Spring 2007 Firmware Update Announced
April 17, 2007
If you're not going to Sun 'N Fun this year, here is a preview of the latest firmware updates that Dynon Avionics will be releasing in June:
NEW EFIS FEATURES
Modern Style EFIS Display
Dynon Avionics has completely rethought and modernized the way its EFIS is presented. This redesign yields a completely redesigned EFIS display. This yields a tighter, more integrated instrument scan that improves situational awareness while lowering mental workload.
The modern style includes new:
VSI – now available as an analog tape. It also serves as a 6-second trend indicator when 0-2000 fpm scaling is selected.
Repositioned Airspeed and Altitude Tapes with scrolling digital readouts - we’ve moved the digital airspeed and altitude digital readouts to the zero point of the tapes to tighten your instrument scan. These numbers now scroll like an odometer as well, which provides quick contextual cues about how quickly values are changing.
Graphical Trend Indicators run alongside the airspeed, altitude, and heading tapes to provide an instantaneous reading of where the aircraft will be in the next 6 seconds at the current rates of change.
Digital Heading Readout - positioned in the center of the heading tape, provides an exact magnetic heading, quickening the acquisition of this data and improving displayed precision.
Wind Indicator displays the calculated direction and velocity of the current wind when an EFIS or FlightDEK is equipped with an OAT and connected to an external GPS device.
CDI and Glide Slope indicators are available right on the main display, not just the HSI page, when slaved from an external NAV or GPS source.
Improved Turn Rate Indicator presents a turn rate bar that continues to extend linearly beyond the two-minute turn mark in each direction. Previously, this bar dynamically rescaled itself. Additionally, the bar and heading tapes have been rescaled and aligned so that turn rate also serves as a 6-second heading trend.
New AOA Indicator dynamically transforms into a down arrow to show you when to “push over” as your critical AOA (stall) approaches.
Better Bugs – new heading, airspeed, and altitude bugs fit together with their respective value pointers to clearly show when you have “captured” the target flight parameter.
For pilots that prefer the classic style, it is preserved as an option in the setup menu.
For pilots that prefer the classic style, it is preserved as an option in the setup menu.
More New EFIS Features.......
Selectable Roll Indicator – our classic roll indicator has been a “sky pointer”, which is what most jet EFISs employ, but is opposite to how many mechanical attitude indicators and newer GA EFISs work. Pilots can now choose between roll indicators that point to the sky or in the direction of roll. The roll scale now also has marks at the more standard 10, 20, 30, 45, and 60 degree positions.
Altitude Alerter generates an audible alarm (when connected to your intercom/audio panel) and on-screen visual alert. This feature is linked to and set via the altitude bug.
Field Elevation Memory – the EFIS now remembers the last indicated altitude when shut down. At next power up, this altitude is preserved - and the baro setting automatically adjusted - to minimize the baro adjustment change needed.
Lower Airspeed Threshold - to better accommodate light sport and STOL aircraft, airspeed now comes alive at 20 knots on the way up, and stays alive until 15 knots on the way down.
Improved Pitch Lines include hooked pointers at each end which always point to the horizon, improving attitude awareness.
Tach/Map Info Item can display the RPM and manifold values in either of the EFIS page info item positions on a FlightDEK-D180 or whenever an EFIS is connected to a Dynon EMS or FlightDEK-D180.
GPS Ground Track can be displayed as an indicator on the heading tape when connected to an external GPS device.
Improved HSI display – we have listened to pilot feedback on the first release of the HSI and improved the way things look in lots of small, subtle ways that improve usability.
Better GPS Support for use with the HSI, including the popular Lowrance AirMap models.
NEW EMS FEATURES
Data Logging – the EMS can now log data internally for later retrieval and analysis. Up to 3500 records can be stored with each record containing all EMS sensors plus the Hobbs Time and Tach Time. Pilots can enable or disable the data logging function and store data in 1, 10 or 60 second intervals. Pilots can manually start and stop the logging function to capture specific flight conditions of interest, and also manually mark points in time to take a closer look at.
% Power – Unlike many other implementations of this feature, our % power reading is not an estimate. It uses all of the data that engine manufacturers publish in their power charts, including altitude. Because of the complexity of doing this calculation correctly, this powerful feature requires an EFIS and EMS (or a FlightDEK-D180), OAT, and fuel flow sensor. It will only initially be available for the following engines: Lycoming O/IO-320, Lycoming O/IO-540, Lycoming O/IO-360, Continental IO-520, Continental IO-550.
Peak Condition Detection informs the pilot whether the engine is rich or lean of peak whenever the EMS is operating in Lean Mode. This feature requires a fuel flow sender.
Fuel Tank Fill Autodetect automatically notices if the fuel level has increased in any of the fuel tanks, which in turn will prompt the pilot to adjust the flow-based fuel computer state (when equipped with the fuel flow sender).
Analog Fuel Flow Dial – by popular request, the fuel pressure gauge on the main EMS display has been exchanged with fuel flow. Fuel pressure is also available as an info bar.
Minimum Red Line for Tach and Oil Temperature – for engines that have such minimums (like the Rotax 912)