www.PSFmagazine.com | November-December 2019 | 21 20 | November-December 2019 | Powered Sport Flying Innovations 2019 The faster the air over the wing travels, the greater the lift coefficient, independent of air speed. This is called Distributive Electric Propulsion. He is concerned with the speed of the air rather than the airspeed of forward motion. Although not a new concept, it is worth considering now in view of the technological advancements in electric motors and batteries. The applications range from ultralights to uam vehicles and ultimately GA and commercial aircraft. The videos, demonstration model, and charts at his booth were impressive. For more information contact David at ullman@davidullman.com. Perhaps some R/C modelers will attempt to duplicate David’s efforts with their electric aircraft. Not all the innovations dealt with hardware. EFX Applied Technology has a patented software system developed to produce a safety warning system called Interactive Personal Alert Systems (ipas) for personnel working around operating aircraft. The system uses daylight-readable laser images projected on surfaces to visually warn workers of pending danger. The images change in intensity, display frequency, and imagery as one encroaches further into the danger source. Initially applied to aircraft operations, it could be applied to anything where the potential for personal injury is possible: manufacturing machinery, carnival rides, school busses, aircraft carriers, helicopters, train stations, etc. The booth’s display was definitely interactive. A slowly spinning propeller simulated an aircraft propeller; a danger area was projected on the ground defining the danger zone. As one moved closer to and then into the danger zone, the imagery changed, thus warning the intruder of impending injury or death. More information on this system is available at efxappliedtech.com. A pilot safety feature was presented by Feel Flight Grip, which changes the ‘seat of the pants’ flying to the grip of the hand. Realizing sense of touch signals reach our brain faster than visual or auditory signals, Feel Flight Grip incorporates aircraft attitudes into the aircraft’s hand grip or to the yoke. The attitudes are Slip Indicator (left and right), Stall Warning, Best Angle of Climb, and Best Rate of Climb. The aircraft’s attitude signals are transmitted to the flight grip, then to the pilot’s hand via projecting buttons that vibrate. Testing has shown the learning curve needed to respond to these stimuli is almost natural and intuitive. Pilots who have trained using the Feel Flight Grip are receptive to installing the system on their planes. Flight schools find this system improves the rate at which students learn to recognize aircraft attitude and then quickly adjust to control the aircraft. Transition from a training environment back to the original system is quick and is stated to actually improve that pilot’s control inputs using the aircraft’s original system. We all want to be better pilots; this system is already in production and is definitely doing that. For more information contact feelflight.com. AirVenture 2019 opened my eyes to innovations that in previous years I gave only superficial attention to. I spent hours in the innovation booths this year speaking with the vendors, gathering information, and being awed by progress that only years earlier was merely in the concept stage. These and other innovations addressed a wide range of applications: some will have immediate impact on the little guys; others apply to the larger GA aircraft. Understandably, even with those that are beyond our aircraft, there will be a trickle-down effect that we will eventually see. Innovations covered in this article reflect only a few of those on display; I strongly encourage you to go visit each link provided, where you will find more photos and informative text. Next time you attend AirVenture, plan to spend considerable time in Gateway Park where the Innovation Showcase is located. It will be time well spent; your own innovative mind will go into high gear. Paul D. Fiebich is a free-lance writer frequently contributing to aviation magazines. He can be reached via e-mail at fiebichpv@aol.com, his webpage airbikeace.org, or his The AirBike Ace FaceBook page.• Right: David Ullman revised the concept of increasing lift using wing mounted ducted fans. Below: Feel Flight Grip utilizes buzzers on the grip to transmit data to the pilot resulting in quicker response to aircraft attitude. Gyroplane • Sub-Class: E-3a / Autogyros: take-off weight less than 500 kg • Category: General • Group: 1: piston engine • Type of Record: Speed over a recognized course • Pilot: James Ketchell (United Kingdom) • Aircraft: M 16 / Magni powered by Rotax 914 • Previous Record: No records set yet. • Claim Number: 18926 • Course/Location: Popham, Basingstoke (United Kingdom)–Tartu (Estonia) • Performance: 2.9 km/h (1.8 mph) • Date: 04/28/2019 and... • Claim Number: 18928 • Course/Location: Popham, Basingstoke (United Kingdom)–Moscow Oblast (Russia) • Performance: 3.5 km/h (2.2 mph) • Aircraft: M 16 / Magni powered by Rotax 914 • Date: 05/01/2019 and • Claim Number: 18973 • Course/Location: Popham, Basingstoke (United Kingdom)–Nome, Alaska (USA) • Performance: 4.4 km/h (2.7 mph) • Date: 06/06/2019 and • Claim Number: 18989 • Course/Location: Popham, Basingstoke (United Kingdom) -San Diego, CA (USA) • Performance: 3.8 km/h (2.4 mph) • Date: 07/05/2019 Gyroplane • Sub-Class: E-3a / Autogyros: take-off weight less than 500 kg • Category: General • Group: 1: internal combustion engine • Type of Record: Speed over a recognized course • Pilot: Stephen Boxall (United Kingdom) • Aircraft: M 16 / Magni powered by Rotax 914 • Claim Number: 19082 • Course/Location: Popham, Basingstoke (United Kingdom)–Rufforth East, York (Untied Kingdom) • Performance: 155.8 km/h (96.81 mph) • Date: 08/26/2019 • Previous Record: No record set yet. and • Claim Number: 19081 • Course/Location: Rufforth East, York– Popam, Basingstoke (United Kingdom) • Performance: 12.4 km/h (7.7 mph) • Date: 08/27/2019 World Records and Attempts FAI has ratified the following Class E (Rotorcraft) and Class R (Microlights) World records. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, the National Aeronautic Association, the United States Ultralight Association and Powered Sport Flying Magazine all congratulate the Pilots on their splendid achievements. USUA News
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