Loading and activating instrument approaches
• Departure and arrival procedures
• G1000 systems
• Best operating procedures, and
• What to do when things go wrong

Learn with 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 G1000 Procedure Trainer so you put into practice what you’ve just learned. Cement your knowledge with additional interactive questions that follow each lesson. And track your progress with the interactive menu that displays your results so you can easily see how you are advancing.

After you're done, you can print out a Course Completion Certificate for your checkout instructor, FBO or insurance company.

Cleared for Flying the Garmin G1000 contains 9 CD-ROMS and runs approximately four hours before interactive questions. It is available from the King Schools' Web site.

Mid-Continent 3300-Series Electric DG

Mid-Continent has developed the new 3300 series electric directional gyro. This next-generation DG has advanced circuitry and improved design. Weighing just 1.8 lbs, the 3300 series is at least one pound lighter and 1.25-inches shorter than most electric directional gyros.

A key feature of this electric directional gyro is the 10-32 multi-voltage capability, which enables one version to work in any aircraft. Increasing the margin of safety, the expanded input-voltage range and minimal running current-draw allows the DG to work longer as power become scarce on the way to a power system failure. An enhanced warning circuit monitors both input voltage and rotor speed. If either is insufficient, the red warning flag comes into view, immediately signaling the pilot of potential problems.

The 3300-11 lighted version translates the DC lighting voltage input to a pulse-width-modified (PWM) signal used to power the long-life LEDs for its crisp, legible backlit display. The lighting is user-selectable for 5, 14 or 28 VDC input and can be adjusted for the appropriate nighttime dimming level. The unique lighting scheme improves safety even further by turning off the dial illumination when the warning flag is in view.

The 3300 series DG features a machined, one-piece frame for improved vibration resistance, a reliable caging and card-setting mechanism, and reduced rotor-starting torque. It is designed specifically for use in high-vibration applications such as helicopters. In many cases, the connector is pin-to-pin compatible with older, legacy DGs, allowing for an easy retrofit. The stability of the rotor also reduces drift, allowing for a much longer period between card corrections.

The 3300 series electric DG is covered by Mid-Continent’s one-year limited warranty and is approved to FAA TSO C5e and RTCA/DO-160E. It is available for purchase through any FAA approved avionics shop. To locate an avionics dealer in your area, visit the Aircraft Electronics Assocation, and get more details from Mid-Continent's Web site.

AVweb Bookstore Now Has Jeppesen E-Books

AVweb Bookstore now offers Jeppesen maintenance and pilot training manuals in e-Book format as well as in standard printed format.

E-Books give customers a choice in how they receive content. While many will always prefer a printed book, the e-Book format also has many advantages, including free and instantaneous shipping, which brings a significant savings for international customers, distance learners, and military personnel stationed overseas. Also, for international customers, e-Books incur no VAT tax, import or brokerage fees. E-Books from AVweb Bookstore are delivered as single, high-quality, Adobe PDF files, are fully searchable, printable, and environmentally friendly.

For students and for on-the-job reference, there is no longer a need to carry around 40-50 pounds of manuals. Instead e-Books are a "library in your laptop." You can access hundreds of manuals with a typical laptop or handheld computer making your complete reference needs easily available in the class room, for personal study, or in the shop.

E-Books come with a complete customer satisfaction guarantee regarding both the content of the book and of your ability to successfully download and utilize the material. To help you explore this new technology on your own, a free, sample e-Book is available for download from AVweb Bookstore.

Laminer Flow Speed Pants for Beech Airplanes

Laminar Flow Systems has developed speed pants for Beech fixed-gear Sundowners, Musketeers and Sports, and is offering them for a discount with a pre-production deposit program.

Weighing less than 20 pounds, the Laminar Flow Speed Pants provide a minimum five knot increase in cruise speed, according to Laminer Flow. Tests have shown that they also improve slow-speed controllability by reducing drag. The new Speed Pants modernize the appearance of the Beech Sundowners, Musketeers and Sports, which have never before had pants available. The pants for all three wheels come in a white, gel-coat finish.

The special introductory price of $3,750, a $500 savings, is available until Aug. 31, 2008. For more information visit their Web site.

ARINC Direct Offers Custom Aircraft Interiors

ARINC Direct is offering custom interior modification work on-site for corporate aircraft at its Scottsdale, Ariz., aircraft facility. Interior design consultation can include cabin furnishings, colors, materials, textures, and floor plans. Customers can view designs with electronic renderings to enhance the decision process prior to starting cabin modifications. The interior engineer can expedite structural drawings and interior prints, and streamline the DER approval process for interior modifications.

The ARINC Direct Scottsdale cabinet shop offers cabinet repairs, re-veneering, and custom cabinet fabrication to exacting specifications. In addition to cabinet work and upholstery, ARINC Direct can also install the latest electronic technologies for cabin interior lighting and new entertainment systems.

With engineering staff on site, many cabin design changes can be made almost immediately, with less time between drawing changes and implementation. Customers may also be able to reduce downtime by scheduling interior work at the same time as other aircraft modifications or inspection work. Fire blocking is also available in order to meet FAA Part 135 regulations.

For questions and orders, visit the ARINC Web site.