McPhee Aviation

Microair Radios

Microair M760 Transceiver This is one of the world's smallest panel mount VHF aircraft radios. Ideal for use in sailplanes, ultralights and homebuilt aircraft. The M760 has 25 memory channels, scan and flip flop. Fits in 57mm panel hole.

Microair 760 Aircraft Transceiver and Boom Microphone

The Microair 760 is a new Australian aircraft radio designed to mount in a small (57 mm) instrument hole. The radio is similar in style to the German made Becker and Dittel, and it is pinned much the same as the Dittel FSG71M.

The Microair 760 has many extra features which are ideal for glider installation. These include scanner, one touch priority gaggle frequency and stuck mike warning, and yet it costs considerably less than the German equivalent. The Microair achieves extremely low battery consumption  (<90ma) and because it uses surface mount components it is shorter in depth than other radios so it fits almost anywhere, for example in an ASH 25 panel.

The designer and builder of this radio is Nigel Andrews, who has asked me to market the radios to the gliding fraternity. I have been involved with glider radio installations in Australia since the mid seventies, selling many Genave and Radair units. McPhee Aviation now manufactures the boom mike for the Microair, which is marketed under the Mikrosmart badge. The microphone has evolved to be the best available for gliding. It uses a longer (45 cm) and more rigid boom which has been reinforced at the base. The microphone has dual foam mufflers which considerably reduce wind noise - particularly if the side window is open.

The pricing of radio is listed below and all I ask overseas customers to do is organise overseas cheque payable to me in US dollars, or alternatively by direct bank transfer (sometimes called Swift). On receipt of the money I will mail the microphone, the harness and manual. If I have stock then I will send the radio immediately, but delivery usually takes up to 3 weeks, depending on supply. The package will include a special note about the radio. The radio will be fully insured, but phone or fax me about the invoice and  VAT/GST/MwSt arrangements.

Prices below

Noteworthy features of Microair 760 radio:

Computer internals for simplicity. Unit should be available in the new 8.33 KHz being introduced in central Europe, and an inexpensive software upgrade will be available.

A 25 channel memory with scanning - great for competitions to find out what other pilots are doing!

One touch gaggle frequency switch - great safety feature.

Transmissions exceeding 30 seconds cause an LED to blink red indicating possible jammed microphone.

External memory toggle switch for rear seat of a 2 seater.

Adjustable squelch which was on the USA radios but not the German radios.

Built-in sidetone intercom with either PTT or hot mike option for motor gliders and tow-planes.

Low battery consumption (<90ma).

The radio is now certified in USA, but not as yet in the EU due to problems with vested interests.
Over 900 radios have been sold world-wide in 18 months, plus 370 microphones.
Another radio may be needed for the 8.33 MHZ channel spacing and price may reflect the cost of certification in EU, and Germany in particular.
Rick Sheppe (Cambridge software man ph 802 333 9992 f 099 email:rws@sover.net) in Vermont has the earlier model while Derick Westwood (p/f 1530 416759) of UK has the latest model in his LS8. Andy Davis (p/f +44 1 453 860945) of UK has one in his new Discus II and bought a second one for a syndicate Duo Discus.

Andy had trouble with dull display and I had a friend deliver a new radio a week later to Nymphsfield. Insured economy air from Australia is inexpensive and is an 8 day service. McPhee Aviation should have an exchange radio in the UK for summer 2000.

The radios did have a few glitches in the early days - a capacitor in reverse which in time caused the display to fade, and a set-up problem with the transmitter on about 25 % of the radios and especially those used in 2 seaters - but these minor problems have all been cured, and in 1999 no faults have occurred. Please ask a user what they think!

McPhee Aviation has sold over 100 of these radios and we can assure you it is a very good unit.
 
 

Microair T2000 Transponder 
This TSO'd Transponder is one of the world's smallest and lightest of its kind, weighing in at 600 gm. 
The T2000SFL has very low power consumption and many new innovative safety features only found in much larger and expensive Transponders. 

www.microair.com.au
 
 

Prices T2000 A$2530 + mode C $528 + Harness Price M760 transceiver $1281.50 Basic gliding harness $A50 Flexible Boom Mic $93.50 C&K Quality PTT Switch $8 Microphone Jack $9 Enclosed Speaker $22 C&K PTT switch $9  Prices in Australian dollars

All prices in Australian currency Click for conversion