---------------------------------------------------------- Lightning-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Mon 05/28/07: 7 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 06:51 AM - EFIS (Jim Langley) 2. 08:49 AM - Re: EFIS (dbell) 3. 09:02 PM - Re: EFIS (N1BZRich@AOL.COM) 4. 09:34 PM - Re: Lightning- Canopy // Going Topless (Charles Dewey) 5. 10:13 PM - Re: Re: Lightning- Canopy // Going Topless (N1BZRich@AOL.COM) 6. 10:37 PM - Re: EFIS (Peter and Jan Disher) 7. 11:47 PM - sunglasses with LCD (steve) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 06:51:24 AM PST US From: "Jim Langley" Subject: Lightning-List: EFIS I am working on my panel design at this point and am trying to decide on a EFIS. The Dynon is inexpensive and the company seems to have the right mentality as far as software updates. I do remember reading on this list that some people were not happy with the sluggish updates on the screen? In looking at GRT, they are quite expensive for what they provide. I also came across a company Advanced Flight Systems. They have a EFIS/Combo display that looks good. Have any of you had any experience with them? Jim! ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 08:49:15 AM PST US Subject: Lightning-List: Re: EFIS From: "dbell" I'm flying two planes, each with a Dynon and Grand Rapids (4000 and 6000). Very happy with the first plane / setup and decided to duplicate it on the 2nd plane. These instruments have been 100% reliable for me and have great response. I have also received excellent support when questions arose. No disappointments here. Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=115209#115209 ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 09:02:43 PM PST US From: N1BZRich@AOL.COM Subject: Re: Lightning-List: EFIS Jim, I have two GRTs in my airplane, so I am biased, but I have flown two airplanes with the Dynon - one was the small version and the other was the large EFIS. I have about ten hours behind the large screen EFIS, as it is in the Zenith Zodiac XL that our EAA chapter built and I put the first ten hours on that airplane. Having said that, the large screen Dynon does not seem sluggish in the air as the smaller one did. So that is a good thing. (Note, none of the four or so airplanes I have flown with the GRTs have ever seemed sluggish.) Here is a run down on my thoughts on the two: -The two Dynons that I flew behind do not seem to have near the bright colors (and not as many colors) that I see on the GRTs. -The GRTs don't seem to fade in bright sun near as much as the Dynon. -When looking cross cockpit, it is easy to see the GRT, not so the Dynon - it is kind of faded. However, one person that flew in my airplane had a hard time seeing the screens. We later found out he had strong UV sunglasses. Did that make a difference? I don't know, but of the 75 plus people that I have flown in 31BZ, he is the only one that said he had a hard time seeing the GRT displays. -The Dynon does not have near the "fun things" that my GRTs do - built in GPS, constant wind information hi-way in the sky steering to a synthetic approach (that one is super), terrain and tower warning, color coded terrain map, density altitude, G meter, OAT, TAS, ground speed, it talks to the auto pilot for steering to a way point, etc. etc. The ability to display all engine numbers graphically. The ability to split screen with flight instruments and several different map modes or engine numbers. Etc. etc. -For an extra $1500 you can also get XM weather and radio on the GRT - so you don't need to buy a Garmin 396 or 496 for something over $2000. And the GRT has a bigger screen than the Garmin. -The Dynon I have been using does have TAS, OAT, G meter and density altitude, but you can not display all at the same time. Either that or I don't know how to get all the info to display at the same time. -The Dynon does have lots of other things that I think is basically "useless". But then maybe some people want their EFIS to tell them the phonetic alphabet, or what the tower light signals mean, etc. As to the Advanced Flight Systems, I have only seen it in advertisements. It sounds good. However, I know nothing about the company and how long they have been around. Please forgive me if it seems that I am running down the Dynon, but I am just calling it like I see it. I know the GRT costs more, but you get so much more. Also, there is now the Sport version of the GRT which is less. So, read up on what is available, what each system costs, fly behind both if you can, and look at each at OSH. Decide on what features are important and do your cost analysis. That is what I did, and decided on the GRT. Your mileage may vary. Blue Skies, Buz ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 09:34:19 PM PST US From: Charles Dewey Subject: Lightning-List: Re: Lightning- Canopy // Going Topless Buzz, or anyone else out there: is it possible to fly the Lightning without the Canopy? Just curious, as I thought it might be fun to get some wind on the noggin for a quick spin around the pasture! Charles --- N1BZRich@aol.com wrote: > Jim, > I have two GRTs in my airplane, so I am biased, > but I have flown two > airplanes with the Dynon - one was the small version > and the other was the large > EFIS. I have about ten hours behind the large > screen EFIS, as it is in the > Zenith Zodiac XL that our EAA chapter built and I > put the first ten hours on > that airplane. Having said that, the large screen > Dynon does not seem > sluggish in the air as the smaller one did. So > that is a good thing. (Note, none > of the four or so airplanes I have flown with the > GRTs have ever seemed > sluggish.) > Here is a run down on my thoughts on the two: > -The two Dynons that I flew behind do not seem to > have near the bright > colors (and not as many colors) that I see on the > GRTs. > -The GRTs don't seem to fade in bright sun near as > much as the Dynon. > -When looking cross cockpit, it is easy to see the > GRT, not so the Dynon - > it is kind of faded. However, one person that flew > in my airplane had a hard > time seeing the screens. We later found out he had > strong UV sunglasses. > Did that make a difference? I don't know, but of > the 75 plus people that I > have flown in 31BZ, he is the only one that said he > had a hard time seeing the > GRT displays. > -The Dynon does not have near the "fun things" that > my GRTs do - built in > GPS, constant wind information hi-way in the sky > steering to a synthetic > approach (that one is super), terrain and tower > warning, color coded terrain map, > density altitude, G meter, OAT, TAS, ground speed, > it talks to the auto pilot > for steering to a way point, etc. etc. The ability > to display all engine > numbers graphically. The ability to split screen > with flight instruments and > several different map modes or engine numbers. Etc. > etc. > -For an extra $1500 you can also get XM weather and > radio on the GRT - so > you don't need to buy a Garmin 396 or 496 for > something over $2000. And the > GRT has a bigger screen than the Garmin. > -The Dynon I have been using does have TAS, OAT, G > meter and density > altitude, but you can not display all at the same > time. Either that or I don't know > how to get all the info to display at the same > time. > -The Dynon does have lots of other things that I > think is basically > "useless". But then maybe some people want their > EFIS to tell them the phonetic > alphabet, or what the tower light signals mean, etc. > > As to the Advanced Flight Systems, I have only > seen it in > advertisements. It sounds good. However, I know > nothing about the company and how long > they have been around. > Please forgive me if it seems that I am running > down the Dynon, but I am > just calling it like I see it. I know the GRT > costs more, but you get so > much more. Also, there is now the Sport version of > the GRT which is less. So, > read up on what is available, what each system > costs, fly behind both if you > can, and look at each at OSH. Decide on what > features are important and do > your cost analysis. That is what I did, and > decided on the GRT. Your > mileage may vary. > Blue Skies, > Buz > > > > ************************************** See what's > free at http://www.aol.com. > http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/webhosting ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 10:13:20 PM PST US From: N1BZRich@AOL.COM Subject: Re: Lightning-List: Re: Lightning- Canopy // Going Topless In a message dated 5/29/2007 12:35:33 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, cdewey6969@yahoo.com writes: is it possible to fly the Lightning without the Canopy? Hi Charles, Possible? Maybe, but certainly not practicable. And I would not want to be the one to try it. The Lightning has a one piece "molded to shape" canopy meaning it is the windscreen and the blended shape that completes the low drag fuselage. Without it in place the drag curve would be tremendous and the baggage compartment would act like a drag chute. I suppose one could fashion the canopy with an opening over your head to get that "open cockpit" feeling, but you would have to make the rest of the canopy shape much thicker in order to retain the rigidity. You would lose lots of speed. Some really fast ocean race boats use canopies off of F-16s and some of those have openings above the crews heads to aid egress in case of roll overs. But remember these boats generally run around 100 or less during a race. If you are looking for the "open cockpit" experience, there are lots of other experimental and store bought airplanes out there to chose from. I had an open cockpit single seat Pitts Special (N1BZ) for 29 years and it was one of the most fun airplanes I have ever flown. Just sold it a year ago this month. After finishing N31BZ, the Pitts just wasn't getting used as much as it should have been, so I sold it. But I sure do miss it. Blue Skies, Buz ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 10:37:16 PM PST US From: "Peter and Jan Disher" Subject: Re: Lightning-List: EFIS Hi Buz, I would just like to say Buz, how much I've appreciated and enjoyed all yours and Brian W. comments and evaluations on the Lightning a/c over the past many months on matronics. Its just now i'm trying to decide what to put in my instrument panel and do appreciate your note to Jim. I am going to Oshkosh in July and will take your advice and will have a good look before I buy. If your going to OSH I would certinly like to catch up with you guys. Thanks again and keep up your very constructive reporting. Regards. Peter Disher Hallidays Point NSW 2430 AUSTRALIA ----- Original Message ----- From: N1BZRich@aol.com To: lightning-list@matronics.com Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 2:02 PM Subject: Re: Lightning-List: EFIS Jim, I have two GRTs in my airplane, so I am biased, but I have flown two airplanes with the Dynon - one was the small version and the other was the large EFIS. I have about ten hours behind the large screen EFIS, as it is in the Zenith Zodiac XL that our EAA chapter built and I put the first ten hours on that airplane. Having said that, the large screen Dynon does not seem sluggish in the air as the smaller one did. So that is a good thing. (Note, none of the four or so airplanes I have flown with the GRTs have ever seemed sluggish.) Here is a run down on my thoughts on the two: -The two Dynons that I flew behind do not seem to have near the bright colors (and not as many colors) that I see on the GRTs. -The GRTs don't seem to fade in bright sun near as much as the Dynon. -When looking cross cockpit, it is easy to see the GRT, not so the Dynon - it is kind of faded. However, one person that flew in my airplane had a hard time seeing the screens. We later found out he had strong UV sunglasses. Did that make a difference? I don't know, but of the 75 plus people that I have flown in 31BZ, he is the only one that said he had a hard time seeing the GRT displays. -The Dynon does not have near the "fun things" that my GRTs do - built in GPS, constant wind information hi-way in the sky steering to a synthetic approach (that one is super), terrain and tower warning, color coded terrain map, density altitude, G meter, OAT, TAS, ground speed, it talks to the auto pilot for steering to a way point, etc. etc. The ability to display all engine numbers graphically. The ability to split screen with flight instruments and several different map modes or engine numbers. Etc. etc. -For an extra $1500 you can also get XM weather and radio on the GRT - so you don't need to buy a Garmin 396 or 496 for something over $2000. And the GRT has a bigger screen than the Garmin. -The Dynon I have been using does have TAS, OAT, G meter and density altitude, but you can not display all at the same time. Either that or I don't know how to get all the info to display at the same time. -The Dynon does have lots of other things that I think is basically "useless". But then maybe some people want their EFIS to tell them the phonetic alphabet, or what the tower light signals mean, etc. As to the Advanced Flight Systems, I have only seen it in advertisements. It sounds good. However, I know nothing about the company and how long they have been around. Please forgive me if it seems that I am running down the Dynon, but I am just calling it like I see it. I know the GRT costs more, but you get so much more. Also, there is now the Sport version of the GRT which is less. So, read up on what is available, what each system costs, fly behind both if you can, and look at each at OSH. Decide on what features are important and do your cost analysis. That is what I did, and decided on the GRT. Your mileage may vary. Blue Skies, Buz ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- See what's free at AOL.com. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- 28/05/2007 11:40 AM ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 11:47:06 PM PST US From: "steve" Subject: Lightning-List: sunglasses with LCD Hi guys, Just a note regarding Polarised sunglasses and LCD screens. Quite often if you tilt your head from side to side whilst wearing polarized sunglasses it will make the LCD screen come into view either better or worse (try it on an LCD clock/radio display etc.) Having said that, I did do a few hours last year behind a G1000 glass cockpit and don't remember having any issues with not being able to see them whilst wearing pol. sunglasses. Oh, Charles.. not quite the same but there was an incident in Australia a few years ago where a 'similar styled' canopy came off an aircraft in flight (150kts) and I believe the turbulent airflow hitting the blocked off baggage area put the aircraft into a spin. Thankfully, the pilot recovered and made a forced landing. Not sure anyone would want to try flying it without a canopy. Regards, Steve ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message lightning-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Lightning-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/lightning-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/lightning-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.