The editor’s briefing in Twin & Turbine’s August 2023 issue focused on the history of EAA’s AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI. Since the content for that issue had to go to press prior to the event, I thought I would recap what I saw in Oshkosh here. There was a lot of new information, especially for us purveyors of speedy twins and turbine-powered machines.
Right out of the gate, McCauley Propeller Systems, a Textron Aviation company, announced certification on its new C780 four-blade propeller system for the Beechcraft King Air B300 series. For operators, the new props save weight, increase performance and make the plane quieter. McCauley is also celebrating 85 years since it was founded in 1938.
It was pretty hot during AirVenture, too, so Textron Aviation’s next announcement was a welcome one for many King Air 260 and 360 buyers. Beginning in 2024, all new King Air aircraft will be equipped with Lee Aerospace’s new CoolView windows. The CoolView windows feature a frost pane with an integrated window tint. This advanced design enhances visibility while reducing unwanted sunlight and glare, creating a pleasant and visually appealing cabin atmosphere for passengers and crew. The frost pane also helps reduce or eliminate unwanted ice buildup during long flights.
But wait, that wasn’t all the news out of our favorite Wichita airplane maker. The Cessna Beechcraft Denali (yes, the United States has mountains, too) made its aviation show debut. Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president of sales and flight operations, said, “Beechcraft turboprops are renowned for their versatility and reliability, and I’m thrilled to unveil the newest member of the legendary product family to the world.”
Industry Insights, farther back in this issue, focuses on some of the updates out of Vero Beach, Florida, Piper’s home base. I won’t spoil the fun here, but you’ll read about some M600 upgrades that will enhance ownership.
Closer to home, we had some updates from the Malibu M-Class Owners and Pilots Association (MMOPA) announcing a rebranding to the Piper M-Class Owners and Pilots Association (PMOPA). Founded in 1998, the association is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the interests and safety of owners and pilots worldwide who fly PA-46 derivative (Malibu, Mirage, Meridian, M-Class, JetPROP and Matrix) aircraft serving over 1,300 members.
“We have taken great leaps in the last year in growing and expanding the influence of the association, and including the manufacturer in our name was the logical next step,” said John Granmayeh, PMOPA President of the Board of Directors. “Piper Aircraft is the remarkable company responsible for creating the airplanes our members love flying. Mike Nichols, CAM, CAE, and chief executive officer of PMOPA, agreed, saying, “Our members are passionate about the aircraft they fly and are loyal to the Piper brand, which has a rich and storied history and represents safety, efficiency, and excellence. These qualities align with our Association’s values of Safety, Advocacy, and Community.” Ron Gunnarson, Piper Aircraft’s vice president of sales, marketing and customer service, emphasized the strength of the relationship between PMOPA, its members, and Piper Aircraft. “Every Piper PA-46, from the first Malibu in 1983 to the latest M600 SLS that rolled out of our paint shop this week, is part of the M-Class family of aircraft. We are excited about PMOPA’s rebranding and the strength of our relationship with PMOPA and its members.”
Daher brought its “Family Values” campaign to aviation fans by displaying the Kodiak 100, Kodiak 900, and TBM 960 lineup, all with new Hartzell 5-blade propellers.
Daher’s dedication to backcountry operators, a large contingent of Kodiak flyers, was evident, as well. During EAA AirVenture, Daher highlighted the company’s support for the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) – a non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve “backcountry” strips across the United States (see T &T February 2023 cover story). As part of this support, Daher assisted RAF by providing a Kodiak aircraft and volunteer pilots to carry U.S. Forest Service personnel, along with building and support materials, to two of this federal agency’s grass strips in the mountains of southeastern Idaho.
Daher also announced the 80th delivery of a TBM 960, marking the latest achievement for this top-of-the-line member in the company’s turboprop-powered aircraft product line. The milestone TBM 960 was provided to a private owner, and the delivery comes just over a year after Daher formally launched the aircraft version in April 2022. The TBM 960 marks Daher’s fifth evolution of its TBM 900-series aircraft family – with a combined total of 488 aircraft to date in the TBM 900, TBM 910, TBM 930, TBM 940 and TBM 960 versions. This surpasses the delivery totals for the two previous-generation TBM aircraft types, with 324 TBM 700s and 338 TBM 850s provided to customers during their production runs.
If there is one commonality to all of the brands’ announcements, it might be another brand, Garmin. Our friends in Olathe, Kansas, had a few announcements, too. Garmin announced that PlaneSync is now available for retrofit installations, simplifying the lives of aircraft owners and operators.
- Using a 4G LTE cellular or Wi-Fi connection provided by the new GDL 60 datalink, PlaneSync technology enables impressive avionics connectivity capabilities to streamline an aircraft owner’s pre-flight and post-flight activities.
- Eliminating the time-consuming process of updating databases via PC and data card, PlaneSync technology automatically downloads databases to the aircraft.
- Added capability coming in early 2024, PlaneSync will automatically transmit engine and flight log data to secure cloud storage after landing.
- Remote aircraft status allows aircraft owners to view the current status of the aircraft and its systems via the Garmin Pilot app or their D2 Mach 1 smartwatch.
- PlaneSync is compatible with popular Garmin avionics such as GTN Xi series navigators, TXi series flight displays, and GI 275 electronic flight instruments.
As you can see, it was an exciting time in Oshkosh, in July. NBAA is right around the corner, so we’ll be there to capture more news from our favorite manufacturers.
In this issue of Twin & Turbine, we hear from an operator of Piper’s Meridian and then get an in-depth report on the state of the market for Piper’s trainers and M-class aircraft.
There was quite a bit of news at Oshkosh around sustainable fuels (SAF), so T&T’s writer, Tigre Pickett, was on hand to demystify some of the things we have heard so far. Tigre gives an overview of worldwide SAF research and production and then sits down for a Q&A on the future of SAF.
In this month’s Editor’s Pics section, I provide a few photos from around AirVenture taken on my old Pentax 67 medium format camera. The Pentax 67 is big and heavy but the images it makes are pretty special.
Owner’s Corner focuses on operating the Eclipse 500. And a new column, Mastering Flight, dives into recency of experience and what it means to really be proficient. Finally, David Miller describes how a little wine and some over-the-counter remedies can ruin an otherwise pleasant evening.
Thank you so much for reading.
