Cirrus delivers first SR20 aircraft
Five-and-one-half years and more than $60 million after setting out to build an all-new production airplane, Cirrus Design delivered its first SR20 on July 20.
The sporty, four-seat composite airplane has found a home in the hangar of Walt and Marianne Conley of Plymouth, Minnesota. N415WM replaced Conley's Grumman Tiger. Cirrus delivered its second aircraft only three days later.
Delivery of the first airplane sparked national media attention in the wake of the July crash of John F. Kennedy Jr.'s Piper Saratoga near Martha's Vineyard. The media questioned whether the revolutionary parachute that is standard on the SR20 might have saved Kennedy and his passengers, had one been installed on the airplane that he was flying. To that question, Cirrus President Alan Klapmeier would only answer, "Maybe," noting that there is currently no such system available for an aircraft as heavy as a Saratoga. He noted that Cirrus' goal is to use the latest technology to build the safest aircraft possible.
The company currently has 330 orders for the 200-horsepower SR20, which sells for about $170,000 to $200,000, depending on options. Cirrus received the type certificate for the model last October at AOPA Expo '98 in Palm Springs, California. For more information, see the Web site ( www.cirrusdesign.com). - Thomas B. Haines
OSHKOSH 1999
TCM introduces new overhaul option, FADEC system
Teledyne Continental Motors will begin offering an "aftermarket new" overhaul option that will cost a modest amount more than TCM's "classic rebuilt" option (traditional factory-remanufactured engine); the price differential is $3,000 on an IO-550-B. The aftermarket-new option will come with a three-year/1,000-hour warranty. The classic-rebuilt option offers a 500-hour/one-year warranty, which is double the previous warranty for factory remans.
Continental also announced that its Aerosance full-authority digital engine control (FADEC) system is flying and should be certified by the fourth quarter of this year. The system, which eliminates the need for a mixture control, has been flown for more than 40 hours on a Continental IO-240-powered Diamond Katana. Testing of a FADEC six-cylinder Continental engine is under way. According to TCM President Bryan Lewis, the $5,000 cost of the system can be recouped over time in fuel savings. For more information, call TCM at 334/438-3411.
The 16-color display used in Garmin's revolutionary GNS 430 panel-mount has been incorporated into a handheld called the GPSMAP 295. The new unit combines the aviation navigation features found in the popular Garmin 195 with the company's ground-bound StreetPilot GPS ColorMap. Using downloadable data from Garmin's MapSource line of CD-ROMs, street-level mapping can navigate your rental car once at the destination. Expected minimum advertised price is $1,449. For more information, contact Garmin at 913/397-8200 or visit the Web site ( www.garmin.com).
Insight shows off new Strike Finder display, air-data computer
Insight Avionics, Inc. showed off its new, brighter LED display for the Strike Finder lightning detector and a new air-data computer at EAA AirVenture '99 in Oshkosh.
The new Strike Finder display replaces the gas-plasma display used in previous Strike Finders to allow for better readability in bright conditions. Strike Finders with the new display list for $6,500; existing Strike Finders can be upgraded for $1,500.
Insight has also introduced its new TAS 1000 True Air Data Computer System, which calculates true airspeed, density altitude, and winds aloft, among other functions. Such capabilities are typically found in Transport-category airplanes. The $3,500 TAS 100 can display real-time winds aloft through the company's Windicator gauge or through a GPS. For more information, call 905/871-0733 or visit the Web site ( www.strikefinder.com).
JP Instrument's new EDM-800 engine monitor has a unique new feature that computes and displays the horsepower being created by the engine it is monitoring. The EDM-800 determines horsepower by measuring rpm, manifold pressure, fuel flow, outside air temperature, and whether or not the pilot is running the engine rich or lean of peak EGT. When depicting lean-of-peak operations, the EDM-800 shows the EGT bars coming from the top (peak) of the gauge. The EDM-800 also includes all of the features found in the popular EDM-700, such as fuel flow and lean-find modes. For more information, call 714/557-3805 or visit the Web site ( www.jpinstruments.com).
Century Aerospace strikes $60 million deal
Century Aerospace, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has struck a $60 million deal with California-based SGL Carbon Composites/Hitco for the design and construction of the Century Jet CA-100 carbon-composite fuselage.
SGL will become a risk-sharing partner in the business-jet project. The scope of work covered by the agreement includes the forward and aft fuselage shell, tailcone fairing, wing/body fairing, and aft pressure bulkhead. SGL previously made the tailcone assembly for the Boeing C-17 transport, solid-rocket-motor nozzles for the Delta II and III rockets, and parts for other launch vehicles.
The Century Jet CA-100 is scheduled to make its first flight in the second quarter of 2001, with initial deliveries in the first quarter of 2003.
Unison introduces Autolite spark plugs
Unison, maker of Slick magnetos and wiring harnesses, has reintroduced Autolite spark plugs, which disappeared from the aviation scene in 1986.
AlliedSignal, which teamed with Unison to make the aviation spark plugs, makes the majority of spark plugs for the automotive industry. The Autolite plugs are priced about 5 percent lower than comparable Champion plugs, Unison said at a press conference at EAA AirVenture '99 in Oshkosh.
Currently, Autolite plugs are available for most Lycoming engines and some Continental engines.
Plugs for Wright and Pratt & Whitney engines should be available soon. Fine-wire spark plugs should be available by early next year.
Autolite plugs can be obtained from Unison dealers worldwide. For more information, call Unison at 904/739-4000 or visit the Web site ( www.unisonindustries.com).
Superior Air Parts, Mattituck Aviation to produce engine
Superior Air Parts and Mattituck Aviation will jointly produce two new air-cooled piston aircraft engines of 150 and 280 horsepower.
The four-cylinder XP-360 engine is designed for the experimental/ homebuilt market. Also planned is a six-cylinder XP-500-series; the exact displacement has not yet been determined. The design parallels that of the Lycoming 320/360 and 540 series, representatives of the two companies said. "The key to the success of this alliance will be Superior's new design and technology, like the Millennium cylinders and all the components," said Bernie Coleman, president and chief executive officer of Superior.
He said Mattituck will also offer all its current Red/Gold engine options on the engines. For information, call 800/624-6680 or write to Superior Air Parts, 14280 Gillis Road, Dallas, Texas 75244. Visit the Web site ( www.superiorairparts.com).
Side-facing seats developed for takeoff, landing
Divan seating in late-model business jets could not be used for takeoff and landing - until now, that is. A seat manufacturer has developed side-facing seats that can be used in all phases of flight. ERDA, a seat manufacturer, unveiled at EAA AirVenture '99 a new design for side-facing aircraft divans that will satisfy FAA 16-G requirements, thereby allowing these seats to be occupied during takeoff and landing.
ERDA's Divantage system features stowable backs that extend for takeoff and landing. During cruise flight the backs retract, preserving window views. Divantage systems have already been ordered for several Boeing Business Jet and Galaxy aircraft; however, the technology is compatible with virtually all executive aircraft.
ERDA will have a working Divantage system on display at this year's NBAA convention in Atlanta. Customer deliveries will begin shortly thereafter. Founded in 1979, ERDA employs 270 workers at Peshtigo, Wisconsin, and 40 at its San Marcos, California, subsidiary.
Raytheon Aircraft delivered its first Jaguar Special Edition Beech Baron 58 at EAA's AirVenture '99. Dr. Wendell Row, AOPA 1310853, of Eureka, California, took delivery of the airplane, which is the first of a series of airplanes in a co-marketing effort between Jaguar and Raytheon (see " A Star is Born," May Pilot). Jaguar editions of the Baron and the company's Beech Bonanza feature several luxury appointments in the interior as well as a distinctive paint scheme.
VisionAire announces new Spirit jet
The VisionAire Corporation is considering a successor to its earlier aerobatic single-engine jet concept design.
The new design, dubbed the VA-12C, will feature two Williams FJX-2 engines of 700 pounds thrust each and have two seats in either a tandem or side-by-side configuration. The earlier VA-12B proposed using a single Williams engine that would theoretically give that airplane a 320-knot cruise speed.
In addition to being certified to aerobatic standards, the VA-12C is promised to have a 400-kt maximum cruise speed.
A go-ahead decision on the VA-12C is expected by January 2001, and deliveries could begin 36 months after that, according to VisionAire officials. The airplane will be priced at $750,000 in 1999 dollars. - Thomas A. Horne
Archangel Systems, located in Auburn, Alabama, introduced at EAA AirVenture '99 a solid-state electronic Primary Flight Display 2000 system that replaces the six primary flight instruments. Sales will begin when certification is complete. The system prom-ises lower maintenance costs. The system is sunlight-readable and touch-operated, the company said. It includes a slaved directional gyro display, or a full compass-rose HSI (on select models). No aircraft vacuum system is required. On advanced models, GPS waypoints, lightning data, a flight director indicator, and a velocity vector can be displayed. The PFD2000 will be available in six models starting at $9,000 and topping out at $20,500 for advanced models. The display weighs eight pounds and measures 8 by 11.5 by 4.5 inches.
Aviat 110 Special introduced at Oshkosh
Aviat Aircraft's newly minted 110 Special, based on the design for the Monocoupe 110 Special, flew into EAA AirVenture '99 fewer than 15 hours after the airplane's completion.
The tailwheel, two-passenger side-by-side design is aimed at the sportsman who wants a capable aerobatic airplane, but who also wants cross-country capability. The 110 Special achieved a 166-kt TAS at 10,000 feet on its flight from the Aviat factory in Afton, Wyoming, says the company.
It is powered by a 200-horsepower Lycoming AEIO 360-A1B6 engine. Engineers expect to increase the aircraft's speed during further development. It carries 42 gallons of fuel with a range expected to be 475 sm. The aircraft is capable of six positive and three negative Gs. It has inverted fuel and oil systems to sustain inverted flight. It can be used for maneuvers in Basic, Sportsman, and Intermediate category aerobatic competition. The 110 Special will sell for $159,500.
Aviat hopes to deliver three 110 Specials by the end of the year, using a streamlined FAA aircraft certification program. Twenty of the aircraft have already been sold, with the first promised to Chandler Air Service in Chandler, Arizona.
Ballistic Recovery Systems of South St. Paul, Minnesota, plans to develop a parachute that could lower a Cessna 172 in an emergency, saving the lives of the occupants. BRS developed and is already manufacturing parachutes for the Cirrus SR20 aircraft. The parachute for the 172 would be 55 feet in diameter and cost about $15,000. The company is hoping that 200 customers will deposit $2,500 each to fund the development of the device. It could be ready in a year and certified in two years. BRS says that it will begin development and construction of the parachute when it has received at least 50 of the needed deposits from prospective customers. Investors will be given delivery priority. The aircraft sustains substantial damage when the parachute is used, as is the case with the SR20. The parachute will go in the cargo area and will weigh 75 to 80 pounds.
Jeppesen introduces new products at Oshkosh
Owners of a variety of popular GPS units will soon be able to use Jeppesen's Skybound Datawriter to update their datacards over the Internet.
Jeppesen will begin taking orders in September for the new update system, which was announced at EAA AirVenture '99 in Oshkosh.
The Skybound system includes the Datawriter and installation CD-ROM and can be used with any computer equipped with a PCMCIA slot.
To use the system, an update customer can visit the Web site, click on "service updates," and follow the download instructions.
Once the download is successful, customers can insert the datacard into the Datawriter and transfer the information. The datacard can then be replaced in the GPS unit.
According to Jeppesen, the total price of the hardware, software, and update will be about the same as an update using the current mail-in system.
For future updates, however, online users can expect to save 30 to 50 percent off the current cost of an update. The new system will be available to owners of Garmin, Trimble, Northstar, Magellan, and Arnav GPS units.
Jeppesen also introduced its FliteStar and FliteMap 8.0. The newest version of the FliteStar flight-planning software promises greatly expanded capabilities, including multi-leg routing and terrain-avoidance information. The latest version of FliteMap features computer-generated chart themes such as low- and high-altitude en route charts and VFR charts.
Both FliteStar and FliteMap are available for Windows platforms only in up to six worldwide coverage areas. In addition, FliteStar is available in corporate or IFR versions, while FliteMap is available in corporate, IFR, and VFR versions.
For users of popular flight-simulation software, Jeppesen introduced SIMCharts, which mimic SIDs, STARs, airport diagrams, and approaches. Each SIMCharts CD-ROM costs $19.95.
For further realism, SIMCharts users can purchase combination packages that include paper en route charts in addition to the CD-ROMs.
The combination packages, which are available for three U.S. coverage areas, cost $39.95 each not including shipping.
For more information on any of these new products, contact Jeppesen at 55 Inverness Drive East, Englewood, Colorado 80112-5498; telephone 800/621-5377; or visit the Web site ( www.jeppesen.com). - Elizabeth A. Tennyson
BFGoodrich announces new Skywatch interfaces
Like air traffic in the Oshkosh area during EAA AirVenture, BFGoodrich's Skywatch Traffic Advisory System is popping up everywhere. BFG has formed partnerships with Avidyne, Eventide, and Garmin to display its traffic information on the three companies' moving maps.
Avidyne is expected to have STC approval by the time you read this for display of Skywatch information on its FlightMax system. Avidyne already can display lightning information when connected to a BFG WX-500 Stormscope. BFG charges $19,980 for the Skywatch system, which is designed to be displayed on one of the moving maps. Avidyne provides an interface with the Skywatch at no charge for some of its FlightMax systems; the cost for other models can reach up to $3,000.
Meanwhile, the interface from Eventide for its model 5000 and 7000 Argus moving maps costs about $1,495 for either monochrome or color. Eventide also has approval to display WX-500 data on the Argus maps. Garmin says it will charge an extra $500 for the software necessary to connect one of its GNS 400- or 500-series GPS moving maps to Skywatch. Garmin also plans to offer a WX-500 interface along with the Skywatch. Both were expected to be STCed in August. Avidyne and Garmin can display both Skywatch and Stormscope data at the same time. Eventide can display only one at a time on the Argus systems. - TBH
NTSB preliminary accident reports are now available on two accidents, one that occurred on a runway during EAA AirVenture '99 and another that took the lives of John F. Kennedy Jr. and his passengers. The NTSB says two flights of two warbirds collided during takeoff at Oshkosh. Two aircraft at the end of the runway overran two that were stopped 1,400 feet down the runway. The report can be seen on the Web .
Aero diesel engine update
Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM), Textron Lycoming, and Morane-Renault are moving forward with their respective aero diesel engines, which may someday replace today's avgas-fueled engines (see " Enginuity," October 1998 Pilot).
Société de Motorisations Aéronautiques (SMA) of France and its Morane-Renault diesel were demonstrated both in the air and on the ground at EAA AirVenture '99 in Oshkosh. Hourly demonstrations of the 200-horsepower turbocharged engine were performed on a test stand (right) while a Socata Trinidad powered by the new engine made fly-bys. On the stand, the engine ran smoothly and quietly with only a hint of diesel clatter at idle power.
The four-cylinder diesel runs on Jet-A fuel and has accumulated more than 2,000 hours of test time. On the Trinidad, the engine has made more than 60 flights and accumulated about 50 hours, some of which were at altitudes of more than 25,000 feet. Weight of the engine will be slightly more than that of a comparable turbocharged, four-cylinder gasoline engine such as the Lycoming TIO-360. The diesel's turbocharging offers altitude capability while the diesel cycle lowers fuel consumption by a little more than two gallons per hour compared to a gasoline engine. Adding simplicity is a single-lever power control. TBO is expected to be 3,000 hours.
Lycoming is running a second prototype of the 205-hp, liquid- and air-cooled, turbocharged four-cylinder diesel that it is developing in partnership with Detroit Diesel. According to Lycoming's Rick Moffett, the sea-level testing of the engine is complete, and the 500-hour endurance test should be completed by the end of the year to establish a TBO. So far, the only hurdles have been determining radiator size and how much coolant is necessary. Pending the outcome of the testing, the partnership will move forward into the market-analysis phase and a final go/no-go decision to pursue certification will be made.
Moffett said that the Lycoming diesel still needs to lose more weight. The first diet shaved 20 pounds from the engine, but the goal is a weight within 5 to 10 percent of a comparable gasoline engine's. The advantages of the new diesel will be better fuel economy, more widely available fuel, and high-altitude capability thanks to a standard turbo. Moffett predicts that the engine will cost more than a comparable avgas-fueled, turbocharged Lycoming. He also said that he would be surprised if the engine could surpass the TBO figures achieved by current Lycomings. "Taking structure out of the engine to reduce weight reduces the strength of the engine and lowers TBO," said Moffett.
Teledyne Continental is also running the second prototype of its two-stroke, turbocharged diesel being developed with NASA under the General Aviation Propulsion (GAP) program. The liquid-cooled, four-cylinder engine has been run to its 2,200-rpm redline on a dynamometer, but it has not yet been taken to its full 200 hp. According to Gil Hensien, director of TCM's GAP program, no radical changes have been made to the configuration since the first example was run last year. Endurance testing is expected to begin this month, which puts the development a few months behind schedule. Hensien reports that the engine has a slight diesel sound but is as smooth or smoother than current TCM engines. A certification decision is pending.
Aerocomp Inc. has introduced a turboprop-powered Comp Air 8 kit airplane, which promises cruise speeds of 174 to 217 kt. The airplane has eight seats and boasts a useful load of 2,000 to 2,500 pounds depending on the amount of reinforcement used in construction. First flight of the Walter 601D-powered airplane occurred in June at the company's Merritt Island, Florida, base. Floats are intended to be an option for the Comp Air 8. For more information, call Aerocomp at 407/453-6641 or visit the Web site ( www.aerocompinc.com).
Video and oral histories of aviation pioneers of the Northwest will be produced by a group in Vancouver, Washington, under a $175,000 grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust. The Pearson Field Historical Society, a group operating the Pearson Air Museum in Vancouver, received the grant. Included will be Clayton Scott, 93, personal pilot to William Boeing. Scott is currently restoring two floatplanes - one of them for his own use. Others to be videotaped are Ken Jernstedt and Isabel "Pete" Van Lom. Van Lom was a pioneer in the Women Airforce Service Pilots. Jernstedt was a member of the original Flying Tigers, also known as the American Volunteer Group in China.
Sandel Avionics, Vista, California, has added runway diagrams and special-use airspace to its SN3308 Electronic HSI with moving map. Additionally, the unit's internal memory will now contain a Jeppesen NavData database with airports, VORs, NDBs, and intersections. Current SN3308 owners will be able to upgrade their units to receive the database enhancements at no charge.
Most experienced pilot in history dies after brief illness
John "Ed" Long of Montgomery, Alabama, who may have been the most experienced pilot in history, died in mid-July. He was 83.
Long's logbooks will be tallied and the total sent to the Guinness Book of World Records. Long died after a brief illness with more than 65,000 hours in his logbook, a total that is believed to be greater than any pilot's in the world. Long had been in the air as an observer on his powerline inspection run as recently as early July. The routes cover nearly the entire state of Alabama.
Long, a vice president and until recently a line pilot for Mont-gomery Aviation at Dannelly Field near Montgomery, was featured in AOPA Pilot (see "Pilots: John E. Long," May 1992).
GA flight schools lauded by Air Force general
Gen. Lloyd "Fig" Newton, the man in charge of training U.S. Air Force pilots, praised general aviation flight schools around the nation for helping with his flight-screening program.
The flight-screening program, an intensive two-week period during which candidates are introduced to aviation and given a chance to see if they have chosen the right career, was put on hold when the Air Force's Slingsby T-3 Firefly aircraft was grounded after a series of fatal accidents. To fill the gap, the Air Force began contracting with FBOs and flight schools around the nation to provide each candidate with 40 hours of flight training.
Newton said the training has been more than adequate and in all cases has provided the basic knowledge and skills needed for a career as an Air Force pilot. The program saves the taxpayer money by identifying those candidates who are not suited for a career as a military pilot.
The Air Force has now paid for 15,000 hours of training at civilian flight schools. In most cases, schools are chosen by universities with Air Force ROTC programs. The selected school then contacts the Air Force to arrange payment for a specific candidate or candidates. "The success we have had is a compliment to the nation and to the FAA process. When training is complete, the basics are there, and that is what you rely on throughout your career," Newton said.
Fixes to cure the problems experienced by the Firefly are nearly complete, Newton said. A decision on returning the Firefly fleet to the air will be made this fall.
Raytheon Aircraft says Pratt & Whitney has increased the time between overhaul for the PT6A-42 engine used on King Air B200 models from 3,000 to 3,600 hours, thanks to improved cooling. Hot section inspections have increased from 1,500 to 1,800 hours. Operators of existing King Air B200s can have the engines retrofitted in the field.
This Bell P-39 Airacobra is the centerpiece of the recently opened Niagara Aerospace Museum in Niagara Falls, New York, which is dedicated to Western New Yorkers who contributed to aviation and the aerospace industry. The museum is located in the Summit Park Mall, one-half mile from Niagara Falls International Airport and has on display many aircraft that were manufactured in Western New York, including a Bell X-22A VSTOL, a Curtiss Robin, and several propulsion artifacts. For more information, contact the museum at 716/297-4148.
A proposed AD 99-CE-13 was issued that would require owners of Piper J-2 series airplanes to repetitively inspect wing lift struts for dents and corrosion. The recurring AD also requires inspection of the wing lift strut forks for cracks.
AOPA members in the news
Don McLean, AOPA 586362, Oroville, California, was featured in the Chico, California, Enterprise Record for his participation in the rescue of a man stranded on a rock in the turbulent Feather River. McLean piloted a Butte County police helicopter to rescue the trapped man.
Pamela de Castro, AOPA 1196527, who learned to fly in 1994 and got her instructor certificate in 1996, has expanded her flight school, Wingover Aviation. She now offers courses in tailwheel transition, aerobatics, and unusual-attitude training. Wingover Aviation is located at Hayward Executive Airport, Oakland, California. Visit her Web site ( www.wingover.com).
Darnel Duckett, AOPA 1357848, a flight instructor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, was awarded a training scholarship from SimuFlite Training International. The scholarship will provide Duckett with a type rating in a Cessna Citation.
Denise Waters, AOPA 958305, of New York, New York, and copilot Bonnie Porter, AOPA 1352493, of Brentwood, New Hampshire, won the twenty-third annual Air Race Classic flying a Grumman Tiger. Forty-two airplanes competed in the all-women's air race, which departed El Paso, Texas, and ended in Willoughby, Ohio. The 2000 Air Race Classic will begin in Tucson, Arizona, and finish in Hyannis, Massachusetts. For information about the Air Race Classic, call 512/289-1101.
Jamail Larkins, AOPA 1339673, age 15, of Augusta, Georgia, has launched an Internet-based aviation Web site ( www.jamaillarkins.com) that offers pilot supplies and flight training materials.
NASA tests synthetic aperture radar for searches
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center is working on a "beaconless" search-and-rescue system using high-flying search aircraft equipped with synthetic aperture radar.
The system could be used to find aircraft that crash on land. The advantage to radar is that it can be used through cloud cover, at night, and through vegetation.
The technology successfully located a crash site in a remote region of Montana last year after rescuers had called off search efforts.
To test the new method, simulated airplane wreckage sites have been created in North Carolina, Maine, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Alaska, and Oregon. Wreckage from a long-lost aircraft in Montana was found during testing.
A second technology on the drawing board is to cover portions of aircraft with a reflective coating similar to that used to make stop signs reflect the light from an automobile's headlights. The aircraft would then be found by reflecting laser light off the wreckage. The theory is that reflective tape could be added to portions of all aircraft manufactured in the future.
Neither technology is ready for deployment.
