Aviation Consumer

Bellanca Viking

Subscribers Only In an age of slick composite airplanes, Vikings are a wood-and-fabric throwback. But owners rave about good handling and sleek looks.

ADS-B: Buy or Wait?

Subscribers Only What a deal: Free datalink weather and traffic. The hardware is there but the network isn’t. Don’t wait for this system if you need weather datalink now.

Three-Blade Props: Buy For Looks, Not Speed

Subscribers Only They’re often quieter and less vibey—but not always. For high-horsepower airplanes, they make sense, less so for modest cruisers, where speed may suffer.

Getting It Fixed Right

Subscribers Only Post-accident, most insurers will do the right thing but some will steer you to a marginal shop. Here’s how to stand your ground to get competent repairs.

Electronic Flight Library: Nice Idea, Needs Work

Subscribers Only We like Avidyne and Garmin’s hardware, but we think Jeppesen needs to get busy with smarter software that doesn’t mimic paper charts.

Diamond’s Twin Star: Are the Engines Ready?

Subscribers Only Dozens are already flying in Europe. Success rests with engine life and serviceability, but in the U.S., a Lycoming-powered version may win the day.

Letters: 08/05

Powertow Fan Since I own three airplanes, I consider Aviation Consumer one of my required publications. I read every issue cover to cover and file many of them for valuable future reference. I especially enjoyed your June article on hangar tugs. We purchased a Northwest Powertow over 10 years ago. It has been doing yeoman duty since then, pulling the ol’ Cessna 310 out of, into and around the hangar and ramp. We got the do-it-yourself version, which went together without a hitch. I put in some gas and oil and gave the rope a pull. It lit off on the first tug—no pun intended—and has done so ever since. In fact, the starting habits of this particular unit have become the...

First Word: 08/05

Diesels and the Lunatic Fringe After preparing the report on Diamond’s diesel twin for this issue, I freely confess that I am exactly the wrong guy to judge a diesel airplane’s market potential in the U.S. In my view, if the thing runs, has an acceptable climb rate and an okay cruise speed, I’m pre-disposed to pick a diesel over a gasoline engine. But then I’m a guy who will fly a Mooney lean of peak to save a couple of gallons of gas in exchange for seven or eight fewer knots of cruise speed. I think SUVs are a gross waste of gas for trips to the country club and I obsessively turn off unused lights. None of this has a thing to do with environmentalism. I’m not green, I’m just c...

Gear of the Year: 2005

Subscribers Only A dozen of the best products and services we’ve seen. Our company of the year award goes to the Mooney Airplane Company.