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Technology has provided us with some great improvements to older airframes and engines. The GPS is a good example, but don't forget what carries that GPS around. Many older aircraft can fly faster, safer and more efficiently due to the many fine products developed through todays technology. Door County Aviation, LLC is a distributor, dealer or installer for the following products. Click on the name to go directly to the manufactures web site, then give us a call for more information.

Berly D'Shannon is the manufacture of many fine products which enhance the performance and looks of several aircraft models, with Bonanzas and Barons being their forte'. Upgrades like wing tip tanks and Vortex generators allow for increased gross weights. Beryl D'Shannon has long been known for their window and windshield improvements. Door County Aviation, LLC can provide you with a complete list of their products, or call Beryl D'Shannon at 800-328-4629 or visit their web site by clicking on their name above.

Knots 2U, LTD offers many fine aircraft improvements, with most being designed for Piper aircraft. Their product line includes gap seals, speed fairings, windshields, radomes and cowling modifications to name a few.

Also available through Knots 2U is the lighted wing tips. These Hoerner style tips with the landing lights in them, improve stability and look impressive.

If it is your desire to go faster in your Piper, contact Knots 2U at 414-763-6152. Remember, proper installation is a must if you are to achieve maximum benefits from your Knots 2U, or any other modification. If you don't have Knots 2U do the installation, Door County Aviation, LLC would be happy to do the work at the same price, and guarantee the workmanship.

Keith Products manufactures air conditioners for many types of aircraft. As most aircraft have already been upgraded, we found that some systems can not be installed by use of the furnished STC. In theses cases, it may be possible to get a field approval. If you are tired of sweating on the end of the runway waiting for your clearance, give Door County Aviation, LLC a call to see if your aircraft qualifies for a Keith airconditioning system, or call Keith Products, Inc. at 972-407-1234.

JPI (J.P. Instruments) makes a great Engine Monitor using a graphic display. The EDM series monitor has some options that other monitors do not have, and it is user friendly. For more information, contact JPI at 800-345-4574 or visit their web site.

Insight Avionics has the GEM series Engine Graphic Monitor and has a reputation for quality and reliability. This is the mother of Engine Graphic Monitors, and has been the subject of numerous articles concerning proper engine operation.

Call us for an information package on the GEM and an installation quote. Insight also has a great Strike Finder. You can get more details from Insight at 716-852-3217, or visit their web site.

**Note** Although there are several manufactures of graphic monitors on the market, the GEM and JPI are both excellent products. Todays high cost of aviation, demands that high performance engines be operated properly. Leaning errors can be especially damaging to turbo charged engines. This is why I stress the use of GAMI injectors and an Engine Graphic Monitor.

GAMI injector nozzles are dollar for dollar the greatest improvement in aircraft fuel injector systems to hit the aviation after market in my opinion. Many of todays engines have induction systems that were designed over 50 years ago. Are you surprised? Major changes were not even made to most aircraft engine induction systems after fuel injection was added. Instead of the "one size fits all" mentality that has been the industry standard, GAMI matches each nozzle to a cylinder, compensating for uneven airflow thus evening out the mixture in all cylinders. Prior to GAMI injectors, some cylinders would be excessively lean while others were to rich. The GAMI injector helps prevent cylinder damage while providing greater economy. Order your GAMI injectors through Door County Aviation, LLC or visit GAMI's web site.

LASAR has brought modern electronic ignition technology to old magneto fired engines. We all know that magnetos are used on aircraft engines because they are totally self reliant. They are very inefficient though and require continuous maintenance. As the points wear, the timing changes and the spark plugs wear out faster. Electronic ignition, although much more efficient with fewer mechanical parts, requires an external source of electric power to operate, which does not make it safe for aircraft that could experience an electrical failure.

LASAR has combined magnetos with electronic ignition allowing the old aircraft engine to be operated more efficiently. If the electronic ignition fails, or the aircraft experiences a total electrical failure, the magneto portion of the system kicks in to keep the engine running.

As for efficiency, electronic ignition does a much better job of burning all the fuel in the cylinders, resulting in more power and less fuel consumption.

An added benefit is a cleaner running engine which is less likely to have cylinder problems.

Door County Aviation, LLC sells, installs and services the LASAR ignition system. You can visit the LASAR web site for more information.

TANAIR manufactures Tanis engine heaters and covers. I really believe every aircraft based north of the Mason/ Dixon line should have an engine heater. This item probably does more to extend the life of your engine than any other product you can buy. Unlike water cooled engines that warm up and cool down at a slow rate, aircraft air cooled engines suffer a tremendous amount of abuse during the starting and warm up cycle. The aircraft cylinder has aluminium and steel components. Both expand and contract at different rates and both transfer heat at different rates. When you step on the gas or let off the gas on your car, the water keeps the temperature almost constant. When you change throttle settings on your aircraft engine, there is an immediate temperature change which causes the metal to expand or contract.

This is what wears out the cylinder and components including valves and guides. Outside temperatures as high as forty or forty five degrees during engine start places to much stress on an aircraft cylinder.

Oil sump heaters are a start because they allow the warm oil to begin lubricating sooner, but the cylinders are still cool or cold. The warmer the cylinder is when the engine is started, the less shock placed on it.

Another benefit of a Tanis engine heater is the amount of time operating on the ground to get all the temperatures up. By the time you reach the end of the runway, you are ready to go. Ground operation is very hard on an aircraft engine, and should be kept to a minimum.

The Tanis heater is well designed, but I have seen damaged components caused by improper installation. Call Door County Aviation, LLC for a quote. Our price is the same as the factories, but if want to contact Tanis, call 800-443-2136 or visit their web site.