Tag: magnix

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Wasn’t Expecting So Much Sun ‘n Fun

a van's RV-10 painted red and white with Magnix on the cowl and flags around it

Well, it wasn’t on my dance card, to begin with, but circumstances dictated that I head down to Florida for the first time in a couple of years to attend the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo this year.

My primary mission was to help out with my fellow volunteers with the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators at the triple-wide booth we had planned in Hangar A for the show.

five people in polo shirts stand in front of a banner that says SAFE, Educate, Elevate, Aviate.
SAFE volunteers proudly show off the new display booth at Sun n Fun 2026. [Credit: Donna Wilt]

But since I was already on site, I met up with fellow AvBrief contributor Larry Anglisano to put together a few bits for the home team at avbrief.com. We started off with this video showing off the Bristell B23 with the Rotax 916iS powerplant, interviewing my pal David Copeland of Bristell on the company’s plans for the model, now that MOSAIC is reality.

a silver and dark grey low wing Bristell B23 parked on the grass
https://avbrief.com/bristell-b23-goes-mosaic-electric-in-the-works/This version of the Bristell B23 hosts a Rotax 916iS powerplant. [Credit: Julie Boatman]

Next, I covered the several press conferences on Tuesday, with news from Daher including their Me & My Kodiak app and the proud display of the new TBM 980 and Kodiak 900 out front. Larry and I enjoyed a coffee (I only spilled a little on my feet) on their spacious deck).

a tall man in profile with a microphone introduces a young woman with a ponytail in front of a screen
Nicolas Chabbert introduces the Me & My Kodiak app at Sun n Fun 2026. [Credit: Julie Boatman]
a man in a straw hat and a woman in a white polo on an RV porch with cups of coffee
AvBrief’s Larry Anglisano and Julie Boatman share a great espresso on the porch at Daher at SNF 26. [Credit: Larry Anglisano]

Then, I scooted over to MagniX to check out their big reveal of a rather little powerplant, one that will be going into no less than the pretty Van’s RV-10 parked outside the tent.

a van's RV-10 painted red and white with Magnix on the cowl and flags around it
The magniX motor will go next into this Van’s RV-10 for testing. [Credit: Julie Boatman]
a small electric motor round and polished white
The magniX motor is destined for several test applications. [Credit: Julie Boatman]

I also had a chance to support client Hartzell Propeller during the company’s seminar as part of the Sun ‘n Fun Innovation Preview on Monday afternoon under the breezy pavilion (which won’t be so breezy next year, once it is enclosed). Great stuff coming from the Top Prop line, and new prop applications in the works…

a man behind a pale wooden lecturn next to a large screen with New Products and airplanes on it
JJ Frigge of Hartzell Propeller introduces the company’s new products at the Sun n Fun 2026 Innovation Preview. [Credit: Julie Boatman]

Overall props to the excellent media headquarters staff, who kept me watered and fed and charged up during my whirlwind visit… and to the entire Sun ‘n Fun team for a great show… things are looking up at least in this part of central Florida.

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Oshkosh 2024: Day Three Tech

For an Oshkosh lacking major announcements—no totally new aircraft, no killer app—the quiet part out loud could be found in applications of new technology to familiar aircraft.

The headliner has to be the Harbour Air eBeaver, tucked into the main aircraft display, featuring a Magni650 power train. We spoke with Riona Armesmith, CTO of MagniX, and she briefed us on the operation of the dual motor, four inverter system driving a Hartzell composite prop. The STC is in work while flight tests comtinue.

The next pair involve simplified flight controls. We signed up for a demo of the Skyryse system in the sim set up in the shadow of the tower. We’re under NDA, but if the four-axis controls work as advertised, in a Robinson R66, we’ll likely need a different pilot certificate for traditional rotorcraft—worse than giving a manual transmission car to a kid who has only driven an automatic.

We also met up with Airhart’s founder and CEO Nikita Ermoshkin, who we interviewed for a story on Robb Report last week. The team is testing simplified flight controls in a Sling E-LSA, after flying its first proof-of-concept in an RV-12. The idea? Bringing easy flight to the masses. And I say making it possible to get a sport pilot certificate in 20 hours or less—for real.