|
It sounds like there may be quite a few builders
out there who received their Chelton (or should I say D2A?) IDUs but don't
yet have any of the Pinpoint hardware. If any of you should decide
you don't want to wait on Pinpoint there are undoubtedly a number of
options open to you, none of them cheap. Here's one you may want to think
about.
You can switch to a Crossbow Nav42x AHRS, but then
you'll need an ADC. Of course you can also purchase an ADC. Another
option I would seriously consider, especially if you're planning on a dedicated
engine monitor, is the AF3400 Combination System from Advanced Flight Systems.
The AF3400 is the same size as the AF2500 engine monitor and includes all of its
features, plus better performance (notably faster screen updates). In
addition the combination system also provides an EFIS function with integrated
AHRS, ADC, and remote mounted magnetometer. The AF3400 can output ADC and
heading information to the Chelton IDUs. So, as near as I can tell, for
about the same cost as a standalone ADC you can have add a backup EFIS
whose ADC also works with the Chelton. I believe a battery backup option is also
available. Of course you'd most likely still want backup airspeed and
altitude instruments. As I said, other options are available I just
thought this one looked interesting. And no, I am not associated with AFS
other than its founder, Rob Hickman, belongs to the same EAA chapter that I
do.
Now hopefully disaster recovery won't be necessary
and the Pinpoint product flood gates will open and heart warming quantities of
GADAHRS and MSUs will start showing up at your local avionics shops and panel
builders. You can always hope. Personally I'm hoping the Tooth Fairy
will bring me a blueprinted engine from Performance Engines for my Legacy.
Yeah, I'd give up some teeth for that.
Tom Gourley
|