News

The popular Discovery Wings television series A Chopper is Born is now available on DVD. The 15-part series has aired worldwide and features the building of an Exec 162F kit helicopter from RotorWay International. The series follows the step-by-step process of constructing the helicopter from initial manufacturing of the kit at the RotorWay factory through painting, upholstery and first flight. It also features vignettes on the world of helicopters-a trip to Oshkosh AirVenture and interviews with…

Highland Industries has introduced Powergenie, a power control unit for Rotax engines (503 through 912) and other two-stroke engines. According to the company, with Powergenie installed, your hour meter will run only when the engine itself is running, eliminating the need to rely on the master or engine switch. You can power up the airplanes electrical system on the ground for radio work or general maintenance and testing without clocking aircraft time. In addition, you can…

For those interested in pursuing a Sport Pilot license, more details are being put into place regularly. The FAAs Light-Sport Aviation Branch in Oklahoma City announced that it posted a list of Sport Pilot examiners on its web site at http://afs600.faa.gov/afs610-Examiners.htm. The list of examiners is broken down by category (airplane, weight-shift control, powered parachute, gyroplane, glider) and includes contact information for each person. At the moment, there are only about a dozen certified sport…

We have some tragic news to report-in late January, powerplant guru and KITPLANES contributor Turbo Tom Wyatt was killed in a traffic accident near Atlanta. Turbo Tom introduced himself to KITPLANES readers in 2001 when he wrote a three-part series that chronicled the process of converting a Subaru EJ22 for use on an RV-4. The success of that series led to another, How Piston Engines Make Power, which ended just a few months ago with…

When you use an IFR-certified GPS during IFR operations, your life can depend on your ability to quickly access the appropriate functions and make the appropriate control inputs. While its possible to achieve adequate proficiency on your own, it can be time-consuming and frustrating for some pilots. According to Aeromedia, Inc., the company's Savvy GPS Pilot training course allows students to go from novice to confident GPS users in two days. …

Garmin International announced its latest GPS mapping gadget-the iQue 3600a. According to Garmin, the product is the first Palm-powered aviation device that comes ready to navigate right out of the box without extensive set-up procedures. The package includes the iQue unit with built-in basemap, terrain, obstacle and Jeppesen databases, as well as a yoke-mounted cradle. …

After five years of research, development and testing, Sensenich Wood Propeller Company has announced the availability of a new ground-adjustable composite propeller. Designed with an EZ-pitch hub, the high-performance propeller will result in improved performance on Rotax-powered 912- and 914-series aircraft, says Donald Rowell, Sensenich general manager. The new propellers are manufactured hollow using carbon-fiber, prepreg fabrics in a high-temperature, internal-pressure-molded system. According to the company, this production process yields a durable, low-inertia propeller. The propeller is…

Experimental Aero recently announced the availability of the DRD-2, th second generation of its welded C-frame deep-reach dimple tool.

Or at least the Sirius radio satellite system…PS Engineering has introduced what it says is the only complete audio system with satellite radio-the PMA8000-SR. Added to the company's PMA8000 audio panel/intercom system, the internal Sirius receiver connects directly to the units dual entertainment channels and can be operated by a credit card-sized infrared remote control. A voice prompting audio annunciation system informs the pilot on the status of the Sirius selection. …

Avemco Insurance Company announced that insurance coverage for pilots transitioning to glass-cockpit aircraft will be available, provided they participate in formal training in the use of the new avionics. The move comes following discussions with aircraft manufacturers, flight training organizations and vendors of training materials for the new avionics. While the decision was made primarily for certified aircraft (in which factory-provided transition training is often part of the purchase process), it will apply equally to homebuilders…