The immaculately restored Piper PA–18 Super Cub was a gorgeous, gleaming paperweight. It had just about every conceivable modification including a bigger engine, constant-speed propeller, digital avionics, and long-range fuel tanks for better comfort and performance.
One of the challenges of summer flying is dealing with the extreme heat in the cabin of most poorly ventilated general aviation aircraft. Fortunately, there are several options to help keep you comfortable, healthy, and focused on the task of flying the aircraft.
Pilots performing preflight inspections too often overlook the potentially crucial things their avionics may be trying to tell them. Most GPS navigators, for example, come to life with a color-coded database page that shows whether flight, navigation, terrain, and obstacle information they contain is current.
Turboprops and light jets equipped with Garmin GTN 750Xi touch-screen navigators can now communicate with air traffic control via text messaging, with more than 25 aircraft makes and models approved for the program.
Pilots using the popular AV-30-C multifunction display from uAvionix received the flight-instrument equivalent of a shot in the arm—make that a shot in the panel—with the FAA approval of a software upgrade that enhances the instrument’s capabilities.
Aircraft owners are responsible for keeping their aircraft airworthy. Find ways to save some money by doing the routine preventive maintenance on your own aircraft. Access general aviation maintenance alerts here, or browse through a variety of AOPA articles on maintenance-related topics.