February 2003
Aeronca Champion
Subscribers Only For the low-and-slow crowd, this pleasant tandem two-seater is a delight to fly and available at modest cost.
What the Heck is TRIA?
Subscribers Only It’s terrorism risk insurance and you’ll soon have to decide whether you want it or not. Our advice: Pass.
Bendix/King Datalink
Subscribers Only Wingman Service has always-available continuous broadcast weather. But you can’t get it on the ground before takeoff.
Featherweight Headsets
Subscribers Only Here are some alternatives to that vise-like grip on your noggin. We like Quiet Technologies over the Panther.
Sporty’s SP-200
Subscribers Only A bargain replacement for the JD-200, this radio performs well for only $275.
Eclipse Stumbles
Subscribers Only But the larger question is can anyone build engines that will make the personal jet concept work?
Battle of the Back-Ups
Subscribers Only Are solid-state e-gyros good enough to bail you out of a partial panel jam? We think all of them perform admirably.
Letters: 02/03
Crank Comments The crankshaft problems experienced, first by Continental and more recently and severely by Lycoming, are a symptom of an aging and stagnant industry. These folks, set in their ways as they are, would not consider changing. The sad fact is that the solution is well known and already in use by those building highly stressed, high reliability piston engines. The real solution to obtaining consistently high quality crankshafts in small quantities is to use billet cranks. This is a process whereby a solid piece of rolled or forged bar stock is machined into the finished shape of the crank by a CNC machine designed specifically for that purpose. This process h...