The intelligence was there: in the form of electronic stability protection (ESP) to level the airplane, overspeed and underspeed protection, automated emergency-descent management, GPS navigational guidance and approaches that take you to the pavement, and weather, traffic and terrain input to analyze where to go and how best to get there. The brains only needed the “muscle” to make an autoland system happen—managing the throttle or power lever, extending the flaps and gear, executing a proper round-out, and braking to a safe stop on the runway.

We honor the foresight and decade of effort invested by the team at Garmin Aviation, as well as those significant contributions of their OEM partners—Piper Aircraft, Daher, and Cirrus Aircraft—to bring an automated landing within reach of general aviation pilots and passengers. With more than a thousand test landings completed during its run-up to certification, we’re still waiting for that first use of the silent button that will save a life. It’s a privilege to give the 2021 Flying Innovation Award for this incredible leap forward in GA safety to Garmin Aviation.

We also commend our 2021 Flying Editors Choice Award winners: Innovative Solutions & Support with Pilatus Aircraft and Textron Aviation, for the ThrustSense autothrottle in the Pilatus PC-12 and the Beechcraft King Air 360; and SpaceX and NASA, for the successful Crewed Dragon Module that carried astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken to the International Space Station in 2020.

The post 2021 Flying Innovation Award Goes Home to Garmin Aviation appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

An elite collection of aircraft and products have earned our highest level of commendation, the Flying Innovation Award, chosen for the Editors’ Choice Awards by our team—and debuting in the March 2020 issue of Flying. Last year at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, we announced that Gulfstream’s G500 business jet secured the 2019 Flying Innovation Award, not just for the aircraft itself—which exemplifies style and performance—but also for the layers of innovation within Gulfstream’s development program, setting the bar high for aerospace manufacturers.

For 2019, we applied the same criteria to the host of aircraft, products and enterprises around our industry: an innovation had to be certified, if applicable, and available as of the year’s end. We’ll make the announcement at AirVenture 2020. Let us know what you think should win, and long may the innovative spirit continue to grow general aviation.

Epic E1000

It has been a long journey to certification for Epic Aircraft—a tale that started more than 20 years ago. The Epic LT launched in 2004 with plans by the former company owners to bring that experimental turboprop to the market while, at the same time, pursing certification for a future version. The story turned into good news under the leadership of LT owner and entrepreneur Doug King. He took on the role of CEO—backed by different owners and then a Russian company—and set out to fulfill the challenge of turning a kit-built aircraft into a Part 23-compliant mount.

In 2019, after seven years of pursuit, the FAA signed off the E1000 following its last test-flight hour in the fall, with type certification granted on November 6. Propelled by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67A producing 1,200 hp, and flying at a top cruise speed of 333 knots, the E1000 is now poised to make challenges of its own, in the hot single-engine-turboprop market.

Texas Aircraft Colt LSA

If ever there were an airplane tough enough to carry on the banner of a solid future-pilot training machine, surely, it’s the Texas Aircraft Colt. Think of this light-sport, metal and composite aircraft as a Cessna 150 on steroids, an airplane that solved many of the concerns expressed by pilots and instructors over the years.

Climbing into the Colt is a snap, thanks to doors designed to hinge open 180 degrees because of wing struts built to fit behind the doors rather than in front. Once inside, the Colt offers enough room for even large people to move arms and feet freely. The Colt was designed with a welded chromoly passenger safety cell and a glass-panel Dynon EFIS system powerful enough to drive high-resolution graphic displays and a truly useful autopilot. The Colt also offers an optional ballistic parachute.

Student pilots on a solo will love the 31.7-gallon fuel tank that delivers nearly six hours of flying while miserly gulping just 5 gph. Dramatically highlighting the results of modern aerodynamic design, the 1,320-pound Colt, powered by a 100 hp Rotax engine, delivers a sprightly climb rate.

uAvionix tailBeacon

If you want to know the truth, we considered the uAvionix skyBeacon for recognition this past year, but our admiration for the ADS-B Out device—and its new brother, the tailBeacon—solidified in 2019 as a rush of owners installed the units in order to meet the final ADS-B compliance date of January 1, 2020.

The avionics take an elegant approach to a problem that plagued many aircraft owners: how to comply with the requirement without spending a lot of money and adding another box to their instrument panel. First, uAvionix debuted the skyBeacon, a self-contained replacement for the airplane’s left-wing navigation light that a reasonably handy owner could swap out on their own—only a maintenance technician with inspection authority needed to sign off on the work. Then, in summer 2019, the company launched the tailBeacon, which had the same concept of just replacing the nav light on the empennage of the airplane.

In talking with owners, though there have been hiccups unique to various airplanes, the certification covers such a broad range of needs at a reasonable price point—making it a friend, indeed, for pilots needing to keep flying in ADS-B-required airspace.

Tecnam P2012 Traveller

In the very last week of 2018, Tecnam gained European Union Aviation Safety Association certification of its 11-seat P2012 Traveller, a piston-powered twin aimed directly at the commuter-aircraft market. On paper, perhaps that doesn’t sound like a slam-dunk, but the Traveller proved in 2019 that it fills a niche few aircraft can.

In October, the mighty mini airliner made a transatlantic trip to gain FAA certification, with a delivery to its first and—at least for now—most important customer, Cape Air. Yes, the regional airline famous for its flights to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, Massachusetts, but with bases around the US, it worked hand in hand with Tecnam on the airplane’s development. And they didn’t just have their own specs in mind, though the airplane’s easy baggage loading and passenger-centric entry/exit door sure make the case for it. They, along with the manufacturer, also envisioned a green future for the airplane, placing it firmly within the airline’s own road map for alternative fuels and efficiency of consumption.

Powered by two Lycoming TEO540C1A engines actuated by full authority digital engine control, and with Garmin G1000 NXi avionics in the cockpit, the airplane’s operating costs are projected to run at $391 to $405 per hour. With the ability to complete a 500-nm trip at 155 knots at 10,000 feet, there’s a lot of application for the P2012 Traveller we’re just beginning to see.

Sporty’s PJ2

While glass cockpits abound these days, hardly anyone thinks much about a communications failure anymore, but it still happens. That’s why plenty of pilots carry a backup two-way radio in their flight bag. However, the problem with most of them is, when they’re needed, trying to communicate with a small handheld radio demands that the pilot needs to pull off their headset to talk, and that means picking up a serious amount of background noise.

Late in 2019, Sporty’s unveiled a solution to the cockpit-noise problems inherent in handheld radios. Called the PJ2, Sporty’s backup doesn’t require removing a headset, only unplugging it from one location and plugging it into the jacks conveniently located on top of the handheld PJ2. The result is a transmitter able that takes advantage of the noise-canceling microphone on a good headset.

The PJ2 includes 20 scannable memory channels, a last-frequency button, an oversize backlit screen, and even a quick access button to listen to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration broadcasts. Press and hold the number “2” key for three seconds, and the PJ2 automatically switches to 121.5. Sporty’s PJ2 runs on six AA batteries but includes a USB-C plug for backup power.

The post Flying’s Editors’ Choice Awards Celebrate 2019’s Success appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

A premier collection of aircraft and products earned our highest level of commendation, the Editors’ Choice Awards, by our team back in February —with the Innovation Award winner to be announced later this week—and in the August 2020 issue of Flying.

Last year at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, we announced that Gulfstream’s G500 business jet secured the 2019 Flying Innovation Award, not just for the aircraft itself—which exemplifies style and performance—but also for the layers of innovation within Gulfstream’s development program, setting the bar high for aerospace manufacturers. While we won’t have the opportunity to celebrate the 2020 winner at AirVenture (following that event’s cancellation) we will bring the news to you on Flying’s social media channels.

Here’s a recap of those ECA winners—all candidates for the Innovation Award—and be sure to stay tuned this week for the big announcement.

Epic E1000

It has been a long journey to certification for Epic Aircraft—a tale that started more than 20 years ago. The Epic LT launched in 2000 with plans by the former company owners to bring that experimental turboprop to the market while, at the same time, pursing certification for a future version. The story turned into good news under the leadership of LT owner and entrepreneur Doug King. He took on the role of CEO—backed by different owners and then a Russian company—and set out to fulfill the challenge of turning a kit-built aircraft into a Part 23-compliant mount.

In 2019, after nine years of pursuit, the FAA signed off the E1000 following its last test-flight hour in the fall, with type certification granted on November 6. Propelled by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-76A producing 1,200 hp, and flying at a top cruise speed of 325 knots, the E1000 is now poised to make challenges of its own, in the hot single-engine-turboprop market.

Texas Aircraft Colt LSA

If ever there were an airplane tough enough to carry on the banner of a solid future-pilot training machine, surely, it’s the Texas Aircraft Colt. Think of this light-sport, metal and composite aircraft as a Cessna 150 on steroids, an airplane that solved many of the concerns expressed by pilots and instructors over the years.

Climbing into the Colt is a snap, thanks to doors designed to hinge open 180 degrees because of wing struts built to fit behind the doors rather than in front. Once inside, the Colt offers enough room for even large people to move arms and feet freely. The Colt was designed with a welded chromoly passenger safety cell and a glass-panel Dynon EFIS system powerful enough to drive high-resolution graphic displays and a truly useful autopilot. The Colt also offers an optional ballistic parachute.

Student pilots on a solo will love the 31.7-gallon fuel tank that delivers nearly six hours of flying while miserly gulping just 5 gph. Dramatically highlighting the results of modern aerodynamic design, the 1,320-pound Colt, powered by a 100 hp Rotax engine, delivers a sprightly climb rate. We featured the Colt in the May issue of Flying.

uAvionix tailBeacon

If you want to know the truth, we considered the uAvionix skyBeacon for recognition this past year, but our admiration for the ADS-B Out device—and its new brother, the tailBeacon—solidified in 2019 as a rush of owners installed the units in order to meet the final ADS-B compliance date of January 1, 2020.

The avionics take an elegant approach to a problem that plagued many aircraft owners: how to comply with the requirement without spending a lot of money and adding another box to their instrument panel. First, uAvionix debuted the skyBeacon, a self-contained replacement for the airplane’s left-wing navigation light that a reasonably handy owner could swap out on their own—only a maintenance technician with inspection authority needed to sign off on the work. Then, in summer 2019, the company launched the tailBeacon, which had the same concept of just replacing the nav light on the empennage of the airplane.

In talking with owners, though there have been hiccups unique to various airplanes, the certification covers such a broad range of needs at a reasonable price point—making it a friend, indeed, for pilots needing to keep flying in ADS-B-required airspace.

Tecnam P2012 Traveller

In the very last week of 2018, Tecnam gained European Union Aviation Safety Association certification of its 11-seat P2012 Traveller, a piston-powered twin aimed directly at the commuter-aircraft market. On paper, perhaps that doesn’t sound like a slam-dunk, but the Traveller proved in 2019 that it fills a niche few aircraft can.

In October, the mighty mini airliner made a transatlantic trip to gain FAA certification, with a delivery to its first and—at least for now—most important customer, Cape Air. Yes, the regional airline famous for its flights to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, Massachusetts, but with bases around the US, it worked hand in hand with Tecnam on the airplane’s development. And they didn’t just have their own specs in mind, though the airplane’s easy baggage loading and passenger-centric entry/exit door sure make the case for it. They, along with the manufacturer, also envisioned a green future for the airplane, placing it firmly within the airline’s own road map for alternative fuels and efficiency of consumption.

Powered by two Lycoming TEO540C1A engines actuated by full authority digital engine control, and with Garmin G1000 NXi avionics in the cockpit, the airplane’s operating costs are projected to run at $391 to $405 per hour. With the ability to complete a 500-nm trip at 155 knots at 10,000 feet, there’s a lot of application for the P2012 Traveller we’re just beginning to see. We featured the Tecnam P2012 in the June issue of Flying.

Sporty’s PJ2

With glass cockpits abound these days, hardly anyone thinks much about a communications failure anymore, but it still happens. That’s why plenty of pilots carry a backup two-way radio in their flight bag. However, the problem with most of them is, when they’re needed, trying to communicate with a small handheld radio demands that the pilot needs to pull off their headset to talk, and that means picking up a serious amount of background noise.

Late in 2019, Sporty’s unveiled a solution to the cockpit-noise problems inherent in handheld radios. Called the PJ2, Sporty’s backup doesn’t require removing a headset, only unplugging it from one location and plugging it into the jacks conveniently located on top of the handheld PJ2. The result is a transmitter able that takes advantage of the noise-canceling microphone on a good headset.

The PJ2 includes 20 scannable memory channels, a last-frequency button, an oversize backlit screen, and even a quick access button to listen to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration broadcasts. Press and hold the number “2″ key for three seconds, and the PJ2 automatically switches to 121.5. Sporty’s PJ2 runs on six AA batteries but includes a USB-C plug for backup power.

The post Flying’s Editors’ Choice Awards Set Stage for Innovation Award appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

As is the case in aviation, each coming year brings technological advances and ­innovations that translate into aircraft and products that can do things we never before thought possible. This was just such a year, bringing to the fore an impressive array of new aircraft that can go faster, fly more smoothly and better engage fliers than ever before, along with new pilot gear that helps us overcome complicated challenges to fly more efficiently while making the journey more comfortable and fun.

As we usually find, the process of selecting Flying‘s 2014 Editors’ Choice Award winners was a trying one, since the worthy candidates were too many to count. In the end we selected four winners that have brought remarkable new capabilities to the field of general aviation and raised the bar for tomorrow’s aircraft and gear designers. As we have done in years past, we also took this opportunity to recognize one of the many amazing charities using flying as a means of positive change. With that said, we are proud to announce Flying‘s 2014 Editors’ Choice Award winners. Congrats, all.

TBM 900 Faster than Ever

It’s been more than 25 years since the original TBM 700 emerged on the scene and revolutionized general aviation with its ultrafast and ultraefficient design. Since then the single-engine turboprop has only continued to get better as it has evolved throughout the years. Daher-Socata’s latest iteration, the TBM 900, takes the airplane to its fullest realization yet, thanks to the recent use of computational fluid dynamics to seek out and eliminate inefficiencies in the design.

Major changes include a redesigned cowling, the addition of winglets, a specifically designed five-blade composite prop from Hartzell and improved engine operation, among others. All of them add up to enhanced performance and a smoother flying experience in an airplane whose reputation for such was already tough to beat. The end product boasts a cruise speed of 330 knots, a figure that makes the TBM 900 competitive with light jets while offering something they can’t — the economy of a 60 gph fuel burn as opposed to a heavy load of jet fuel. Not only is the newest TBM incredibly fast, but it also has better range and short field performance, making for a remarkable airplane well worthy of earning Daher-Socata a Flying 2014 Editors’ Choice Award.

Lightspeed Zulu PFX A New Kind of Quiet

Lightspeed’s new flagship headset, the Zulu PFX, has been years in the making, and the effort shows. The end product is the quietest headset we’ve used — ever. The secret is new technology designed by Lightspeed engineers that they call acoustic response mapping, which adapts audio to your unique ear shape and analyzes the environment to ­eliminate any ambient noise. The result is an incredible quiet that sets the landscape for the ultimate in crisp and clear audio communications.

On top of that, the Lightspeed Zulu PFX’s large ear cups and soft seals make for a very comfortable fit, and at a weight of just 14 ounces, the headset’s light feel makes it easy to wear on short and long hauls alike. Despite that lightweight construction, the Zulu PFX is made to last, and Lightspeed’s five-year warranty backs that up. Ultimately, when it comes to a cockpit staple like the headset, it simply gets too much use to warrant anything short of the best. In that regard, Lightspeed’s Zulu PFX, which is second to none, delivers the goods.

Embraer Legacy 500 A Fly-by-Wire Marvel

Embraer’s new Legacy 500, first launched in 2007, achieved FAA certification this past October, and in the process set a whole new bar for midsize jets. The most revolutionary aspect of the jet is of course its full fly-by-wire technology, something that has never before been implemented in the midsize class. The smart system reads pilot inputs and in turn ­maneuvers the aircraft in the smoothest and most efficient way possible, making for an incredibly serene ride.

As innovative as that is, that’s just the beginning for the Legacy 500. The jet also features a flat-floor, 6-foot-tall cabin with seating for eight and four fully berthable positions. Unlike other midsize jets, the Legacy 500 actually has the muscle to fill all eight seats and take those passengers on city-pair journeys such as New York to Los Angeles nonstop. The cabin is the longest and widest of any midsize jet on the market, and the interior — which Embraer took on wholly in-house to up the ante on quality — exudes luxury and comfort. Look for a full pilot report on the Legacy 500 in an upcoming issue of Flying.

Able Flight Helping Others Reach New Heights

There is no shortage of organizations using general aviation to effect positive change in the world, and the many that do so on an everyday basis in places near and far serve as a continual testament to the power and generosity of this great community of fliers and flying enthusiasts. While there are countless aviation charities that deserve recognition, we are proud to award Flying‘s 2014 Editors’ Choice Award to Able Flight, an organization that helps disabled individuals pursue aviation training and in the process enjoy the life-changing challenges and fulfillment that come along with it.

Founded in 2006, Able Flight has helped dozens of people with physical disabilities receive their pilot’s certificate. This past year was a particularly exceptional one for Able Flight, which awarded nine new scholarships to a group that included five veterans wounded in action, a woman born with a congenital spinal condition, two men paralyzed during auto accidents and one man with cerebral palsy. Four of those recipients received their wings during a ceremony at AirVenture’s Boeing Plaza after completing pilot training at Purdue University earlier in the year. All now join the ranks of scholarship recipients who have had the chance to enjoy the power and rewards of aviation thanks to the great work of Able Flight.

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The post 2014 Flying Editors’ Choice Awards appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

During a year marked by lives turned upside down, collaboration saw us through to 2021. Efforts began long before 2020 in order to achieve the goals met by the team that we highlight in our Editors’ Choice Awards this year. To manage workload and increase safety, to return a US crew to space, and to land a light airplane autonomously after a pilot incapacitation—these took collaborative effort, and that’s why Flying is proud to give them our recognition.

One of these teams will be selected for our highest annual honor, the Flying Innovation Award. Last year, we gave the top place to Epic Aircraft for the E1000 turboprop. For now, we’ll share with you the accomplishments that have brought this year’s candidates to this point.

Autoland: Garmin Aviation + Piper Aircraft + Cirrus Aircraft + Daher

When Garmin Aviation unveiled Autonomi—its suite of integrated avionics and aircraft systems that produce an autoland function for light aircraft—in October 2019, it revealed the first glimpse into a collaborative effort that had gone on for nearly a decade. While avionics manufacturers inevitably work with airframe OEMs in producing a final, panel-ready product, none has been so intrinsic to an airplane’s DNA, touching so many parts of the airplane, as Autonomi needed to be. In order to control all of the functions required to put an airplane on a course to the nearest suitable airport, descend through weather if needed, avoid terrain, and land on a reasonable runway, several aircraft systems had to work in concert with a sophisticated avionics suite and air traffic control. And a pilot regaining control of the aircraft in question needed to be able to interrupt the sequence once set in motion.

With the M600 as the original testbed for the autoland system (outside of Garmin’s own single-engine aircraft), Piper Aircraft joined forces with Garmin on the project in 2016. Piper’s turboprop had the right combination of relatively “roomy” systems and a decent-sized cabin to work with from the outset. While the testing on the Halo system—as Piper brands its version—was close to fruition when the system was originally announced, a combination of pandemic-related slowdowns and additional validation with ATC meant the M600′s Halo’s final blessing was announced on May 18, 2020.

Next to certify was OEM partner Daher, which placed its HomeSafe system in its latest TBM 940 turboprop. Starting in July 2020, 940s rolling off of the assembly line in Tarbes, France, came with the autoland system as standard equipment—making for the first approval of the system under European Union Aviation Safety Agency regulations. Daher also pledged to retrofit existing 940s delivered earlier in 2020 with the system for $85,000.

Cirrus Aircraft developed its Vision Jet with autoland functionality in mind—which it has branded Safe Return. The first-generation Vision Jet lacked key components, such as the autothrottle, which were included in the G2 version. Safe Return was certified in the G2 and rolled out in September 2020—making it the first light jet to gain FAA approval with the system.

While the autoland system effectively works the same way in all three airplanes, each of the three OEMs take a slightly different approach in its execution, such as the user interface—starting with the disposition and placement of the button used to activate the system. Piper’s guarded switch lives on the instrument panel, firmly in the pilot’s territory, while in the TBM 940 the button is set apart on the glareshield—and more instantly visible to the right-seat passenger. In the Vision Jet, the button is truly passenger-centric, reachable by the front seat occupants and the cabin passengers alike. The system may also be activated passively in each airplane when emergency descent mode is triggered in the Garmin avionics suite—if the pilot fails to make any inputs to take control of the airplane, the system assumes pilot incapacitation.

The leap forward after ten years of development by a large cast of pilots, engineers, designers, and technicians was only made possible by sustained focus on the goal, and the leadership to collectively forge a new path.

ThrustSense Autothrottle / Innovative Solutions & Support + Pilatus + Textron Aviation

Behind the scenes, a big stride forward in workload management has taken place—particularly for single-pilot operations in turboprop aircraft. Autothrottle systems have long been standard equipment on turbine aircraft, but only in the last three years have they inserted themselves onto the flight decks of GA airplanes in swelling numbers. The ThrustSense autothrottle system from Innovative Solutions & Support entered the single-engine turboprop market with its first installation on the Pilatus PC-12 in 2017—IS&S founder Geoffrey Hedrick apparently wanted the system for his personal airplane—building on the range of products it has developed for commercial and military aircraft, as well as the Eclipse 500/550, since its beginnings in 1988.

A step up from the electronic stability and protection (ESP) and flight-level change (FLC) modes now found across the board in Garmin flight decks, the ThrustSense makes for a natural evolution into complete envelope protection for singles and twins—with one crux being the development of the single-power lever for the Pratt & Whitney PT6A series powerplants. In May 2019, IS&S announced certification as a supplemental type certificate for Beechcraft King Airs—followed by the STC for the King Air 300 series with Pro Line Fusion avionics and the new King Air 360 launched by Textron Aviation in August 2020. While the advent of the autothrottle on single-engine turboprops offers a remarkable improvement in workload management, the reduction in cockpit theatrics following a loss of thrust on takeoff in the powerful turboprop twin cannot be undersold.

That’s a lot of peace of mind for the single pilot. Joining forces with Pilatus and Textron Aviation on this development process, IS&S has moved the needle significantly on safety.

Crewed Dragon Capsule to the International Space Station / NASA + SpaceX

For many pilots who grew up during the first phase of the crewed US space program—reaching a crescendo in the mid 1960s and early 1970s—celebrating the country’s return to serious spaceflight made 2020 a little bit easier to get through. A host of commercial operators now pierce the tropopause on a regular basis, gearing up for the day when an increasing number of us will gain access to space. A decade after the last space shuttle mission, young people across the country dream again of becoming astronauts.

While the efforts of so many people on several teams brought together the launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the crewed Dragon capsule perched atop its pointy end, it’s the collaboration of the now-venerable US government space agency, NASA, and the commercial SpaceX that we recognize for its partnership in putting pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken on board the International Space Station on May 31, 2020. The duo followed up with the first regular crewed mission, SpaceX Crew-1, on November 15, with NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Soichi Noguchi on board. For its part too, the FAA deserves a tip of the hat: all commercial space operations require an FAA license to launch through or renter the National Airspace System in the US.

The hope generated by the ongoing successes—and routine yet surmountable failures—of the latest chapter in human spaceflight keep so many of us looking forward to the future.

The post Flying Announces Editors’ Choice Awards for 2021 appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The editors at Flying announced today that Epic Aircraft’s E1000 has won the 2020 Flying Innovation Award. The new turboprop combines power with passion to earn our highest honor, amongst a strong field of 2020 Editors’ Choice Award winners. “We’re really pleased to be in a position to award the 2020 Innovation Award to Epic Aircraft for the phenomenal job that you’ve done, not just bringing the aircraft to certification over a couple of decades, but also in the midst of everything that we’ve been going through over the last 4 months now, to continue pushing forward, to get those first deliveries out the door, and into the hands of some extremely happy pilots,” said Flying’s Editor-in-Chief Julie Boatman.

We shared the news with the team at Epic Aircraft in a Zoom call on Wednesday, July 1. Epic CEO and President Doug King enjoyed the news, as a validation of the incredible efforts involved in bringing the E1000 to life from its genesis in the Epic LT. “Flying magazine is the premier publication for our customers and having read Flying magazine since I was riding around in my dad’s lap in his 172—that’s pretty cool!”

“I just gave a demo flight to a guy,” added King, “and it’s always fun when a potential customer comes out of the airplane, because they always have the same kind of reaction—holy cow! Or something not repeatable.” This resonates with the reason why the E1000 was chosen as this year’s award winner: “The feedback from the first owners who have flown it have completely validated the assessments that we’ve made over the years,” said Boatman.

Flying launched the Innovation Award in 2016 as an extension of the Editors’ Choice Awards to celebrate the overarching achievement demonstrated by one of the five ECA winners previously announced. That first winner, the HondaJet, exemplified the kind of out-of-the-box thinking that compelled us to set it above the rest. The Epic E1000 deserves similar acknowledgment—based on the relentless quest for quality and performance that meant a long development cycle, leading to a superb product that has rolled off the production line in Bend, and a few remarkably innovative features. The physical award presentation would normally take place at EAA AirVenture, but instead will be presented to the Epic team at an event this fall.

Look for our feature on the E1000 in the August 2020 issue of Flying.

The post Epic’s E1000 Wins Flying’s 2020 Innovation Award appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The recipients of this year’s Flying Editors’ Choice Awards, for the first time, comprise four airplanes — two from the piston world, and two jets that quickly are assuming spots at the top of their respective markets. That should come as no surprise since new airplanes are likely to attract extra attention from the judges, who know they’ll have the chance to fly the contenders — which honestly is the best part of our jobs.

In flying these four remarkable airplanes, we came away impressed by various attributes of each. They are unique; to say they serve vastly different audiences and markets is an understatement.

There is also an innovative avionics product that made the list, surprising perhaps only because avionics is the hottest area of the industry right now and so we might have expected more cockpit products to take home trophies. Alas, we cap our Editors’ Choice winners at five awards, and this year the airplanes ruled.

Each of these five winners now vie as nominees for our overall prize, the 2019 Flying Innovation Award, which we’ll crown at Oshkosh this summer.

Garmin TXi Flight Displays

Garmin’s TXi line of touchscreen flight displays brings flexibility to the cockpit by allowing aircraft owners to make upgrades, mixing and matching a variety of screen sizes that can transform older steam-gauge-equipped airplanes with panels that truly look as though they belong in this century.

We chose Garmin’s TXi 500 and TXi 600 systems for this year’s Editors’ Choice Award for several reasons. For starters, the touchscreen interface works great. These products also represent a leap forward from the G500 and G600 retrofit cockpits Garmin introduced a few years ago. The TXi touchscreens incorporate fast dual-core processors and provide extra features we like a lot, such as optional animated Nexrad weather graphics and integrated engine information.

The TXi line is offered with an exceptionally bright 10.6-inch touch display, a 7-inch portrait display or a 7-inch landscape display, or any combination of the three. For engine indication, an integrated EIS strip on a split screen can be integrated with the 10.6-inch PFD, or buyers can choose to add a dedicated 7-inch horizontal or vertical engine display.

The TXi 500 system is certified for Class 1 and 2 Part 23 airplanes weighing less than 6,000 pounds, while TXi 600 is for larger piston and turbine airplanes. Both are compatible with Garmin’s GTN navigators and retrofit autopilots, and offer an optional built-in backup battery, the ability to save pilot profiles, HSI map on the PFD, standard synthetic vision, VNAV with vertical profile guidance, and the ability to send your flight-plan data from an iPhone or iPad using Garmin Connext wireless gateway technology.

Pilatus PC-24

A business jet that incorporates a huge rear cargo door and is approved to land on dirt strips? It’s practically a shoe-in for an Editors’ Choice Award, but then they don’t call the Pilatus PC-24 the “Super Versatile Jet” for nothing. When Pilatus considered a successor to the highly successful PC-12 single-engine turboprop, a twin turboprop was briefly considered. Instead, the Swiss company settled on the idea of a twinjet, but one quite unlike anything the market had seen before. The PC-24 combines the operational flexibility of a turboprop with many of the performance attributes of a light jet in a cabin that belongs firmly in the midsize category.

With room for 10, plus plenty of gear in a 90-square-foot baggage compartment, this is a jet that was tailor-made for buyers moving up from the PC-12. Single-pilot capability means it will fast become a favorite of the owner-flown crowd where Pilatus has made its name, as well as with corporate flight departments and air-taxi operators. But to truly appreciate the PC-24, you have to fly it. Once you do, you’ll be hooked.

Gulfstream G500

Gulfstream has long held a reputation as one of the world’s finest purveyors of business jets, and the G500 is certain to cement its spot at the top of that list for a long time to come.

This airplane, to put it plainly, is a technological and engineering marvel. The cockpit features cutting-edge fly-by-wire technology that commands the autopilot, autothrottle and auto-braking system for unprecedented levels of control. At the flight crew’s fingertips are 10 touchscreens arrayed throughout the flight deck. The space is a welcoming blend of fine leather and brushed nickel reminiscent of a luxury car.

The cabin is whisper-quiet, with the ability to hear conversations among any of the up to 19 passenger seats. Performance of the G500 is exceptional. It boasts a max cruise speed a few knots below the speed of sound, a max altitude of FL 510 and range of 5,200 nm.

Remarkably, cabin altitude at FL 510 is just 4,850 feet, making for a decidedly relaxing environment for passengers to work, play or rest. Summed up, the G500 is the ultimate private jet.

Vashon Ranger

Vashon Aircraft surprised everybody last spring by introducing the Ranger R7 LSA as a fully type-approved model that was ready for handover to buyers. Just as startling was the company associated with the venture, avionics maker Dynon, which has made quite a name for itself in the Experimental market. With its tried-and-true Continental O-200 engine, beefy landing gear and base price of less than $100,000, the Ranger is an airplane that fulfills the promises made when the light-sport aircraft rules emerged well over a decade ago. Even the base model comes with a full Dynon panel (no surprise there), two-axis autopilot and full ADS-B rule compliance. It’s a perfect Cessna 150 replacement for a busy flight school, or a fun two-seater for a sport pilot to take on adventures of a lifetime.

Lancair Mako

Kitplane maker Lancair bills the Mako as a four-place alternative to the Cirrus SR22 that sells for a fraction of the price. When you dig down into the specs, it’s hard to quibble with that assertion. The Mako offers a BRS full-airframe parachute, icing protection, air conditioning and a Garmin cockpit with all the latest technology, such as synthetic vision, integrated three-axis autopilot, active traffic, ADS-B In and Out and FlightStream wireless flight-plan transfer technology, all for about half the price of a new Cirrus. The Mako is a kit, so you have to build it or pay Lancair to help you do that job. Even with most of the cost of building the kit included, the turbo Mako has a base price of $385,000. That’s a deal for an airplane that can cruise at 225 knots, fly 1,100 nm and take off from 2,000-foot runways. For buyers who can get past the fact that it’s a kit, the Mako is an airplane that delivers a lot for the money (including its automatically retracted nosewheel), which is why we picked it as an Editor’s Choice Award winner.

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At the close of each year, the editors of Flying convene to consider the positive attributes of the best aviation products to emerge in the preceding 12 months. Our annual Editors’ Choice Awards are as much about honoring the innovative ideas behind exceptional new products as celebrating the hard work of the people in aviation who create extraordinary things. To be eligible for the award, however, a company cannot merely announce a new product; the recipient must cross the certification finish line and introduce the product to the market — in aviation, sometimes a high bar indeed.

Last year, we upped the ante by introducing a new prize, the Flying Innovation Award, presented to one outstanding winner from among our Editors’ Choice recipients as the top overall product of the year. It was a tight competition, but the first-ever Flying Innovation Award trophy ultimately went to Honda Aircraft and the team that created the landmark HondaJet, an airplane that embodies the type of extraordinary thinking we endeavor to acknowledge with this accolade.

This year’s list of Editors’ Choice Award recipients is no less impressive, with two groundbreaking general aviation airplanes and a number of innovative products making the grade. Now, these victors vie for the Innovation prize, which we’ll present at Oshkosh at the annual Flying party on July 23. We’d love to hear your thoughts on which Editors’ Choice recipient you think deserves to be crowned the winner. Drop us a note by email or on Facebook to cast your vote.

—Stephen Pope, Editor-in-Chief

Garmin G1000 NXi

Garmin’s G1000 NXi avionics system isn’t just a step up from the original, it is a quantum leap beyond the G1000 system many pilots have grown up with over the past 14 years. Much faster computer processors and a boost in memory mean G1000 NXi is lightning-fast and can do so much more. We’ve come to appreciate NXi’s geographic map overlay on the HSI after initially wondering if we’d even turn it on, while features such as animated Nexrad graphics and visual approach guidance make life that much easier. Cirrus was the first to introduce the NXi system, in the 2017 Generation 6 SR22. Since then, most manufacturers have followed suit or will add the capability soon. Just as G1000 became a de facto standard for avionics years ago, G1000 NXi is positioned to carry that legacy for years to come.

Lightspeed Zulu 3

Lightspeed has introduced some exceptional aviation headsets over the years, but none as good as the Zulu 3. Sound quality is improved, comfort is notably better and durability should be a strong point as well. Lightspeed has succeeded in bringing to the market an active noise-canceling headset with premium features (such as a Kevlar-braided audio cable, Bluetooth capability and FlightLink app compatibility) at a retail price of $850, which is about $250 below top-tier headsets. Sound and comfort improvements come in part from newly designed ear seals that have 20 percent more surface area. We just know they sound and feel great. Lightspeed is so confident in the Zulu 3’s build quality that the company offers an industry-leading seven-year warranty.

ForeFlight Scout

ForeFlight’s Scout ADS-B receiver is the type of innovative and affordable product we’re delighted to see embraced by the general aviation market. Scout takes simplicity in design to levels unheard of in aviation by combining a compact unit that’s about the size of a USB thumb drive with the ease of use of the best in new consumer electronics. Simply open up the box, connect Scout to a power source and pair it with your iPad. The unit then automatically provides subscription-free ADS-B weather and traffic information in flight integrated with the ForeFlight Mobile app. A handy suction cup allows you to stick Scout to a window and forget about it. The exceptional inflight weather and information resources integrated within ForeFlight Mobile, such as graphical TFRs, PIREPs, and METARs, work flawlessly with Scout, and the Nexrad weather overlays we’ve seen seem every bit as good as those offered by subscription services. Best of all, the Scout unit, produced for ForeFlight by uAvionix, is priced at only $200, making it affordable to anyone.

Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet

To put it succinctly, there has never been an airplane like the Vision Jet from Cirrus Aircraft. From the single Williams turbofan engine mounted atop the fuselage to the computer-stabilized V-tail, the spacious passenger compartment, the huge cabin windows, the full-airframe parachute (a first for a jet) and finally to the cockpit, which is designed to make pilots moving up from a Cirrus SR22 feel right at home, the SF50 Vision defies convention and rewrites the rules for what a game-changing general aviation airplane can achieve. When we flew the Vision for our pilot report last spring, everything we hoped it would be was confirmed, and then some. Cirrus has done a masterful job bringing to the market an airplane that many thought improbable: the world’s first single-engine personal jet.

Mooney M20U Ovation Ultra

Mooney’s M20U Ovation Ultra high-performance single truly confirms that the legendary Kerrville, Texas, manufacturer is back. After flying the Ovation Ultra for our December cover story, we were left in awe by just what a great job the new owners of the company have done, not only with this remarkable airplane, but with the factory in Kerrville as well (they’ve spent $500,000 upgrading the factory lighting alone). The additions to the Ovation Ultra of a pilot-side door, cutting-edge avionics, a gorgeous interior and a long list of smart design improvements add up to a product that can run with the best airplanes in its class, and thanks to its impressive cruise speed, easily outrun them as well.

The post Editors’ Choice Awards 2017 appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The criteria we use to select our annual Editors’ Choice award winners are fairly simple: We look for the best products, technologies, ideas and innovations that emerged in the preceding year.

Once we’ve separated the merely good from the great, we cull our list even further, debating why some contenders should make the final cut and others should not. The judging is wide-open as far as what can make the list. One year it might be a cool new LSA and a game-changing noise-canceling headset, the next an amazing aviation app and a charitable organization doing exceptional work. What matters most is that the winners represent the year’s most innovative and noteworthy achievements in general aviation. We’ve selected six winners — three airplanes and three avionics products — each of them groundbreaking in its own way. Congratulations to all.

HondaJet

About 20 years in the making, Honda Aircraft’s HA-420 HondaJet achieved FAA certification in 2016, bringing to the market one of the most innovative business jets ever to grace Flying’s cover. For our flight report in the June issue, we explored the HondaJet’s full flight envelope and described in detail its most noteworthy attributes — for example, its unique over-the-wing engine-mounting configuration, its new fuel-efficient GE Honda Aero HF120 turbofan engines, its natural laminar flow wing and fuselage, and the Garmin G3000 avionics system (the HondaJet is one of the first airplanes certified with the touchscreen-based technology). As we can attest, the HondaJet flies beautifully and has the performance cred to satisfy its many buyers. Add it all up, and Honda has delivered a game-changing light jet that easily lives up to the hype.

Piper M600

In the aftermath of the 2008 economic downturn, Piper could have contented itself by rolling out a mild refresh of the venerable PA-46 Meridian turboprop single. Instead, the Vero Beach, Florida, manufacturer took the bold step of totally revamping an airplane that in many ways had come to define Piper. Now, thanks to several major improvements that make the new M600 a serious contender against even pricier turboprop competition, Piper has an airplane to define its future for decades to come. Four key changes to the Meridian elevate the M600 from merely good to exceptional: Piper designed an all-new wing that offers improvements in payload and speed and can hold more fuel. The company also increased flat-rated power in the M600’s Pratt & Whitney PT6A to 600 hp, added touchscreen Garmin G3000 avionics to the front office space, and created a stunning new interior that is a major step up from the original Meridian’s. In a word, the M600 is a winner.

CubCrafters XCub

It isn’t often that a manufacturer surprises the aviation world by introducing a fully Part 23-certified airplane that is ready to hand over to customers, but that is precisely what Yakima, Washington-based CubCrafters achieved last year with the remarkable XCub. Based on the venerable Piper Super Cub, the -reimagined XCub is perhaps the ideal backcountry airplane. With its 180 hp Lycoming O-360 engine and Hartzell Trailblazer composite constant-speed prop, the XCub practically levitates into takeoff attitude and has the power to accelerate to a cruise speed of 130 knots. Max range is an eye-popping 1,000 nautical miles, and the maximum useful load is 1,084 pounds. CubCrafters also completely redesigned the cowl with aerodynamic shapes on top and shark-gill-like cooling vents. The sleek interior has been brought up to date with multiple USB ports and pockets galore. That’s a lot of capability and refinement packed into an airplane that’s also a hoot to fly.

Garmin G5 and D10A

At face value, there’s nothing especially remarkable about the Dynon D10A and Garmin G5 electronic flight instruments. After all, digital instrumentation has been replacing failure-prone vacuum-driven flight instruments in general aviation airplanes for the last two decades. But when you consider that the low-cost Dynon and Garmin electronic displays were originally created for the Experimental market and never went through the FAA’s TSO certification process, yet are now approved for installation in hundreds of Part 23 light airplanes, the word “revolutionary” springs to mind.

It all started last spring, when Dynon and the Experimental Aircraft Association announced a surprise joint STC program to bring the D10A to around 600 Part 23 aircraft -models with the full support of the FAA. A few months later, Garmin followed suit with a similar AML STC for its G5 display. This is just the start of great things, as the FAA has announced its intention to allow many more formerly Experimental products to come to the wider GA fleet.

SiriusXM SXAR1

One day we’ll wake up and realize we are flying fully connected airplanes capable of routine data transfers in flight, bringing vast new capabilities to our cockpits. Until that day, we’ll take what we can get. We’re excited to see that SiriusXM has expanded its industry-leading inflight satellite weather 
service to a portable unit, the SXAR1. Compatible with the ForeFlight Mobile app, the compact receiver includes a built-in WAAS GPS receiver, long-life rechargeable battery, and SiriusXM weather capability that provides U.S. and Canadian radar, lightning strike location, metars, TAFs, airmets, sigmets, TFRs and more. In short, it delivers all the can’t-live-without information that has long been available to pilots flying with installed SiriusXM -receivers. And unlike the free weather data available over the ADS-B network, the SXAR1 doesn’t need to be within line of sight of a ground station.

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Each year, we at Flying select a small handful of products, companies or organizations that have had a positive impact on general aviation during the previous year. It’s the stamp of approval pilots look for when shopping for avionics, making aircraft-purchase decisions, or trying to separate merely good products from great ones. But it’s more than that. It is recognition of a job well done by teams of engineers, test pilots, marketers and other professionals who, working together, have taken bright ideas and turned them into certified realities. We hope that, in some small way, it also helps to spur competition, drive innovation and inspire the brilliant minds in aviation to dream of creating the next game-changing technology or product.

The airplanes we bestow the honors on this year are about as different as can be, yet they certainly fit the definition of game changing in the segments they represent. The avionics products we’ve selected also exemplify technology that pushes boundaries with new ways of thinking and presenting information. This year, we also recognize a charitable organization that is doing exceptional work to help get kids excited about aviation, a goal you’ll see us putting a renewed emphasis on here at Flying as we enter the new year. So join us in congratulating this year’s highly deserving 2015 Editors’ Choice award winners.

The California-born-and-bred Icon A5 light-sport amphibian is an obvious choice for a 2015 Flying Editors’ Choice award. It’s almost certain to be a controversial one as well.

With the A5, Icon Aircraft has introduced a different kind of airplane that is targeted primarily to nonpilot thrill seekers — a sort of flying Jet Ski that exists purely to bring joy to its owner. There’s nothing wrong with that. But Icon has also worked hard to cultivate a bad-boy image with the release of videos and promotional materials that show A5 pilots performing the sorts of aggressive low-level maneuvers that have been getting people hurt or killed in airplanes for more than a hundred years.

But the simple fact is, the A5’s flight characteristics are sublime, it meets FAA spin-resistant design criteria, and it comes equipped with cutting-edge safety features, including a full-airframe BRS parachute and angle of attack indicator. That it’s also badass is a bonus.

When viewed through this wider lens, and by taking into account everything Icon has accomplished with the A5, we proudly bestow this honor on a company that achieved exactly what it set out to do, boldly and without apology, in creating an airplane that epitomizes what an LSA can and should be.

Cessna’s newly introduced Citation Latitude midsize business twinjet occupies a class all its own, combining the things buyers have long loved about the Citation brand — rock-solid reliability, low operating costs, exceptional takeoff performance and more — and adding many others they’ll come to appreciate the moment they step on board.

The cabin, for starters, is surprisingly spacious with room for eight and a flat floor that stretches 6 feet to the ceiling, 6.4 feet wide and 21.75 feet long. Fuel-efficient Pratt & Whitney PW306D1 turbofans provide a range of 2,850 nm and a max speed of 446 knots. The general shape is reminiscent of the Citation Sovereign, on which the Latitude is based, but the new model is jam packed with extras, from the Garmin G5000 touch-screen avionics up front to the Clarity cabin entertainment system in the back, as well as large windows that let in lots of natural light and an airstair door that’s generous in size. As a total package, this is a hard bizjet to beat.

A transponder with a touchscreen would probably make the short list for an Editors’ Choice award based on the mere fact it’s such a cool idea. A Mode S extended-squitter transponder with LCD touchscreen, internal dual-band ADS-B receivers, WAAS GPS receiver and Wi-Fi interface for connecting it to a tablet computer is, in our opinion, a slam-dunk winner. And since it’s our opinion that counts, we’re delighted to present the award to the revolutionary L-3 Lynx NGT-9000.

The unit provides you with everything you’ll need to comply with the FAA’s 2020 ADS-B mandate, plus a whole lot more. There’s an internal 1090ES ADS-B Out receiver/transmitter for rule compliance plus dual 1090 MHz and 978 MHz (UAT) ADS-B In links for receiving traffic and subscription-free weather information, which is displayed right on the NGT-9000’s touchscreen. Swipe left or right to call up various map, traffic and weather pages on the screen, or you can output the signal to another cockpit MFD or to an iPad or Android tablet for overlay on popular apps such as WingX Pro7.

OK, we’ll admit that we were skeptical of this one when Aspen announced it earlier this year. Then we flew with the company’s software-only angle of attack indicator and became believers. The reason we questioned whether it could really work as advertised is because there aren’t any external sensors that you need to install to display angle of attack on your Aspen flight display. You merely upload the software, plug in airspeed numbers specific to your airplane, go up for a quick calibration flight, and you’re in business.

How exactly does it work? The technology uses the accelerometers in the Aspen Evolution primary flight display and GPS track angle to derive angle of attack based on what the system sees. Developed by the Italian Space Agency and patented by Aspen, not only does the software provide accurate angle of attack indications on the PFD (even in an accelerated stall), but they are also theoretically more accurate than those supplied by permanently installed pressure-transducer-type angle of attack systems. The needles on the Aspen display provide fast-slow indications of margin above stall that are a huge improvement over what the airspeed indicator can tell you and provide more useful information than a stall-warning horn alone.

Build A Plane is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting aviation by giving kids the chance to build real airplanes. The organization, founded in 2003 in a formal partnership with the FAA, solicits aircraft donations — often from home builders who never finished their project airplanes and who can claim a charitable tax deduction — which are passed along to high schools and youth groups across the country where kids get to work building them. It’s up to the group to decide what happens to the airplane when it’s completed. A number of students who built airplanes have gone on to learn how to fly them.

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association partnered with Build A Plane a couple of years ago and ­invited high-school kids to enter a competition named the Aviation Design Challenge. The students were tasked with ­building a virtual airplane using the program’s “Fly to Learn” curriculum, and then flying the airplane in a simulator using X-Plane software. The students with the most successful design got to build a Glasair Sportsman in Arlington, Washington. The Aviation Design Challenge is now in its third year. To learn more about the organization, visit buildaplane.org.

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