Pretty sure there are handheld XM receivers for the wife issue. But I am going to keep the 69a for the XM Wx. Every single advantage I can get in that department I will pay for.

I assume the terrain database is of no help in those remote locations.

My shop recently got a brand new XLT in for a transponder check (or something tiny) on the way to its first owner. It had just the ferry flight hours on it. They had just sold it to the new owner.

It was manufactured in 2013.

I hate the Aspen avionics. Peh. I like Garmin.

Couldn't you easily test your theory by using identical leads for all spark plugs? just loop them and wire-tire them off?

Every now and then I go on a website and look at the model *thing* I want and check the price. I used to do it every six months with the most powerful Apple computer (which steadily dropped in price from $16k down to around $5k). The current Cirrus that I would buy if I had hit that lottery and was ...

Terror and excitement. My offer (and trade in of N971RD) was accepted on N510TS so in a few weeks I should be flying home a Twinstar (KRDU - KSMO). Any and all advice is welcome. Do people cruise at 80%? How do you tend to manage fuel on a long flight well below max. gross? Top all tanks, wait until...

"What are they actually making in London Ontario today? anything?" They do retrofit work on DA42s. They make the Seastar parts. They do all the punchboard and wiring work on the DA42 and DA40 instrument panels (which are then shipped to Austria a lot of the time). Most importantly, and mos...

I heard an amazing story, which is that they lost the formula for the rubber, so there is a who bunch that are too squishy and deform too fast.

My tail sits too low to begin with. And it's not mine anymore anyway.

I was stunned to see this news. There was no hint of it at the factory when I was there this summer. A reversal of my usual timing in aviation, I have just sold my DA40 this week. I mean, pending nothing going wrong at the annual in a couple weeks. Even then the broker has to take it since I am trad...