Aviation Consumer

Piper Super Cub

Subscribers Only Although Cub nostalgia keeps purchase prices high, the world’s premier utility aircraft is also a terrific fun flyer.

Why 100LL Won’t Die

Subscribers Only It’s economics, mainly. There’s no discernible push to eliminate lead from avgas and as long as money is being made, the alternatives are simply DOA.

Garmin GMA347: Complex, Feature Rich

Subscribers Only Remember when audio panels were just fancy switches? Not anymore. The features are there, but it takes some work to get at them.

X-Plane Version 8: First Rate Flight Dynamics

Subscribers Only But plug and play it isn’t. You’ll need a high-end system, patience and expertise to get the most out of it. Tyros and technophobes should shop elsewhere.

Glass Scratch Removers: Scratch-Off Works Best

Subscribers Only None of the products tried work miracles, so avoid damage in the first place. Otherwise, patience and elbow grease—plus a power buffer—will yield decent results.

Trainer Flyoff: Diamond Still Tops

Subscribers Only If IFR certification is a must, the Symphony 160 is our second choice. But both Symphony and Liberty must prove what Diamond already has: staying power.

Letters: 05/06

Glass Panels Your glass panel flyoff article in the March 2006 Aviation Consumer was interesting, but only helpful to the handful of individuals who will be purchasing new equipment in which these systems are offered. Even then, it looks like few will have a choice in which system they can order in a given aircraft. What would be more interesting to most aircraft owners and pilots is a comparison of available certified retrofit EFIS systems for GA aircraft. It would be of great value to find out more about the capabilities of the Chelton system and its novel “highway in the sky” approach and compare it to Meggitt, Honeywell and Avidyne. I believe that the Chelton is flying...

First Word: 05/06

THIELERT AND SUPERIOR Twice this month, I have heard disgruntled aircraft owners—one of them a service guy for a major OEM—ask when Toyota or Honda is going to get into the aircraft piston engine business. I keep wanting to say, well, how about never? But then I realized most of us have been looking across the wrong ocean for leading-edge engine developments. How about Germany rather than Japan? [IMGCAP(1)]And that’s exactly the significance of the announcement in March that the Thielert Group bought Superior Air Parts, lock, stock and cylinder barrel. I spoke to Frank Thielert the day after the sale was announced and he said the company’s business plan is to leave Superior’s s...