September 2003
PA-22 Tri-Pacer
Subscribers Only Piper’s first nosedragger: Dowdy anachronism or delightful, affordable classic? (Both may be true.)
Oshkosh Diary
Subscribers Only What weak market? We’ve never seen so many companies bullish on new stuff. Fresh engine ideas lead the charge.
Fly on Business?
Subscribers Only If you want to use your own airplane for corporate travel, many companies will sneer. But there are ways to make it work.
Improving the View
Subscribers Only Older radars don’t die, they fade to monochrome. Avidyne leads the field in MFD replacement indicators.
100LL Won’t Play Dead
Subscribers Only We’ve been writing sky-is-falling stories about the demise of avgas for 20 years. Here’s why it’s still around.
FADEC Fade?
Subscribers Only Electronic engine controls are finding some takers but customer response has been anemic. Here’s an update.
Letters: 09/03
New Engines I agree 100-percent with your conclusions in the July article about Bombardier’s engines. One data point for you: Rotax builds the 998 cc 60-degree V-twin engine used in all the larger Aprilia motorcycles. (What’s this? An Italian bike with an Austrian engine?) It’s a great little engine, powerful and flexible and so far extremely reliable. It’ll do 110 HP at the rear wheel in totally stock form and 120 to 125 HP with a freer-flowing pipe and a slight remap. But…they are notoriously thirsty! A similar-displacement Ducati can pound out 40 to 48 MPG all day long, but the Aprilia Tuono I have only once touched 40 MPG; more often it’s 35. Just for your interest,...