Posted for Bob Rutherford <bobr@airplanedeice.com>

THERMAWING and AIROAIR 2002 UPDATE

This is a year-end update on the Northcoast Thermawing Project and the
Airoair DC Powered air conditioning. For those who do not want any more
updates, please let us know and we will remove your name from our list.

In 1998, EGC Enterprises, Inc./ Northcoast Technologies L.L.C was
awarded an SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research) grant by NASA
Glenn. During this effort EGC researched and developed a thermoelectric
ice protection system, capable of meeting all aspects of ice protection
for the general aviation fleet. A spin-off of the development was their
DC powered air conditioner, made possible by the high output alternator,
developed during the NASA SBIR, for the de-ice system. This completed
the total environmental solution for the general aviation and commuter
fleet.

Exceeding even the most optimistic schedule, Thermawing? research was
completed on schedule and on budget. Northcoast Technologies has entered
what NASA calls Phase III of the SBIR program. Phase III is the infusion
of the Phase II results into regular NASA programs and/ or into the
commercial market. Phase III projects are funded with money from a
source other than the NASA SBIR program. We have been working to raise
capital for Northcoast to bring Thermawing? and Airoair? to market at an
accelerated rate. As of this date we continue to fund the project
internally, but hope to have funding in place by the end of 1st QTR
2003. This will greatly accelerate the STC process.

General Information De-Ice

Dry air and flight in natural ice was conducted and completed by May of
2002. Nothing tells you more about the last 4 years of research and
testing than a flight into natural ice. I am happy to say that our
system performed better than expected, and exceeded our expectations.
Slight refinements were required in some of the electronics, both the
alternator and the controller. Having these completed, further flight
test are planned for January 2003. These tests will complete our test
for FAA, STC Certification as well as begin data acquisition for flight
into known ice certification.

General Information Air Conditions

Fabrication has been completed for the overall basic system. The C-182
was chosen as the first STC aircraft and all external packaging has been
completed. The air handling components are at the testing lab to verify
flows and cooling capacity. Installation is planned for January 2003 and
we hope to be complete with STC work come Sun-N-Fun 2003.

Lancair IV Install

As we all know we lost our one aircraft that was being completed with
the de-ice system. Our other aircraft, which is 90% done, lives in New
York, so logistics are not the best. The controller and new heaters are
planned for installation in Feb. 2003 and I plan on test flying that
aircraft middle of February this should put the final blessing on
Lancair IVs.

Barron STC and What Follows

Most of the conformal work should be complete by March 2003 and we hope
to show up at Oshkosh with our first STC. The Baron has also undergone a
complete make over with new cameras and sensing equipment it has become
quite the test bed.

The next aircraft in line will certainly be market driven, but we hope
to gear up to achieve 5 STCs a year.

Lancair 300-350-400

We were fortunate to have received a contract from NASA to integrate our
alternator system on both the cirrus SR 20 and the Lancair 300. This
extra power was necessary to drive the electronics research equipment
added to the SATS planes. We also call this a phase I in getting these
planes outfitted for both AC and De-ice. This work has been completed
and signed of by NASA, so it cuts a lot of time off the integration
engineering with these two models. We will be integrating the Lancair
300 and 400 in the coming months with a non-hazard ice protection
system. STC should be accomplished by next icing season.

Alternator

Some small changes were made in the alternator to better achieve the FAA
required cycle life for flight into known ice certification. This cycle
life must be better than 1 failure in 100,000 cycles, not your average
alternator. The most noticeable change will come in the housing. We have
gone away from the casting to a completely machined housing this,
eliminates any variables in tolerance stack ups. The alternator will
still supply buss voltage as a backup to power what ever you need
including a welder if you like. Bottom line, this alternator may out
last your airframe.

Control System

After flight-testing we had a pre-production unit built for testing.
During the build we made a change to a higher-end processor and
consequently had to do some catching up with the schematic changes, and
a few component changes. We now have completed this unit and are
ordering several systems for aircraft integration. We are looking at a
4-6 week completion. This should fit nicely with our Lancair IV release
schedule.

GA Icing Video

I was privileged to be able to work on the new GA icing video, both as a
technical director and as a pilot/actor; OK I won't make the Oscar list.
I have several DVDs if any are interested send me your address and I'll
send it out Free of charge.

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