Hi Grumman owners, pilots, and fans! At Airventure 2008 (Oshkosh) today, there was a forum for Grumman owners hosted by Greg Erikson, that included an update from Kevin Lancaster of True Flight Aerospace and a maintenance presentation led by John Sjaardema of Excel-Air Services. Also an update on a couple of Grumman STC projects such as his new cowling by Gary Vogt of AUCounty Aviation.
Kevin was able to get an exhibit spot at Oshkosh (#52) so be sure and visit if you are planning to attend Airventure. He provided an update on Tiger production, with installation of production lines into their building scheduled to start in a couple of weeks.
True Flight Aerospace at Airventure 2008
After discussing some serious potential maintenance issues with our aging Grumman airplanes, John displayed a couple of new items related to the front air vents (where you currently have those vintage, usually broken, automobile design louvered vent openings). He has a replacement vent insert that includes 2 eyeball vents that pop right into existing opening. John said the price was about $80 for a set of pilot and copilot sides. Contact him if you want them.
More interesting is a prototype John has developed that replaces the entire air vent plenum box on each side below the instrument panel. This is still a prototype and John wants to know if there is interest among Grumman owners to purchase these replacement vent boxes. Here’s a shot of the prototype hot off the Oshkosh forum today:
What is pictured is a right-hand side vent with the narrow end that matches up with the ventilation opening in the fuselage. It will have two eyeball vents as shown that close tightly (for you cold-weather pilots). This lightweight design will just snap into place beneath the outer edges of the instrument panel. And it opens up the area below the instrument panel for more leg room or for you and your A&P to install a supplemental panel for switches or instruments that people are now installing in the air plemun boxes (and subject to dirt and moisture). If you are interested in these new boxes, contact John directly at his website above, or leave a message on the AYA Maintenance Forum, or use the Grumman Gang email system to make your thoughts known.
Thanks, John for this innovation. Also thanks to Kevin, Gary, Erik, and all the folks who participated in the forum today.
This is a great site. My son, a fiercely determined, aspiring pilot, and I share a passion for aviation (as well as our hero, Charles Lindbergh), and love visiting blogs on that subject. We like the photos, too.
I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you down the road!
Would hope they would be available in black — but I need them.
Hi Don,
My understanding is that they will be produced in black (like the vents). The tan color is the native color of the material used to produce the prototype. My vents are black (not sure if painted or thru-color). But to fit the Grumman interior, I suspect the default color will be black. Be sure and let John know that you are interested in them.
I own an AA1B will the air vent fit my plane. How much do they cost, do they come in black and were can I purchase them.
Hi Mitchell,
I’m not sure whether these will work in an AA1. John at Excel Air Services (see the link in the post) is a Grumman expert and the developer of these vents. He can answer your question about whether they would work in the AA1. Not sure about the price and availability. If you are an AYA member (as an AA1 owner you should consider it) you can find out more about this and other ownership matters for your plane. http://www.aya.org