Avidyne Corp. has introduced the IFD440 FMS/GPS/NAV/COM system with touch screen user interface, adding to its line of plug-and-play avionics.
As a plug-and-play replacement for legacy GNS430-series navigators, the IFD440 can reduce installation cost and downtime for customers looking to add touch screen, or who are upgrading their aircraft to meet the higher-precision requirements for Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems/Localizer Performance Vertical Guidance (SBAS/LPV) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), company officials said.
Avidyne previously announced a full stack of plug-and-play panel-mounted avionics, including the larger-screen IFD540 FMS/GPS/NAV/COM, the AMX240 Audio Panel, the AXP340 Mode S ADS-B Transponder, and the DFC90 digital Autopilot with Envelope Protection (EP) and Envelope Alerting (EA). The IFD440 and IFD540 are based on Avidyne’s Entegra Release 9 flight management system (FMS).
“After a successful launch of our IFD540, this announcement of the IFD440 is really the next logical step in the rollout of our full suite of plug-and-play avionics,” said Patrick Herguth, Avidyne’s Chief Operating Officer. “We heard from many aircraft owners who really like the functionality of the IFD540 but were asking for a smaller second system due to panel space.”
The IFD440, in a dual-system installation with another IFD440 or together with the larger IFD540, leverages Avidyne’s Byteflight data bus architecture for added inter-operability and ‘cross-sync’ functionality, enhancing ease of use, redundancy, and safety, company officials said.
Dual IFDX40s allow a pilot to enter a flight plan using the QWERTY keyboard on one of the touch-screen units, while simultaneously viewing a synchronized moving map on the other. In addition, flight plans stored or edited in one unit can be automatically synchronized to the other unit and vice versa.
The IFD440 has a retail price of $14,995 including tray and installation kit, and the IFD540 has a retail price of $16,995 including tray and installation kit. The 16 Watt transmit power upgrade is $4,995 and is available for 28vdc installations only. The integrated TAWS-B option for the IFD540 is an additional $7,995.
The IFD540 is expected to be available in the first half of 2013 followed by the IFD440 at the end of 2013.
For more information: Avidyne.com
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Does anyone else beside me look at the pictures and think, “how cool, another avionics addition that will provide more options and bring prices into the realm of reality!” ? I quickly scanned through the article to catch a glimpse of the prices…. $15,000 to $17,000. I am building an RV-7A and while I have a little way to go, I am going to have a tough time saving up to add any super-cool avionics at this rate. Looks like steam guages and old Narcos for me. I still find it hard to believe that I can buy a really nice truck with tons more technology for only a few thousand more than I can buy one GPS/Nav-Com unit. Somehow Adventure Pilot and a few other companies have managed to be realistic with the prices of some pretty robust products, heck, I can even pay a little more and put it in my truck and use it for road navigation, oh, and I can watch movies on it.
Avidyne knows that only nuts are flying nowadays so they think they can charge ridiculous prices. On the other hand they may have another reason. Money laundering perhaps?