This Is The Company's Second Time At Sun 'n Fun

By Maria Morrison, SNFDD Feature Editor

As airplanes become more precise, the levers to control them must become more precise as well. 

Enter McFarlane Aviation Products' newest line of throttles.

The Vernier-Assist series at McFarlane, on public display at the Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo, features a screw-action throttle control. Because it is completely friction-controlled, and does not have a locking mechanism, it cannot jam in the way that older throttle models do.

"No matter what happens in flight, you can always move it," said founder and CEO Dave McFarlane.

Instead of only having a friction lock and the push-pull mechanism of a standard throttle control, this series has a friction lock, the push-pull lever, but also the friction-driven screw-in Vernier adjust system, which allows pilots to make more finite adjustments.

This will be especially helpful for pilots descending from altitude who need to make very small power movements. Instead of pulling the throttle back, they can simply unscrew, resulting in smooth action and precise changes.

"People want to fly more precisely, so this is a more precise system," McFarlane said.

This is the company's second time at Sun 'n Fun after many years at AirVenture, and they are excited to be back around crowds who can interact with the people and the product.

A cutaway Vernier-Assist Throttle Control is on display for people to look at, making it much easier to understand the mechanism. By actually manipulating the controls in a mock instrument panel, prospective buyers can also feel how the new throttle moves in comparison to the traditional model.

"It's very important to us get out to the public, to talk to our customers," McFarlane said.

FMI: https://www.mcfarlaneaviation.com/