AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - May 2018 - 40

PILOT BRIEFING
SUPER CUB SWEEPSTAKES

A NEW PANEL replaces the standard

analog gauges. The two G5s can be
approved for VFR and IFR conditions,
but the AOPA Sweepstakes Super Cub
will be VFR only.

Precision panel
More capable than expected
B Y A LY S S A J. C O B B

FROM THE AVIONICS to the panel itself, the AOPA Sweepstakes
Super Cub's cockpit is packed with cutting-edge precision.
Aerotronics in Billings, Montana, ditched the traditional, basic
analog VFR panel, designing a modern cockpit that's "more capable than expected from a Super Cub," said Aerotronics President
Steve Vold. The avionics shop built the flush-mounted, symmetrical panel to within one-sixteenth of an inch of what the Super
Cub's airframe allows.
Fitted with two Garmin G5 electronic flight instruments, an aera
660 portable GPS, GTR 225 com radio, and GTX 345 transponder,
the panel offers a wealth of precise information-not to overload
the pilot with technology, but to "reduce workload in the aircraft
and increase enjoyment," said Joey Ferreyra, Garmin aviation marketing manager. The sweepstakes winner can learn the details of
the systems or just start up the Super Cub, let the maps pop up, and
receive audible traffic alerts without setting up anything, Ferreyra
explained.
The wireless connected cockpit will allow the winner to plan
flights at home with the Garmin Pilot app and then send it to the
aera 660. The GTX 345 transponder displays weather and advanced
Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast traffic information
via Bluetooth on the aera 660, while also providing audible traffic
alerts. The rear-seat passenger can also connect to the transponder via Bluetooth to track the flight and get traffic data through the

40 | AOPA PILOT May 2018

Garmin Pilot app. The G5 is a certified primary attitude indicator
replacement and backup airspeed and altimeter. The second G5
is paired with a magnetometer and replaces the directional gyro.
"The redundancy of the technology is unbelievable," said Darin
Meggers, of Montana-based Baker Air Service, who is performing
the Super Cub's restoration. The vibration in tube-and-fabric aircraft
"takes a toll" on gyros, Meggers said, explaining that they replace the
gyros in the company's pipeline patrol Aviat Husky aircraft every 200
to 500 hours. That won't be an issue with the G5s. "Nobody should
ever have to go back to the radio shop with it," he said.
CONTRIBUTORS
Aerotronics www.aerotronics.com
Baker Air Service www.bakerairservice.com
CiES Inc. www.ciescorp.net
Garmin www.garmin.com
J.P. Instruments www.jpinstruments.com
Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics www.mcico.com
PS Engineering www.ps-engineering.com
Wipaire www.wipaire.com
Visit the AOPA Super Cub Sweepstakes webpage to see photos
of the latest work on the aircraft along with a complete list of
generous contributors. www.aopa.org/sweeps

http://www.aerotronics.com http://www.bakerairservice.com http://www.ciescorp.net http://www.garmin.com http://www.jpinstruments.com http://www.mcico.com http://www.ps-engineering.com http://www.wipaire.com http://www.aopa.org/sweeps

AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - May 2018

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