Aircraft Upgrades

No one was expecting it, but at AirVenture 2015, Rotax introduced a new engine, the 135-hp turbocharged 915 iS. The company says it’s expected to be available by about 2017. Rotax/BRP’s Marc Becker gave AVweb briefing on the new engine. view on YouTube

Although the FAA and industry have been quiet about it, the effort to find and certify a replacement for leaded avgas appears to be on track toward a 2018 approval, according to Lycoming’s Michael Kraft. In a podcast recorded with AVweb’s Paul Bertorelli at AirVenture on Wednesday, Kraft said the group overseeing the testing effort, […]

Wisconsin-based Engineered Power Systems (EPS) is moving forward with a clean-sheet aircraft diesel design that it hopes will fill a hole in the current heavy fuel market. While Continental has the low end of the power range locked down with its six-cylinder designs, EPS sees a market opportunity for diesels in the 320- to 430-hp […]

As the industry continues to push back against the high price of new aircraft, another company has joined the emerging trend in remanufactured aircraft. In conjunction with AOPA, Wichita-based Yingling Aviation announced Monday at AirVenture the Ascend 172, a ground-up remanufacture of the popular Cessna Skyhawk. As are several other shops, Yingling is restoring older […]

At AirVenture 2015, Superior Air Parts provided a progress report on their new Gemini three-cylinder diesel, showing off an installation in an American Legend Cub. view on YouTube

Eclipse has retired its Total Eclipse series of aircraft, and instead will offer a new factory-refurbished twinjet called the Eclipse Special Edition, the company said this week. The SE, based on the original Eclipse 500, will include nearly all the features of the factory-new 550 jet, including a dual Avio integrated flight management system, anti-skid […]

Pilots decide to buy their own airplane for a variety of reasons. It could be a business decision, helping ensure coverage of a relatively wide sales area, or perhaps an aerial photography business. Specialized flight training—like acro, or a quicky instrument rating—also can be a reason. Recreation or personal transportation is yet another. One of […]

After several years of market silence, Scottsdale, Arizona-based TKM Avionics is under new ownership and says it’s working hard to improve the factory support of existing TKM slide-in radios while also planning an improved product line. Aviation Consumer editor Larry Anglisano talked with TKM’s Joe Gavin at Sun ‘n Fun 2015 in Lakeland, Florida, for […]

One of the centerpieces of any aircraft refurb is upgrading the interior. It can be as basic as recovering the seats, but usually involves a complete redo of the headliner, side panels, carpet and upholstery. As the insulation is often stripped out and replaced as well, it’s a good time to install soundproofing. One thing […]

Not too many students get to see the result of their school projects on the silver screen but some aviation tech students at a Washington State college will buying the popcorn when the next Nicolas Cage movie comes out. Three students at Clover Park Technical College played a starring role in readying a PBY-6A flying […]