Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

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Matt Thurber

Microair Avionics this week unveiled the T4000 pitot probe that incorporates an air data computer, attitude and heading reference system (AHRS), angle of attack sensor, static port, anti-icing heater, temperature probe, and magnetometer. Announced duringt the&nbsp;new product introduction session at the AEA Convention, the integrated probe and air data computer can be installed under FAA non-required safety-enhancing equipment guidelines and is a direct replacement for AN5812 pitot probes.
By EAA AirVenture in July, Brisbane, Australia-based Microair plans to obtain FAA approval for installation in Class 1 and 2 Part 23 airplanes, according to CEO David Withers. Plans call to obtain technical standard order approval and installation approval for Part 25 airplanes.
T4000 features that can be displayed on Microair’s T3000 SkySuite instrument include airspeed, altitude, vertical speed, angle of attack, temperature, attitude, and magnetic heading digital data. The 120-watt anti-icing heater is available in 12- or 24-volt DC configuration with digital temperature control.
The T4000 contains a triple-redundant magnetometer for heading information, and the reason this works with the probe’s heating element is due to the digital circuitry. This allows for the heating current to be switched off when heading information is needed, but so quickly that there is no change apparent to the pilot.
During the brief heating cycles, the probe uses gyro-stabilized information from the built-in AHRS to output proper heading information. Thus, the probe stays at about 110 degrees C all the time, he explained.
“There are a lot of electronics in a small space,” Withers said, and Microair was able to engineer the T4000 because of the evolution of sensor technology. “It’s a complicated piece of equipment in a very small package.”
The non-heated option for a Part 23 airplane retails for AUD$5,229 ($3,644), while the 12- and 24-volt heated unit costs AUD$5,469.

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