Avionics News April 2013 - 24

Avidyne's EX600

BREAKTHROUGH

Continued from page 22

GARMIN’S TWO-PACK POWERHOUSE

The G500 and G600 packages from Garmin employ some of the same philosophies as Aspen’s Evolution packages.
In Garmin’s case, the packaging genius pairs a 6.3-inch
PFD with the same size of MFD – two screens side-byside in the same box, which also houses all the sensors.
Unlike the pairing of an Aspen PFD 1000 with an
Aspen MFD 1000, gaining sensor redundancy with
these systems requires the addition of another 500 or
600, or a separate sensor package, since the boxes
contain only one set for each – attitude, altitude, airspeed, vertical speed, compass and turn action.
But stand-by power will cover the most-likely cause of a
failure to perform – the lack of electricity for whatever reason.
Otherwise, the G500 and G600 deliver the full spectrum
of glass-cockpit functionality, including depiction of weather
and traffic when connected to the appropriate data source.
The G500 wins a lot of kudos for its value equation with its
screen acreage and functionality in a single box.
The G500 package is missing nothing. Charts and plates,
taxi diagrams, even enhanced vision system sensors (optional
on the G500, standard on the G600) all have a home on either
of these powerhouses.
And with the PFD and MFD integrated into one box, the
installation process benefits from the simpler process.
AVIDYNE’S OPTIONS – TWO FOLD

Topping the budget options from Avidyne is the advanced
EX600 MFD with CMax charts.
Sporting a 5.8-inch high-resolution display, the EX600 can,
with the proper sensors or inputs, host datalink graphical weather or terrain, water-base map with man-made U.S. obstacles,
curved flight paths when interfaced with a Garmin 400/500
series GPS, map panning, or traffic awareness from a
traffic sensor like Avidyne’s own TAS600/610/620,
as well as lightning strikes via a lightning-sensor
interface.
It’s available for either fixed wing or rotorcraft.
Avidyne also offers a glass display conceived and
executed at the MHD300 Multi-Hazard Display, designed to fit into a 3ATI opening and displaying terrain, traffic and lightning sensors.
AIRCRAFT SPRUCE: RCA 2600-2 & RCA 2600-3
ELECTRONIC ATTITUDE INDICATORS

These are electronic, self-contained, full-color
24

avionics news

•

april

2013

attitude indicators with a variety of useful features in compact, certified packages.
The -2 fits into 2-inch openings, the -3 into 3-inch voids
– and they even have displays that are adjustable for the
mount and for brightness.
No moving-map interface, no flight data like a PFD; it’s
an electronic AI – all solid state. And for many pilots, the
prospect of never facing another gyro overhaul will be all
it takes.
NONAPPROVED BUT FUNCTIONAL

Options for adding glass to the cockpit include products from Dynon (SkyView D1000, D700) to the portable Dynon D1 Pocket Panel, and Garmin’s G3X system
(found in the Skycatcher LSA).
Electronics maker Advanced Flight Systems, Grand
Rapids Technologies, MGL Avionics, TL elektronic and
TruTrak Flight Systems all offer compact, highly functional and affordable EFIS solutions.
The Pocket Panel, in particular, will hold appeal for
owners of old airplanes without electrical systems, as
well as renters, as a way to gain some of the advantages
of a glass panel but without the wallet discomfort. q

Aircraft Spruce's
RCA 2600-2 & RCA 2600-3

Avionics News April 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News April 2013