Aviation Consumer - December 2004

December 2004

Alarus Trainer
A re-do of the CH2000, this trainer is aimed at the IFR training market. It delivers on its design goal of being simple, cheap and easy to fly.

Mid-Price Upgrades
The choices are staggering when re-doing the panel in a high-performance airplane. Advice: make a list of the must-haves then pare that down to suit the budget.

ARM’s Aero-Lift
If you can’t find hangar space, is going straight up an option? The economics pencil out favorably.

Battle of the Batteries
If you use GPS and portable radios constantly, Rayovac’s rechargeable IC3s are the best value. In throwaway cells, Duracell is tops.

TKS Retrofit
If you’re serious about ice protection, the TKS weeping wing design strikes us as the best choice. Here’s an owner report on a Cessna 206 retrofit.

Door Steward
A gas spring-operated door minder for Cessnas is owner-installable and a cut above the factory doorstops.

Taylorcraft
A classic taildragger straight from the 1930s, but with modern antecedents. Even later models are relatively inexpensive and the airplane remains in production as a light sport offering.