Misc

Cheap Shade
While it may give some a feeling of satisfaction to pay $150 to $300 per set for sun shields, my solution has been more economical and very effective.

For the windshield on my Cessna 182, I use two reflective-surfaced cloth shields (automotive windshield screens), the type with the wire ring around the periphery. These can be easily folded into a circle about a foot across and stuffed into the seat-back pocket.

I install them with the bottom edge against the glareshield, the top edge against the aircraft sun visors, behind the windshield. The sides fit against the sideposts. I have noticed no adverse effects on the windshield in 12 years of use.

I alway…

FADEC Fantasies
I am an engineer who designs things with microprocessors and I have some strong thoughts about what, if anything, we should do to improve the performance of aircraft engines.

First of all, trying a new electronic contraption to make an engine work better is fine, but the back-up should be magnetos. In other words, replace the left mag with whatever kind of fancy thing you think might be better and hooray if it can save us some fuel. But leave the engine with something we know works; a right mag.

Think about this a little. In the Piper Tomahawk debacle, we had an unknown phenomena killing magnetos. If we make engines with a new ignition system, we don’t wan…

When we reported on the improved fuel injection nozzles made by General Aviation Modifications two years ago, we got a steady trickle of testimonial letters affirming that, yes indeed, these devices work as claimed.

But also some complaints: Why no nozzles for Lycomings? The simple answer is that GAMI is a small company and couldnt get around to the R&D work until about a year ago. (Besides, GAMI figured Lycoming engines wouldnt benefit as much from improved nozzles, a notion that turns out to be correct by degree.)

In any case, GAMI is now delivering improved nozzles for most Lycoming engines. These range in price from $699 for normally aspirated four-cylinder engines, $899 for tur…

Pilots lounge rumor has it that the FAA has approved single-engine IFR for Part 135 passenger-carrying on demand operations. On demand means passengers wave money at pilots and demand to be taken somewhere.

Pilots, an easy lot when it comes to money, might be tempted to grab the money and fly. Weve heard from several readers who are thinking about sinking big bucks into a Saratoga or a nice used A36 Bonanaza, figuring to offset the expenses by putting the airplane on a charter flightline.

We wish em luck. Potential single engine charter operators are finding out there’s more to putting that Cherokee Six into charter service than simply buying an ad in the Yellow Pages. FAA…

What does a watch do? It tells time, of course.

What does a pilots watch do? Well, it tells time, too. But traditionally, it also has a stopwatch function, often called a chronograph, a high falutin word that simply means interval timer. Since pilots are also navigators and navigation traditionally requires highly reliable timepieces, the would-be buyer may vaguely assume that a pilots watch slices the seconds with laser-like accuracy, a notion the ad agencies for Rolex, Brietling and others have done nothing to dispel. (Its not true, of course.)

Then there’s the look. There’s nothing quite like a shimmering gold-cased watch with a dial the size of a dinner plate and festoo…

Air Sickess Retorts
I am an AME, family physician and IFR-rated pilot. My wife suffers with severe motion sickness. It was rendering my airplane useless ; she would get sick even in light chop.

Then I read about the Relief Band in Aviation Consumers first report on the subject some years ago. After reviewing the companys research, I ordered a Relief Band. To put it bluntly, it was amazing. On the first flight that my wife used it, we ran into moderate turbulence such that my usually resilient children began to feel sick. My wife was fine.

In the three to four years since she started using it, she has not once gotten sick. She has used it on the ground also, inclu…

Losing the bolt that holds the collective link rod to the main rotor mechanism on a helicopter is usually a precursor to a messy end for all onboard. Necessity and adrenaline can accomplish miracles, but the right tool can make the difference.

In this case, one of the passengers, Dave Zalunardo, climbed outside the chopper and using the pilots Leatherman Pocket Survival Tool, was able to improvise a solution that allowed the pilot to safely land. While this is the most dramatic aviation survival story weve heard attributed to having a multi-tool, its hardly the only one. (See www.avweb.com/articles/leatherm.html for the full narrative.)

Aircraft are mechanical assemblies and li…

Three-Blade Props
Your article about three-blade props caught my eye right off. I have owned three Cessna 180s and have about 2500 hours in them. On the 1974 model I currently own (picture enclosed), I have recently done certain modifications including a three-blade prop that increased the speed in a significant way.

First, it has been my experience that most Cessna 180s are good for about 150 MPH at cruise and it doesnt make much difference up to about 7000 feet. Above that altitude, they lose speed and show reduced indicated air speed.

Indicated air speed on a standard 180 will be in the low 140 MPH. Above 6000 feet, this will fall to about 135 MPH at 9000 feet. You c…

Simpler GPS
I enjoyed your article on simpler GPS in the January, 1998 issue. Standardization of the design and operation of these devices is desired if for no other reason than for safety.

Many pilots fly more than one aircraft with navigation equipment manufactured by various companies and across various model ranges. If the pilot inadvertently uses the wrong sequences or pushes the wrong button or becomes transfixed by what the unit is displaying, his attention is diverted for too long a period and you have a 100 MPH-plus guided missile.

ARINC would be the ideal organization to create a specification or standard agreed to by the manufacturers and the FAA. ARINC is sub…

In the world of biz jets, fractional ownership is the buzzword du jour.

The concept is simple enough. Rather than tying up a few million in a solely owned jet, a company buys a share of a single airplane thats part of a larger fleet. The buy-in entitles the company to a certain amount of yearly fleet usage without the bother and expense of maintaining a flight department.

Evidently, plenty of companies find the fractional ownership numbers to their liking, given the astonishing success of NetJets, a share-a-jet marketing concept developed by Executive Jet Management, a management company based in Columbus, Ohio.

Last year, NetJet had 95 aircraft and has announced plans to buy a…

Its In the Genes
Regarding the Great GA Sell Job in your December issue, I offer my opinions on propagating public interest in flying.

I think that the desire to fly is a genetic thing. My Grandfather and my Dad were pilots. Im a pilot and my kids, who beg to go flying with me, will certainly be pilots, too.

Most of my buddies who fly had a parent who was a pilot. Most of my buddies with kids have kids that love airplanes and therefore these kids are likely to be pilots, too. I would bet that 80 percent of all pilots are related to another pilot. In support of my theory, how many of us pilots have said flying is in my blood.

Given the difficulties and mixed results…

Engine
Crystal Ball
I have a suggestion for a future topic and a question. Actually, several questions. How about some more coverage on diesel engines and how all this relates to the continuing availability of 100LL.

My question relates to that topic: Should we, as aircraft owners, be planning for the eventual transition to diesel engines? For an aircraft owner facing engine replacement one, three and five years from now, what is your best informed guess on what we should plan for?

Should an owner stretch out his remaining engine time to position himself for one of the new engine designs? If so, which ones? Or should he simply go for the conventional engine replacem…