Dynon Avionics unveiled a wave of new products and initiatives at AirVenture Oshkosh 2015, led by a 2020-compliant ADS-B Out solution.
The new SV-GPS-2020 GPS Receiver/Antenna from Dynon lets SkyView and Advanced AF-5000 series customers add a 2020-compliant GPS position source for ADS-B Out for $590. As a drop-in replacement for the existing SV-GPS-250 receiver, owners of existing systems do not need to run any additional wires, coax, or install any new boxes in their aircraft, according to company officials.
When combined with Dynon’s SV-XPNDR-261 Mode-S transponder, SkyView and Advanced Flight Systems customers meet all the transponder and ADS-B Out requirements for $2,790. Pilots can also add the SV-ADSB-470 Traffic and Weather Receiver for the best-possible situational awareness in their aircraft.
Dynon also unveiled system software updates at this week’s AirVenture.
SkyView 13.0 System Software debuts support for additional languages in SkyView. German and French language packs that transform SkyView’s on-screen interface will be free downloads from the Dynon website.
SkyView 13.0 also brings support for additional en-route charts for customers outside of the US. At release, partners offering charts include PocketFMS (Europe), OzRunways (Australia/New Zealand) and AvPlan EFB (Australia/New Zealand).
SkyView’s synthetic vision adds predictive terrain alerts that dynamically shade terrain in yellow or red based on the aircraft’s projected flight path. And pilots who fly behind the Rotax 912 iS powerplant gain new information, including throttle position, cold start assistance, and Eco/Power mode indications. SkyView 13.0 will be available shortly after Oshkosh.
Advanced Flight Systems’ new 12.0 system software for the AF-5000 series has Inset Windows that allow pilots to place small windows alongside their PFD displays. Available Inset Windows include Map, Traffic, Flight Plan, Profile View, G-Meter, and Video.
Another feature enhancement is an improved flight planning interface that coordinates and integrates with the Avidyne IFD540 and IFD440 navigators. AF-5000 series products also gain support for Charts, Sectionals, Flight Guide Airport diagrams provided by Seattle Avionics for $99 a year.
Finally, version 12.0 supports the Wi-Fi Adapter and flight plan transfer capability with ForeFlight Mobile. AF-5000 series 12.0 software is available now.
Two complementary programs from Dynon provide avionics solutions for experimental aircraft homebuilders.
For homebuilders who revel in the details, the new Dynon Builder Support Team’s goal is to guide pilots from “first dream to first flight” by eliminating obstacles that builders face as they create their dream panel, company officials noted. Debuting at Oshkosh 2015 are the first wave of accessory products, including an Autopilot Level Button, Dual ADAHRS Mounting Kit, Pitot/Static/AOA Pneumatic Installation Kit, Panel Module Faceplate Blank, ADS-B Harness, Transponder Harness, and Transponder and ADS-B Antennas.
For those who would rather leave their whole panel to the experts, Dynon’s Advanced Flight Systems division offers the Quick Panel System. Each Quick Panel is a fully-engineered and integrated panel of avionics that is professionally wired, configured, tested and ready to install.
Quick Panels include all switches and harnesses, which all connect through the exclusive Advanced Control Module.
Another valiant try by Dynon, but likely costing many many thousands more than the $590 claimed, once all the needed elements are all assembled and installed. Sadly, even then it was $590, it is still completely inadequate or ineffective for solving NextGen’s real problem for GA. The fact remains any claim of anything like a $590 ADS-B solution here is entirely misleading, especially when you consider the full costs of this package, as well as the fact that it fundamentally won’t work to solve NextGen’s triad C-N-S problem for GA. Anything close to a potentially successful Nextgen solution that assures continued or improved GA airspace access, as well as ANSP and user cost containment, does NOT equal just installing ADS-B, regardless of the assertions of either FAA, installers, or Avionics vendors. So this package is just one more dead end misleading “boat anchor” set of obsolete avionics that will ultimately need to be partially if not even completely junked and replaced, to satisfy any real NextGen solution, addressing using the needed dynamic automated 3D and 4D RNP trajectory based separation, that is necessary for GA and UAVs and military and air transport users to have any hope whatsoever of having effective affordable separation service and shared airspace use in the future. Nice try Dynon, but still no solution.