You wrote an eye-watering check to the avionics shop for the latest and greatest gear, but that doesn’t mean the new suite is invincible. An electrical failure in a single-alternator, single-battery aircraft will make the unprepared wish the vacuum system wasn’t in the rubbish bin on the shop floor. Herewith is our plan for affordable […]
As we’ve reported, thanks to space-saving, small-supply oxygen systems from Aerox and Aithre, more pilots and their passengers may be using O2 in the cabin who otherwise wouldn’t. But we’re also hearing about the challenges of getting these little cylinders filled. Some FBOs and maintenance shops unfamiliar with these new bottles (some as small as […]
Keep a straight face. Couldn’t do it, could you? This subject is proof positive that every pilot’s idea of humor effectively stopped developing as a four-year-old making potty jokes. We’ll go further than making fun of discomfort and express our concern that the pressing need for a bathroom may we’ll be a safety of flight […]
If you think those features are a recipe for building the ultimate futuristic flight deck, you have it right. And even in a world where everything is connected over the internet, you might not expect to be able to remotely connect to the cockpit anytime, anyplace. But you can. That’s exactly what Honeywell has […]
There’s a new lightweight headset in town, one developed by pilots for pilots—specifically, experimental pilots. The CQ1 is an evolutionary step in the development of the ultra-lightweight, in-ear headset that has become popular in the experimental world because of the freedom you get without big bunny ears—and in bubble canopies, it makes it easier to […]
Whether it’s your first headset to get the flight training off the ground or a spare set for the back seat of the family airplane, it’s tempting to shop the used headset market for bargains on high-end models. But don’t expect much savings on desirable, current-production models from Bose and Lightspeed. For older sets, flat-rate […]
When we evaluated the first version of the MiraCheck Copilot checklist app a few years ago, we were somewhat impressed that it could speak checklist items, as if someone was in the right seat. But we really wanted it to be verbally interactive. In other words, to mimic the challenge/response method of professional flight crews. […]
In our long-term trials of new small-bottle oxygen tanks from Aithre and Aerox, we’re confirming what we suspected early on: You can suck a tank dry pretty quickly. Sure, these compact bottles (as small as 47 liters) aren’t really intended for feeding an entire cabin for hours in the flight levels, but it sure makes […]
No, Apple’s iPad isn’t going to put Dynon or Garmin out of business—ever. But it will continue to rob sales of big-screen display suites because face it, the current big-screen iPads look pretty darned good. But while the troops are pretty, iPads can’t fight the heat that ultimately shuts them down in a hot cockpit, […]
It’s a question we field often: My eyes are aging and I need a big display. Do I buy a Garmin or a Dynon? As one reader put it: “I got demos for each system while at AirVenture and walked away more confused than when I started.” Part of the confusion was prompted by the […]
After a one-year hiatus because of the pandemic, the annual AEA (Aircraft Electronics Association) national convention met in Dallas, Texas, in June. There were two new products that caught our attention. First, the MyGoFlight SkyDisplay HUD, which has been stuck in certification since we first flew with the system for a report in the May […]
You’ll spend at least a few hundred dollars to have a panel USB charging port installed, and for many dropping big money on a panel upgrade it’s probably worth it. But for the rest of us, especially renters, plug-in chargers are the only options for a constant source of ship’s power for keeping portable gadgets […]
