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Sun 'n Fun Report
2015
Changed date for next year! Sun ‘n Fun has rescheduled next year’s six day fly-in at the Lakeland FL airport back to the earlier part of April. The new date, for those of you planning ahead, is April 5 through 10, 2016. Plan on being there!
Our week in Florida started with a gathering of 36 Cardinals and 98
Cardinal Lovers for a great time in Winter Haven. After a couple of days
together we spent several days soaking up what's new at Sun 'n Fun in
nearby Lakeland FL. Here is our report.
* SiriusXM Weather. Spoke with Dan Dickerson of SiriusXM about their
plans for continued support of the XM weather channel for aviation. Dan
asserts that SiriusXM never intended to discontinue XM weather service.
Due to rationalization of the XM and Sirius offerings, more bandwidth
became available, and part of that has been dedicated to aviation
weather. The extra bandwidth doesn't have a definite plan yet, but data
from the new NOAA satellites, and possibly fuel prices, are being
considered. Dan implied that SiriusXM realizes they have to step-up
their game to compete with free ADS-B weather; many folks aren't going
to recognize that the SiriusXM composite NEXRAD is operationally
superior for aviation to ADS-B's surface weather (we rarely fly at the
surface). But Dan counseled that I could continue to use my Garmin 69A
XM weather receiver into the indefinite future.
http://www.siriusxm.com/sxmaviation
* Power Options for FG Cardinals? The ECI folks have a couple of
intriguing engine upgrade options they're working to certify. For the
O320 equipped '68 Cardinals, they have the IO340 Titan engine, built on
the O320 frame (and an overhaul upgrade). Slightly larger displacement,
Continental-style fuel injection (fuel flow derived by RPM of the
meshed-gear positive displacement fuel pump, not a diaphragm pump and
flow-balancing throttle body like the Lycomings). This puppy puts out
180 HP~! For the 177A and B crowd, they have a similar IO370 engine that
almost achieves 200 HP. The engines are ASTM certified, rather than FAA.
They've engaged with Texas Skyways to STC installations in the 172, from
which they think field approvals from the Cardinal would be possible
under the Vintage Aircraft Advisory Circular.
http://www.titanengine.com/exp/
* PlanePower was acquired by HET, Hartzell Engine Technologies, who are
now owners of most of the former Kelly Aerospace line. HET avers they
continue to strive to improve quality and reliability of their products.
PlanePower's alternators are now manufactured in HET's Fort Deposit,
Alabama facility. The Ford-style FLX alternator can provide either 12 or
24 volt compatibility, and up to 150 amps of power.
http://www.plane-power.com/
* Sporty's Pilot Shop Update: Sporty's is now offering an accelerated or
finish-up ATP course. They also continue to add features to their Young
Eagles' "next steps" program. Their annual fly-in is May 16th, but of
course, they continue to offer brats for lunch every Saturday at noon at
their Batavia OH airport location. We spoke with them about their
lighter-socket USB power supplies, and noted that the newer 2.4A version
is less radio-noisy than the 2.1A version, but could be even better. The
gentleman we spoke with was not a fan of continuous improvement.
www.sportys.com
* CFO Sponsor Avidyne introduced the first of several promised upgrades,
a Bluetooth keyboard that allows data entry on their 540 or 440 GPS/COM
boxes. The keyboard is smaller than your average remote, so it can
attach to the yoke, a kneeboard, or any of a number of handy locations.
There's now a remote mount version of their ADS-B transponder, the
AXP322. This allows freeing up of more stack space, so for instance on a
Cardinal, one has room in the stack for TWO 540's, plus an audio panel.
Avidyne also rolled out their three stand-alone ADS-B solutions: the
MLX100 that's ADS-B in only for $978; the MLX200 that's ADS-B in and out
using an external approved GPS source for $3500; and the MLX210 that's
like the MLX200 but has its own internal GPS source for $5,000. For use
of your GPS data source, your GPS navigator must be on their STC list
due to FAA restrictive guidance. There's been much hubbub regarding
Avidyne's offer of AeroPlan... sign a liability waiver, and get a free
two year extension of the warranty. Avidyne points out that this is a
VOLUNTARY program. CFO's insurance sponsor, AIRPRO suggests that before
signing, one review the AeroPlan document with your underwriter to make
certain you are not adversely affecting your coverage under your policy.
http://www.air-pros.com/
* Avidyne special CFO deals. Contact Tom Harper at Avidyne to find out
what kind of a CFO special deal he might be able to make you, depending
on your desired Avidyne configuration, and the radios you already have
that you may wish to trade in. Several CFO members were quite pleased,
and seen writing their deposit checks. Avidyne also updated progress on
their digital autopilot. The initial certification work on the Bonanza
and Cessna 182 continue apace. A special program for the Cardinal is
being contemplated, details to come. If a certain number of deposits can
be obtained from CFO members, Avidyne may be able to fast track the
Cardinal digital autopilot approval program. Please stand by...
www.avidyne.com
* JP Instruments, the engine monitor folks, shared that they continue to
work with CIES, a friend of CFO's, who have introduced a superior design
fuel level transmitter. The JPI930 certified engine instrument
replacement already works with the CIES transmitter in native mode,
frequency domain. The JPI900 certified engine instrument replacement
works with the CIES transmitter in voltage or current mode. Several
Cardinal owners have already ordered the CIES transmitters to improve
repeatability and accuracy of their fuel level measurements, while
reducing installation cost and fuss, and hopefully achieving longer term
reliability. www.jpinstruments.com http://www.ciescorp.com
* Wentworth Industries, one of the largest of the aircraft salvage and
dismantling houses, shared that they occasionally receive aircraft
totaled by an insurance company, often due to regrettably low coverage
amounts (talk to AIRPRO about how to avoid this malady). These aircraft
make great rebuildable projects, in some cases in flyaway condition.
Contact Jason at Wentworth for seat parts; contact Kevin at Wentworth
for avionics, especially now that S-Tec is again supporting STC'd
installation of used autopilots. http://www.wentworthaircraft.com/
http://www.air-pros.com/
* TKM Avionics' Joe Gavin announced that they're back! Those with TKM
radios, digital, flip-flop, slide-in replacements for Cessna ARC radios,
King radios, and Narco radios, have had trouble over the years getting
their TKM radios repaired. See http://www.tkmavionics.com/?page_id=191
for the catalog of slide-ins available. Joe explained that his team took
over TKM a year ago. The old management had repair backlogs up to six
months. TKM has worked away at that backlog, and is down to an 8 week
wait for repairs. They're continuing to hire, train, and work hard to
get the repair backlog current. www.TKMAvionics.com in Scottsdale AZ.
* B&C Specialty Products has a new, as yet uncertified vacuum pad mount
alternator. It's essentially a Ford-style alternator clone, mated to a
vacuum pump drive. The machined adapter flange between the alternator
and the pump pad is a thing of beauty; I asked them to sell me one as a
vase holder for the dining room table! Although our Ford-style
alternators are capable of up to 60 amp output, as is B&C's clone, at
vacuum pump pad speeds, output is limited to around 40 amps. www.BandC.info
* RC Allen is still showing their nifty 2" and 3" electronic digital
attitude indicators. The new feature is pitch sync, which some of us
might call the good old knob on the attitude indicator to bring the
symbolic airplane to the horizon line in level flight. Price point is
still about $2,600. Standalone ESP emergency power supply available as
an option, now universal voltage at either 14 or 28 volts depending on
configuration upon installation. www.kellymfg.com
* eMag continues to make slow but steady progress toward an electronic
replacement for the D2000/D3000 magneto. They were showing a prototype
two years ago. Now they are selling their six-cylinder magneto, which
they hope to have certified by year end (optimistic, perhaps). The key
development is that the "nose" of the six-cylinder mag that inserts into
the accessory case is the same size as the nose of the D2000/D3000 mag,
since the D mag is essentially a six or eight cylinder mag reconfigured
for four cylinder use. So this six-cylinder nose will be packaged with a
double-sized electronics box for D2000 replacement.
eMag introduced another feature, offering both a normal spark advance
map and 4 degree timing retarded map via manipulation of the P-lead.
Normal operation, of course, is that a grounded P-lead shuts down the
magneto; an open P-lead allows the mag to operate. Now, with the newer
eMags, a P-lead tied to ground through a specified resistance resistor
will retard the timing map by 4 degrees, say on a hot day climbout when
engine cooling needs overrides max power concerns. www.emagair.com
* ElectroAir also updated on their D2000/D3000 replacement progress.
Essentially, you can now replace one mag's functionality with the
certified crankshaft collar sensor system. But today, you have to
continue your D2000 mag in service to serve the other cylinder.
ElectroAir has fabricated an adapter that will fit into the D mag hole
in the accessory case and allow mounting of a four-cylinder mag to that
spot. The prototype has been fabricated, drawings are under preparation,
and application for FAA approval by end of year is hoped for. Electroair
held out that if someone wanted to organize a deposit program, they'd
consider accelerating the D2000 replacement project in front of other
planned certification projects. www.electroair.net
* Mooney was showing their M10 mockup, a three seater for training
purposes, built in Chino CA for the Chinese training market among other
uses. Cute side-stick airplane. FG, 135 HP diesel engine, 140 kts cruise
at 75% power, with an option for 20 more horsepower and retractable gear
for 160 knot cruise. www.mooney.com
* Mike Hattrup from CFO Sponsor Wilco explained that the Orion LED
wingtip lights are in certification, and that he's optimistic they may
be approved as early as next month. The configuration is two wingtip
mounting plates that replace the existing Cessna-installed Grimes or
Aeroflash wing tip assembly (position light and strobe if so equipped)
with an LED position/strobe assembly, plus an LED tail light
replacement. The three assembly kit is $1500 now, will be around $1600
after certification. www.wilcoaircraftparts.com
* PlanePlastic's Cody Rader held forth on the many offerings CFO Sponsor
PlanePlastics has available in ADDITION to Cardinal interior plastic:
SEM upholstery and plastic paint in a rainbow of colors, Perma-Grit
tools to manipulate your plastic installation just so, spongy door seal
material, rubber door trim with internal metal clips to help it hold
shape, window beading, screw kits, pre-cut carpet, replacement sun
visors, decal kits, red LED cabin lighting and panel NuLites, air vent
gulper valves, including a threaded-on version that they've used in
Cardinals, SolarSkies solar powered cabin exhaust fans to help keep
cabin temperatures lower when parked in the sun, and Hush Kits for cabin
sound insulation. www.planeplastics.com
* Keith and I had a chat with the student developers of Aerovie, a EFB
that includes a couple of neat features. In particular, the app allows
submission of electronic pireps via the Lockheed Martin FSS electronic
interface; the software will accept your report, and then attempt to
connect for the next hour, before timing out the report as stale. As you
probably know, it's not at all uncommon for one's iPhone to make a
connection intermittently while in flight. When that happens, Aerovie
squirts the pirep into the system. Not sure if you can get that
functionality without paying for the app ala other EFBs that charge only
for the database. www.Aerovie.com
* LP AeroPlastics had a neat table-top demonstration of their UV and IR
blocking windshield material (which I have in my windshield since 2009
now). They have a heat lamp shining through a mock windshield, half
typical plexiglass and half low UV/IR transmissive plexiglass. The open
air thermometers behind the halves read 180 F and 140 F respectively.
That stuff works! www.lpaero.com
* Keith and I solicited a demonstration from Lockheed Martin (LM) on
their www.1800WXBRIEF.com website functionality. The enhanced
functionality offered a number of benefits. The "next generation
briefing" has an excellent flow, much like www.weathermeister.com, but
with no annual fee (assumed by the ratepayers, one might say). In
addition, the altitude optimization algorithm, we were told, is
customizable to your aircraft's performance, a very cool feature for the
turbo'd among us who are poorly served by "standard" normally-aspirated
algorithms. After you've briefed, and if you have turned on this
feature, LM will text or email you with significant changes: alerting to
TFRs, weather advisories, or airport/runway closures. Search & Rescue
has been enhanced, offering compatibility with satellite based position
reporting devices like SPOT. Stationery position reports of a fixed-wing
aircraft will be interpreted almost immediately to launch S&R, rather
than waiting for flight-plan timeout. Email hyperlinks can be used to
open and close VFR flight plans from your mobile device. LM also offers
to integrate these features with cooperating software providers. We
promised to check it out!
* Remember Sacramento Sky Ranch? Unfortunately, they closed forever a
couple of years ago. However, their custom hose building business
transitioned to Desser Tire & Rubber in the Los Angeles area. And Desser
is now ready to accept orders, for lifetime Teflon hoses, or more modest
conventional hoses. www.desser.com
* JP Instruments has enhanced some technical details of their engine
monitor line. Some have complained of jittery manifold pressure readings
with the earlier furnished manifold pressure transducers, and the
necessity of ty-wrapping the connectors together. A new manifold
pressure gage is available, with a #4 hose fitting end, instead of the
1/8" NPT of the earlier fitting, and a positive locking connector. It's
priced a bit higher, though, at $480 vs. $299 ($181 premium), but it's
promised it resolves those earlier deficiencies. Your 900 or 930 or
equal must be returned to JPI, unfortunately, to be reconfigured for the
new sensor. www.JPInstruments.com
* Sliding tiedown ropes, are they a thing? Those of you at Winter Haven
during the Sun 'n Fun tornado a few years back may remember that your
weathervaning airplanes pulled your tiedown ropes VERY tight. Some CFOrs
were seen cutting their ropes, 'cause they couldn't undo those tight
knots. A way around that is the slide-down style tiedown rope, which
once available through Sporty's, are now available in a slightly
different format directly. www.slidedown.com I had the earlier Sporty's
product on my airplane, and simply pulled up gently to disengage after
the tornado. These new ones are available in a selection of colors, and
come with a storage bag.
* FlyQ electronic flight bag has moved from AOPA back to its originator,
Seattle Avionics. Pricing is reasonable at $69 VFR and $119 IFR; neat
features include terrain x-ray profile, winds aloft optimizer (turbo
friendly? Not sure. Can someone explore and report?); airport facility
directory and extended runway centerlines, synthetic vision, HITs, TAWs,
and wind optimized auto-routing, as well as fuel prices.
www.seattleavionics.com
* WingX's Hilton Goldstein proudly announced an incipient Android
version of WingX. Hats and shirts were available; the software, not yet
so much. :-) But they're working on it. He mentioned that the Android
development team is currently bigger than the iOS (Apple operating
system) team, but this is of course a transient situation.
www.hiltonsoftware.com/
* Aveo Engineering continues to offer their high-performance line of
Czech-built LED lights in both certified and experimental
configurations. New this year is an effort to integrate their lighting
into flush-mount lenses in wingtips. Though they don't have the Cardinal
in their product plan, they'd be delighted to work with someone already
manufacturing Cardinal wingtips. Paging Roy Sobchuk! :-) Here's their
RV6/7 wingtip with integral position, strobe, and recognition lighting:
http://www.secure4host.net/upload/files/Aveo_wingtip.JPG
Here's their Conforma lighting unit for mounting into wingtips:
http://www.secure4host.net/upload/files/Aveo_wingtip.JPG
www.aveoengineering.com
See you next year at Sun 'n Fun!
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