The introduction of large color displays into the single engine piston market is impressive. I had the opportunity to sit in the left seat and manipulate my way through the various functions. They are VERY easy to use. Even if you have never flown a computer flight simulator program, you will have no trouble learning to use these new instruments. My only complaint is that there is no ‘shelf’ or ‘ledge’ to rest your hand on in turbulence to facilitate pressing the desired button at the bottom of each display. I asked the Cessna rep about this, but he didn't seem concerned or consider it necessary. Time will tell.
I sat in a Diamond DA-40, the single-engine, four-seater. Headroom seems tight with a headset for me. I will let you know in a couple of months... I arranged to have a demo flight!
I also sat in an OMF Symphony. Many of you will remember this as the GlaStar. The Symphony is the commercially produced two-place, tricycle gear version. It really is better as a taildragger. Again, headroom with a headset would be tight for me.
I wandered around the remainder of the display aircraft. I really want to win the AOPA Sweepstakes WACO! Somehow, I would find the money to pay the taxes to keep it. Sadly, AOPA surveys reveal that the majority of people say they will sell it if they win. Oh well, they must not be taildragger pilots.
After an hour-and-a-half of airplanes, it was back on the shuttle bus for the ride back to the Convention Center and the afternoon seminars.
I attended three of Friday afternoon's seminars:
• "Opportunity Knocking: Be a Flight Instructor", 1330–1430 (lots of good information and advice on getting the ratings)
• "Support your Local Airport Fighter", 1500–1600 (this was a waste of my time; too much focus on private New Jersey airports)
• "Handling In-Flight Emergencies", 1630–1730 (again, Rod Machado)
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New News (Newsletter that is)...
by Norm Beaudette
This month’s newsletter is the first of hopefully many that will be completely printed, folded, labeled, stamped, and mailed by our friends at the USPS...
With this new system, all one does is upload the newsletter file, in MS Word format, to a special web site, along with a list of mailing addresses, in a separate file. The post office (actually a third party hired by the USPS) then prints the newsletter, addresses it, folds it, seals it, adds postage, and places it in the mail – all within one day of receipt of the Word file!
Here are some of the positives and negatives of the system:
Positives:
• Cheap!!! An application will be made for special reduced non-profit
rates, which we hope to obtain because of our 501C3 status. How inexpensive?
Well this 6-page newsletter would cost only about $.37 at the special rate.
(Since we don’t yet have this special rate, the cost was actually $.54 –
still not bad!). Even without the non-profit discount, the postage is still
reduced significantly with this service.
• Fast!!! If uploaded before 2:00 pm, the newsletter is guaranteed to be in the mail the next business day.
• Easy!!! Just type up the newsletter file and a separate address file and upload them. No printing or copying, folding, addressing, stamping, etc. And the USPS will keep the address file in its database for up to 60 days from the last time it is used. To make address changes, we just upload a new file.