The Collier Trophy, established in 1911, is awarded annually for exceptional achievements in aeronautics or astronautics. This year’s finalists represent general and business aviation, military aviation, aerospace, and sustainable propulsion.

The four finalists are:

• MagniX for magni650 Electric Propulsion Unit (EPU)
• NASA, University of Arizona, and Lockheed Martin for the OSIRIS-REx Team
• Reliable Robotics for Advanced Autonomous Flight Systems
• U.S. Air Force for the X-62A ACE Team

Amy Spowart, president and CEO of NAA, emphasized the significance of the Collier Trophy in recognizing outstanding contributions to aviation and aerospace.

“For 112 years, the NAA has presented the Collier Trophy to pioneers, strategic leaders, trailblazers, and revolutionaries,” Spowart said.

The final round of the Collier Trophy selection process is scheduled for March 21 in Washington, D.C. Each finalist will present their nomination, followed by a Q&A session with the selection committee.

The Collier Trophy has a rich history, and Spowart expressed eagerness to see who will join the prestigious list of recipients.

For more information and a complete list of Collier Trophy honorees, visit the NAA website.

The post Diverse Innovations Take Center Stage Among 2023 Collier Trophy Finalists appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine.

The fully equipped GFC 500 autopilot offers a straightforward, lightweight, and cost-effective upgrade path for a wide range of existing GA aircraft. With solid-state attitude and robust self-monitoring capabilities, the GFC 500 provides superior autopilot performance, enhanced reliability, and safety tools similar to those found in the popular GFC 700 autopilot.

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Featuring a user-friendly autopilot mode controller with large, dedicated keys and knobs, as well as a control wheel for easy adjustments to aircraft pitch, airspeed, and vertical speed, the GFC 500 stands out with its Level Mode. This feature returns the aircraft to straight-and-level flight with the push of a dedicated button. Additionally, GFC 500-equipped aircraft may benefit from Garmin Smart Glide, an innovative safety tool automating tasks to reduce pilot workload in the event of engine power loss.

In addition to traditional autopilot features such as altitude hold, vertical speed, and heading modes, the GFC 500 includes advanced capabilities like altitude preselect, VNAV2, underspeed and overspeed protection, allowing pilots to execute various coupled instrument approaches, including LPV, GPS, ILS, VOR, and missed approaches when paired with a compatible Garmin GPS navigator.

As a standard feature, the GFC 500 comes with Garmin Electronic Stability and Protection (ESP), functioning independently of the autopilot. ESP assists the pilot in maintaining a stable flight condition by subtly nudging the aircraft to avoid inadvertent flight attitudes or bank angles while hand-flying.

The GFC 500 autopilot seamlessly integrates with Garmin’s GI 275 or G5 electronic flight instruments. It offers versatility by combining with either a standby GI 275 or G5 electronic flight instrument interfaced to a G500 TXi flight display or a G3X Touch flight display.

Garmin continues to expand its aircraft compatibility list for the GFC 500 autopilot.

The post Garmin GFC 500 Autopilot Receives FAA STC for Beechcraft A35 and B35 Aircraft appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine.

These cutting-edge seats, renowned for their advanced S-frame inertia-absorbing technology, are being touted as redefining the standards for the Bushliner 1850 aircraft. The companies maintain the seats are engineered to enhance crashworthiness and adaptability. One of the standout features is their ability to withstand forces of up to 30 Gs—a critical development stemming from an accident that left one pilot paralyzed.

The modular and easily removable design of the seats adds another layer of versatility, according to the companies. Operators can rearrange cabin configurations, with unused seats folded and stored in cargo compartments. Notably lighter than the original seats, the JAARS S-Seats also contribute to improved fuel efficiency and overall performance.

The proven S-frame design, engineered to absorb energy during accidents, outperforms original seats lacking essential crush zones, the companies said. The seats also feature track compatibility with Brownline-style cargo and seat tracks, offering superior strength compared to T-rails.

Since safety is paramount, all seats are equipped with a four-point shoulder harness/seat belt assembly. Crew seats offer height, back angle, and fore and aft adjustability, ensuring comfort and safety for all occupants. The modifications allow for easy transition between all-cargo and all-passenger configurations.

“The agreement with JAARS Inc. also grants Bushliner Aircraft exclusive distribution rights for North America, providing manufacturers and operators across the continent with access to these innovative, crashworthy seats for multiple types of STC’d certified aircraft and experimentals,” Bushliner said in a news release.

Bushliner said the seats are available for a variety of retrofit installations, including the Cessna 206 and 185.

The post Bushliner, JAARS Want You to Pick Your Safety Seat appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine.