Oshkosh Dreamin'

Later this month, July 23 - July 29 to be exact, thousands of pilots will descend upon Oshkosh, Wisconsin for the 2007 Airventure extravaganza. I've yet to make the pilgrimage and I won't make it this year, but I do plan to go in the next two years. The reasons are simple: Oshkosh is where manufacturers of aircraft, avionics, and most anything else related to aviation announce the latest, cool stuff. And I have some theories about what might be unveiled at this year's show.

I'd expect Cessna to provide more details on their Next Generation Piston prototype, perhaps nailing down the power plant (Lycoming, Continental, Thielert diesel?) along with a date when a certificated type might be available. Hey, this plane has three doors and it looks like they all close securely with a latching handle, too! For now, be content to drool over this titillating AvWeb video that reveals a few more details, like a G1000 panel and a control stick.


I suspect that Garmin will announce a new portable aviation GPS, seeing as the price on the 496 and 386 was recently lowered by $400. One improvement 496 users would like to see is an integrated GPS/XM remote antenna and fewer wires, which would make it easier to hook-up and remove. And what could Garmin add to the 496 feature set that isn't already there? A small, QWERTY keyboard perhaps?

Eclipse is set to display their AvioNG avionics suite, which was originally just called Avio and was to be made by Avidyne before they got cold feet. Cirrus will probably be on hand to show their Cirrus Jet mock-up and I bet Diamond Aircraft will display their D-Jet mock-up, too.

Pilots I know who've gone to Oshkosh always came back with lots of cool, free trinkets. Many of the vendors sell products at a discount, so good deals can be had all around. But to my mind, nothing could compare with the buzz of flying into Wittman Regional Airport, parking on the grass, pitching a tent next to your plane, and enjoying summer in Wisconsin.

Some day ...

Oshkosh Dreamin'

Now through July 30th is the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture event, commonly know to pilots by the name of the city where it is hosted - Oshkosh, Wisconsin. B'gosh, I've never been, but I do read the press releases since this is the venue where many manufacturers announce new products. I grew up in the Midwest and can easily imagine the hot humid air and thousands of pilots salivating over shiny aircraft, avionics, and other toys.

Garmin has announced several new products, including the new hand-held GPSMAP 496. Near as I can tell, this unit has all of the features of the popular, but expensive, 396, plus some new bells and whistles. Some of the new features include taxiway maps, an electronic version of the AOPA Airport Directory, and more rapid position updating (5 times per second). Road maps and navigation are also provided in case you want to use the unit in your car or, perhaps, land on a road? I'd love to have one of these units or even the older 396, but that flight instructor vow of poverty keeps getting in the way.

Garmin has also announced the G600 and G900 glass cockpit units for retrofitting older aircraft and for experimental (homebuilt) aircraft respectively. Garmin also announced a new G1000R retrofit for Beechcraft King Air 90 series aircraft. T]All of these unit provide AHARS for heading and attitude display, though one assumes that standby airspeed, altitude, and attitude instruments will still be required for certification. These units also include an air/data computer for altitude, airspeed, and vertical speed information as well as the new taxiway navigation feature and, if properly equipped, XM weather.

The G600 will be available about this time next year (2007) for around $27,000. One would imagine that the installation costs could easily reach half again the price of the G600. I wonder if the ADC is attached to the existing pitot/static system. In fact, for certificated aircraft types, one wonders if the necessary STCs will be forthcoming. I know what you're thinking - "Quit asking so many damned questions and just enjoy the pretty colors!"

As the old marketing adage goes, "You don't sell the steak, you sell the sizzle.