First Skycatcher For Rent
Kansans Aviation is putting into service the the first Cessna 162 available for flight training and rental. The aircraft previously was delivered to a retail customer, Bravo Sierra Group, which is leasing the aircraft to the flight school for use in its Cessna Pilot Center. It's available at a fueled rate of $98 per hour. "The advent of the Skycatcher era is really a reminder of bygone days when it comes to the cost of renting an airplane for flight training or leisure flying," noted Dave Tiday, manager at Kansas Aviation. Visit www.kansasflighttraining.com.

First Landings Grows
First Landings Aviation has taken delivery of a 2010 PiperSport. "Not only is the airplane a great performer, but it is equipped with top-of-the-line safety features and was built with training in mind." says Chris Esposito, co-owner of First Landings Aviation. "A lot of students and pilots are more comfortable in a metal airplane and appreciate the Piper name because they know it is synonymous with quality and performance." Visit www.firstlandings.com.

Husky & Pitts In Russia
Avex Aviation Services has taken delivery of their first Husky and Pitts Special at Kasimovo Airport, near St. Petersburg, Russia. Per a dealership agreement with Aviat Aircraft, Avex will provide sales, service and training for both aircraft. President Avex Igor Dushenko said of the Husky being well-suited for Russia: "It doesn't need an airport. With its STOL capability and skis or tundra tires, all we need is an open field or frozen lake." Avex co-founder Aleksey Reyder added, "Change is slow in Russia, but the need to transport people and supplies, often in emergency conditions, is revising attitudes in Russia with respect to general aviation." Visit www.aviataircraft.com.

Sporty's FAAST
Sporty's Academy has been named an industry member of the FAA Safety Team (FAAST) to promote aviation safety and awareness to all pilots. The mission of the FAAST Team and Sporty's partnership is to improve aviation's safety record by conveying safety principles and practices through outreach and education. To accomplish this mission, Sporty's offers an extensive collection of FAA WINGS-accepted courses to help all pilots achieve their training and proficiency goals. "We are committed to reaching out to pilots to help them improve the aviation safety record through individual pilot proficiency," said Sporty's Academy President Eric Radtke. Visit www.faasafety.gov and www.sportys.com/wings.

DFC90 Autopilot
Avidyne Corporation received TSO certification of the DFC90 Digital Flight Control System. The DFC90 is an autopilot upgrade for existing Cirrus SR20 and SR22 aircraft that have Avidyne's Entegra Integrated Flight Deck System. "The significant performance and safety benefits of the attitude-based DFC90 make it a very attractive upgrade for the more than 4,000 owners of Entegra-equipped Cirrus aircraft," said Avidyne CEO Patrick Herguth. Visit www.avidyne.com.

Order Online
Mid-Continent Instruments now offers 24-hour online ordering on its new and expanded website. Additional site features include a real-time sales inventory, the ability to request a repair and review company transaction history, such as invoices, orders and returns. Customers also can download installation manuals and engineering drawings. Visit www.mcico.com.

Doors Become Walls
Hangar doors are no longer just a functional element of architecture. Hydroswing's innovative design blurs the definition between walls and doors into one creative structure that merges indoor and outdoor. The company takes hangar doors beyond basic utility to become an integral part of design. Hydroswing offers touch-of-a-button access and makes the most of available space. Visit www.hydroswing.com.

Skycatcher Award
The Cessna Skycatcher was named winner of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Piper General Aviation Award for 2010. The award is made annually to a company or product judged to have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of general aviation. The Skycatcher design team will be officially recognized at the 10th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration and Operations (ATIO) Conference on September 13-15, in Houston, Texas. Visit www.cessna.com and www.aiaa.org.

Wipline For Kodiak
Wipaire has received an STC of their Wipline 7000 amphibious float for the Quest Kodiak. "We have quite a few customers for the Kodiak that have been waiting for floats," said Paul Schaller, Quest CEO. "The certification of the Wipaire float is a significant milestone for us and demonstrates the rugged performance capabilities that are inherent in the aircraft's design." Visit www.questaircraft.com and www.wipaire.com.

Jet Type Ratings
Phoenix East Aviation announced new jet type-rating courses available for the Airbus A320 and Boeing B737NG aircraft. Phoenix East Aviation is partnering with AeroStar Training Services, an FAA-Certified 142 training facility, to conduct these programs. Both initial type ratings and recurrent training are offered. Visit www.pea.com.

Avidyne Service
Avidyne has entered into an agreement with Duncan Aviation of Lincoln, Neb. Duncan Aviation will become the exclusive provider of repair services for Avidyne customers who use first-generation Flight Situation Displays and early model FlightMax Multi-Function Displays. Visit www.duncanaviation.aero and www.avidyne.com.

Protect Your Ears
Beyerdynamic's new HS 400 Signum headset weighs 11 ounces and comes with an audio box to which MP3 players or a cell phone can be connected. An auto-mute function will silence music during any incoming radio transmissions. Your headset can be personalized with laser engraving. Contact: Beyerdynamic, (631) 293-3200, www.beyerdynamic.com.

Grow Your Library
ASA offers three new titles for your Kindle: Flying Carpet (a journey of self-discovery and freedom), You Can Fly! (guidance for prospective pilots) and the The Golden Years of Flying (a look back at early aviation). These e-books also can be read on the iPad, iPhone, BlackBerrys and other devices. Contact: ASA, (800) 272-2359, www.asa2fly.com.

More Than Just A Radio
This SP-400 handheld NAV/COM includes a full ILS display (localizer and glideslope), VOR navigation (with user-selectable OBS), side tone, NOAA weather (stations are preprogrammed), an oversized screen and backlit keypad. The unit measures 51/2x21/4x15/8 inches and is powered by eight AA batteries. Contact: Sporty's, (800)-SPORTYS, www.sportys.com.

Aspiring Young Pilots
In What Pilots Fly, the third in a series of picture books starring Claire Bear, our aerobatic heroine rhymes her way through a wide range of aircraft and pilot missions, from gliders to aerial refuelers. Bright, colorful illustrations will delight future pilots. Contact: Powder Puff Pilot, (888) 801-6628, www.powderpuffpilot.com.