Rockwell BenchJaws Introduced
The new Rockwell BenchJaws delivers hands-free clamping right from the workbench. The jaws are foot-pedal activated, leaving the operator’s hands free to handle the workpiece. It mounts to a corner of a workbench through a steel, L-shaped plate. This two-position mount allows for 90˚ rotation.
With each stroke of the foot pedal, the jaws close by 3/4 of an inch. This pumping action compresses the jaws until the workpiece is secured. The jaws measure 67/8 x 17/8 inches and have a face plate constructed of non-marring polyurethane.
BenchJaws is constructed of heavy gauge, powder-coated steel for strength and rigidity, Rockwell says. The 22-pound workstation has a clamping range of 0-16 inches and supports loads up to 220 pounds. The vise generates up to 2200 pounds (one metric ton) of clamping force. The list price is $99.99.
For more information, call 866/514-ROCK (7625), or visit www.rockwelltools.com.
Kitfox Aircraft Offers Engine Options
Kitfox announced two new engine options for its Experimental/Amateur-Built kits and factory-built Special Light Sport Aircraft.
Kitfox will offer the new Rotax 912 iS fuel-injected engine on both the Kitfox SLSA and the kitbuilt versions, claiming to be the first company to offer a firewall-forward package for the latter. The flight-test program for the 912 iS-equipped aircraft is ongoing. The Rotax 912 iS is installed in a Kitfox Super Sport 7, the same airframe that has been the test-bed for the Rotec radial engine, and more recently, the Lycoming O-233 purpose-built LSA engine.
Kitfox added that it will offer the turbocharged Rotax 914 engine as an option on both the kitbuilt and the SLSA. “The Kitfox is a good performer on 100 horsepower,” said John McBean, Kitfox company president. “But with turbocharged 115 hp, it’s a beast.” He reported that the 914-powered Rotax will maintain takeoff power (115 hp) up to 8000 feet, and continuous power (100 hp) to 16,000 feet.
For more information, call 208/337-5111, or visit www.kitfoxaircraft.com.
Garmin Debuts New VHF, Nav/Com Radios
Garmin has announced a new series of VHF com and nav/com radios in its GTR and GNC series. As replacements for the SL 30 and SL 40 models, the GTR series com transceivers and GNC series nav/com radios include new features to reduce pilot workload. “These products have truly reinvented the stand-alone com and nav/com radios with novel features like reverse database lookup and the com monitor function, which brings new efficiencies to cockpit radio management,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin’s vice president of aviation sales and marketing.
A unique frequency database makes it easy to find frequencies associated with a given airport or facility just by entering the location name or station ID. And when manually tuning a frequency, the reverse-lookup function will automatically provide the navaid or airport identifiers. Pilots can also find the nearest airport, area control center, flight service station, weather frequencies and VORs. All models also include a com monitor function that provides the utility of two receivers in one, allowing the pilot to listen to ATIS transmissions without leaving the active ATC frequency, for example. The GNC series nav/com radios offer all of the same com features, while also adding navigation capability with VOR/ILS with glideslope.
For more information, call 800/800-1020, or visit www.garmin.com/aviation.
To submit a press release on a homebuilt-related product, e-mail a detailed description and high-resolution photograph to editorial@kitplanes.com. Mailing address is KITPLANES®, New Products, P.O. Box 856, Friendswood, TX 77549.
