Gear

Lightspeed, one of the producers of high-end active noise reduction (ANR) headsets, announced this week that the release of its latest and greatest product, the Zulu PFX, has been delayed. The company’s president, Alan Schrader, issued a statement in a newsletter explaining the reason for the delay. “From the start, our goal with Zulu PFX […]

S-Tec parent company Cobham launched a new digital autopilot, the S-Tec 5000, a dual digital system with a number of advanced capabilities and pricing that on paper make it a potent competitor in the replacement autopilot marketplace. In addition to typical advanced autopilot capabilities like altitude hold, preselect, vertical speed and indicated airspeed hold, the […]

Aircell has rolled out several notable upgrades and enhancements to its Gogo in-flight Internet services, starting with Gogo Vision, a Netflix-style entertainment service for the cabin, plus a new IP-based talk and text service that can link directly with passengers’ personal smartphones. Gogo Vision in an on-demand in-flight entertainment and information service for the business […]

Garmin is upgrading the features and capabilities of its touchscreen GTN series navigators with the addition of optional Class A TAWS capability, ADS-B Out compatibility with third-party transponders and the ability for pilots to create custom messages on the GTN display. The enhancements are available now in new GTN units as well as through a […]

Both Beechcraft and Nextant Aerospace offer engine/airframe/avionics upgrades for existing Hawker 400 jets (formerly the Beechjet, née Mitsubishi Diamond). Beech just upped the ante by offering the Garmin G5000 avionics suite as an option. The Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 is the other option. Brian Howell, Beechcraft v-p of aftermarket sales and business development, said, […]

Rockwell Collins says its new EVS-3000 enhanced-vision system represents a technological leap forward, making use of multiple image sources to provide the clearest view yet through poor weather plus the ability to detect LED runway lighting. Available for use with head-up or head-down displays, the EVS-3000’s camera pod uses a proprietary “multi-spectral” sensor developed by […]

AOPA’s initiative to promote flying clubs around the country, which was announced at last year’s AOPA Summit in Palm Springs, California, has inspired Sporty’s to launch a program to aid clubs as well. Sporty’s is offering 5 percent rebates on all purchases from customers who are members of a registered flying club. “We are in […]

The FAA and EASA have signed off on the type certification for a five-bladed Hartzell propeller specifically designed to improve the performance of Daher-Socata’s TBM 700 and 850 single-engine turboprops. The composite propeller has a thin, swept airfoil that Hartzell claims improves takeoff acceleration, climb rates and cruise speeds, while producing less noise than the […]

Dynon’s new D2 Pocket Panel, unveiled over the weekend, improves on the company’s original D1 portable EFIS by incorporating built-in Wi-Fi for connecting the unit with iPad, smartphone and tablet apps. Wi-Fi connectivity allows the D2 to transmit flight data including attitude, GPS ground speed, altitude, vertical speed, Gs and ground track to any compatible […]

Suddenly “smart watches” are cool — so you knew it was only a matter of time before somebody introduced a cool and smart pilot watch. Think of Garmin’s new D2 watch as a powerful aviation GPS receiver that you wear on your wrist. Stylish and lightweight, it incorporates direct-to and nearest navigation functions, as well […]