Exploring

This months column includes information on new anti-collision strobe lights and LED position lights, a micro belt sander, a smart servo controller for trim, a desktop model of the Cozy Mark IV and the announcement of a taildragger configuration option for the Eurofox SLSA.

When you join two halves of a flat aviation engine together, they often weep between the starter and the alternator. Not only is this unsightly, its wasteful and makes completing an overhaul more cumbersome than need be. Enter Ly-Con, whose groovy O-ring process promises to stop leaks before they start.

With Bose and LightSpeed competing neck and neck (ear to ear?) in the ANR headset arena, author Jack Cowell does a side-by-side comparison to see which model excels.

Motivated by an irresistible bargain and at least a modicum of nostalgia, author Dave Martin recaptures a piece of his earlier flying years when he purchases a twin-engine Lazair ultralight in partnership with two buddies. The Lazair is an unusual design to say the least, and Martin hasnt forgotten how to fly it, so both of his partners will benefit from his experience.

In keeping with the spirit of this years Directory of Plansbuilt Aircraft, Editor-in-Chief Marc Cook extols the virtues of enjoying the process of building of an airplane as much as the flying of it.

Among the news items this month are the announcement of extended-range fuel tanks for the Arion Aircraft Lightning, a flight bag thats customized for RV aircraft, a light-aircraft jack and a new transceiver from Microair Avionics of Australia.

Sage philosopher and aviation nut Uncle Ishmael explains how, for about the price of a 4-year-old Ford pickup truck, you can own a serviceable homebuilt aircraft. Youll probably have to forgo anything certified, and hone your scrounging skills, but when all is said and done, isn't getting up in the air flying better than sitting on the ground dreaming?

Inherent biases or previous experience can alter the perceptions of any product reviewer, but perceptions may change when one takes the time to investigate further, sometimes turning what was thought to be a detriment into something less significant. Such was the case when columnist Dave Martin revisited one feature (pilot visibility) of the Remos G-3 SLSA.

Editor-in-Chief Marc Cook highlights an intriguing product that caught his eye at AirVenture Oshkosh 2007, and he reiterates the difficulty of bringing new engines to market.

While new electronic flight instrument systems (EFISes) sometimes seem ubiquitous, PC Avionics new yourGlassPanel line stands out as an easily retrofittable blend of form and function that may fit the bill for homebuilders seeking a moderately priced primary or backup EFIS; by Marc Cook.