Vision Microsystem’s VM1000 is the system of choice for many experimentals but it can be installed in certified aircraft.

by Jeb Burnside

Even in a world of microchips and instant communication, keeping tabs on a piston engine’s relative health is more black art than science. The harsh truth is that the engine instrumentation most airframe manufacturers provide is little different from what was installed in a 1948 Buick. If you’re flying an older airplane, it is from a 1948 Buick.

But aftermarket engine monitors have been around for two decades now and even a simple one can improve your knowledge of engine operation and health. Since we last examined monitors six years ago, there has been a virtual explosion in market penetration. These days, it’s rare to see a high-performance…