AircraftOwner Online

Business aviation activity seems to be picking up.  A couple of weeks ago I attended the National Business Aviaiton Association convention in Atlanta. Last year this show was border line depressing. This year things were decidedly better.

 

While the show floor was not packed it was modestly full.  There were some booths that sat empty, their exhibitors not showing up, but significantly fewer than last year. People seemed to be doing business. It felt like there was a certain level of expectation that the bottom has been reached and things are looking up. Product improvements and innovation suggested that as well.

 

For example, one rumor floating about was that Cessna is working on a new single-engine turboprop. The only single engine turbo prop they have now is their Cessna Caravan, which in my opinion is on of the best aircraft being produced today. The scuttlebutt now is that the new turbo prop would be added to the Cessna Corvalis product line.

 

Hats Off To Cessna

“Corvalis” you will recall is the name Cessna gave to the Columbia aircraft company when they purchased it out of bankruptcy.  To their unending credit, Cessna has worked to keep the Corvalis aircraft business alive in this very difficult economic environment. Frankly, my first impression was that they purchased Columbia simply to keep it from falling into someone else’s hands and to have an answer to the composite aircraft challenge from the likes of Cirrus.  Cessna is to be commended for staying in the light General Aviaiton business as all, and deserve even more accolades for keeping Columbia/Corvalis alive.

 

Of course, no one would expect a company to keep business units alive if there is not some profit motive. Frankly, their vision must be quite long term as the immediate future  would not seem terribly bright for light GA aircraft manufacturing. Perhaps Cessna sees something in the future for composite GA ships. As a pilot who got his license in a Cessna 152 (I have not idea how I fit in there, even 40 years ago), I have a soft spot in my heart for aluminum aircraft.

 

The only thing I have trouble getting my head around is the concept of the control stick being mounted on the side of the cockpit.  I am right handed and just don’t feel comfortable flying an aircraft by articulating my left wrist.  The autopilot on side stick controlled aircraft would seem to be important feature – so you don’t need to have your hands on the sick most of the time you are flying. That is both good and bad. The time you need to be really on top of things, for instance: landings, takeoffs and emergencies, you are using a control that does not seem natural. Relying on you left wrist (and left arm in a Cirrus) to control the aircraft simply does not seem intuitive. With seventy to ninety percent of the population being right handed, when crunch time comes it just seems to me that most of us would want to be using the hand that offers greater coordination and dexterity. Frankly, the most natural of all controls is the floor mounted stick, as Diamond has, followed by the classic yoke most aircraft have today.

 

Single Engine Turbo Props: Filling The Light Twin Void

But getting back to the idea of a new Cessna turbo prop – I think it’s great. And it makes a lot of sense.  If we are to keep the opportunity for single pilot light jets alive, we really need to improve the safety of single pilot jet operations.  So not only is the idea of a fast turbo prop from Cessna a good on in-and-of itself, it is a nice stair step for people to advance through the product line and get accustomed to higher performance ships. In addition, my feeling is that the piston aircraft engine is going to slowly give way to the turbine for a variety of reasons. The high performance (and reliable) single engine turbo prop will fill a void being left by the vanishing light piston twin.

 

So the new Corvalis will be something in between the Corvalis TT, which already moves through the air at a 235 knot clip, and the Cessna Mustang. The competitive target in today’s market would be a cross between the TBM 850, which cruises at 320 knots, and the Pilatus PC12, with an emphasis on the TBM.  One nice thing about the TBM is that it is a manageable aircraft. One or two people can move it around the hangar and one competent pilot can fly it.  If I were a Cessna strategist, I would be pounding my fist on the table for the new single engine turbo prop. It’s a perfect fit for them.

 

While there have been reports coming from the Wichita area of an unidentified single engine turboprop flying around, I doubt we will see this announced anytime before Oshkosh of next year. It will however be interesting to see what the buzz is at the AOPA Expo in a couple of weeks. I will be at Expo and will snoop around and see what I can find out and will report back to you next month.

I don't know that I've ever written about my involvement with the Lindbergh Foundation (www.lindberghfoundation.org), but I've served as a Trustee for five years now, and find the work to be personally quite rewarding, especially as it speaks to the heart of issues confronting General Aviation.

This year the Foundation is teaming up with Sun n Fun to present our 32nd Annual Awards Celebration on Wednesday night, 14th.   Here's a link: http://www.lindberghfoundation.org/docs/index.php/awards-a-events/events  At that Event, we honor both individual and corporate standouts whose efforts in using technology to solve environmental challenges.  I've attached a PDF "Executive Summary" of the evening's ceremonies, including some fun information about our special auction that night.  In short, I think it'll be the premier industry mixer at Sun n Fun, and of course, for a good cause.

It turns out that our registrants for the event--hosted by John and Martha King--include numerous aviation luminaries: high-level attendees from GAMA, NBAA, EAA, AOPA (past and present heads),  not to mention support from various industry influencers.  To make the evening even more lively and entertaining, we're having a live auction of such one-of-a-kind items as: A day at King Schools and dinner with John and Martha; a 10 day Kenya Wildlife Safari, a Garmin 560, a signed Erik Lindbergh bronze casting of a Columbia 300, a P51 ride with Kermit Weeks, an aerobatic flight with Sean D. Tucker, and a complete Forward Vision EVS system, including display and STC kit! 

And something else you may appreciate: We'll be showing the Miles O'Brien film, "Over Africa", which he (and wife Sandy) shot, directed, and produced after their visit to our partner KWS last year.  After the showing, John and Martha, Patty Wagstaff (trainer of KWS pilots), and Larry Williams (CEO of BRS Parachutes)--all veterans of a trip to Africa/KWS--will be on hand for Q&A.  Thursday 15th has been designated Lindbergh Foundation Day at the Sun n Fun "Green Space"; here's a link to the presentations and speakers we have coming for that--and this event is open to all Sun n Fun attendees at no additional charge http://www.lindberghfoundation.org/docs/index.php/component/content/article/40/387-lindbergh-foundation-day

I hope you and some of your team will consider making it a point to join us. Be sure to register soon; the Event is nearly sold out, and there probably won't be a chance to get in at the door if you haven't already signed up.  In case you can't make it to Sun n Fun but are interested in supporting our work at the Lindbergh Foundation, I hope you'll consider making an online donation.  And if you've read this far, I have some inside scoop: you can bid on the auction items online: http://www.lindberghfoundation.org/docs/index.php/awards-a-events/events/394-2010-on-line-auction-temp

I you're coming to Sun N Fun, I hope to see you at either or both Lindbergh Foundation Events!
Best regards,
Greg

OK, I've decided to put an autopilot in my Cessna 182.  There are a few units to choose from but I am thinking of an S-TEC ( which has been purchased Cobham).  The System 50 seems like a good choice.

I am curious if anyone out there has an opinion of this system or can propose another.  I will keep you posted on the progress of this project.

Greg

OK, I've decided to put an autopilot in my Cessna 182.  There are a few units to choose from but I am thinking of an S-TEC ( which has been purchased Cobham).  The System 50 seems like a good choice.

I am curious if anyone out there has an opinion of this system or can propose another.  I will keep you posted on the progress of this project.

Greg