Best deal in the world right now for a small airplane kit. Giveaway Multi Function aircraft instrument.

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I want to give you the new aircraft Multi Function Instrument from Belite.

Of course there is a catch!  You have to buy something else from Belite, as explained below.

The picture below shows it in the Multi Function Instrument.   Click anywhere on it to see the full resolution version on your computer:

Multi Function Instrument for Belite,  Free.  With a catch.

Here is the 'catch', or 'Terms and Conditions'.

1.  The Angle Of Attack is not included, but is an option ($700) to this free instrument.  For $700, you get the sensor, the vane, and the separate AOA computer that plugs into the back of this instrument.

2.  The unit includes an inclinometer as shown above.  You can upgrade to the Turn Coordinator for $150 more.

3.  A blank instrument panel is included, ALSO FREE.  This blank CNC cut panel has a custom cutout for the MultiFunction instrument and four 2.25" round cutouts.  The panel is supplied unpainted.  Here is the panel, as typically installed in a plane, with additional instruments:

Multi Function Instrument in Belite metal panel, free*.  *Check T&Cs.

Painted Blank Panel, part of free*. offer from Belite (supplied unpainted).  *Check T&Cs.

4.  You must buy our Belite UltraCub kit to receive the free MultiFunction Instrument.  The Belite UltraCub is also specially priced; normally $8500, it is priced at $6995 until May 15, 2013.  If you include the value of this instrument, it is about a $550 additional value.  So over $9 grand of Belite Stuff for $6.995 grand plus + shipping.  (Check with Kathy for your shipping quote).

With a little work, along with an engine, prop, etc..., you can make your kit look like this:

Belite UltraCub with 4 stroke 1/2VW engine.

In other words:  you get the Belite UltraCub kit, including the Turtledeck kit, along with a blank panel and this MultiFunction Instrument.  All for $6995 + shipping.  Best deal in the world right now for a small airplane kit.

5.  The Multi Function instrument is available ONLY as configured as shown.  It includes the airspeed indicator with the speed range set as shown; the inclinometer; the fuel gauge (compatible with capacitive or resistive senders), and the AGL altimeter.  The power switch has three settings:  Off, On/dim, On/bright.  The power switch has detents which prevent accidental powerdown.  The dim and bright refer the LED brightness.  Also included are 3 general purpose alarm LEDs.  All alarm LEDs are brilliant red when turned on.  They may be attached to anything:  when grounded, they turn on.  In our Burgundy demonstrator, one is attached to the engine oil pressure switch.

6.  We ran a similar promotion one year ago which was very successful.  This is even better:  the airplane has improved, engine options have improved, and the free instrument set is much better.  And a free metal panel is included.

7.  Like last year, we did not repeat this promotion after the deadline had ended.  This offer will terminate no later than May 15, 2013.

8.  You have to place a nonrefundable deposit of $2500 to get this offer.  You can schedule delivery of your kit for anytime later this year, but not later than Dec. 15, 2013, but the deposit is due on May 15.

9.  This offer is also available on Ready To Fly aircraft:  Just tell us that you want the free Multifunction Instrument upgrade for your RTF plane when you place your order.  Next delivery slot is open for August, 2013.  Check our website for pricing and model configurations.  Prices on our aircraft range from $15995 up to $40K (or more) and this offer is available on any configuration.  You must specify it to receive it.

10.  Just because the multi function unit includes an "AGL" altimeter does not preclude you from adding a conventional altimeter, such as our high resolution digital LCD unit.  It would install in any of the open 2.25" instrument holes.  For example:

Digital LCD altimeter from Belite.  $249.

11.  This offer may be withdrawn or changed at anytime without notice.

Windows 8 Is Horrible. There, I said it.

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I'm calling timeout from airplanes and computer forensics to make a few comments on Windows 8.

Hey, I'm so sick of Windows 8 that I've decided to write a few short paragraphs about it.

First of all, let me make a recommendation:  Your decision to buy a computer should include whether or not it has Windows 8 installed.  If it does include Windows 8, reject that computer and move on.  That's how I feel about Windows 8.

I put a game face on with my recent purchase of Windows 8 laptop from HP.  I really hadn't studied Windows 8.  I knew it was different, but hey, if Microsoft was willing to risk it all, I'm just a sucker consumer and willing to give it a play too.

It had the new interface style --- "Metro" I think is what Microsoft calls it.

I was able to load my old apps and run them without difficulty.

Then I began to realize the quirks and oddness.  I had to keep 'passing' through the Tile Screen, for lack of a better word, to get to a way to launch my apps.

Okay, that's annoying.  I might have been able to live with it.

Then more Windows 8 irritants popped up.  When running apps, I would scoot the cursor over the screen, and suddenly ****POOF**** the screen would switch from an app to something else, like a PDF file or a picture.  I have no idea why.  I've seen it happen now dozens of times, and every time it does, I have to move the cursor to the upper left corner of the screen and drag back what I was working on.

More on cursor movement.  Often, in applications (think Adobe Lightroom) I rapidly move the cursor to the right side of the screen so that I can utilize controls.  In Windows 8, if the cursor happens to hit the upper or lower corner of the screen, it pops up an annoying bar of controls from the right side of the screen.  You then have to shuffle the cursor back to the left, make the annoying bar go away, and then more carefully move the cursor back to the control you were trying to manipulate.

I hate it.  I hate it.  I hate it.

Then, at some point, it will ****poof**** you to an application you weren't expecting.

I chatted with HP on the issue, and threatened to never buy a HP computer again.  They indicated I could downgrade to Windows 7, "but is never recommended" or some such BS, and told me I'd have to buy my own copy of Windows 7 to make my computer appropriately functional and not the productivity sucker it has turned into.

I then chatted with Microsoft -- more of the same.  They said I needed to talk to HP if I wanted to downgrade, and that Microsoft would not provide a copy of Windows 7.

I didn't save the chat session texts.  I should have.  Oh well.

I hate it.  I hate it.  I hate it.

My $.02 on Windows 8; your mileage may vary.

I hate it.  I hate it.  I hate it.

Something else from Belite takes off...

Please note: James' blog has moved to a Wordpress site. To access it, please visit http://jameswiebe.wordpress.com/. All posts have been transferred to the new site, and all new posts will only be accessible via Wordpress. Thank you for your interest!


Our Youtube videos have been viewed about 59,000 times in the last year, with over 100K minutes watched.  :-)

The reason why is great videos like these: (Click any to see them)

Flying the new Paradise City pattern at SnF 2013 (you got to see this, brand new video from last week)
Flint Hills flying in a Belite UltraCub with 4 stroke (2 hour walkabout in a Belite)
High Performance climbout in a Belite (STARTLING climbout)

there are many more.

Below is the the statistic chart from YouTube.

Thanks for watching.

Belite YouTube Video Views over the last year

Paradise City photos of all sorts from Sun N Fun

Please note: James' blog has moved to a Wordpress site. To access it, please visit http://jameswiebe.wordpress.com/. All posts have been transferred to the new site, and all new posts will only be accessible via Wordpress. Thank you for your interest!


Below are some fun photos from Sun N Fun.  This proves that the new Paradise City had a lot of stuff happening!

Make sure you also look at the YOUTUBE VIDEOS of flying the pattern at Paradise City.

Click on any photo below; it will open on your computer in high resolution.  Enjoy!

Also, you'll enjoy looking at the many other posts that are on this blog, covering topics ranging from aircraft construction, carbon fiber development, adventure, and more.  CLICK HERE to see the latest post.  

Paradise City is dead center of this photo.  Lots of activity there!

Paradise City runway top dead center.

Sun N Fun, photo taken from the Paradise City pattern.

A Belite Ultracub in front of a tree.

UltraCub from Belite, 4 stroke engine.

Paradise City runway.

Sun N Fun.

A Belite UltraCub!  With a 4 Stroke!