Aspen Avionics introduced several new features for its Evolution E5 electronic flight instrument (EFI) on Thursday. New additions to the E5 include a “traditional” horizontal situation indicator (HSI), outside air temperature, true airspeed, wind direction and speed and WAAS GPS mode annunciations. The company says current E5 owners will be able to update their displays to add the new features.
“We replaced the CDI with a traditional HSI and added the additional optional software features in this latest E5 release,” said Aspen Vice President of Sales and Customer Support Mark Ferrari. “This affordable and highly capable glass flight display offers an economic means for aircraft owners to remove outdated and high-maintenance vacuum systems and air-driven gyros for the approximate cost of steam gauge overhaul.”
As previously reported by AVweb, Aspen introduced the Evolution E5 EFI in 2018. Cost for the unit is $4,995. The outside air temperature, true airspeed, wind direction and speed and WAAS GPS mode annunciation features are optional and come with a $495 price tag. According to Aspen, new E5 displays will begin shipping with the HSI feature immediately.
I don’t quite understand what is being said here. If the “traditional” HSI is a new feature, what kind of HSI did it have before? What makes the new one traditional? Is the image in the article showing the new display or the previous display? Maybe a side-by-side of the old and new display formats would do the trick.
https://youtu.be/uwc729KbjCI
Prior to the update it was a DG. That being said, Aspen, in the video above, called it a “non” traditional HSI. Probably because it did provide course guidance across the bottom of the case as apposed to a course needle.
Having said that, I believe they for hung up on “traditional” to Differentiate between their “non” traditional.
It is now and HSI vs a DG. That keeps or simple.
In these days of moving maps and highway-in-the-sky (HITS) features on attitude indicators, the traditional HSI display format seems antiquated.
Aspen is adding the features in order to compete with the Garmin G5. However, in so doing, they are providing most of the features of the Pro 1000 MAX for about half the price. Yars is correct that, compared to a Garmin G 1000, or even the G3X or Dynon D10, an HSI display seems pretty weak. Avidyne has a big challenge to remain relevant in the bold new world of big-screen avionics.
Oops, meant to say Aspen, not Avidyne, has a big challenge. So much for proofreading!