ANN's Top 10 (OK, 12) Products/Programs Of 2006
When it comes to the people, planes and products of the aviation
business, ANN firmly believes there is no such thing as an
embarrassment of riches. 2006 saw a spate of new programs and
'gadgets' designed to separate a pilot from his flying dollar...
fortunately, the vast majority of them are quite worthy of
foregoing the occasional $200 hamburger or two.
In fact, for 2006 we've had to increase the size of our annual
'Best Of' list to an even dozen to accomodate them all.
From established products that continue to impress, to new and
exciting developments across the range of general aviation... here,
to our eyes, is the second group of three out of our list of the 12
most worthy 'gadgets' and programs of 2006.
Superior ESR Crankshafts
Let's face it: the term "Electro Slag Remelt" may not sound
particularly innovative... but Superior's attempt to cure the GA
world of the woes of bad crankshafts certainly is.
According to the company, the ESR process removes far more
impurities than the more common Vacuum Arc Remelt (VAR) process
used by other manufacturers. Such impurities can lead to production
and service problems... and we've all seen more than our share of
those lately.
Superior's ESR crankshafts also utilize a special proprietary
steel, which contains more chrome and nickel content than
conventional 4340 aviation steel. The properties of this special
steel allow a shorter nitriding process, accomplished at lower
temperatures than 4340 requires.
Superior wasn't the first to come up with the ESR process; in
fact, the technology dates back to the 1930s, and is commonly used
in metallurgical industries in Europe. Superior is the first to
apply the process to general aviation engine parts, though.
The new crankshafts will be offered in the company's XP-360
Sport Av engine, as well as its FAA-certified Vantage engine. Not
by coincidence, the parts are also available in the aftermarket, as
direct replacements for applicable Lycoming four-cylinder
engines.
More durable crankshafts? Can we all get a "Hallelujah?"
Thielert Diesels
Also bringing some much-needed innovation to general aviation
aircraft engines is Superior's parent company, Thielert AG... which
continues to plug along very well with its Centurion line of diesel
powerplants.
From its use in the Diamond DA40-TDI and DA42 Twin Star (in
fact, demand was so overwhelming in that plane, a proposed
gas-powered DA42 variant --powered by two Lycoming O-360s --
quickly went the way of the dodo) to the availability of a
factory-supported retrofit on new Cessna 172s, the Centurion 1.7
has proven to be an extremely popular, and impressively robust,
powerplant of choice for discriminating GA pilots.
After all... what's cooler than taxiing up to the FBO, and
telling the lineman to "fill it with Jet-A?"
OK, so there are many more practical reasons for going with a
diesel -- such as impressively miserly fuel consumption ratings,
lower weight, and don't forget FADEC.
The process of getting the
American flying public to accept diesels has been agonizingly
slow... similar in many ways to the glacial progress in automotive
diesel technology, which is, arguably, now also just coming into
its own as well. Those needing proof of the growing popularity of
GA diesels, however, need only recall the commitment from
American Flyers, announced at AirVenture 2006, to retrofit 55
Cessna 172s at its Pompano Beach, FL facility with Centurion
diesels. And it seems Twin Stars have started popping up all over
the place, as well.
Recognizing a growing market, Thielert has steadily worked to
bring other Centurion diesels online. Its mammoth V-8 Centurion 4.0
was EASA certified in 2004, and the company is working to win STCs
for the jet-fueled powerplant on Cessna 414s, 421s, 340s, as well
as the single-engined Cessna 206.
With the eventual loss of avgas availability a very real
possibility, diesels are here to stay... and Thielert is leading
the way.
Trade-A-Plane
Who among us has not once
looked upon the Great Yellow Paper, and dreamed a little?
OK... dreamed a LOT?
Over the past few years, when a certain Glasair III
owner/frustrated Rocket Pilot was looking for an airplane... and
later, looking for shiny new or used gadgets for same; one source
ultimately became the final stop when we had to go aero-shopping.
Time and time again, Trade-A-Plane came out ahead of newer
companies with newer products, but when it all came down to brass
tacks, the "Yellow Sheet" came through every time. No matter what
new bells and whistles were played out in front of our weary eyes
by a number of their competitors, it was T-A-P that consistently
delivered the goods.
Although now known for being much more than a classified ads
source for aviation (their WeatherTAP weather products are
particularly notable), the Trade-A-Plane phenomenon has been a
pivotal member of the general aviation infrastructure for
decades (70 years or so, at last count). The experience that this
company brings to the business is of inestimable value to thousands
of flyers all over the world who need a trustworthy place to pursue
their needs and dreams... and it shows every time you log on to www.Trade-A-Plane.com
or make a grab for the yellow marvel.
Run (in large part) by a family steeped in aviation,
T-A-P has an undeniable, if not historic, place in the hearts and
minds of flyers the world over... and it's a pleasure to know that
they not only kept up with the times, but managed to maintain their
lead as aviation's pre-eminent "dream sheet." Trade-A-Plane is a
class act.. and an indispensible one, at that.
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