GlassPilot suggests that if you are considering a high performance aircraft that you study all safety information available to determine the suitability of the aircraft for your mission and pilot qualifications. This notice was recently published by Cirrus with links to useful information.

Alert Created After Recent SR-2X Accidents

Cirrus Aircraft has sent the following letter to each of their owners, as well as a number of others in the GA community after a number of recent SR-2X accidents. The company has suggested a “Safety Stand Down” as well as continuing flight training as a means to seeking better flight safety…
Read the rest of this entry »

Here at GlassPilot.com we are blessed to call so many great folks our friends, customers and supporters. Our friends Joey Richie and Matt Webb of Newport News VA just return from a great coast-to-coast flying adventure in their Diamond DA40 XLS with its G1000 panel and fuel sipping performance. This story is a fabulous example of the capabilities of our new modern aircraft. I think you’ll see clearly from their descriptions and photos the value the technology brings to making a trip like this possible. Thanks for the inspiration guys… I’m ready to launch for Catalina!

The Great Western Adventure

---

My partner in our DA40, Matt Webb and I just returned from a fantastic spur of the moment adventure from the East Coast (Newport News/Williamsburg) out to the West Coast in a four day trip. Matt had business in Texas and Phoenix and was looking for a good excuse to fly the Diamond out west. He asked me knowing that I can’t refuse any semi-reasonable excuse to go flying and that I could back him up with IMC situations that might arise. We synched our schedules, checked the weather for the thousandth time, then set off on Wednesday 5/26/10 knowing that we could still have two days of the Memorial Day weekend with the families if we could make it back Read the rest of this entry »

We here at GlassPilot.com will be keeping a close eye on the ongoing development of glass panels for the LSA and Experimental aircraft. Though there have been other players in this space we believe it will be the entry of Garmin with complete product suites that will transform the potential of this market. See this latest introduction by Garmin .

OLATHE, Kan./April 8, 2010/ Business Wire — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced that it will soon include synthetic vision in the G300 and G3X, the Read the rest of this entry »

Air Refueling in the KC135 from John Armstrong on Vimeo.

Here at GlassPilot we enjoy sharing information about modern aircraft and the impact the technology is having on the way we fly. Sometimes we like to share unique experiences and flying destinations for our readers to enjoy.  In this video we have the opportunity to share the experience of a recent flight on an Air Force Air Refueling Tanker. I was invited on a Civic Leader orientation flight.  The entire process was truly amazing.

In a typical refueling the KC135 might give an F15 3000 lbs or 500 gallons of fuel in only minutes.  The F15′s follow the tanker and the boom operator guides the fuel nozzle into a special fitting on the top of the aircraft. The song on the video seemed to fit as it says, “follow-me home and give me 5″. In one refueling mission the KC135 can deliver more fuel than the average driver would use in over 40 years of driving!

Though there are lots of engine gauges you’ll see that they don’t have anything on our modern GA panels! In fact, the aircraft was built the same year I was born and has been updated with glass avionics systems. In this updated form it is still the workhorse of the Air Force for refueling today. I think you’ll enjoy the video, check it out.  JA for GlassPilot.com

A friend of GlassPilot.com shared this excellent video with us. Remember, most of the technology used on these aircraft was introduced 10 – 20 years ago. If you are a pilot you’ll enjoy this video!

Event: Wings & Steam Fly-In
Dates: November 6, 7, 8, 2009

Flying Destination:
The Pik-N-Pig Restaurant, Carthage, NC

Airport: Gilliam-McConnell Airfield – 5NC3 coordinates: N35-20-366 W079-26-204   SDZ (VOR) 111.8 10.6 miles 049 Radial

Activities: Enjoy a BBQ lunch or dinner while you watch airplanes and then make your way to the Train and Tractor Show.  I heard there is a 5 mile Flea Market Too!

Comments: This unique place is simply something you must experience. They are hosting the Wings & Steam Fly-In Nov 6-8 2009.  This once a year extravaganza of vintage motorized equipment is so extensive and unique it is hard describe. You will be amazed by all that is on display. There are steam engine train rides and much of the equipment will be running providing demonstrations. Kids, young and old, love to see and hear trains and tractors so this event will entertain the entire family. Plan to stay longer than you might suspect you will!

Click to see the news video of this unique destination

See our Previous Post for all the details about the Pik N Pig and Flying into the 5NC3.

Read the rest of this entry »

On March 12th, 2009 Diamond Aircraft received the much anticipated type certificate for its DA42 NG, powered by the 170 hp Austro Engine AE-300.

“We are delighted to be able to resume volume deliveries of the DA42, less than 11 months after the insolvency of TAE”, said Christian Dries, CEO of Diamond Aircraft Industries. “The DA42 NG is better in every respect with much improved performance, increased gross weight, even better fuel efficiency and the Garmin GFC 700 autopilot and is prepared for Garmin Synthetic Vision System. With over 40 airframes already in various stages of production, we will be delivering the first aircraft almost immediately. Most important to the existing customer base, we are focusing our efforts to achieve the certification of the optional upgrade of all delivered DA42s with the Austro Engine, such that all customers can benefit from these improvements along with comprehensive customer support for their engines. We will shortly be announcing the details of an all inclusive maintenance program that will ensure a superior level of support as we work to extend the TBO of the engine from 1000 to 2000 hours. In parallel we are pursuing validation of the certification in all other markets as quickly as possible.”

With over 500 delivered aircraft operating worldwide, the DA42 is the best selling light twin engine piston aircraft, popular with private pilots and commercial flight training organizations. With its all carbon airframe, known ice certification, Garmin G1000 and single lever jetfuel powered turbo-diesel engines, the DA42 is the undisputed technology leader in general aviation.

The DA42 MPP multi purpose special mission sensor platform version of the DA42 is gaining worldwide popularity in search and rescue, law enforcement, border patrol, security, maritime surveillance, high accuracy digital mapping, and ecological monitoring.

For more information call 877-258-8011 or visit http://www.flydominion.com/

February 2009 was a “Red Letter Month” for us all.

See what our friends in the aircraft sales business are saying about the Obama Stimulus Package as it relates to buying an airplane this year.

While average citizens are trying to figure out all the ways they are going to spend their $13 / week benefit from the bill, businessmen and smart fliers that can qualify for the various opportunities for business use may be swimming in cash flow positive heaven while enjoying their dream plane.

Glass Pilot says, if you want an airplane, you need to get with an experienced aircraft representative that knows the ropes on the new tax code and can help you get started with the right resources.  (Email GlassPilot to request a referral)

Click for News on 2009 Stimulus for Aircraft

We found an interesting video on YouTube that our followers might find interesting. The aircraft is an older Diamond DA40 with the analog autopilot. They demonstrate an ILS approach in low conditions. The video we’d like to bring you next is the G1000 approach with WAAS and SVT…stay tuned. GP