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Some OEMs include speedbrakes as standard or as an option on new aircraft, and theyve been available for years as STCd retrofit systems. Fitting speedbrakes in the aftermarket may seem like a complicated project, and while its a major modification, the installation is easier than you might think-as easy as cutting holes (rectangles, actually) in metal wings can be, that is. In this article we’ll look at the two and only aftermarket speedbrake systems, the installation, real-world use and the cost.

Even if the likes of a Cirrus or Lancair hadnt come along, builders of metal airplanes like the Mooney M20 series were headed for a box. As volume diminished, the airplanes remained as complex as ever to build, with thousands of hand operations and individual parts. Economy of scale had evaporated.

The day had started out so well. You flew out to meet with a client and wrapped up a big sale. On the way home you got some time in the clag and shot an approach to your non-towered home field. You broke out we’ll above minimums and easily spotted the runway. But then, somehow, you didnt handle the crosswind during rollout and went swerving off the runway into the grass. To make matters worse, just before you got the airplane stopped the nose gear hit a hidden storm-drain cover and collapsed.

A number of readers contacted us, attaching copies of the ad depicted below showing a Tundra tire-equipped Husky perched in the high country. The readers either asked if the numbers were true or claimed they were what comes out of the south end of a northbound bovine. We found that unless the airplane is stripped […]

Portable ADS-B In isn’t that complicated. It requires a 978 MHz receiver for weather and some traffic, a simple computer that converts those signals to a common protocol and transmits the results via Wi-Fi. You can pump up system performance with a second 1090 MHz traffic receiver, GPS position and AHRS. So if you had the right shopping list, the software to put on the computer and a little technical savvy, you should be able make your own. And thats exactly what the Stratux is. We built one and discovered: Yes, you can build a working portable ADS-B receiver with parts ordered off Amazon. No, its not just as good as an Appareo Stratus 2S. And, yes, it will work with ForeFlight-at least for now.

Early detection is the key to cabin pressurization failures and thats precisely the purpose of the $399 Aviation Technology AltAlert personal cabin pressure sensor. The six-ounce AltAlert measures 3.0 by 1.75 by 0.75 inches and can be mounted on a flat surface, clipped to a sun visor or worn on clothing. Powered by a 3-volt lithium CR2032 coin battery, the device utilizes an internal algorithmic software program to sense cabin pressure and rate of climb by way of a temperature corrected pressure sensor.

In the heady days of the 1960s and 1970s, personal airplane manufacturers were heavily invested in marketing their products the same way Detroit had been selling cars: Get new owners hooked on an entry-level model, offer several step-up models and make annual but incremental improvements. Just as Detroits Big Three had dealer networks, Beech, Cessna and Piper had them also, offering everything from primary flight training to maintenance, rental and charter.

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Retrofitting your aircraft’s turboprop avionics, for sale or for personal maintenance, can be stressful. Sandel Avionics’ new Avilon flight deck is supposed to remove that stress, with an installation period of just 5 days. Is Sandel setting its bar too high, or have they managed to revolutionize the avionics refurb market?

Check out reader feedback from last month’s Aviation Consumer. Subscribers discuss the modernity of aircraft vacuum systems vs. electronic attitude gyros, technical issues with Lycoming fuel pumps, and a crucial feature the Garmin Pilot app still lacks.

Buying aircraft, financing aircraft, or even leasing aircraft are processes dense enough to almost make you give up. Appraisal reports make it easier, but it is crucial to know your appraiser is NAAA-certified and working through an established aircraft valuation database. Why? Because aircraft price publications are the default resource for aircraft valuation, and they don’t always account for refurbishment, avionics upgrades or aging airframes.

While both Diamond and Tecnam have introduced light twins during the past decade, the market hasnt seen a new large-displacement, piston cabin-class twin since the early 1970s. But demand for such a thing isn’t quite dead, apparently.