Sportair USA has announced itself as the U.S. importer and distributor of a new LSA, the iCub, which it touts as a "classic taildragger" that starts under $100,000 and includes a "panel mounted iPad aviation information center." The iPad comes loaded with software that includes the WingXpro7 GPS-enabled terrain-aware moving map, ForeFlight Mobile HD and ForeFlight Charts, and the iHUD (EFIS) and MotionX GPS HD. Sportair says the iCub is also equipped with "backup analog" instrumentation. The aircraft itself is manufactured by Zlin Aviation, now operating from the Czech Republic. It turns a 100-hp Rotax 912 ULS sipping from a full 18 gallons of fuel (24 with optional larger tanks) and requires 280 feet to become airborne and 265 feet to stop. Sportair says the iCub has a 565-pound useful load and offers a Bush iCub version for rougher field work.
Sportair's pricing lists the iCub at $92,000 "fully equipped and ready to fly." The Bush iCub is fitted with reinforced taller gear and larger tundra tires that allow improved access to less hospitable terrain at the cost of an additional $7,000. Sportair says it will debut the aircraft at AirVenture Oshkosh later this summer. For more information regarding this "classic" aircraft's included software, click here.
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/07/01/icub-put ... n-a-plane/
iCub Brings iPad and Apps to Avionics
One of the airplanes we’re excited to see next month in Oshkosh is the new Zlin iCub. As the name hints, the iCub brings together an updated version of the classic airplane design, with an Apple iPad front and center in the cockpit that can be used for navigation, checking the weather, or … well, the list goes on.
The idea makes a lot of sense. The airplane belongs to the Light Sport Aircraft category and is aimed at pilots who are looking for a fun-to-fly plane, not a serious transportation machine. So rather than spend thousands of dollars on a purpose-built, Federal Aviation Administration–approved GPS unit, the company instead went with a much more versatile and less-expensive option.
There are numerous aviation apps available for the iPad, including several with aviation-specific GPS navigation including FAA charts and real time weather. Sure an app might crash once in a while, but when you’re flying the iCub, you’re not relying on the iPad as your primary source of information. In fact simply looking down at the ground and comparing it to your sectional chart will always work as a good backup.
With the iPad on board, the pilot will be able to enjoy much of what is offered in expensive aviation GPS units for a fraction of the cost. And after arriving at your destination, you have an iPad that you can pop out of the panel (picture below) and enjoy watching movies, reading a book or whatever you think the iPad is best at doing.
Of course, Sport Air USA — the company importing the Czech-built airplane — did not want the person in the backseat to be totally left out of the loop. There will be an iPhone mount for the back-seater that will be able to talk to the iPad by on-board wireless.
As for the airplane itself, the iCub looks like a fun way to fly. With a 100-horsepower Rotax up front and tundra tires, the airplane is capable of landing in back-country landing strips or on the beach. The company says the takeoff run is just under 150 feet, and the plane can land in only 250 feet, impressive numbers for those who enjoy flying to out-of-the-way destinations.
The airplane will come equipped with an iPad 3G with several aviation apps already loaded. There aren’t any photos of the real thing yet, but the company provided the mock-up photo shown here and says the airplane will be at EAA Airventure in Oshkosh. We’ll be there, too, and will be sure to get a close look at this first effort to bring Steve Jobs into the pilot seat.
Photos: SportAirUSA
Read More http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/06/ne ... z0vU0lKvtl
iPad
The iCub’s flight info center is the versatile Apple iPad. In the iCub, the iPad is docked on the instrument panel, providing moving map, weather and flight planning services at the fingertips of the pilot.
The iPad is removable. At your destination, it is available to provide directional information for ground travel, entertainment via downloaded movies and television shows, first aid support in the event of a backwoods emergency, and more. New and more powerful apps are constantly being developed for the iPad.
The iPad in your iCub comes with these apps pre-loaded:
WingXPro7: Description of the app from Hilton Software’s Web site: “WingX Pro7 features an advanced GPS-Enabled Terrain-Aware Moving Map with an incredible touch screen interface. WingX Pro7 is highly configurable allowing pilots to view an approach chart and moving map simultaneously. WingX Pro7 includes a comprehensive A/FD and AOPA Directory with Yelp integration, all the NACO/AeroNav approach charts with patented SmartTaxiTM technology, weather information, animated weather graphics, advanced route planning, superb DUATS integration, and much more.”
ForeFlight Mobile HD: Description of the app from the ForeFlight Web site: ”We’ve rebuilt ForeFlight Mobile from the landing gear up to support the new Apple iPad. See approach plates, VFR/IFR charts, radar, flight rules, and airport maps in greater depth and detail than ever before.”
ForeFlight Charts: Description of the app from the ForeFlight Website: “ForeFlight Charts is the blazingly fast FAA United States VFR Sectional Charts reference utility for pilots. Charts is designed with an attention to detail and user interface elegance ForeFlight customers have come to expect. Find an airport, draw a route, and compute answers to simple pre-flight planning questions like ‘how far,’ ‘how much fuel,’ ‘what direction, and ‘how much time.’”
iHUD: Description of the app from the iHud Web site: “iHUD is an application (app) that turns the iPhone 3G and 3GS, and iPad, and – with limited features the iPod touch 2nd generation) – into an aerospace-inspired mobile Glass Cockpit. iHUD derives its name from Head-Up Display, which depicts motion and flight-related pertinent guidance information and data for optimal situational awareness.”
The iHUD app is included for educational purposes only, to visualize the functionality of an electronic flight information system. Due to limitations of the iPad’s accelerometers, the iHUD “should only be used by qualified operators under safe conditions. The software should not be operated by a pilot/driver whose vehicle is in motion.” iHUD’s developers are working to overcome this limitation.
MotionX GPS HD: Description of the app from the MotionX Web site: “MotionX-GPS HD embeds the functionality of an advanced GPS unit or chart plotter into a intuitive application that is ideal for outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, sailing, off-roading, flying, geocaching or exploring new places. With worldwide coverage, MotionX-GPS HD enables users to show their current position and track at all times on street, topographical/terrain, satellite, hybrid, or nautical maps.”
Topo Maps for iPad: Description of the app from the Topo Maps Web site: “Topo Maps is a viewer for topographical maps published by the US Geological Survey and Natural Resources Canada. These maps cover the entire of the United States and Canada, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Their main use is for hiking and other outdoor activities.
“In total, more than 70,000 individual maps are available. You can download as many of these as you like, limited only by the storage capacity of your iPhone or iPod. Downloads are free of charge.
“Once downloaded, the maps are stored until you remove them. So unlike the iPhone’s built-in Maps app, you can use Topo Maps when you have no network connection. Just download the maps that you need while you have WiFi or cellular coverage and you’re all set.”
Tem mais aqui:
http://icub.aero/
Lembrando que o iPad tem acelerômetro, GPS, bússola digital e sensor de luminosidade.
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E é uma coisa que muitos, inclusive eu, já previam. É muita máquina, para pouco piloto. O povo passa a confiar totalmente nelas...mas, elas, malvadas, só assoram. Não adianta botar F1 para uma moça que acabou de sair a auto escola... 
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