The last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind–and very satisfying. Two weeks ago, I watched my oldest daughter graduate from college. Then, a week later, I was the commencement speaker at San Jose State University. The students in their Aviation Division requested me and I was only too happy to speak. I've uploaded ten … Read more
Last week, I wrote about the announcement of the Cirrus Perspective glass cockpit for the SR22, and how I had thought they’d be announcing the L-3 SmartDeck instead. My comments were prescient, as just two days later L-3 announced the availability of SmartDeck for the Cirrus SR22, though as a retrofit, rather than a factory … Read more
Today, Cirrus Design announced that the Cirrus Perspective glass cockpit–think Garmin G1000 Plus–is available as an option to their SR22 aircraft. This is big news for several reasons, and future SR22 buyers will want to consider whether to choose it or the current Avidyne Entegra glass cockpit. They will also want to think about buying Max … Read more
"The world is constantly changing and in the process is creating new ways to enjoy learning about and staying in touch with aviation.” That’s the beginning of an article I wrote on podcasts, the latest way to download and listen to audio on virtually any topic, in the Fall/Winter issue of my free online Pilot … Read more
If you’re a pilot, Christmas comes twice a year in April and July. That’s when manufacturers trot out announcements of their new products at Sun ‘n Fun and AirVenture. Based on press releases by Garmin, Cessna and Diamond, Sun ‘n Fun—where I’ll be later this week—is off to a roaring start. First, Garmin announced their … Read more
The outcome of the Columbia bankruptcy is a far happier story for everyone, with the possible exception of some unsecured creditors…What wasn’t immediately clear to me was how the two planes would fit into Cessna’s product line, given the development efforts underway for Cessna’s NGP or Next Generation Piston line of aircraft. Conceivably, these aircraft could be as fast as the Columbias and result in a significant product overlap. Ironically though, the purchase clarifies the design center of the NGP.
Currently, there’s very little general aviation in China. While I was there, I didn’t see a single small plane or helicopter during the entire trip. I did see two small business jets on the ramp at the Beijing airport. Imagine,