Hello everyone!

I've been looking into modernizing my panel a bit, and the aspen avionics are looking simply brilliant for the job! They feature anything a man could possibly want (anything ranging from enhanced vision, terrain to weather), but I have a couple of questions relating to their integration with everything else.

From what I've figured out one can hook up two GPS's to them (probably a set GNS430s in my case) and two nav radios. One can then select amongst the various data sources to have different information displayed on the "virtual" RMI which is located on the bottom of one of the Aspen displays.

My only question is about an ILS, can one hook that up to the aspen displays as well and have the PFD display glideslope and localizer queues?

Thanks a lot!

Arthur

I think if you look at the Aspen website, it'll answer your questions. Essentially if you go for just one unit, it will replace your AI and DG, and if you go for the upgrade to the single unit (the Pro version), instead of just a DG, you'll have an electronic HSI (not RMI), which theoretically could be driven by either of the 430s. Then it's almost the sky's the limit as to how fancy you want to get (or perhaps the limit is your wallet--these things may be less expensive than Brand G, but they're by no means give-aways).

Cary

rthur wrote:Hello everyone!

I've been looking into modernizing my panel a bit, and the aspen avionics are looking simply brilliant for the job! They feature anything a man could possibly want (anything ranging from enhanced vision, terrain to weather), but I have a couple of questions relating to their integration with everything else.

From what I've figured out one can hook up two GPS's to them (probably a set GNS430s in my case) and two nav radios. One can then select amongst the various data sources to have different information displayed on the "virtual" RMI which is located on the bottom of one of the Aspen displays.

My only question is about an ILS, can one hook that up to the aspen displays as well and have the PFD display glideslope and localizer queues?

Thanks a lot!

Arthur

Just installed an Aspen a couple months ago. In addition to the Aspen Pro I installed a 530W, STEC 30 and adigital RC Allen attitude indicator. We also removed the vacuum system so I am now all electric. The link to the pic below shows me being vectored for an ILS. On the 796 you can see where I am on the approach plate. The number 2 Nav is hooked to both the external CDI as well as the Aspen. On the bottom of the Aspen attitude indicator you see the left/right CDI and when the glideslope comes in that will show immediately to the left of the altitude tape. They are also both shown on the HSI below. The three buttons on the bottom of the unit select what shows up on the HSI.

Arthur, PM me with your email and I can send you the Aspen install manual as a PDF. There are a multitude of options and many ways to program the unit's setup. More modern Navs, like Garmin 430's, 650's and such have the ARINC 429 bus (kind of the USB of avionics). So a lot of data can be put in the display. If you have older Nav units, you can only interface one to the Aspen with the supplied ACU (analog converter unit). If you have two older analog only Navs, then you need ACU2 to interface them. It will also integrate your ADF, should you still have one and a Radar Altimeter into the display.

If you add the Aspen MFD to the mix, i.e. two tubes, then you can eliminate all your gauges except the airspeed and backup altimeter. Synthetic vision requires another box and a subscription. You can also integrate a WX500 Stormscope and Nextrad if you want by adding even more boxes.

Now at a certain point, you can just save your money and hire an escort/pilot, a really good looking one, to fly you plane and perform other tasks not requiring electronics.

Let me say that I love the aspen unit in my work aircraft, when it works. It has been approximately two years since we installed the aspen and the 430 in our work T206 and we have had to replace it eight times, not counting the ordinary updating and small adjustments. We have installed the synthetic vision as well and it really helps for situational awareness when flying instrument approaches, but for VFR flying in mountainous terrain it is nothing short of annoying. We were told by aspen that the units are failing at a higher rate in our aircraft due to the amount of greater than standard rate turns we make during our missions, however, aspen units are being installed in helos, and they make pedal turns which are much quicker than standard rate, go figure. All this being said if your flying is point A to B its a great unit especially when connected to a 430 or 530 with an autopilot capable of accepting GPS roll steering. Please PM me for my phone number if you want/need more info.

Thanks for all your replies!

haha yeah, it's mostly the wallet that's gonna be a limiting factor on this one... my current panel is.. a bit worn to put it lightly and is need of an overhaul, so I figured I might as well do it right! Going all electric sounds pretty nice, getting rid of those vacuum pumps sure is gonna save some weight.

@dogpilot
I think I'll be going for both a PFD 1000 and MFD 1000, as for my Nav units I fear they are all analog only... I'll look up the ACU, thanks for the tip! As for the ARINC 429, is there a limit as to how many units one can hook up to the aspen avionics?
Haha, if you know of any escort services that offer pilots I'll be glad to learn some more
Just sent you a PM.

@propeller26
Woah eight times sounds worrying, how good have aspen been at addressing the problem? Are they trying to do something about it or are they merely content with sending you a new unit every other month?
I'm not too keen on the svt to be honest, especially on such a small display.. If I was to get some kind of "viewing instrument" I'd probably try to get an actual infrared camera, I think I'd have a real hard time trusting a database of terrain, who knows what's happened since that database was compiled...

Aspen has been ok, but our aircraft is the test bed and they really want to outfit the rest of our 17 aircraft. Any time we have had a problem they have just given us a new unit, not sure how that would pan out for a single operator. The SVT is really cool and looks great if you are not in the mountains. I would evaluate the new Garmin units as well. Like I posted, the Aspen unit slaved with a 430 or 530 is awesome for IFR operations, but If you don't fly a lot of actual I'm not sure what I would recommend. Good luck and hope this helps. Please feel free to pm me if you want further.

Jeff