You didn't think we were going to leave Lakeland without a
chance to throw out some Congrats and/or Raspberries... did
ya?
Not one to miss a chance to pontificate at will (and we
will...and will... and will), here's what most impressed us this
week -- and what didn't. AND when all this noise is said and
done, we're FINALLY going to drop THE bomb on everyone... with a
MAJOR announcement that is the result of many year's observation of
Lakeland and dozens of other fly-in and airshows... Stay tuned...
this one is gonna be a doozie.
First the Good News...
1. Avidyne Takes Over the World
The glass cockpit wars
have been heating up here and there for the last couple of years
and this year is looking to be a wildest yet. With Garmin heating
up the landscape with a number of announcements over G1000
adoptions and introductions, Avidyne, the GA glass cockpit
manufacturer with the largest installed user base, as well as the
first to land a major OEM gig, has shown that they still own a
large part of the market. More; they're not willing to give up any
additional market share without a fight.
Already on a host of Piper singles, a very slick three-panel
Avidyne Entegra installation is now being offered for the Piper
Meridian turbo-prop. And then there was the Flight center
announcement, radar interface announcements, Flight Director
announcements, you name it. The Avidyne agenda is gaining some
serious steam.
With a host of new features and capabilities also doing the
news-rounds this week, the other big announcement was Avidyne's
adoption by Symphony Aircraft... the only two seat manufacturer
(besides mighty Diamond aircraft) with a truly GA-worthy two seat
line -- and now the only two seater with a glass panel -- for less
than $190K. Can you say "hot IFR Trainer?" I knew that you
could.
2. Diamond's Amazing Diesel
It's kinda fun when one's preconceptions prove to be
misconceptions. Such is the case with the Diamond DA40TDI... an
airplane that I expected to find somewhat underwhelming. But... I
was wrong.
I mean... how good can a bird be that's used to 180 HP when it
gets thrown out of the nest with only 135 HP? Answer: Much better
than you think. Powered by the Thielert CENTURION 1.7 Diesel
engine, the motive force for this critter is a 4-cylinder 4-stroke
4-valve in line diesel cycle engine with common rail direct
injection. It is turbo charged and liquid cooled, uses a wet sump
oil system, an electronic control unit and uses a gearbox/reduction
drive with a 1:1.69 ratio.
But the beauty of it is this... as we all reel from sticker
shock every time we taxi up to the pump, the DA40TDI giggles along
on less than 5 GPH in normal cruise and can plug along on as little
as 1.9 GPH at 40 % power and 85+ knots... all day long (or so it
seems).
You give up a few things for this phenomenal level of economy
and 21st century technology (the FADEC system is so simple even an
Editor-In-Chief can use it... and did -- without ANY loss of
life--BE IMPRESSED). It's just a little slower than the Lyc, it
doesn't climb quite as fast... but it'll kick still a Skyhawk's ass
and that's all that REALLY counts... no? Better yet, the same
delightful characteristics that make a DA40 such a joy to fly are
totally intact and the occasional whiff of jet fuel is but icing on
the cake... especially when you pay your fuel bill.
Mind you; there's MUCH more to the DA40 diesel effort than a
bird that sips so little gas as to make one accuse it of sporting
the mythical "sky-hook," and we'll have a flight report done
shortly that'll tell you why... but suffice it to say that the
Thielert powered DA40 is a sign of the times that tells us that
we're heading in the right directions and that gutsy little
companies like Diamond are betting large... and winning. More info
to follow.
3. Eclipse Flies In
We knew it might happen several days ahead of time... but the
vagaries of weather and an increasingly arduous flight test
schedule kept us guessing until Vern Raburn called us as they
taxied out of ABQ for Lakeland. That's how one of 2005's coolest
cross-countries got started. Eclipse tells us that N503EA
participated in chase chores for the first flight of aircraft
N502EA -- which delayed the departure for LAL until 15:11 MDT on
4/14.
N503EA flew in formation with Don Taylor's Mu-2 at FL250 enroute
to Longview, TX for RON. Pacing the MU-2 resulted in 270 KTAS.
Total trip was 2,688 NM with six stops (Longview, TX; Tallahassee,
FL; Lakeland, FL; Jackson, MS; Wichita Falls, TX; Albuquerque). Max
distance in a single leg was 590 NM. Max block time was 2:30. Fuel
burn was about the same as the MU-2. The aircraft reportedly
performed "excellently," and experienced NO maintenance issues. It
RON in Wichita Falls on the return because of weather while Eclipse
folks noted that this first flight test aircraft had only 40 hours
on it before the trip and flew a 6 hop 2600+ NM cross country with
no maintenance problems, was "significant."
Eclipse qualifies the trip's stats, somewhat, in that the actual
numbers of cruise altitude, speed, leg length, are NOT indicative
of the actual performance of the jet because they were following
Don's Rice Rocket and were using very conservative minimum fuels
due to the fact that this was the first time the aircraft was away
from home. Regardless of the caveats... it was a cool thing to do
and we're glad to see the E-500 spread it's wings... nearly coast
to coast, no less.
4. Piper Battles Ice
Piper is no stranger to de-ice and anti-ice offerings... but the
recent introduction of the PIIPS system is not only a welcome
addition to the six place line... but we truly appreciate the
manner in which they are marketing the product. The Piper
Inadvertent Icing Protection System (PIIPS) is now available as
optional equipment on it's unpressurized six-seat single-engine
models - the Saratoga II HP, the Saratoga II TC, the Piper 6X and
the Piper 6XT.
But it's the very truthful emphasis on the system's use in
"emergency" icing that I find refreshing. I've seen the same system
oversold as an icing deterrent WAY too many times when the simple
fact that is that such systems are to be used when one accidently
encounters icing.,.. and not as a way to cheat fate and stack the
deck in favor of the pilot who's willing to push his luck. Piper
isn't playing that game.
Piper's Molly Martin Pearce, New Piper's Director of Dealer
Relations & Sales says that, "When weather forecasts are off
the mark, and pilots inadvertently find themselves in icing
conditions, the build up of airframe ice can be quick and
dangerous. Having PIIPS takes preparedness to a new level and
ensures that pilots have the safety margin to exit icing conditions
quickly and effectively."
Piper, flat-out, calls it an emergency system, describes icing
for what it is... something to be avoided like the plague. As a
result, it sells the program SPECIFICALLY as a last chance against
unplanned/accidental icing encounters. Good for them.
Piper may be getting older... but they're getting smarter, to
boot.
5. Two Seaters Making Comeback
Competition is good for business... especially when that
competition makes everyone look good. For for too long, Diamond
ruled the twin-seat roost with a line of sexy and capable two
seaters that offered excellent bang for the buck and even better
value. A number of announcements came and went in regards to a
number of pretenders to the throne -- some credible, some not. The
revamped Luscombe is still DOA, the Liberty XL-2 has seen more
delays than a REALLY bad day at Amtrak (and been mismanaged
horribly), and the much vaunted Symphony program stumbled visibly
after financial woes forced a shutdown.
But times have changed.
Diamond still rules, Luscombe is a ghost and the XL-2 still
seems like a long shot... but the lovely little Symphony is back...
with a vengeance. The Symphony SA 160 is a 2 place aircraft that
offers 700 lbs. of useful load, a 150 mph cruise speed, a roomy and
comfortable cabin, outstanding visibility, a large baggage
compartment and an elegant and modern look. Transport Canada
assumed responsibility as the "State of Design" and has issued the
Type and Production Certificates to Symphony Aircraft Industries.
New alliances include:
- a five-year alliance with Meggitt/S-TEC to provide autopilot
technology as factory-installed option,
- Avidyne Entegra, integrated flight deck glass cockpit,
- Ballistic Recovery System (BRS) whole aircraft recovery
parachute system.
Symphony expects to have two aircraft certificated to FAA Part
23 by the end of July, and customer deliveries by September, 2005.
Symphony expects production to eventually grow to 200-500 aircraft
per year. Prices include the Symphony SA-160 with the VFR package
for $139,900, a basic IFR version is $154,900, and a Glass Panel
IFR version (entirely replaces VFR equipment package) for $189,650.
The optional BRS ballistic parachute will be factory installed
(pending certification) for $18,500. Expect to see a lot these in
circulation in 2006.
To Be Continued....
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.15.24)
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