Avionics News October 2012 - 38

COCKPIT INNOVATIONS
Continued from page 37

Steve Wightman – Turbine Seawind Amphibian Steve Wightman started his aviation career in 1966, as an aircraft mechanic in the U.S. Army. He’s changed careers since then, but the financial planner and author has never strayed from aviation. When it came time to create an airplane that would take him and his wife wherever they wanted to go, he started with a risk assessment. Piston engines have two problems. First, the days of leaded avgas are numbered. When it goes away, for whatever

reason, the airplanes they power will lose a lot of value. Reliability is the second risk. Starting with his Army experience, Wightman knew that Jet-A is the universal aviation fuel, available worldwide, and that the reliability of the PT-6A-20 is legendary. With the cost of this venerable turbine close to that of an overhauled IO-540, the Seawind’s normal powerplant, the decision was easy, he said. The PT6 burns a bit more fuel, but it’s lighter than the piston, so investing the savings in fuel made it an even trade. Equipping the cockpit was another easy decision. “I started flying glass about five years ago, and the situational awareness is unparalleled,” Wightman said. The left and right Garmin

G900 screens have everything from synthetic vision to weather and traffic. A GRT Avionics EFIS separates them. It is a backup to the backup steam gauges, and Wightman installed it because GRT does an excellent job of monitoring the PT6, according to Jason Smith of Aerotronics, the Billings, Mont., shop that built the panel. Eager to debut his new turbine Seawind at EAA AirVenture in a homebuilt showcase fly-by, an insurance issue – and a line of thunderstorms that stretched east of Oshkosh all the way to his home in Boston – precluded the flight. “My whole idea about flying is risk reduction,” Wightman said, and it extends beyond the weather to “the engine, airframe and avionics.” q

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38

avionics news

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Avionics News October 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News October 2012

Point of Communication
AEA Now
The View From Washington
International News and Regulatory Updates
Lightning Detection & Datalink
Member Profile
Cockpit Innovations
Member Profile
A Conversation With...
Understanding Autopilot Upgrades
Before & After
Member Profile
Pro-to-col
Business Basics
Theory & Practice
What's New
Marketplace Classifieds
Avionics News October 2012 - Intro
Avionics News October 2012 - Cover1
Avionics News October 2012 - Cover2
Avionics News October 2012 - 1
Avionics News October 2012 - 2
Avionics News October 2012 - 3
Avionics News October 2012 - Point of Communication
Avionics News October 2012 - 5
Avionics News October 2012 - AEA Now
Avionics News October 2012 - 7
Avionics News October 2012 - 8
Avionics News October 2012 - 9
Avionics News October 2012 - 10
Avionics News October 2012 - 11
Avionics News October 2012 - 12
Avionics News October 2012 - 13
Avionics News October 2012 - The View From Washington
Avionics News October 2012 - 15
Avionics News October 2012 - International News and Regulatory Updates
Avionics News October 2012 - 17
Avionics News October 2012 - 18
Avionics News October 2012 - 19
Avionics News October 2012 - Lightning Detection & Datalink
Avionics News October 2012 - 21
Avionics News October 2012 - 22
Avionics News October 2012 - 23
Avionics News October 2012 - 24
Avionics News October 2012 - 25
Avionics News October 2012 - 26
Avionics News October 2012 - 27
Avionics News October 2012 - Member Profile
Avionics News October 2012 - 29
Avionics News October 2012 - 30
Avionics News October 2012 - 31
Avionics News October 2012 - Cockpit Innovations
Avionics News October 2012 - 33
Avionics News October 2012 - 34
Avionics News October 2012 - 35
Avionics News October 2012 - 36
Avionics News October 2012 - 37
Avionics News October 2012 - 38
Avionics News October 2012 - 39
Avionics News October 2012 - Member Profile
Avionics News October 2012 - 41
Avionics News October 2012 - 42
Avionics News October 2012 - 43
Avionics News October 2012 - A Conversation With...
Avionics News October 2012 - 45
Avionics News October 2012 - Understanding Autopilot Upgrades
Avionics News October 2012 - 47
Avionics News October 2012 - 48
Avionics News October 2012 - 49
Avionics News October 2012 - 50
Avionics News October 2012 - 51
Avionics News October 2012 - 52
Avionics News October 2012 - 53
Avionics News October 2012 - 54
Avionics News October 2012 - 55
Avionics News October 2012 - Before & After
Avionics News October 2012 - 57
Avionics News October 2012 - Member Profile
Avionics News October 2012 - 59
Avionics News October 2012 - 60
Avionics News October 2012 - 61
Avionics News October 2012 - Pro-to-col
Avionics News October 2012 - 63
Avionics News October 2012 - 64
Avionics News October 2012 - 65
Avionics News October 2012 - Business Basics
Avionics News October 2012 - 67
Avionics News October 2012 - 68
Avionics News October 2012 - 69
Avionics News October 2012 - Theory & Practice
Avionics News October 2012 - 71
Avionics News October 2012 - 72
Avionics News October 2012 - 73
Avionics News October 2012 - What's New
Avionics News October 2012 - 75
Avionics News October 2012 - 76
Avionics News October 2012 - 77
Avionics News October 2012 - Marketplace Classifieds
Avionics News October 2012 - 79
Avionics News October 2012 - 80
Avionics News October 2012 - Cover3
Avionics News October 2012 - Cover4
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