Avionics News July 2019 - 71

GPS-based navigators, color moving maps and primary
track select mode, GPS navigation mode, altitude hold
flight instrument displays in so many variations that
and automatic pitch trim. The AeroCruze 100 has been
it's hard to keep up, even today. What had been a
approved for supplemental type certification aboard
one-stop choice to fill out every nook and cranny in
Cessna Model 172, 175, 177 and 180 piston singles,
general aviation instrument panels began showing gaps
plus Piper's PA-28 line. Approvals for supplemental
in its product lines.
type certificates aboard Cessna 182 and Piper PA-32
But the reputation for reliability and performance
models were in the works and may be available soon.
King-branded avionics earned over the years hasn't
BendixKing has set the retail price of the AeroCruze
abated, even as other manufacturers may offer
100 at $5,500, while the experimental-only xCruze
flashier products. Due perhaps
100 is available for $2,600.
to customer loyalty, brand-name
The two new product lines will
familiarity and/or downright
join BendixKing's AeroCruze
contrariness, today's BendixKing
230 touch-screen autopilot,
remains a major force in the
announced in 2018.
BENDIXKING'S
worldwide avionics market. And,
PARTNERSHIPS WITH
thanks to some new partnerships
Engine monitors
AVIDYNE, JPI AND
BendixKing announced at the
J.P. Instruments, meanwhile,
TRUTRAK
CERTAINLY
AEA's annual convention, the
might be the poster-child
company is working to plug those
example of an avionics
AREN'T THE FIRST
gaps in the autopilot, engine
manufacturer occupying a wellTIME AVIONICS
monitor and navigation product
defined market niche. Known
MANUFACTURERS
arenas.
for its EDM line of engine
HAVE TEAMED UP TO
monitors for piston singles and
OFFER SOMETHING
Autopilots
twins, JPI offers a wide range of
One of BendixKing's new
modern devices and instruments
MADE BY ONE
partnerships is with TruTrak
that - along with those of
COMPANY WITH A
Flight Systems, well-known as
other manufacturers - have
SECOND
COMPANY'S
an innovator in autopilots aboard
helped revolutionize how pilots
BRAND ON IT.
experimental and light-sport
manage those sometimes-finicky
airplanes. Since it was founded
powerplants. Under its new
in 1999, TruTrak has delivered
partnership with J.P. Instruments,
more than 10,000 autopilot
BendixKing will be offering
systems and, recently, its Vizion
three engine monitor options: the
digital autopilot product line has been approved by
AeroPoint 200 for piston singles, the AeroPoint 300
the Federal Aviation Administration for use aboard
for twins and the xPoint 100 for experimental, lightcertified airplanes, allowing TruTrak to expand its
sport and other noncertified aircraft.
market even further. Under its new partnership with
Both the AeroPoint 200 and 300 offer the same basic
BendixKing, TruTrak's Vizion products will be
features. For example, both are approved as primary
marketed as the AeroCruze 100 for certified airplanes
engine instrumentation and use a VGA-quality display.
and the xCruze 100 for experimentals.
Both also come standard with recording capability for
Both the AeroCruze 100 and xCruze 100 are
all engine parameters, and with algorithms for richavailable in three different form factors: 2-inch round
of-peak exhaust gas temperature mixture settings and
and 3-inch round, plus as a rectangular "flat-pack" for
lean-of-peak EGT. When wired to an appropriate GPS
installation in a conventional avionics stack. Standard
navigator, the stored data can include the aircraft's
features for all of BendixKing's new autopilots include
Continued on following page
two servos, a built-in ground track directional gyro,
avionics news

july

2019

Avionics News July 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News July 2019