AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 56
MOST CUSTOMERS are
requesting the Garmin G3X glass cockpit option, and many want an autopilot plus instrument-flying capability. The lights under the eyebrow—an American touch— provide an elegant solution to panel lighting, as does the silver Start button.
The result is an aircraft with all the clever features Bristela ever imagined during his past four projects that include SportCruiser, briefly known as the PiperSport. It’s like nothing he’s ever done, and borrows its best features from the automotive industry. Although based in the Czech Republic, the company is named BRM Aero after a British Formula One race team: British Racing Motors. The letters even match the start of his surname and his first name. He was fascinated by the team and its famous world champion driver, Graham Hill, as a child. (The BRM name may yet appear on an all-electric British race car intended to compete in hill climbs.) The base price is just less than $152,000 but covers a readyto-fly, well-equipped airplane with avionics, certification, and shipping costs included. Most go out the door at $155,000 to $160,000. With all options (including a Garmin G3X glass cockpit), the price approaches $180,000. Most customers want not only an autopilot and glass cockpit, but instrument capability as well for training and practice in VFR conditions. CLEVER DECISIONS. The first step Bristela made was to move away from composites and back to metal. “I decided to do an all-metal structure because I would like the plane to be used for 50 or 60 years, like with some of the DC–3s,” he said. (DC–3 production ceased in 1942.) “The all-metal structure is easy to check to see its condition. You can prolong the life of the metal structure, which you can’t do with composite structures.”
“I copied the design of the cockpit as closely as possible to high-level cars because that is the expectation of today’s customers.” —Milan Bristela
He used composites where it made sense, in this case on the rudder, the engine cowling, and around the canopy frame for a tight fit. That brings up another feature, a canopy that closes like a car door without extra latches. You just close it. A first latch keeps it from flying open if it should ever come loose. A second one locks it. “Today’s customers are looking for the same comfort of the highlevel cars,” Bristela said. “I copied the design of the cockpit as closely as possible to high-quality cars
56 | AOPA PILOT January 2013
BOTTOM: STEVE KARP
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013
Contents
President’s Position
Visual Approach
Letters
Waypoints
Proficient Pilot
Safety Pilot
License to Learn
Pilot Counsel
Fly Well
Strength In Purpose
Watch What You Eat
Milestones
AOPA Foundation
Test Pilot
News
LSA Focus: Light Years Ahead
LSA Focus: Personal Vision
LSA Focus: Buying Into the Dream
Will Fly For Food
Technique
Ownership
Avionics
Efficiency
Never Again
Frugal Flier
State & Local Action
Products and Partners
Products and Services
Air Safety Institute
AOPA Insurance Services-Aviation
AOPA Member Benefits
Fly by Wire
Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - President’s Position
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 6
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Visual Approach
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Letters
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Waypoints
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Proficient Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Safety Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - License to Learn
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Pilot Counsel
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Fly Well
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Strength In Purpose
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 30
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 32
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Watch What You Eat
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Milestones
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 38
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - AOPA Foundation
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Test Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - News
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - LSA Focus: Light Years Ahead
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 50
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - LSA Focus: Personal Vision
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 56
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 58
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - LSA Focus: Buying Into the Dream
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 66
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Will Fly For Food
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 72
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 74
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Technique
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 81
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Ownership
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 84
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Avionics
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 87
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Efficiency
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 91
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Never Again
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 93
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Frugal Flier
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - State & Local Action
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - I1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - I2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 97
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Products and Partners
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 99
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Products and Services
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Air Safety Institute
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - AOPA Insurance Services-Aviation
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - AOPA Member Benefits
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 107
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Fly by Wire
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2013 - Cover4
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