Piper Aircraft has selected the G1000 integrated flight deck for its twin-class Seneca V model introduced at the Australian International Airshow. "We have a strong longstanding partnership with Piper Aircraft, and we are honored by the confidence they continue to show in Garmin avionics," said Carl Wolf, Garmin's vice president of aviation sales and marketing. "With the G1000-equipped Seneca V, all new production Piper MClass and Twin-Class aircraft will now feature a Garmin integrated flight deck, and we look forward to continuing to serve Piper owners and operators with best-in-class cockpit solutions." Visit www.garmin.com.

On February 26, 2013, at Lachute Airport near Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the first flight of the new LSA from SAM Aircraft took place. "Liftoff was perfect, in about 300 feet," said Thierry Zibi, president of SAM Aircraft. "We were not at gross weight, so our climb of nearly 1,300 fpm felt like a rocket." The 21-minute flight covered the basics: 30-degree banks, straight flight and gentle control. "There is a lot more to test," said Zibi, "but all indications are that the aerodynamics are exactly what we have expected all along." The SAM LSA is a tandem retro-warbird-look metal aircraft powered by a 100 hp Rotax 912S. Visit www.samaircraft.com.

Air show star Kirby Chambliss' new app is now available for iPhone, iPad and Android. It's free and lets you stay in touch with the team by checking out their schedule, photos and latest news. Visit www.appcat.com/teamchambliss.

ohn Uczekaj, CEO of Aspen Avionics, was awarded Aviation Entrepreneur of the Year by Living Legends of Aviation at their gala event on January 18, 2013. Uczekaj was selected for this award to acknowledge his leadership in guiding Aspen Avionics from a brand-new startup operation through developing the company into an avionics industry leader, all the while securing ongoing investments to fund new products. "This award came as a complete surprise to me," said Uczekaj. "The general aviation industry has long been known for its talented and dedicated people, so I am deeply humbled to be honored amongst so many great names in aviation. I came to Aspen six years ago for the opportunity to build the next major player in the avionics industry. The company's entrepreneurial spirit is key to that success, and it is what keeps us innovating and moving forward. Every day, I focus on keeping that spirit alive at Aspen." Visit www.aspenavionics.com.

Sporty's Pilot Shop announced that Jonathan Evans of Bedford, Texas, is the winner of its Alaska Seaplane Adventure Sweepstakes. Evans will travel to Moose Pass, Alaska, to earn his Single Engine Sea Rating with Alaska Float Ratings in a PA-18 Super Cub. "We can't help but be a bit jealous of our winner," says Sporty's President and CEO Michael Wolf. "Jonathan will spend five days flying around remote mountain lakes, tight canyons and spectacular glaciers." This year, Sporty's will award a Legend Cub as part of its annual New Aircraft Sweepstakes. The winner of the Legend Cub will be announced live during Sporty's Fly-In on Saturday, May 18, 2013. Visit www.sportys.com/sweepstakes.

Daher-Socata's 2013 version of its TBM 850 Elite was unveiled last friday at Florida's Boca Raton Airport for customers in the United States. The cockpit features the integration of L-3 Avionics' Trilogy ESI-2000 ESI, which replaces the previous electro-mechanical instrument version. "Based on the tremendous customer interest in the TBM 850 Elite---which debuted last year---we are continuing its production in 2013," said Nicolas Chabbert, President of Socata North America. "For this year, we have made further improvements inside and out, along with enhancements to the aircraft's comprehensive maintenance program." The 2013 TBM 850 Elite's offering of interior colors has been extended with the choice of mocha dark-brown leather, as well as a medium gray, called River Stone. In addition, the aircraft's seat backs are perforated to improve comfort on hot days. A special package includes a deluxe leather interior with a storage cabinet, wooden or carbon-fiber fittings and 14-volt DC power plugs. Additional safety options are a GPS-linked ELT and a pulsed light system.Visit www.tbm850.com.

Sporty's has added to its line of humorous T-shirts with three new options that include a Jet Fuel shirt ("I love the smell of jet fuel in the morning"), Flight Risk ("Set my bail high, I'm a flight risk"), and a Wake Turbulence shirt that has a turbulence warning. Shirts are available in sizes medium through XXL. Contact: www.sportys.com.

ASA's new sets of Helicopter Flashcards for the Robinson R22 facilitate memorization and understanding of the systems and functions of each aircraft. The study guide contains nearly 400 flashcards covering the R22 POH, as well as FAA helicopter instrument procedures. Topics include an aircraft overview, limitations, normal and emergency procedures, performance, weight and balance, maintenance, helicopter-specific instrument flight rules and regulations, and a special emphasis on systems. Contact: www.asa2fly.com.

For any cross-country flight, the FL220 Survival Kit has what you need to manage an emergency. The kit includes flares, sea dye, a signal mirror, a whistle, a first-aid kit, a fire-starter, water and a thermal sleeping bag. Contact: www.banyanpilotshop.com/survivalkit.

This kneeboard from PilotMall.com automatically wakes up or "sleeps" the iPad Mini upon opening or closing. The case has an adjustable hold-flat leg strap for placement on a pilot's knee. A 360-degree rotating cradle accommodates portrait and landscape viewing modes. The adjustable leg strap also can be used to attach the iPad Mini to a headrest, turning the device into an in-flight entertainment system for rear-seat passengers. Contact www.pilotmall.com.