Shadin’s ADC-200 is the most popular air data source. It sells for about $3000, installed.

by Lionel Lavenue

As you trod forlornly against the headwind from hell, have you ever wanted to know exactly what direction it’s coming from and how it changes with altitude? Ever wanted to give Flight Watch the exact wind information during a pilot report without fussing with the unknown wind page on a GPS? If so, then you’ve probably thought about buying an air data computer.

These are standard equipment in air-carrier aircraft and many bizjets and turboprops also carry them. As most owners learn early on, flying an airplane is a game a numbers and the higher the performance, the more the numbers really start to matter. And most performance numbers…