OLATHE, Kan., 8 April 2014. Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ:GRMN) and a provider of satellite navigation solutions, announced its G3X Touch large touchscreen, glass flight display system for installation in experimental amateur-built and light sport aircraft (LSA). The non-certified G3X Touch system is designed to provide pilots easy-to-read, easy-to-use, high-resolution, 10.6-inch flight displays with split-screen functionality and advanced interface options.
On the exterior, G3X Touch offers a sleek and clean appearance with a large 10.6-inch display. Since G3X Touch is scalable and easily configurable, pilots can choose to install up to three G3X Touch displays in their panel. Incorporating the latest in infrared touchscreen technology, the display offers a resilient, high-resolution, sunlight readable screen that demonstrates Garmin’s industry-leading experience in integrated flight decks. The touchscreen provides a simple user-interface for efficient access to information. The bezel contains four dedicated buttons and two rotary knobs, which provide increased efficiency in performing common in-flight functions, such as direct-to navigation, setting altitude, changing heading, or radio tuning.
The G3X Touch display provides pilots with an intuitive split-screen mode with the option to view PFD, MFD, and engine information on a single display. Synthetic vision (SVX) is a standard feature on G3X Touch, which provides a rich, three-dimensional depiction of terrain, obstacles, water features, the runway environment, and more.
G3X Touch displays VFR Sectionals and IFR Enroute Charts, which provide pertinent information in-flight while on an IFR or VFR flight plan. A version of G3X Touch also includes SiriusXM Aviation Weather and Radio capability, which allows pilots to receive NEXRAD, METARs, TAFs, TFRs, winds aloft, and more. SiriusXM Satellite Radio is also accessible via G3X Touch; both weather and audio capabilities require purchase of a subscription from SiriusXM Satellite Radio Inc. The new GDL 39R (remotely mounted ADS-B receiver) is also compatible with G3X Touch to display ADS-B traffic and subscription-free weather.
G3X Touch interfaces with Garmin’s experimental autopilot, which gives pilots autopilot control through the touchscreen interface, while still supporting the optional, stand-alone GMC 305 autopilot control panel. G3X Touch gives pilots access to all autopilot modes from the touchscreen display, including indicated airspeed hold, yaw damper, flight director, and level modes. Touchscreen control functionality for the remote-mounted GTX 23 ES transponder is provided on the display. Team X has incorporated a user-interface that is similar to other Garmin touchscreen aviation products, so pilots can easily find pertinent in-flight information quickly.
Behind G3X Touch, pilots can choose to integrate the new GTR 20 remote transceiver for added functionality. The GTR 20 offers pilots a solution for a communication radio and intercom, which is controlled from the G3X Touch display. The 10-watt radio provides advanced features such as 3D audio, stereo intercom, stereo music input, alert inputs, and standby frequency monitoring. Even more, frequency identification is available on the display of G3X Touch so identifiers such as “KOSH ATIS” are displayed as the pilot tunes the frequency. For pilots who have incorporated the GTR 200 panel mount comm radio into their panel, full touchscreen control is also available through G3X Touch. The combination of the remote comm transceiver and transponder provide pilots the option to fly VFR with everything they need controlled from the display of G3X Touch, saving space and offering an immaculate panel.
In addition to G3X, the new G3X Touch can display angle of attack (AOA) information, when installed with the GSU 25 ADAHRS and GAP 26 probe. Optionally, the new GI 260 angle of attack indicator provides pilots with a visualized indication of AOA using a combination of colors and chevrons and may be mounted on the glare shield in the primary field of view. The AOA system offers progressive audible and visual alerts as the aircraft nears the critical angle of attack. In conjunction with G3X Touch, the GI 260 is designed to give pilots a quick, at-a-glance understanding of AOA during critical phases of flight and offers audible alerts during high-workload situations.
“Our dedicated experimental engineering team, better known as ‘Team X’, continues to raise the bar with the introduction of G3X Touch. This team of pilots have done it once again by continuing to introduce innovative avionics to the sport aircraft market,” says Carl Wolf, vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “Team X listened to the requests of our customers and as builders themselves – designing products for the activity they love – have delivered a large, intuitive touchscreen flight display, which offers a number of enhanced capabilities that give our amateur-built and light sport customers what they asked for, and more.”
Current G3X customers have the opportunity to upgrade to the G3X Touch system. Because the same sensors and connectors from G3X are incorporated into G3X Touch, customers can integrate the new display with their existing ADAHRS, engine indicating systems (EIS), and autopilot, so there is no need to replace existing equipment behind the panel. GPS and XM antennas installed on an existing G3X system, conveniently plug into the back of the new display without the need for cabling or antenna changes. A composite video connection (BNC) is provided, which provides a way to connect to VIRB, Garmin’s HD action camera or other compatible camera, to show video in the PFD inset window or on the MFD.
Five light sport aircraft manufacturers encompassing thirteen (13) aircraft models have chosen the latest in avionics technology for amateur-built and light sport aircraft and will offer G3X Touch as an option, including:
Van’s Aircraft
RV 12
CubCrafters
Carbon Cub
Flight Design
C4
CTLS
Pipistrel
Panthera Experimental Version
Virus 912
Virus SW
Sinus 912
Sinus Flex
Tecnam
P2008
P92 Eaglet
ASTORE
P92 Tail Dragger
A well-equipped, single display G3X Touch system, which includes SVX, video input, a built-in WAAS GPS receiver, ADAHRS, magnetometer, OAT probe, interactive mapping and more, starts at $5,499 and G3X Touch with EIS starts at $6,099. The GTR 20 remote comm transceiver is available for $995 and the GI 260 AOA indicator is available for $249.
