REFLECTOR:Re: EFIS systems

[Chuck Jensen]

Wayne,

Thanks for the info.  From the comments of many on this site, I did further
web investigation.  It seems a number of your points are obviously well
taken and others are interesting propositions.  

The electronic instrumentation companies seem to be going through the
standard bell curve for innovation.  Initially one or two are doing
something.  Then, beit through the market or improvements in technology, it
catches fire and 20 or 30 start doing it.  Then it all shakes out and we end
up with 4 or 5 survivors in the business.  

Since no one wants a dead-ender, the trick is picking the survivors.  Big is
a good survival characteristic, but not always (can you say, Enron and
Arthur Anderson).  Best is helpful but sometimes only tangentially related
to survival.  Cheapest is certainly not a signal of success, unless it truly
represents the lower overhead of a small company and not the quality of the
product or desperation.

As much as I'd like to do something now, maybe I'll wait a bit to see which
heads bob to the surface.  But I will take you up on the offer to look at
your plane.  I'm headed that way in a couple months and will check with you
first to see what the status of things are.  All the info from everyone is
much appreciated, even if it doesn't making the decision-making process any
easier.

Chuck

-----Original Message-----
From: reflector-admin@tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-admin@tvbf.org]On
Behalf Of Wayne Lanza
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2003 7:55 PM
To: reflector@tvbf.org
Subject: REFLECTOR:Re: EFIS systems


Hello to All,
  As Andy has noted, I do monitor the reflector and yes I have some very 
cool
EFIS toys. The guys at Velocity and myself have amassed a good bit of 
useful
experience regarding many of the EFIS systems. I represent Digifly for 
the U.S.
and am very familiar with the Blue Mountain as well as the UPS-AT and 
Garmin
equipment. I like the UPS-AT MX20 as an MFD solution but it doesn't 
offer engine
and flight data displays. The same goes for the Garmin but at a higher 
cost...

  The Blue Mountain system is doing well for us with the new "Dash-5" 
airplane.
I have installed a triple Digifly fms100 system in my Velocity that 
includes engine,
moving map, GPS, and complete flight display with AHRS. The system from
Grand Rapids Technology is not yet ready but should mature into a nice 
unit.

  The Dynon has some inherent design problems, it's short term stability 
is OK but
will precess in short order and it is sensitive to lateral 'G' forces. 
It is rate gyro
based and lacks the necessary magnetometer functions for long term 
stability.
It also has some maximum roll rate issues that will cause it to tumble. 
I watched
it roll while sitting still on the table at Sun-N-Fun - Not good.

  The AHRS solution used by Digifly and Blue Mountain are very similar. 
They
will not and can not precess nor be tumbled. The worst case recovery 
time from
a VIOLENT maneuver with the Digifly is 1 second or less, not bad 
considering
this is simulated at 5 'G's' or so...

  There are many features available in the various systems, currently 
the best
bang for buck is the Digifly. The only other viable system is the Blue 
Mountain,
beyond this the price goes up dramatically.

  Do yourself a favor and go for a flight in an aircraft that is 
equipped with an EFIS.
In many cases the EFIS is cheaper than or competitive with mechanical 
instruments
and will be far more reliable. There are EFIS manufacturers coming out 
of the wood
work, some will make it most won't. Blue Mountain is a good company, 
I'd expect to
see them around for a while. Digifly (an old Italian company) has 
supplied EFIS
systems for over 15 years. They were flying color GPS moving maps with 
engine
data about 10 years ago in their ultra lights, while we were still 
using a boat Loran!!

  My Velocity (N81VA - aka "Big Orange") should be back in the air in a 
month. If you
can make it to the factory, I'll gladly demo flight my system. Other 
than that we are
preparing a CD that will show actual operations in flight. It will be a 
comprehensive
presentation and a great resource to our customers. It will be a while 
coming but
I will be sure to announce availability via the reflector and the web 
site.

Regards to All,
Wayne Lanza
Composite Design, Inc.

visit our web site at-  http://www.CompositeDesignInc.com
________________________________________________________________



On Wednesday, August 27, 2003, at 10:39 AM, Andy Millin wrote:

> Chuck,
>
> I'm not flying and haven't purchased yet.  I have been looking at the 
> cool
> new stuff.
>
> I very much like the stuff from Grand Rapids Technologies,
> http://www.grtavionics.com/
>
> Also, Wayne Lanza had some very cool toys at OSH.  I would speak with 
> him.
> I believe he might even be monitoring the reflector.
>
> Andy
>
>>  -----Original Message-----
>> From: 	reflector-admin@tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-admin@tvbf.org]
>> On Behalf Of Chuck Jensen
>> Sent:	Wednesday, August 27, 2003 11:04 AM
>> To:	'reflector@tvbf.org'
>> Subject:	Glass Panel
>>
>> Since some are flying and many are building, and everybody's paying
>> attention to the new eInstrumentation, I was interested in thoughts on
>> glass display for the Velo.   The local Av shop is big on a Dynon 
>> unit for
>> electric Horizon, altimeter,
>> airspeed, and heading indicator.  Info at www.dynondevelopment.com.
>>
>> Is there better equipment, value or future compatibility out there?
>> Blue Mountain?    UPSat?
>>
>>  I'd prefer to avoid Dean's situation wherein a single piece of 
>> equipment
>> is installed, then it turns out it won't interface with anything else 
>> and
>> has to be swapped out in order to upgrade other things.  Perhaps these
>> displays are pretty much independent whereas the vor/gps/com/ap all 
>> ought'
>> ta work together.
>>
>> Chuck
>>
> <winmail.dat>

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