What’s New

SIRIUS LSADemo Flights

Sportair USA, distributor for the Sirius LSA from TL Ultralight of the Czech Republic, announced that the first Sirius is available for demo flights in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The Sirius is a two-seat, carbon-fiber composite design powered by the 100-hp Rotax 912ULS engine and features a GRS whole-plane ballistic chute.

Sportair President Bill Canino commented that the Sirius cab is more spacious than anticipated, measuring 45 inches wide at the shoulder and 44 inches at the hip. Entry and egress are aided by generous doors and yoke steering, he added. The Sirius carries 33 gallons of fuel and has a 550-pound useful load. The instrument panel accommodates either a traditional six-pack arrangement or a variety of EFIS flight instruments as well as the full complement of avionics. It is the high-wing counterpart of the low-wing Sting, also distributed by Sportair, and both are U.S. certified as Special Light Sport Aircraft (SLSA).

For more information, call 888-FLY-USA or visit www.sirius.aero.

Spider Tracks Viewer for iPhone

Spider Tracks Ltd. of New Zealand has announced the launch of its iSpiderViewer, available as a free download from the iTunes app store (search for spidertracks to find it). iSpiderViewer allows people to track multiple aircraft or vehicles on their iPhones. It shows the most recent position of the aircraft in real time and also the full track, including takeoff and landing locations. Symbols indicate the spiders status and whether the aircraft is moving, is being monitored or if it has generated an emergency alert.

Right from the beginning we made it easy for clients to see where people or vehicles were by making tracks accessible on the Internet from any PC, the company says. The iSpiderViewer takes that accessibility mobile.

Further, If a pilots contact receives a text because an alert has been generated by spidertracks, the recipient can immediately view the track and the aircrafts last reported position without having to seek out a PC. This could help expedite location and rescue operations, potentially saving lives.

For more information on the tracking unit and where to buy, call +64-6-353 3395 or visit www.spidertracks.com.

MGLs Gen 2 EFISes Debut

MGL Avionics announced that Generation 2 versions of the popular Odyssey (10.4) and Voyager (8.4) EFIS units are shipping. The Gen 2 Odyssey and Voyager include an upgraded internal main processor that allows inclusion of textured, shaded 3D terrain, and display of transparencies on the screen for better situational awareness. The improved processor capabilities result in better functionality in many areas including menu navigation, general operations and these primary functions:

Integrated Moving Map GPS has better display and sub-pixel rendering Internal Autopilot functions enhanced Flight Director added GPS-derived attitude option added as backup to AHRS Left side Function softkeys have enhanced functionality Multiple software enhancements are enabled by the upgraded processor.

The other major component of the Gen 2 upgrade is the inclusion of external Video Inputs and Outputs. The Output sends the screen image to an external VGA display so that builders of tandem aircraft, for example, can put a repeater screen in the passenger instrument panel for just the cost of an aftermarket VGA LCD screen.

Because the Gen 2 upgrade is only an internal processor and external video input/output connector upgrade, existing Gen 1 owners can upgrade to Gen 2 for less than $500. Upgrade is handled at MGL Avionics in California for North American customers. The basic case, bezel and display remain unchanged.

Complete Odyssey/Voyager EFIS packages, including all AHRS and engine sensors, sell for less than $6200.

For more information and to sample the Generation 2 simulator (via a download), visit www.mglavionics.com.