Here is an interview that includes flying the Garmin SVT prepared by Aero News that is worth watching.

This announcement just out on ANN…Diamond will bring the D-JET to Oshkosh this year along with their new diesel engines. The D-JET represents the first of a new breed of Personal Jets. It has a three panel Garmin G1000 configuration and represents the perfect example of the type of advancements we regularly point out here at GlassPilot.com. The mock up has traveled the country but this will be the first major event where the plane maker will be showing the flying prototype as well. The company says it plans to begin deliveries of the new jet in 2009

. Read the rest of this entry »

My wife drives a small four wheel drive wagon and she has short legs. Every time I jump in the vehicle I impale myself on the steering wheel and I can hardly get my long legs in because the seat is closer than I thought possible.

At that moment I always wish I had one of those buttons that makes the car automatically reconfigure itself for me.

Well, I may not have that in my car but I do have that in the G1000 and its a feature many G1000 pilots over look. Read the rest of this entry »

Flying Destination: Smithsonian Air & Space Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Airports: KHEF - Manassas, VA, KJYO – Leesburg, VA, KIAD – Dulles International
Activities: Simply the most amazing Aviation Museum
Comments: A must see destination for all aviators with fun for the whole family.

Many pilots are familiar with the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum at the main Smithsonian museum on the Washington DC mall. However, I find that many pilots are not yet aware of or have not been to the massive new expansion to this amazing museum that was added.

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Its nice having the weather on your glass cockpit and confidently flying through the clouds with your Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT)…but where do you go for pre-flight info when you are on the go away from your computer?

Just as there have been advancements in the cockpit, we’ve seen equally amazing developments in the supporting technologies for pilots. Specifically, the iPhone has brought an amazing new level of information and capabilities to the fingertips of pilots.

Specifically, the iPhone is unique at the moment in that it has the ability to truly provide a wireless web experience that is useful just short of amazing. Using Foreflight.com with an iPhone you can access weather data, airport information, diagrams and radar displays that even loop just like on your computer.

Our favorite feature of all is the ability to file a flight plan quickly and easily from the iPhone while on the go. I’ve even had the instance where I called from the taxiway for my clearance and my IFR plan had timed out because I was running behind that day. No worries…I simply whipped out my iPhone and tapped a few “keys” and refiled. I gave it 30 seconds and called back on the radio and sure enough the guy said, “Yep, I’ve got it now!”.

We’ve had computer based access for weather from DUAT and DUATS for some time along with great flight planning tools such as www.fltpln.com. The difference is Read the rest of this entry »

Flying Destination: Virginia Creeper Trail
Airport: KVJI - Virginia Highlands, Abingdon, VA
Activities: 17-34 mile down hill bike trail ride
Comments: Fun easy trip for the whole family or romantic weekend for a couple

GlassPilot.com brings you great information on glass panel modern aircraft but its time to jump in one of these birds and fly off to some fun places! Our hope is that we’ll inspire you to take off to fun places in your aircraft. Not the usual $100 hamburger stops but fun outings that will build memories of a life time.

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The objective of glasspilot.com is to educate and enable pilots into modern technology that makes flying safer, more efficient and more fun. With some of the more advanced smart phones available today, access to weather and flying-related information on the go has never been better. To help pilots see the potential and to make using these new devices we have implemented an iPhone version of our website!

While viewing the site on your desktop or laptop computer, you will notice no difference. However, if you view the website on an Apple iPhone or iPod Touch, you will see that the content has been optimized for your device and is much faster while on the go.

Coming Next: GlassPilot.Mobi… a free mobile phone portal for access to pilot weather services! Stay tuned.

Happy Landings,

GlassPilot.com

I love my job. I get to travel the country introducing people to the wonders of modern aircraft with their glass panels, Sythetic Vision and all the trimmings. I get to meet the best folks and hear lots of great stories.

Today I had the pleasure of giving an impromtu flight to Captain JJ Quin.  We just struck up a conversation at his home airport and I offered to give him a flight. At first he said, “No…I’ve got some paper work to do.” I looked at him and cock my head and said, “Are you really going to turn down a ride in a brand new SVT G1000 airplane?” All of a sudden he came to his senses and said, “Let’s go!”. I arrived home later to receive this email. I had no idea I was flying with a legend! Read the rest of this entry »

One of the most amazing things about our new digital glass panels we lucky pilots get to enjoy is their connection to the satellites. We not only use the GPS satellites for easy advanced navigation but we also obtain our current weather radar, Metar, Sigmet, Airmet, TFRs, Freezing levels, winds and more via satellites.

This wonder of technology is made possible through the delivery of the data from the XM Radio (nasdaq: XMSR) satellite network. Yes, this is the same network that many of you use to entertain yourself in the cockpit of your Chevy or Lexus as the case may be.

We can also enjoy the many channels of audio while we fly too. Don’t underestimate the enhanced enjoyment this little addition brings. I’ve enjoyed many a sunset evening coming in to land with just the right tune playing in the background and a smile on my face…it is the perfect crowning touch to our new digital cockpits and it’s quite refreshing.

Speaking of refreshing… Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve always been fascinated by why people want to fly. Its a fun question to ask the pilots that I meet…”Why do you like to fly?” I ask. I usually get an answer that starts off with, “I’ve always wanted…” or “I just like being up in the air…” or other such answers.

A friend sent me this link to a video I thought was kind of neat and that captures the mystique and allure of flying for me. Since I originally learned in a classic J3 Cub and have owned and amphibian and enjoy playing the guitar, some of the images pulled at my heartstrings.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-wUPixCw2c

GlassPilot.com