Sennheisers Latest Headsets
Sennheiser has updated its two closed-cup headsets, the passive-attenuation HME 110 and the active-noise-canceling HMEC 450. Revised ear cups provide passive noise attenuation and the company says the lightweight, extra-soft leather-look ear pads and their comfortably padded headband ensure optimum wearing comfort even on long flights. Both units include high-quality, noise-compensated microphones on flexible booms, and both headsets are set up for stereo or mono use. The HMEC 450 includes the BP-4 battery pack with auto-shutoff…
Flight Evaluator Watches Your Every Move
Do you ever wish you could replay a flight or a flight lesson with greater accuracy than your memory provides? How about keep an accurate record of your Phase I flight testing? These are among the goals of Appareos Flight Evaluator system, comprised of the GAU 500 Flight Recorder, a cube-shaped box carried in the airplane, and a software suite used to analyze the flight data later on. …
Eagle Offers Engine Build Programs for XTREEM Engines
Ameritech Industries, the parent company of Eagle Engines and American Propeller Service of Redding, California, has announced the debut of an engine build program for Eagles XTREEM 360 and XP-360 powerplants. The two-day builder-assist workshop will be held at the company's shop on one weekend every month. Two options are available for interested customers. The first is observation only--*this is designed for the individual who would like to learn about how the engine is built along…
Enhanced Version of ePanel Builder Site Debuts
Bill VonDane of Whiskey Victor, Inc. announced the debut of the company's long-awaited new and enhanced ePanel Builder web site. The site is designed to provide kit aircraft builders with the tools necessary to design and build an instrument panel to exact specifications. The new module will guide builders through the design and building process with as much or as little assistance as desired. New tools allow builders to design and save multiple versions of a…
FAA Approves Waiex and Xenos Kits for 51% Rule
The FAA completed full evaluations of the Waiex and Xenos kits from Sonex, Ltd. in October 2005 for compliance with the major portion requirement of 14 CFR section 21.191(g). Sonex announced that both kits were approved and now officially meet the 51% Rule, as its usually called. The approval ensures all Waiex and Xenos builders will have a smooth road in registering their completed airplanes as Experimental/Amateur-Built. It also ensures that all non-U.S. customers whose governing…
Stratomaster Adds to Line of Glass Instruments with the Ultra Horizon...
Pilots crave flexibilitycall it the Type A personality in all of usand Stratomaster has provided just that in the new Ultra Horizon XL. This monochromatic EFIS has new user-configurable screens that allow for personalization; these screens can be customized to place the instruments in different places on the display but can also be disabled easily for a simplified layout. …
A Quick 100 For the Groen Brothers SparrowHawk Gyroplane
Groen Brothers Aviation announced that total sales of the company's SparrowHawk gyroplane and SparrowHawk/P modification kits have now reached 100. Sales have strengthened since the introduction of the new FAA Sport Pilot rules, the company says, since gyroplane builders with the appropriate license can now fly the SparrowHawk using a drivers license instead of an FAA medical certificate. …
Control Visions AnywhereMap Available for $95
Control Vision, makers of the AnywhereMap, AnywhereWx, Pocket Plates and Anywhere EFB portable navigation systems announced a new low price on its award-winning AnywhereMap software. Pilots who use handheld computers (Pocket PCs, PDAs and PDA/phones) can now add fully functional moving map navigation software to their units for only $95 including six months of updates. This is not a pared-down version of the software-it is the complete moving map system with flight planning, en route flight…
Aircraft Spruce Offers Plans and Materials for the Christavia
Just after we completed the final details on this years Plans Aircraft buyers guide (in this issue), we received word that Aircraft Spruce & Specialty has acquired the design rights for all three models of the Christavia aircraft. The Christavia MK-1, MK-2 and MK-4 were designed by homebuilder Ron Mason of Elmwood Aviation in Ontario, Canada. …
The Latest Edition: Kit Airplane Construction, by Ron Wanttaja
Homebuilt aviation guru and Fly Baby aficionado Ron Wanttaja, well known to KITPLANES readers for the myriad topics hes written on over the past 15 years, has published the third edition of Kit Airplane Construction, his venerable guide to building airplanes at home. Generally aimed at those in the audience whove yet to actually assemble a kit or build from plans, the book covers everything from an introduction to the Amateur-Built world and its regulations…
In Case You Missed It
It Pays To Heed Convention
Barnaby Wainfan looks at unconventional flight-control configurations in the cockpit and why they can throw even a seasoned pilot.
Wind Tunnel
This month columnist Barnaby Wainfan takes a look at how the airplane responds in roll when the pilot is maneuvering. Two key factors are roll acceleration and the steady-state roll rate.