BCP site sponsor Aviat Aircraft Unveils More Than A Dozen New Enhancements To The Legendary Husky At Sun ‘n Fun

Quality, safety, capability and now, even more reasons why the Aviat Husky leads the pack

AFTON, Wy. (April 10, 2018) – The Aviat Husky has learned some impressive new tricks. The rugged and reliable Husky is flying off of the 2018 production line with more than a dozen upgrade options. Aviat Aircraft unveils these enhancements including an entirely new trim system, factory extended landing gear, a removable rear seat, an enhanced VFR and IFR panel featuring the latest from Garmin plus creature comforts such as heated seat options at the Aviat display at Sun ‘n Fun in Lakeland, Fla., April 10-15.

"The Husky has a proud heritage; it’s reliable, safe and built with quality craftsmanship. It has a long-standing tradition for being the best-in-class and now it’s even better," said Stuart Horn, president, Aviat Aircraft, Inc. "If you’ve been considering an upgrade or getting into a Husky for the first time, now is the time to buy. We listened to our customers and have been working hard to make enhancements that we know pilots and passengers will enjoy."

Improved Takeoff And Flight Performance

The new trim system, which replaces the previous bungee system, features an elevator trim tab that reduces trim workload and system pressures. This system increases control stick feedback and provides a more pleasing flight experience.





Get ready for even smoother landings and incredible takeoff performance with the factory extended landing gear option. It makes the aircraft more stable for landing on terrain or slopes and adds propeller clearance by extending the gear four inches, moving the tires forward two inches and making the gear 12 inches wider.



Best Seats In The House

Just pull a few quick-release pins and the rear seat and rear stick of the Husky can be removed. Add the stick cover and the aft cabin is transformed into more than 35 cubic feet of cargo space. Another great new feature is the adjustable front seat which now slides forward and aft, locking in greater comfort for pilots of any height, plus making easier ingress and egress for pilots, passengers and cargo.





For those cold days and chilly altitudes, new heated seat options for pilot and passenger make flying a joy even on those long trips. A new tufted diamond-stitch pattern and tufted chevron pattern upholstery in multiple colors adds style to the interior while new ANR headset control box holsters make for a cleaner and clutter-free environment.



Check Out The View ... Of The Cockpit: VFR And IFR Avionics

While flying a Husky is a thing of beauty promising many scenic adventures, the new cockpit further enhances the view. In addition to the Standard VFR panel, the Husky now offers an Enhanced VFR and IFR panel featuring the 10.6” Garmin G500 TXi touchscreen display. With a crisp display, integrated engine analytics and a GTN 750 Nav/Comm/GPS, this is the most capable, attractive and intuitive flight deck ever found in a Husky. There’s even a new glove box and device storage cubby.

The Enhanced IFR panel also offers the SAM digital standby altimeter and attitude, making the Husky the most mission capable recreational machine in the world. It is also autopilot ready, with the Genesys Aerosystems S-TEC 3100 Digital Flight Control System. The S-TEC 3100 is a fully featured, attitude-based autopilot with workload-reducing and safety-enhancing capabilities that were previously unavailable on aftermarket autopilots.



A Sparkling Personality
Aviat Aircraft encourages and appreciates personal style. Each Husky can be customized with sound systems, floats, skis and now metallic paint. For the first time, Husky owners can enjoy this special paint treatment that adds stunning depth and esthetic appeal to set the airplane apart.

About Aviat Aircraft, Inc.
Crafted with pride in Afton, Wy., since 1941, Aviat Aircraft is the oldest continuously operating aircraft manufacturer in the United States. Whether working on a Husky, Pitts or Eagle kit airplane, each person at Aviat Aircraft possess a passion for perfection and pride of craftsmanship that results in the world’s finest aircraft, making Aviat aircraft the choice of pilots for decades.

To learn more about Aviat Aircraft, Inc., visit AviatAircraft.com or call (307) 429-3195.

347 views and no comments? Lol...

Ok. That trim setup is quite interesting. I always liked that airplane. I flew about a dozen different new ones when I worked for a dealer back in 03. I’m guessing the new ones these days are 400k??

For sure. Very cool. Looks like they fixed a bunch of the drawbacks of the Husky. I would say north of $350. Nice to see some cool new innovation. Kudos for Husky. Nice to see them as a sponsor also!

What? No cupholders...

LOL, great looking aircraft. Need to visit Alton this summer and take a test flight.

Rod

I must be missing something - how are the external trim cables under the elevator secured to keep from wearing a hole in the fabric?

The scarcity of comments may be due to the half-million price tag and the confused mission. Does it want to wrastle with Super Cubs or Glass Slippers? Trying to do both is going to compromise each end, and for that money just buy one of each.

Zzz wrote:

For some reason those trim cables bug me. I assume they tested them, and there are certainly many other protrusions that a stick or alder bush could hang on, but I don't understand the benefit of them being exposed.

Right now I'm in the process of figuring out a new trim system on the Tcraft I'm building....That's the absolute last route I would have went.

kg wrote:

Zzz wrote:

For some reason those trim cables bug me. I assume they tested them, and there are certainly many other protrusions that a stick or alder bush could hang on, but I don't understand the benefit of them being exposed.

This is Pat F’s modification on a Bearhawk trim tab. Uses one Morris control cable per trim tab...The Bearhawk uses one on each elevator...

Karmutzen wrote:The scarcity of comments may be due to the half-million price tag and the confused mission. Does it want to wrastle with Super Cubs or Glass Slippers? Trying to do both is going to compromise each end, and for that money just buy one of each.

Not a single sentence makes any sense.

I saw that in the other thread. A local guy is building a BH LSA and that's where I got the idea from. The stock Tcraft has so many connections that all those tiny amounts of wear add up to the point that the trim tab ends up with a ton of play.

m_moyle wrote:

IMG_0206.JPG

This is Pat F’s modification on a Bearhawk trim tab. Uses one Morris control cable per trim tab...The Bearhawk uses one on each elevator...

IMG_0204.JPG

A nicely equipped VFR 180HP with a Trailblazer Prop and bush wheels has an asking price of $313,000. That seems very much in line with other manufacturers. I’m not sure there are enough boxes to check on an order form to get to $500k.

https://aviataircraft.com/new-husky-inventory/

The new trim is great. I have flown a new demo plane a few times and it is a big improvement over the classic system. The trim cables are not very noticeable. The picture highlights them but you would likely walk on by without noticing if it was sitting in the ramp. I don’t think the cables would rub the fabric but if they did it could easily be taken care of by a little Teflon or anti-chafe tape.

I am happy to see Aviat making improvements. All of these changes combined represent a significant improvement over my current Husky(2006 A-1B).

The adjustable front seat with a folding seat back is an improvement also, not easy to do and still comply with the more restrictive g loading crash requirements.

Glad to see Aviat improving an already fantastic airplane.

Yep, they are expensive but so is everything else.

Kurt

Karmutzen wrote:The scarcity of comments may be due to the half-million price tag and the confused mission. Does it want to wrastle with Super Cubs or Glass Slippers? Trying to do both is going to compromise each end, and for that money just buy one of each.

Check pricing on comparable aircraft, such as CC, American Champion, Maule, or a new Cessna 172. Half million? Nope.

Yesterday, we held a STOL demo, and the Husky participating in that competed very well against other similar types.

I don’t know what your “glass slipper” comment was about, but there’s nothing fragile about a Husky.

If you’re referring to glass panels, why wouldn’t you put that technology in a new airplane?

MTV

Glass slipper = Cirrus. Good machine for cross-country IFR. Foremost in my bush planes is keeping them light, so at odds with the Husky direction of autopilot, heated seats, IFR glass - all just added weight that I would happily trade for performance. A quick look at the Aviat site shows prices already pretty close to $400K plus tax. Anyway there wasn’t much discussion happening on the thread so I ventured an opinion why, as we are all welcome to do.

Seems like many like to bash the Husky, not necessarily anyone commenting in this thread but many over the years have. I still hear it all the time, mostly from either jealous types or those who really don't know what they are talking about and are just parroting what they have heard, oh well.

Now having owned many airplanes I must say for me,the Husky is the best tube and fabric airplane I have owned or flown. I have a 900 pound useful load in my Husky, that is about 300 pounds more than my "light Super Cub". Other than getting off the ground a little shorter and landing a little shorter my Husky out performs my old super Cub in every other area. In real world missions the Husky really shines, just ask Mike Vivion (MTV). My old SC was a good light performer but I have to say, my full IFR 2012 Husky is a much better overall performing airplane. Yep, its heavier but its stronger too, better crashworthy airplane for sure, I have seen wrecks of both and I would much rather be in my Husky. Some think the lack of trimable stab is a minus, hmmmm, really? Ok, what ever but I have had no issues that a trimable horizontal stab would have corrected. I have not flown the new trim system on the new Husky yet so I can't comment on it except to say, I like the old system I have on my airplane now and have never had any issues with it.

The speed and efficiency of the Husky is amazing compared to my Super Cub, this equates to better range and the need to carry less fuel for a given mission, that helps close the gap between the empty weight difference between the Super Cub and Husky. My Husky is faster than my old Arctic Tern, Citabria and my dad's Scout. Slow down to Super Cub speeds and burn less gas or burn the same amount per hour and go faster, either way, better miles per gallon for your mission what ever it is. Stoping for gas, if there is any available where I am flying, or carrying cans, is not something I like to be forced to do. I could go on and on as I have seriously evaluated all the airplanes that I have owned and flown and compared them to each other but for me and my mission the Husky fits best that is why I am on my second one, I sold my first Husky which I shouldn't have done so that is why I am on my second one.

Now, all that being said, all airplanes have their pluses and minuses and I like them all. Everything is a compromise. I just get tired of the Husky bashing that goes on from those who really don't have much if any experience in them. Too heavy, too expensive, crappy trim system, don't need or want the IFR, blah blah blah. To each their own, there is an airplane for everyone.

Aviat is improving their product and I think they are doing a good job, there are some other improvements I would like to see and hopefully they will come along soon. I think Cub Crafters is doing an excellent job, they are really producing a great product, I would love to have the latest Carbon Cub in addition to my Husky but that isn't going to happen $$$, cant afford both, only one so I choose the Husky. Scouts and Maule's are really nice airplanes too, just not my first choice.

Yep, all these new or newer airplanes are expensive, all the used airplanes flying around were once expensive in the day they were new, most cost less back then than they do today. In order to have a supply of lower priced used airplanes we need the new airplane production lines to keep humming along. I am happy that Aviat, American Champion, Cub Crafters, Maule and Cessna are still producing airplanes at what ever they cost, I can assure you that even though they may be making money, none of them are getting rich making these airplanes. If we can get production volume up then theroitically costs should come down, ya, catch 22 thing, wishful thinking. If only......

Fly what ya have and enjoy!

Good job Aviat, keep it up!

Kurt

By the way, a BIG thank you to Aviat for sponsoring this site!

Kurt

Karmutzen wrote:Glass slipper = Cirrus. Good machine for cross-country IFR. Foremost in my bush planes is keeping them light, so at odds with the Husky direction of autopilot, heated seats, IFR glass - all just added weight that I would happily trade for performance. A quick look at the Aviat site shows prices already pretty close to $400K plus tax. Anyway there wasn’t much discussion happening on the thread so I ventured an opinion why, as we are all welcome to do.

Yep, your opinion counts and is welcomed.

I was told by Cub Crafters that auto pilot in the latest Carbon Cub weighs only 4 pounds if I remember correctly, that is hardly heavy by any stretch compared to old auto pilots.

I think the heated seats weigh about a pound or so, to me a worthwhile trade weight wise.

Yep, you are correct, lighter weight = better performance, just how light does one go, that is the big question.

Kurt

If I had to trade my 90 mph 600 lb useful load 90 hp SC, a second hand Husky Pup would be on the short list - the Pitts being a noble stable mate to the Aviat Husky, great company producing excellent aircraft.

Great posts, Kurt! I couldn’t agree more.

Let’s see.....weight: Friday evening, we had two Carbon Cubs, flown by two young gents from Texas, and a Husky flown by another Texan, playing the short takeoff and landing game here in KMSO.

Those CCs weigh 1000 pounds or less, the Husky 1300 plus. Rated horsepower: 180 each.

Those airplanes were landing in about the same distance, sometimes the CC a bit shorter, sometimes the Husky a bit shorter.

All three pilots very proficient in there planes.

Takeoffs? The CCs were mostly a bit shorter than the Husky, but not by much, as in a mere few feet.

The air was kind of messy that evening, with a squirrelly light crosswind. The heavier Husky appeared to me to penetrate those gusts better than the CC.

On takeoff, the CS prop on the Husky compensates for a lot of “extra” weight.....you can’t beat a CS prop for acceleration, which CC has also decided with their latest aircraft.

Any of these airplanes will perform spectacular feats in the hand of a good stick. The differences between what they’re capable of is generally pretty small, and often smaller than the margins of safety an intelligent pilot will demand.

As to IFR capability, that’s something the buyer chooses on the order sheet. Aviat will happily build you a basic VFR airplane.

All these little airplanes are beautiful machines. I’m glad there are such choices out there, even though I’m not going to buy a new one any time soon.

MTV