Editors Notes: Starting OSH With a Boom
It was going to be one of _those_ years, huh? At the pre-show press conference Sunday night at the Teledyne Continental Motors tent, the rain came down hard. Wind whipped the trees. I glanced toward homebuilt parking and wondered how good my knot-tying was.
Zenith Aircraft Offers Hot Deal on CH 701
By combining the economical Jabiru 2200A engine with the LSA-legal CH 701 airframe, Zenair has been able to produce a complete kit package for a remarkable $29,980.
RANS to Build Airplane-Friendly Bicycle
Among the many interests of RANS Aircrafts Randy Schlitter is bicycle manufacturing, which he does with an uncommon philosophy of design and ergonomics.
RANS S-7 Survivor Celebrated
As RANS says in its short description of N11632, one of three airplanes featured at the company's booth, it is not the shiniest or newest among the many airplanes on the field today."
Maxwell Propulsion Upgrades Its Four-Cylinder Options
Thanks to a stroke increase bumping the four-cylinder, single-overhead-cam Subaru engine's displacement to 2.6 liters, the current iteration of the Maxwell Propulsion firewall-forward package now produces 205 horsepower.
American Legend News on FloatCub, Avionics
American Legend Aircraft announced a new amphibious FloatCub on Baumann floats and the Legend "Smart" Cub, which features an optional Garmin GPSMAP 696 multi-function display.
Garmin Introduces G3X, G500, Updates Other Glass
For homebuilders, the G3X is the big news. Based on the GDU 370/375 panel-mount MFDs, the G3X is a modular EFIS/engine monitor. The system starts with a 7-inch-diagonal portrait display that can be scaled up to work with two or three screens and a variety of plug-ins.
Lycomings IE2 Flying, Other Projects Continue
At a press conference Monday, Lycomings General Manager, Ian Walsh, proudly announced that the first Lancair piston Evolution had concluded its initial testing with the firms electronic engine controls and was at Oshkosh/AirVenture for all to see.
KITPLANES Cover Boy Credited for OSH Grounds Reorganization
Two-time KITPLANES cover subject Dave Klages, builder of a Van's RV-8 and a Wag-Aero "Cub" Light Sport, was credited today at the opening ceremonies of AirVenture 2009 for his work in reordering the physical layout of the show. The show has yet to begin, but KITPLANES staff on site report that the new arrangement is an improvement.
Sonex Announces Single-Seat Jet
An article in EAA AirVenture Today reported that Sonex Aircraft unveiled a single-place jet at its open house on Sunday. The design is called the Sub-Sonex.
In Case You Missed It
Taxes and Shipping Additional
Most homebuilders—and just I’m spit-balling here—have waited a long time to justify the cost of building an airplane.
Slap an Engine On It and Go Fly!
With a new Corvair engine, an old Stolp Starlet returns to the skies.
What’s New
RV-12 building assistance is available on DVD from HomebuiltHELP; Plane-Power has introduced a new alternator for Continental 520 and 550 engines; WhirlWind announces a new composite, ground-adjustable propeller for the Rotax 912/914 engine.
The Dawn Patrol
When the chainsaw starters they'd been using on their airplanes for years finally started to give out, Dawn Patrol members searched for a replacement. It turned up in a garden tractor.