Misc

With automotive diesel technology and economy of scale, Thielert is reaching for a serious share of the GA engine market. Just don’t call them car engines.

Some shops offer this old hot rodder trick for aircraft cylinders. One side benefit may be improved durability thanks to better valve seating and grinding.

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…

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

Theyre often quieter and less vibey-but not always. For high-horsepower airplanes, they make sense, less so for modest cruisers, where speed may suffer.

A dozen of the best products and services weve seen. Our company of the year award goes to the Mooney Airplane Company.

If you have a wet vacuum pump, you’ll need one but otherwise, tune up the breather system first. Of the two major brands, our pick is the Airwolf.

[IMGCAP(1)]Our recommendation of the GATS Jar fuel tester in the March issue drew a couple of reader brickbats. There are some problems that you didnt mention, writes Allen Inks, of Toledo, Ohio, whose flying club uses the GATS for its aircraft. The gasket is, in my view, a poor design. Its difficult to reseat properly when screwing on the jar…I have seen several torn gaskets. The lack of an inner lip on the gasket seating surface aggravates this, causing gas to leak around the lid when its poured back into the tank.

Also, I find the reversible actuating tube on the GATS jar to be a little too wobbly for my taste when operating pin or bayonet-style drains. And since the pin is at…

Spam Cans vs. Homebuilts
I had to laugh reading the opening paragraph of your article on used Experimentals in the May 2005 issue. It described the day I opted out of spam cans almost exactly. But instead of doing the semi-sensible thing and buying one already built, I bought a nearly done project that someone needed to get out of.

If my mission were less than 1000 miles and I knew what I know now, I would just buy a turbonormalized Tornado Alley Bonanza with TKS and be very happy. But my mission is longer so Im still in the Experimental game.

I think you captured most of the issues. I would like to add a few more: While some of the kit companies engineer the origina…

EHSIs
Just read the April issue. Most flying magazines could take a lesson in how to fill 32 pages with useful information. I enjoyed the commentary/suggestion regarding a device in between a full-up glass cockpit and an EHSI. Larry Anglisanos article on the EHSIs was excellent and reading between the lines, seemed to be looking for the same thing.

A few years ago I read that Dynon had designed an all-electronic EFIS system that was relatively low cost for the homebuilt market (www.dynonavionics.com) . Why not the Dynon HSI to fill the obvious void? If there is a market and will someone step in to take the system throu…

To save your back, you probably need one for even a light single. Top picks are the Dragger series and Northwests venerable Powertow.

The up again, down again saga of T-34 spar cracks has given owners fits. But the long term payoff may one day save the Bonanza fleet.