April 2018 Volume L Number 4 The consumer resource for pilots and aircraft owners Long-Term Flight Tote Eval LSA Seaplane Ratings:: Page 23 We take the training in a Searey... page 9 Autopilot market scan… page 4 Are three blades better than two? … page 14 The ultimate talking checklist... page 20 4 BUDGET AUTOPILOTS 14 THREE-BLADE PROPS 20 MIRACHECK APP The market is alive with four They may look sexy, but don’t We may have found the best systems priced under $10K count on big performance voice-controlled checklist 11 AIRTEXT SATCOMM 17 REMEDIAL CHECKRIDES 24 USED AVIAT HUSKY A new Iridium-based cabin Tips for acing the dreaded A buyer’s guide for the capable router with smart utility FAA 709 ride backwoods taildragger FIRST WORD EDITOR Larry Anglisano A NEW AIRPLANE FROM DYNON AVIONICS? Not exactly, but close. The airplane pictured below is the Vashon R7 Ranger S- SENIOR EDITOR LSA and it has an intriguing story, an inviting price and the latest Dynon avion- Rick Durden ics. First, the story. Several years ago Dynon’s founder and CEO John Torode had an idea to build and sell a new airplane model and although it wasn’t necessarily EDITORIAL DIRECTOR supposed to be an LSA, it fell within the price point he was after. After years of Timothy Cole listening to pilots describe what they might want in a modern LSA, Torode fig- ured out that the obvious stuff potential buyers wanted was something he could EDITOR AT LARGE offer. It had to have plenty of cool Paul Bertorelli factor, an affordable price and SUBSCRIPTION DEPARTMENT capable avionics. The avionics, of P.O. Box 8535 course, would be easy. Dynon en- Big Sandy, TX 75755-8535 joys much success in the experi- 800-829-9081 mental avionics market with a www.aviationconsumer.com/cs proven product line that remains on the cutting edge. FOR CANADA With the help of Ken Subscription Services Krueger, who spent over 16 Box 7820 STN Main years on the engineering London, ON 5W1 team at Van’s Aircraft (he Canada later became the chief engi- neer), the Vashon R7 Ranger was born, flew and is now REPRINTS: Aviation Consumer can provide you or your organization certified as an S-LSA. The with reprints. Minimum order is 1000 company plans to build at copies. Contact Jennifer Jimolka, 203-857-3144 least 20 R7 Rangers this year and a lot more next year. The starting price is $99,500, but AVIATION CONSUMER the flagship version could (ISSN #0147-9911) is max out at around $120,000. In my estimation, Krueger’s involvement (and sub- published monthly by sequent Van’s DNA built into the Ranger) steps the plane up a few notches. Belvoir Aviation Group The R7 Ranger is different from many LSAs because it has an all-aluminum fu- LLC, an affiliate of Bel- selage and interestingly, a 100-HP Continental O-200-D spinning a Catto fixed- voir Media Group, 535 Connecticut Avenue, pitch propeller. Where lots of other LSA models are powered by some kind of Rotax, Torode decided that the R7 had to have a small Continental even if means Norwalk, CT 06854-1713. Robert Eng- a weight penalty because he thinks it’s iconic, easily serviced in the field and lander, Chairman and CEO; Timothy H. would be more accepted by flight schools and also older pilots. The aircraft has a Cole, Executive Vice President, Editorial 445-pound useful load, a 430-NM range and a top cruising speed of 117 knots. Director; Philip L. Penny, Chief Operating Vashon’s Amy Bellesheim (a flight instructor who comes to Vashon after work- Officer; Greg King, Executive Vice Presi- ing with Boeing on its 777) told me the company is doing everything possible dent, Marketing Director; Ron Goldberg, to save on manufacturing costs, including manufacturing many of its own parts. Chief Financial Officer; Tom Canfield, Vice Aside from doing in-house avionics (the aircraft factory is a few steps away from President, Circulation. Dynon’s facility on Paine Field in Woodinville, Washington), Vashon is using pre- drilled and prepainted metal, which eliminates the need to put a paint job on the Periodicals postage paid at Norwalk, CT, airplane when it’s assembled. Graphics are done with vinyl wrap and Bellesheim and at additional mailing offices. Rev- said there’s no end to the custom schemes customers can design for their Ranger. enue Canada GST Account #128044658. At first blush, the R7 Ranger has a pretty utilitarian cabin dwelling. There’s no Subscriptions: $84 annually. Bulk rate sub- fancy leather seating and plush sidewalls. But if a stark interior helps keep the scriptions for organizations are available. cost down, I’m not complaining. As I eyeballed the R7 I couldn’t help but think Copyright © 2018 Belvoir Aviation Group of how I would use the aircraft. As a cyclist who loads my bicycle in my vehicle LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in to travel to regional events, the Ranger—with seats that fold down 90 degrees— could easily accommodate my full-size road bike. The 445-pound useful load whole or in part is prohibited. Printed in would be plenty for this 170-pounder, and 117 knots beats my Nissan truck. the USA. The base model is called the Yellowstone and includes the Dynon Skyview Touch avionics; upgraded models will have the HDX system. There are currently Postmaster: Send address corrections to two R7s flying and four in assembly line to be ready for sale this April. If Vashon AVIATION CONSUMER, P.O. Box 8535, Big can stick to its under-$100,000 price, we might finally see an LSA for which the Sandy, TX 75755-8535. In Canada, P.O. Box category was intended: That’s budget-minded pilots like me with adventurous 39 Norwich, ON NOJ1PO, Canada. Publish- flying plans who need limited utility. The Dynon glass avionics sweeten the deal. ing Agreement Number #40016479 We’re planning a flight evaluation of the R7, so stay tuned.—Larry Anglisano 2 • The Aviation Consumer www.aviationconsumer.com April 2018 LETTERS FBO WILD PRICE SWINGS Fortunately, most of us can still called them on a couple of occasions I read Larry Anglisano’s editorial on vote with our feet, at least when we to inquire about a couple of differ- FBO price gouging in the March 2018 are flying for pleasure, by carefully ent crankshaft ADs. Barrett was very Aviation Consumer and have some researching prices on Airnav.com and responsive and friendly. I never had thoughts. Like then shunning over- an issue with the engine during my Larry, I don’t mind priced FBOs like the ownership. I sold the airplane in 2011. paying for good plague. Today I’m flying an Extra EA-300 FBO service when It will be interest- with an engine that was overhauled I avail myself of it, ing to see how ef- by Penn Yan Aero Services in the early but these days with fectively (or even if) 2012 time frame. They too have been venture capital the FAA can ratchet responsive to any questions I’ve had firms consolidating down the price-goug- about the engine including the recent ever-larger chains ing at greedy corpo- AD about the connecting rod bush- of glitzy and highly rate FBOs on many ings. profitable FBOs larger-city airports. I’m very happy with BPE and also even at relatively Penn Yan. Both shops have provided a small airports around the USA, it is Barry Stott solid engine and great support. getting increasingly difficult to avoid Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania both sky-high fuel fees and onerous Farrell Woods ramp charges. As Anglisano pointed out in the com- via email Last fall, for example, a friend of mentary, it isn’t just about fuel prices. The mine flew me up from Rocky Moun- real issue at a lot of airports is getting to ELT OR ADS-B? tain Metro across the Front Range of the other side of the airport fence when Our maintenance guy suggested we the Colorado Rockies to Eagle Airport you don’t need the services of the FBO. At look into buying a 406 ELT system at west of Vail. He taxied in to the legal many places, you have to first pass through the next annual. Since ATC can locate outer edge of the Vail Valley Jet Center the FBO’s doors and that’s where you’re any ADS-B aircraft via tail number, ramp, where I hopped out, then he slapped with a facility fee, whether you use does this lessen the need for a 406 immediately taxied back out for take- its services or not. ELT? off. I strolled across the ramp toward the main exit gate to public ground ENGINE SHOP SURVEY Laton Allison transportation, but a line guy came I read your engine shop survey article Stanberry, Missouri running up and made me come in to in the March 2018 Aviation Consumer Find us on Facebook Badge CMYK / .ai the front desk, whereupon I was hand- and want to describe an experience We think not because a battery-powered ed a $65 bill for “drop-off” service. with a specific shop. ELT can continue to transmit long after If you browse www.airnav.com to I used to be the proud owner of the aircraft hits the dirt. An ADS-B Out check all the fuel prices around the a 1978 Bellanca Super Decathlon, system needs aircraft input voltage. country as I just did, you’ll be pleased sporting a Lycoming AEIO-360-H1A to note that, in quite a few spots, engine.