Merlin is an inexpensive ADS-B receiver that talks to both FlyQ and Foreflight equipped iPads. It saved our bacon twice during our Florida flight by warning us of potential midair collisions. The $899 Stratus ADS-B receiver and Merlin have the same electronic innard, however Stratus costs $650 more than Merlin! Go to www.seattleavionics.com to learn more.

My SunDancer is equipped with a single-axis autopilot (one of the two available options). A tiny brass shear screw connects the arm on the autopilot servo motor to the aileron actuator arm. The screw is designed to shear asunder if the stress on the servo motor exceeds safe margins. It did just that on our return flight from Florida and we had to maintain direction and altitude manually (oh dear!). Fortunately replacing it is an easy fix.