AVweb Insider

AVweb Insider offers a curated collection of opinion pieces, personal narratives, and expert analyses that delve into the nuances of aviation. From firsthand pilot experiences to in-depth discussions on industry trends and safety considerations, this section provides readers with thoughtful perspectives that go beyond standard news reporting. Ideal for aviation professionals and enthusiasts seeking deeper insights into the flying world.

Will Apple Kill Garmin?

The buzz in the tech world is that the 800-pound gorilla of GPS-that would be Garmin International-is about to get decked by no less than Apple, with the cudgel being the new $200 iPhone. Check out this on Slate where the argument is addressed in full.The gist of it is this: The new iPhone will […]

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Recalling the Big One: Not WW II, The Great Leaning War

It seems like a lot longer, but about 12 years ago-circa 1996-the Great Leaning War was fought. If you don’t own a high-performance single, you may not have been a combatant and even if you do, you may have chosen wisely to remain on the sidelines.The short summary is this: George Braly, then and still […]

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Thielert’s Flawed Economics (And Why the Company Knows It)

The war of words between Diamond Aircraft and Thielert Aircraft Engines continued this week, reaching a low arc at the Berlin Air Show. Bruno Kubler, who heads the firm overseeing Thielert’s insolvency, used the forum to blast Diamond for what Kubler claimed was a disinformation campaign aimed at making Diamond customers “massively insecure.” Why Diamond […]

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Thielert: How To Kill A Company (Maybe Two)

Owners of more than 800 diesel-powered Diamond aircraft are collectively holding their breath to find out how-or even if-their expensive engines will be supported following the disastrous financial meltdown and bankruptcy of Thielert last month. One question gnawing at these owners and owners of Cessnas and Pipers converted to Thielert diesels is whether the engine […]

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Cirrus Goes With Garmin…But This Time, Its Different

Garmins G1000 is arguably the King Dog of all light aircraft EFIS. Its capable, has terrific displays and lately, with the G700, it leads the league in autopilot integration. Its also overly complex, expensive and not always easy to use, which is why Ive had a largely ambivalent feeling about it. I encounter the G1000 […]

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EBACE Notes, Gripes and Accolades

When you’re used to being the center of a particular universe and that universe shifts orbits (or whatever it is they do), what do you do? Well, you pay $26 for a nice, but by no means monumental, plate of carbonara, $207 a night for a franchise hotel room and buy power converters so all […]

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Wanted: Aerodiesel from Honda

Carl Spaatz and Ira Eakin-the two legendary leaders of U.S. air power in World War II–just got it all wrong when they decided to bomb the German ball bearing factories at Schweinfurt in 1943. What they should have been bombing is the factories that make those little skinny spring washers that the Germans cant seem […]

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There Are Glimmers Of Hope In This Air Taxi Thing

It would be too easy to take shots based on the events that led up to Tuesday’s announcement that DayJet was scaling back rather than turning into the aviation supernova that some had predicted. It’s probably worth noting that I can’t ever remember DayJet saying they were going to set the aviation world on its […]

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Maybe It’s Not About the Airplane

A few years ago I paid a visit to Linear Air, a small start-up just outside Boston that hoped to make a go of it as an air-taxi operator. CEO Bill Herp figured there had to be a better solution for business flyers than the way the airlines did it. The idea was to fly […]

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Thielert: How Big a Mess and Can Anyone Fix It?

Give the board at Thielert credit for one thing-theyre not footdraggers. Late last week, the board wasted no time in moving the company into bankruptcy proceedings in the wake of an investigation into financial anomalies surrounding the companys initial public offering in 2005 and the subsequent tanking of the stock. German securities regulators and law […]

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