EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019: Breakfast With Innovators

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019 provided many opportunities for leading aerospace companies to promote their current products and services to attendees of the nation's largest annual aviation event. As part of The Aero Experience year-round coverage of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019, sponsored by Elite Aviation, we feature the Monday morning Breakfast with Innovators session held at the EAA Aviation Gateway Park Forums tent. The speaker for the event was Dan Schwinn, Founder and CEO of Avidyne, the general aviation avionics company based in Melbourne, FL. Avidyne produces what it calls the "integrated flight deck" using flat-screen presentations of flight and navigation instruments along with communications and ADS-B in and out capability. WiFi, Bluetooth and iPad compatibility is also designed into the digital cockpit suite of products.

As seen above, the attendees gathered in the EAA Aviation Gateway Park Forums tent prior to the 7:30 A.M. start time to partake of the breakfast buffet. Dick Knapinski, EAA Director of Communications, introduced Dan Schwinn.

"Leading the way in world-class avionics and systems design is Avidyne," Knapinski said in his introductory remarks. "It was founded by Dan Schwinn in 1994, and was created with the mission of modernizing general aviation avionics by applying advanced technologies in order to improve safety and increase aircraft utility. So to tell us a little a little bit more about what's going on, not only at Avidyne, but to share his perspective on the state of aviation innovation, is Dan Schwinn, President, CEO and Founder of Avidyne"   

Schwinn began his presentation by illustrating the aircraft cockpit display units, digital flight controls and communication/navigation equipment currently offered by Avidyne. He emphasized the range of ADS-B and interfacing products available, especially in light of the year-end deadline for installing ADS-B equipment in most general aviation aircraft. The natural evolution of the advances in digital electronics is leading to their application in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), artificial intelligence (AI) or a combination of the two in one system. Here is where the future is being developed today.

After asking how many in the room were pilots, and seeing a majority of the audience raise their hands, he posed this question: "How many of you like it when somebody says, 'I could make some electronics that can outperform a pilot in every single respect?' It's like, OK?!" He continued in this line of conversation by mentioning his discovery of Daedalean, a Swiss-based company developing AI for autonomous flight aircraft. Schwinn sees the development of this technology as a next step for Avidyne product integration, though not to full autonomy in one stroke.

"There are two major things not related to the vehicle's specifics that have to come into place," Schwinn continued. "One is autonomy and AI, and the other is absolutely full-time, mission-critical data communications between the aircraft and the ground all the time." The vehicle design is of course also critical, with new materials and propulsion systems under development along with the flight control technology. In the not too distant future, both the vehicle and autonomous flight control systems will have to merge into a successful design and be integrated into the airspace system occupied by conventional aircraft. Avidyne is taking steps to be part of that development process.  

Programs like this were presented daily throughout EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019 at various locations throughout the grounds. The Aero Experience will regularly report on other special events from EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019 in the coming months.  

Big River Aviation Settles Into Larger Facility: A Day In the Life of a Great Midwest Aviation Resource

By Carmelo Turdo

Big River Aviation has completed the second week in their larger, centrally-located facility at the West Terminal of St. Louis Downtown Airport. Along with having direct access to the apron, the new location offers hangar space to service two twins or more single piston-engine aircraft and ample storage and office space for the growing business. Big River Aviation has already been using their new space effectively, completing several aircraft inspections and positioning another twin for annual inspection and avionics upgrade work. 

  

Big River Aviation provides aircraft maintenance, aircraft rental and flight training services. Aircraft inspections, repairs and avionics upgrades are performed by highly experienced maintenance technicians. Big River Aviation’s Cessna 172 is available for rental, flight training and local flights.     

"Big River Aviation provides annual and 100-hour inspections, scheduled and un-scheduled maintenance, repairs, and service to avionics, structures and engines," Owner Paul Voorhees told The Aero Experience. "I am very fortunate that my maintenance staff each has over thirty years experience." Voorhees says he is now able to serve more customers simultaneously in the new facility, and he would like to increase his maintenance and certified flight instructor staff in the coming year. Big River Aviation also currently maintains the St. Louis Flight Training fleet along with the company's own Cessna 172.    

The Aero Experience visited Big River Aviation last week as they settled into their new facility. We set out to report on "The Day In the Life" of the operations at the new location, and we were busy all day keeping up with the activity. A day's work can lead to interactions with multiple actors around the airport and in the community as illustrated below. 

Upon our arrival we were taken to a neighboring hangar to pick up a twin-engine Cessna 414 scheduled for an annual inspection and avionics upgrade. The C414 features a pressurized cabin and turbocharged engines with auxiliary fuel tanks. The aircraft will be at Big River Aviation for several weeks as it is thoroughly examined and new cockpit displays are installed. The Aero Experience also accompanied Voorhees in the aircraft for the engine runup test. As the aircraft was being towed to the hangar, the St. Louis Flight Training Cessna 152 emerged following its 100-hour inspection and was taxied to its parking place on the apron. Before long, two technicians had removed the C414's engine cowlings and opened the access doors to begin the inspection. The avionics technician was already in the cockpit before we knew it, and plans were in place for the next steps in the inspection process.  

As the Cessna 414 inspection began, we were again on the move to meet representatives from local Regions Bank branches who were visiting the airport to get first-hand information about the financial product needs of the aviation industry. The tour was arranged through AeroCareers, a non-profit organization that facilitates communication and understanding among the community and the aerospace industry. Along with AeroCareers Board Directors Bob McDaniel and Nick Turk, Big River Aviation's Paul Voorhees (also a Director) lent his expertise to the discussions. During the tour of several hangars, these three experienced aviation professionals gave our guests a comprehensive view of the financial life cycle of aviation operations. There is no better way to learn about aviation than to experience it for yourself, and here the classroom was a Beechcraft E90 King Air. 

Following the hangar tour, our guests were treated to an encounter with a unique aircraft. An ICON Aircraft A5 light sport amphibian, flown by ICON Regional Sales Director Rick Rief, was available for demonstration flights to prospective customers prior to its appearance at a trade show in St. Louis next week. The all-composite Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) was designed with advanced aerodynamic and safety features, including sculpted hull and seawing platforms, folding wings, custom transport trailer, ballistic rescue parachute and car-like cockpit arrangement. The ICON A5 is powered by a Rotax 912iS Sport engine, and features a Garmin GPS flat screen, removable for pre-flight planning. ICON offers east and west coast flight centers for initial LSA pilot training or transition training to the A5 model. The ICON A5 price tag is not for the feint of heart (and that's where financing options are essential), but the advanced features of the design and product support are part of the calculation when considering this high-end LSA amphibian.

After the midday tour activities, we returned to the Big River Aviation hangar to check on the progress of the C414 inspection. In the cockpit, work progressed on the removal of the current avionics panel. Engine compression checks were in full swing, and Voorhees stepped in to verify the test results and discuss next steps in the inspection process with two of his technicians. We even had a few minutes to conduct an interview in the office (to be seen on The Aero Experience YouTube Channel) before we wrapped up our visit. 

The day was action-packed, and we did not even include in this story the morning preparation work or the remaining administrative tasks yet to be accomplished after we departed. Soon there will be more aircraft in the hangar, more flights in the training aircraft and more airport visitors. Tomorrow will be another "Day in the Life" of Big River Aviation.  

Big River Aviation Has Busy Week Servicing a Variety of Aircraft

By Carmelo Turdo

Big River Aviation has been a beehive of activity in recent days as several more aircraft underwent annual inspections and related maintenance work at the company's facility at St. Louis Downtown Airport. As the spring weather slowly moves into the Midwest, general aviation pilots are scheduling more annual inspections and taking care of needed aircraft maintenance issues at Big River Aviation so they can get out and fly as soon as possible. In a recent story, The Aero Experience showed several aircraft completed and delivered, including a classic Cessna 172A and experimental RV-4. Also, a Piper Cub banner tow aircraft is in the process of being rebuilt and modified for use during the upcoming outdoor sports season. In recent days, more aircraft have begun or have completed their current maintenance service, including a Beechcraft H35 Bonanza, Piper Cherokee 180 and Ercoupe 415-E.  

The exterior of the stunning 1965 Piper Cherokee above was painted by owner Jeff Schroeder of Attitude Airbrushing in Springfield, IL. The aircraft was ferried from Grand Junction, CO to St. Louis in 2012, and registered to Schroeder in 2016. It had a very different look then, and the transformation is amazing. The interior is coming along as well, though not as quickly. You would not know it from these views!

   

During our visit this week, The Aero Experience accompanied Big River Aviation owner Paul Voorhees aboard the beautiful Cherokee on a short flight to St. Louis Regional Airport to pick up another aircraft due for some maintenance work - a classic 1957 H35 Bonanza. The Bonanza has exceptional climb and cruise performance!

Adding to the variety of aircraft serviced this week is this 1948 Ercoupe 415-E, a later model of this family of aircraft designed to be stall and spin proof partly due to the rigging of the rudders to the aileron and elevator controls. It is inherently easy and fun to fly, though the two-seat cockpit is very small. The aircraft is ideally suited to be flown by Jessica Cox (right), a licensed pilot who was born without arms. She flies it with her feet, utilizing the advantage of the Ercoupe's unique control configuration. The aircraft featured below is undergoing ground tests during its annual inspection. Other maintenance procedures, including canopy replacement, will be accomplished during its stay at Big River Aviation.

The Aero Experience will report periodically from Big River Aviation as they continue to grow as a Midwest aircraft maintenance and aviation service provider. Contact Big River Aviation today at this link for your aircraft maintenance and ADS-B installation needs.